Sam Lee: Folksongs and Storytelling

Sam Lee’s reputation as a world class folk singer and renowned conservationist precedes him and we feel extremely privileged and excited to welcome him to The Shaking Bog Festival for an intimate evening of folksongs and storytelling in the atmospheric surroundings of St Patrick’s Church.

The folk custodian of the native song of the British Isles, leading voice in the environmental movement, and creator of the hugely successful and popular book, Singing with Nightingales, Sam Lee has become, over the course of four critically acclaimed albums, a chronicler and artistic spokesperson of the natural world. Lee’s commitment to both the indigenous song culture of the British Isles - including Ireland where he has collected songs from the travelling community - and its nature, is heartfelt and deeply rooted and his work, including his latest album ‘songdreaming’ is infused with a love of the natural world and a fierce commitment to fight for its preservation.

For Sam, the connection to the natural world is also a connection to a better way of being and a desire to recreate an eden that is ever present in his work and the songs he sings are more than a history, they are a living, vibrant, vital connection to our very being - and so he is the perfect guest for The Shaking Bog. This is a not to be missed performance.

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.

Offsite Event:  St. Patrick's Church Enniskerry. 

The Shaking Bog Festival