Kind words from artists and industry professionals — in NYC and beyond

  • “Sam of Bands do BK is hands on, full of excitement and dedicated to the scene. Her fervor is infectious and her music taste is top notch."

    (Jessica Louise Dye, High Waisted)

  • “Sam knows so much about the Brooklyn music scene it boggles my mind. She truly is a pillar in our community. Bands do BK for life!”

    — Vram Kherlopian (Gustaf, Tea Eater)

  • "Nobody works harder for bands than Sam Sumpter. She's a joy to work with and an honest partner for artists."

    —Brian Hemmert (My Son The Doctor)

  • "Sam brings layers of energy and enthusiasm to every project, effortlessly bringing artists, guests, and crew together into a collective experience that’s greater than the sum of its parts!"

    —Brad Wagner (Co-founder, I Know We Should)

  • “We had the pleasure of working with Sam at Viva Sounds in Gothenburg 2024, where she both moderated a panel and managed one of the bands performing at the festival. It was a pure joy to have her with us; professional, engaged, and a great presence in every context. I can highly recommend working with her.”

    —Gustav Påhlsson (Westside Sweden, Viva Sounds)

  • “Sam is a true LOVER. Lover of music first, lover of life, lover of people, lover of traveling. Her love of music shines throughout Brooklyn/NYC in how strongly she supports new artists/bands from all over the world. Whether they are local or here on tour, Sam has made a strong name for herself in helping to support the music community out of pure LOVE.”

    —Lio Kanine (New Colossus Festival, Kanine Records)

  • “Working with Sam is always an absolute pleasure. She came into Viva Sounds 2024 fully prepared and completely fearless — breathing fire into every panel she moderated. Her conversations were sharp, thoughtful, and genuinely entertaining, setting a new benchmark for how industry discussions can also be fun, twisted and accessible. Off stage, she's just as driven and generous: a true collaborator and a joy to have around any festival, in any context.”

    —Mattias Tell (Founder, Manager, Westside Sweden / Viva Sounds)

  • "First and foremost, Sam is at a show to support whoever is playing, and if she's there, chances are the band playing is awesome.She has a permanent smile on her face and shows are always more fun when she's there, whether that be in NYC, Montreal, Paris, Rotterdam, Sweden, or wherever she goes! I don't throw around the word 'scene' but Sam always brings that word to mind because she helps foster a sense of community wherever she goes, making introductions and cheering loudly. The best!"

    —Steve Matrick (Co-founder, New Colossus Festival, Dedstrange Records)

  • "Sam's passion and effort towards the NY music scene is without equal. Her written work is thoughtful, witty, and carefully crafted. Above all else, when you are reading one of her pieces you can tell that she truly cares. If you took all the new transplants who come to this city seeking a life in music/art and asked them what their guiding light was early on, I would wager that 9 out of 10 would say BANDS DO BK in some capacity. It is as much a mainstay in this scene as Sam's own infectious energy."

    —Mitch Vinokur (Two-Man Giant Squid)

  • “Sam is an incredible member of the BK music community and really walks the walk. She approaches each area of her work, whether it be host, writer, or interviewer with the heart of a music fan first, which is what makes her so lovely to collaborate with. Having her interview us for our issue of MANI was an absolute pleasure, we could have talked for several more hours and probably would have shared our social security numbers if she asked us!”

    —Kasey Heisler & Patrick Porter (A Very Special Episode)

  • “Sam has made meaningful contributions to Arlene’s Grocery as a former booker, and to the greater NYC music scene as a whole. Whether hosting shows at her apartment to raise money for charity, moderating our 30th anniversary industry panel, or simply showing up for the gig, Sam brings enthusiasm, focus, and genuine care to every opportunity to support and advance the local music community.”

    —Jesse Highstein (Head of Production, Arlene’s Grocery)

  • “Working with Sam Sumpter was always an incredible experience. It wasn’t just her commitment to projects - whether events, band management or booking - but her uncompromising support of colleagues and community that had massive positive impact. Every time Sam was involved good things happened.”

    — Zach Glass (Co-owner, Co-founder, Our Wicked Lady)

  • “Sam is truly a Brooklyn scene queen! She knows all the best bands, bars, and late night spots to get the best sandwiches. She organizes super fun shows with new bands keeping the music scene fresh and runs a blog so that everyone can get to know these bands even better. Sam has the kind of passion and dedication that makes Brooklyn what it is. Thank you Sam! We love Bands do BK!"

    — Tarra Thiessen (Gustaf, Tea Eater)

  • “I’ve had the privilege of working with Sam in a variety of ways over the years and I can say without hesitation that she’s done incredible ground work in creating a supportive music community in a cut throat city. In a world where music journalism exists largely on a pay to play basis and most publications do nothing more than copy and paste band bios to their pages claiming it as journalism, Sam (through her publication Bands do BK) has always delivered articles with a real human voice. She actually listens to the music and writes about it honestly. It's sad that such a thing is so rare but it truly is. She's given my band a voice when we didn’t have one and has done the same for countless other acts. From organizing gigs, hosting radio shows and physically showing up for the bands she writes about, Sam is doing everything in her power to keep the spirit of music alive in this city and she works harder at it than anyone I know.”

    — Zach Ellis (Dead Tooth)

  • “We first met Sam at a Mary Shelley gig in London in 2023. She mentioned, almost in passing, that she’d love to put on a show for us in New York. A few months later, Sam didn’t just follow through. She went above and beyond, organising three gigs across three iconic venues, each packed with people who now knew our names before we stepped on stage. Sam has a rare ability to bring people and music communities together, both within the Brooklyn scene and across an increasingly international network. Whether she’s organising an entire gig or turning up to a room full of new faces, Sam is always front and centre, dancing, supporting, and championing artists like they’re lifelong friends. Her passion for music and people is unmistakable, and her ability to connect artists, audiences, and scenes is special. We can’t wait to see what she does next.”

    —(The lads of) AWAY FANS

  • "It is hard to imagine our corner of Brooklyn's indie music scene without Sam Sumpter. Sam has been a constant presence since I founded Ok Cowgirl in 2018 — helping facilitate community through booking diy and club shows, giving indie bands a platform to promote our work and tell our stories through Bands do BK, and elevating our reach through her work and involvement with WFUV. I have the utmost respect for Sam as an authentic tastemaker. Sam genuinely loves music and people, and will take the time to check out artists and do what she can to support them regardless of where they are at in their careers or other superficial factors. Sam is one of the most hardworking and dedicated people I have met in the music industry. She is a ray of sunshine, and every time I run into her front row at a show or spot her from the stage singing along to a deep cut of ours I feel reinvigorated."

    —Leah Lavigne (Ok Cowgirl)

  • "I have been working closely with Sam at WFUV for the past few years collaborating on artist interviews, sessions, concerts, shows and community events. Not only does Sam's musical knowledge and engagement span from local New York City-based artists to up-and-coming international acts, but she also brings her grounded personality, easygoing nature and warm spirit to every project. Sam is a true music industry multihyphenate and her experience in music journalism, artist management and public radio make her an asset across the board. Consult with her, hire her, work with her - you'll be better for it!"

    —Meghan Suma (Director of Audio & Digital Content, WFUV)