Uptown Theatre presents Samantha Fish with The Zac Schulze Gang: Paper Doll Live World Tour

Samantha Fish, a leading guitarist of her generation, is known for her boldness, musicianship, and emotional depth. A multi-award-winning festival headliner, she’s celebrated for explosive live shows, fearless songwriting, and artistic command. Her second GRAMMY nomination recognizes Paper Doll, an album of nine powerful, defiant songs. With her upcoming live album, Paper Doll Live, Fish showcases the electrifying stage presence that defines her career.

“Truly, this is for the fans,” Fish says of making her first official live record. “We’ve had numerous requests over the years. Paper Doll felt so great on stage — it felt like the perfect time to showcase the band and our live show.”

Recorded at the historic Bijou Theatre in Knoxville, the album bottles the kind of electricity that can’t be manufactured in a studio. The room’s natural warmth and acoustics created an ideal backdrop, elevated even further by the addition of The McCrary Sisters. “Their voices lifted every song,” Fish explains. “I love beautiful backing vocals — they pack an emotional punch. I’ve been a fan of them for years, so that was really special for me.”

The energy in the theater was undeniable. Fans traveled from across the country for the recording. “Our fans aren’t afraid to travel,” she says. “When we announced this show, people got excited. I think that build-up always helps make a better show.” The result is a performance that feels both celebratory and ferocious — a band fully locked in, feeding off a crowd that knows every lyric.

While Paper Doll in the studio marked a breakthrough in Fish’s self-possession — “I took everything I had and slammed it right on the table,” she said of that album — the live setting strips away polish and leaves only instinct. “There’s a fire that comes across in live performance that doesn’t always translate in studio albums,” Fish notes. “The stage lays all of that bare.”