Mercury Prize nominated folk singer, conservationist, song collector and activist
Sam Lee plays a unique role in the British music scene. A Mercury prize nominated singer, highly inventive and original arranger, folksong interpreter, passionate conservationist, song collector and creator of live events. Sam’s work as an artist has shaken up the music scene breaking boundaries between traditional and contemporary music and the assumed places and ways folksong is appreciated. Sam's voice has helped challenge what old songs hold for us today. With his latest critically acclaimed and Mojo Album of the Month ‘songdreaming’, he's summonsed up a truly compelling and emotional album that takes his work to yet another level. In 2021, Sam released his debut novel 'The Nightingale, notes on a songbird' telling the epic tale of this highly endangered bird and their place in culture, folklore, music and literature throughout the millennia. Sam's a regular radio and TV broadcaster, film soundtrack composer and has provided songs for several major feature films. As a change-maker in the music industry he is a co-founder of Music Declares Emergency, FAC board member and the pioneering artist to work with leading environmental charity Earthpercent to whom a portion of proceeds of the current album will be donated.
Live & Upcoming
Latest gigs, appearances, radio & TV
Talks
OneTrackMinds with Sam Lee, Piers Torday, Roxanne De Bastion, Natasha Farrant & Laura Dockrill
Kings PlaceLondon, UK
Celebrate the power of music with OneTrackMinds, a cross between Desert Island Discs, TED Talks and The Moth that sees a selection of storytellers share one song that changed them forever.
Everyone has a story of a song that changed their life. For a special series at Kings Place, award-winning OneTrackMinds brings together an inspiring selection of musicians, writers and thinkers, each presenting a thought-provoking story about that one track that changed their life, while leaving a lasting impact on yours.
This event will last approximately 2 hours, including an interval
Reviews
‘This show is like stepping into a warm bath.’ Vanessa Kisuule
‘Every time I visit OneTrackMinds, I learn something about music and something about the individuals revealing themselves through their song choice. Music is a lifelong lover and companion. She can make you laugh, move and weep against your will. She will always make you remember.’ Deborah Frances White
‘OneTrackMinds is like oxytocin for the soul.’ Pauline Eyre
Concerts: Band
Woodford Folk Festival (28th-31st December)
Woodford Folk FestivalWoodfordia, Australia
Join Sam on the following dates:
Saturday 28th December
Arbour Stage 10.45am-11.45am
Luna Stage 7.30pm-8.20pm
Sunday 29th December
Luna Stage 4.20pm-5.10pm
Monday 30th December
Luna Stage 2.50pm-3.40pm
Tuesday 31st December
Amphigrande Stage 12.30pm-1.30pm
Luna Stage 5.50pm-6.40pm
Concerts: Band
A Folk Song and an Oak Song (Meeting is a Pleasant Place)
Kings PlaceLondon, United Kingdom
A collaborative concert as part of Sam Lee’s Earth Unwrapped residency, featuring tree wisdom, poems, anecdotes and folk songs inspired by trees, which will invoke the cultural heritage this species holds within our culture and society. Featuring guest musicians, Jonathan Drori, The Seed Sisters and more, alongside Sam Lee himself.
Latest Projects
Delve into the many strands of my work as a performer, producer, curator & broadcaster.
Albums & Books
My discography so far...Here are my first 4 album offerings alongside my first published book.
Singing with Nightingales
Late night concert in April & May with a small audience, a guest musician and a nightingale
Nature Activism & Awareness
Projects I'm involved with bringing the stories, songs and power of nature into public awareness
My Band & Other Animals
I’m beyond lucky that I get to work with some of the most talented and inventive musicians.
Pilgrimages & Nature Guiding
The nature pilgrimages I lead in the UK and beyond - profound natural spaces.
Radio Hosting
All my documentaries for BBC Radio 4 & Radio 3 & other channels. My full catalogue of work here.
TV & Film
Here is the full repertoire of my inclusions on the silver screen & behind the scenes.
Song Collecting
For 15 years I travelled the UK & Ireland collecting songs from the Gypsy Traveller community.
The Nest Collective
Award winning folk club and concert promoter, hosting live events across the UK.
Podcasts
Both as a presenter and as an interviewee I've spent many hours contributing to the podcast medium.
Stanley Robertson | My Apprenticeship
The most life changing and defining years of my musical journey with Stanley Robertson.
Reportage: Newspaper Articles, Media Appearances & Reviews
“A compliment from the critics is like the hangman saying you have a pretty neck”
Music Industry
Aside from being a creative and artist I actually rather like to get involved behind the scenes.
Music Performances & Projects
Some of my other collaborations as a singer, working on some extraordinary projects.
Literature
Over the years the work I have done has had the honour of being featured in several books.
Awards, Accolades & Nominations
The list is not endless but of these few acknowledgements I am very proud.
Lecturing & Teaching
My occasional forays into lecturing in universities and beyond, UK and abroad.
Featured Video
‘The Nightingale’s Song’ Film – Trailer
Emergence Magazine spent time in the Sussex woods with Sam for their 40-minute mini-feature film ‘The Nightingale's Song’. Watch the film on emergencemagazine.org.
Bushes and Briars
In association with Emergence Magazine. Taken from the forthcoming album Songdreaming, out March 15th 2024.
Meeting is a Pleasant Place
A timeless ordinance to re-imagine what the act of singing with the land can manifest.