Sandwood is the debut EP of Sam Grassie, a Scottish fingerstyle guitarist who has been turning heads in London over the last few years. He’s proven his virtuosity collaborating with folk collective Broadside Hacks, as well as in tribute to Bert Jansch, Pentangle and John Martyn, welding his OM-28 in a way that few can. It’s a real if-you-know-you-know kind of situation. Grassie realises the potential of the acoustic guitar, his seemingly effortless playing elevated by his skill as an arranger. On debut EP Sandwood, Grassie has created fingerstyle interpretations of various trad fiddle tunes. For example we have the closing track, a gentle and bright interpretation of ‘Return to Fingal’. While Grassie collaborates with various London trad folk staples throughout the EP, this is a solo-guitar track, impressively losing none of the richness or detail brought throughout the EP so far. The piece treads softly, Grassie’s deft hands gliding over complex melodic passages smoothly and sweetly. Yet to come are Grassie’s original works, which can be heard during his tour with Robin Adams this April. -Adam Brown