Samantha Fish Announces ‘Paper Doll Live’

10 April 2026 rocknews

Samantha Fish Announces ‘Paper Doll Live’ – New Live Album Captures Her Electrifying Stage Power

Samantha Fish has announced the release of her first official live album, Paper Doll Live, arriving June 12, 2026 via Rounder Records — and if her reputation on stage is anything to go by, this one’s going to hit hard.

Recorded at the historic Bijou Theatre in Knoxville, Tennessee, the album captures the raw, unfiltered energy that has made Fish one of the most compelling live performers in modern blues and roots music. Following the success of her GRAMMY-nominated studio album Paper Doll, this live release strips everything back to its core — instinct, connection, and pure performance.

Leading the charge is the newly released single “Sweet Southern Sounds (Live)”, offering a first taste of what to expect. It’s a track that thrives in the live setting, giving Fish room to stretch out and lean into her hypnotic, North Mississippi-inspired guitar work, backed by a band locked firmly in the groove.

Paper Doll Live isn’t just about recreating the studio album on stage — it’s about expanding it. Songs evolve, outros stretch, and moments that once faded out now build into full-blown climaxes. Tracks like “Lose You” gather momentum with a relentless push, while the title track “Paper Doll” lands as a defiant, crowd-firing anthem. And when the band tears into a blistering cover of “Kick Out The Jams,” the whole thing tips into full-throttle chaos.

A key addition to the performance comes from Nashville gospel legends The McCrary Sisters, whose harmonies bring added depth and soul to the record. Their presence elevates the emotional weight of the songs, adding another layer to an already powerful live sound.

The recording itself became something of an event. Fans travelled from across the country to be part of it, creating an atmosphere that feels just as important as the music. That sense of anticipation and shared experience runs through the album — this isn’t just a live recording, it’s a moment captured in real time.

Fish has always treated the stage as her proving ground, and Paper Doll Live leans fully into that idea. Where the studio allows for control and construction, the live setting brings unpredictability — and that’s exactly where she thrives. The result is a record that feels immediate, ferocious, and completely alive.

The release also lands alongside a huge run of tour dates, with Fish taking the Paper Doll material across the US and Europe throughout 2026. Kicking off in New Orleans on April 24th, the tour reinforces what this album represents — not a reinvention, but a statement of everything she already does at full power.

If Paper Doll was the breakthrough, Paper Doll Live is the proof. No polish, no safety net — just Samantha Fish and a band firing on all cylinders.

DIGITAL TRACKLIST

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 TRACKLIST

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 TRACKLIST

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

Samantha Fish Tour Dates

TICKETS ON SALE AT SAMANTHAFISH.COM

4.10   Miramar Beach, FL – Joe Bonamassa Beach Weekend
4.11   Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre*
4.12   St Petersburg, FL – Tampa Bay Blues Festival*
4.15   Savannah, GA – District Live at Plant Riverside District*
4.16   Gainesville, FL – Heartwood Soundstage*
4.17   Dothan, AL – Dothan Opera House*
4.18   Meredian, MS – MSU Riley Center*
4.19   Sandy Springs, GA – Byers Theatre at Sandy Springs PAC*
4.24   New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
4.25   New Orleans, LA – Jazz & Heritage Festival
4.28   New Orleans, LA – Chickie Wah Wah
5.01   New Orleans, LA – Fillmore
5.02   Biloxi, MS – IP Casino Resort & Spa
5.05   Decatur, AL – The Princess Theatre
5.07   Springfield, MO – Gillioz Theatre
5.08   Kansas City, MO – Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City
5.09   St Louis, MO – Atomic
5.10   Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
5.13   Iowa City, IA – The Englert Theatre
5.14   Marion, IL – Marion Cultural & Civic Center
5.16   Welch, MN – Treasure Island Casino**
5.17   Des Plaines, IL – The Des Plaines Theatre
5.19   Warrendale, PA – Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
5.20   State College, PA – The State Theatre
5.21   Troy, NY – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
5.22   Ledyard, CT – Foxwoods Resort Casino**
5.23   Beverly, MA – The Cabot
5.24   Nashua, NH – Nashua Center for the Arts
5.27   Patchogue, NJ – Patchogue Theatre
5.28   Syracuse, NY – Westcott Theater
5.29   Lebanon, NH – Levanon Opera House
5.30   Augusta, NJ – Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest
5.31   Buffalo, NY – Babeville
6.19   Grolloo, Netherlands – Holland Intl Blues Festival
6.20   Dortmund, Germany – Musiktheater Piano
6.21   Brescia, Italy – Chiari Blues Festival
6.23   Loceri, Italy – Parco Urbano
6.25   Rubigen, Switzerland – Muhle Hunziken
6.27   Vienne, France – Jazz a Vienne
6.28   Erlangen, Germany – E-Werk Kino
6.30   Mannheim, Germany – 7er-Club
7.01   Aschaffenburg, Germany – Colos-Saal
7.02   Hamburg, Germany – Fabrik
7.04   Helsinki – Puisto Blues
9.18-19   Telluride, CO – Telluride Blues & Brews Fest
10.31   West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go***