Following her eighth triumphant appearance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, acclaimed guitarist and songwriter Samantha Fish has released ‘Don’t Say It’, the latest single from her forthcoming live album, ‘Paper Doll Live‘, due Friday June 12th via Rounder Records.
Pre-order ‘Paper Doll Live‘ – here.
Fish’s first official live album, ‘Paper Doll Live‘ captures the electrifying stage presence that has made her one of the most compelling performers in modern blues and roots music. Recorded at the historic Bijou Theatre, the album documents a band firing on all cylinders in front of a packed crowd, elevated by the soaring harmonies of Nashville gospel legends The McCrary Sisters.
“‘Don’t Say It’ is one of those songs that builds gradually — a slow-burn reveal where one person is fighting for the validity of a relationship while the other is emotionally checked out,” says Fish. “It was incredible having the McCrary Sisters on this track. They weave in and out of the harmonies and add so much heart and depth.”
The two-time GRAMMY nominee has built her reputation the old-school way: onstage, with a live show critics have called “wild, raunchy… an absolute must-see” (Louder Than War) and praised for its “savage guitar work and commanding stage presence” (Blues Rock Review). ‘Paper Doll Live‘ captures that energy in full force — raw, immediate, and impossible to fake.
From towering performances of ‘Lose You‘ and ‘Sweet Southern Sounds‘ to a blistering rendition of the MC5’s ‘Kick Out the Jams‘, the album highlights a band fully immersed in the moment — unfiltered, ferocious, and deeply connected to its audience.
“There’s a fire that comes across in live performance that doesn’t always translate in studio albums,” Fish says. “The stage lays all of that bare.”
Emerging from Kansas City’s blues lineage and shaped by influences ranging from Prince and Leonard Cohen to the legends of Mississippi Hill Country blues, Fish has spent her career turning live performance into both proving ground and catharsis. From cold-calling bars as a teenager to headlining international festivals, she has forged a live show that balances grit, vulnerability, and explosive musicianship.
“If ‘Paper Doll’ was a declaration of artistic power,” Fish says, “‘Paper Doll Live‘ is the sound of that power unleashed.”
With ‘Paper Doll Live‘, Samantha Fish delivers more than a concert recording — she captures the visceral connection that has made her one of the most celebrated live performers in contemporary roots music today.
Tracklisting:
Digital
01. Kick Out The Jams – Live
02. Paper Doll – Live
03. Can Ya Handle The Heat? – Live
04. I Put A Spell On You – Live
05. I’m Done Runnin’ – Live
06. Lose You – Live
07. Sweet Southern Sounds – Live
08. Bulletproof – Live
09. Miles To Go – Live
10. Fortune Teller – Live
11. Better Be Lonely – Live
12. Dream Girl – Live
13. Don’t Say It – Live
14. Poor Black Mattie – Live
15. Rusty Razor – Live
16. Black Wind Howlin’ – Live
CD
01. Kick Out The Jams – Live
02. Paper Doll – Live
03. Can Ya Handle The Heat? – Live
04. I’m Done Runnin’ – Live
05. Lose You – Live
06. Sweet Southern Sounds – Live
07. Bulletproof – Live
08. Miles To Go – Live
09. Fortune Teller – Live
10. Better Be Lonely – Live
11. Dream Girl – Live
12. Don’t Say It – Live
13. Poor Black Mattie – Live
14. Rusty Razor – Live
15. Black Wind Howlin’ – Live
Vinyl
Side A
1. Paper Doll – Live
2. Can Ya Handle The Heat? – Live
3. I’m Done Runnin’ – Live
4. Lose You – Live
5. Sweet Southern Sounds – Live
Side B
6. Fortune Teller – Live
7. Don’t Say It – Live
8. Rusty Razor – Live
9. Black Wind Howlin’ – Live
Tour Dates:
Tickets on sale at – samanthafish.com
May 16th Welch, MN – Treasure Island Casino**
May 17th Des Plaines, IL – The Des Plaines Theatre
May 19th Warrendale, PA – Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
May 20th State College, PA – The State Theatre
May 21st Troy, NY – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
May 22nd Ledyard, CT – Foxwoods Resort Casino **
May 23rd Beverly, MA – The Cabot
May 24th Nashua, NH – Nashua Center for the Arts
May 27th Patchogue, NJ – Patchogue Theatre
May 28th Syracuse, NY – Westcott Theater
May 29th Lebanon, NH – Levanon Opera House
May 30th Augusta, NJ – Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest
May 31st Buffalo, NY – Babeville
June 19th Grolloo, Netherlands – Holland Intl Blues Festival
June 20th Dortmund, Germany – Musiktheater Piano
June 21st Chiari, Italy – Istituto Salesiaino “San Bernadino”
June 23rd Loceri, Italy – Parco Urbano
June 25th Rubigen, Switzerland – Muhle Hunziken
June 27th Vienne, France – Jazz a Vienne
June 28th Erlangen, Germany – E-Werk Kino
June 30th Mannheim, Germany – 7er-Club
July 1st Aschaffenburg, Germany – Colos-Saal
July 2nd Hamburg, Germany – Fabrik
July 4th Helsinki – Puisto Blues
July 7th Warszawa, Poland – Klub Hydrozagadka
July 8th Gdynia, PL – Podeorko Art
September 18th-19th Telluride, CO – Telluride Blues & Brews Fest
October 31st West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go***
Bio:
Samantha Fish is a 2x GRAMMY-nominated guitarist, singer, and songwriter widely recognized as one of the most dynamic artists in contemporary blues and roots music. The Kansas City Hall of Famer and multiple Blues Music Award-winner is known for her explosive guitar work, powerhouse vocals, and fearless songwriting. She’s has built a global following through relentless touring and critically acclaimed releases. Her solo albums — ‘Runaway‘ (2011), ‘Black Wind Howlin’‘ (2013), ‘Wild Heart‘ (2015), ‘Chills & Fever‘ (2017), ‘Kill or Be Kind‘ (2019), ‘Faster’ (2021), collaborating with Jesse Dayton on ‘Deathwish Blues‘ (2023), and ‘Paper Doll‘ (2023), have all topped the Billboard Blues Charts. A commanding live performer, Fish has toured internationally, performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, shared stages with artists including Slash, and The Rolling Stones and has performed as part of Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival. She continues to push boundaries while delivering electrifying shows that connect deeply with audiences worldwide.
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