Sam Lee will perform solo and acapella in this small gig in the unique ambiance of Rye Harbour Discovery Centre, within Sussex Wildlife Trust's largest nature reserve.
Sam Lee is an award-winning, Mercury Prize-nominated folk singer, song collector and ecological activist, connecting music with environmental and conservation awareness. He plays a unique role in the British music scene. A highly inventive and original arranger and folk song interpreter, his approach breathes fresh life into traditional songs and invites us to rediscover their power.
His groundbreaking debut album 'Ground Of Its Own' in 2012, which dramatically reworked old songs with a striking blend of traditional and contemporary sounds, was short-listed for the Mercury Music Prize.
His collaboration with the RSPB on the 2019 campaign 'Let Nature Sing' brought bird songs to the top 20 of the UK music charts, raising awareness of environmental issues.
Sam continued to innovate with releases like 'The Fade In Time' and 'Old Wow', further proving his knack for melding heritage with modernity, earning him a Songlines Award for Artist of the Year and recognition at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
In 2024, 'songdreaming' was named one of Mojo’s Top 10 Folk Albums of 2024 and Best European Album at the 2024 Songlines Music Awards, its enduring appeal is underscored by its steady presence on the Official Folk Albums Chart since its release.
In 2021, he published his debut novel, The Nightingale, Notes on a Songbird, an epic tale that explores the enduring legacy of this endangered bird in culture, folklore, music, and literature. As an accomplished film soundtrack composer, he has also provided songs for several major feature films such as King Arthur (2017), directed by Guy Ritchie.
He was one of the first artists to partner with environmental charity Earthpercent, donating a portion of his album proceeds to support their work.
Sam Lee’s creative journey is rooted in his early experiences in North London’s Kentish Town, where summer holidays at Forest School Camps sparked his lifelong love for music and nature. Inspired by mentors like Scottish Traveller singer Stanley Robertson and enriched by his time collecting songs from Gypsy Traveller communities, his work remains a heartfelt tribute to our cultural and natural heritage.
See: samleesong.co.uk
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Proceeds from this event support Rye Harbour Discovery Centre.
This is a ‘bring your own’ evening with no corkage fee for alcoholic drinks. So bring a bottle if you like. Crisps, snacks and cold non-alcoholic drinks will be available to buy. No food to be brought in, please.
Arrival time: Please arrive in good time to be seated and bring a torch as the path to the Centre is unlit.
Venue: Rye Harbour Discovery Centre, Harbour Road, Rye, TN31 7FW. How to find us | Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
Accessibility: Rye Harbour Discovery Centre is a wheelchair friendly venue, with a step-free entrance ramp. Our toilet facilities include two that are wheelchair accessible.
Please note that dogs are not permitted at this event (except assistance dogs).
Photo: Sam Lee © Dom Tyler
