Mercury Prize nominated folk singer, nature 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, connecting his passion for nature and song into timeless unique ways. Sam's career has spanned 20 years as an international performer, collector of songs across eh British Isles & Ireland and curator of events and creator of live immersions including the annual sell-out Singing With Nightingales. His voice and creative output has helped challenge what old songs hold for us today. With his latest critically acclaimed, Guardian 5* and Mojo Album of the Month ‘songdreaming’, he's summoned 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. He'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, an FAC board member and the pioneering artist to work with leading environmental charity Earthpercent, to whom a portion of the proceeds of the current album are being donated. Sam is currently an ambassador for the Global Rewilding Alliance and artist in residence and guild with Ffern.
Live & Upcoming
Latest gigs, appearances, radio & TV
Concerts: Band
Wild Waters Festival 2026
Wiltshire Music CentreBradford-on-Avon, United Kingdom
Join us for a special evening with Mercury Prize-nominated singer, folksong interpreter, song collector and conservationist, Sam Lee.
Reimagining trad folk songs into contemporary soundscapes, Sam’s music will fill the auditorium with haunting sounds of nature, the land and traditions.
We are keen to celebrate nature and our local communities but also stand concerned about the effects of climate change, biodiversity loss and other human impacts that we see in and along the river. Just as many drops of water make a river, we want to harness the potential for individuals to come together with their communities to take positive action for our river.
Appearances
Solstice Festival 2026
RukatunturiKuusamo, Finland
Solstice is a gathering for people who enjoy music, art and nature, preferably combined. It takes place during midsummer (18.-20.6.) in northern Finland next to the Arctic Circle. The festival site, Rukatunturi, is an arctic fell which rises half a kilometer above sea level, giving people picturesque views over pine trees and lakes.
That time of the year combined with the northern location means the sun doesn’t set at all, creating a unique atmosphere — a celebration of light and life.
Tickets for Solstice 2026 come in four waves. Secure your spot early as each wave comes in limited capacity, and once it's reached, the price increases. Against the global trend, all three waves before the final one are priced below the price of 2025 tickets to make Solstice 2026 as approachable as possible.
Concerts: Band
Medicine Festival 2026 (12th-17th August)
Medicine FestivalBerkshire, England
Medicine is about interweaving communities and bridging cultures – wisdom keepers, indigenous communities visionaries, artists, and solutionaries of all traditions to inspire and ignite a deeper understanding of how we can tread lightly, and live harmoniously as we support each other in the creation of the world we want to see – an equitable and thriving world.
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.