Award-winning folk singer, conservationist and curator Sam Lee is to publish his debut book ‘The Nightingale’ via Penguin Random House on March 25th. Available in hardback, Ebook as well as an audiobook read by Sam, The Nightingale is sure to enchant nature lovers and bird enthusiasts as Sam reveals in beautiful detail the bird’s song, habitat, characteristics and migration patterns, as well as the environmental issues that threaten its livelihood.
I heard my first Nightingale two years ago at my local nature reserve, singing its heart out at the edge of the woodland. Every time I heard its song, it stopped me in my tracks, a reminder of how magical it can be to ‘be in the moment’ when nature shares elusive wonders such as these. Sadly, it did not return the following year…but I will be listening for it again in April. In the meantime, I have this wonderful book to look forward to. Anyone familiar with Sam’s creative outputs will know he has an incredible passion for all his projects, whether that be music or conservation, so I have no doubt that this will be a rewarding and inspiring read…
About: The Nightingale
An illustrated miscellany of the nightingale, perfect for nature and bird lovers.
Every year, as darkness falls upon woodlands, the nightingale heralds the arrival of Spring. For thousands of years, its sweet song has inspired musicians, writers and artists around the world, from Germany, France and Italy to Greece, Ukraine and Korea.
Passionate conservationist, renowned musician and folk expert Sam Lee tells the story of the nightingale. This book reveals in beautiful detail the bird’s song, habitat, characteristics and migration patterns, as well as the environmental issues that threaten its livelihood.
From Greek mythology to John Keats, to Persian poetry and ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’, Lee delves into the various ways we have celebrated the nightingale through traditions, folklore, music, literature, from ancient history to the present day. The Nightingale is a unique and lyrical portrait of a famed yet elusive songbird.
‘Sam Lee has brought the poetic magic that has long enchanted so many of his musical fans into the written word. Allow yourself to glimpse the world Sam sees, to be part of his love affair with the nightingale, and you will no doubt be delighted.’
Lily Cole
‘Wondering and wonderful. The nature book of the year.’
John Lewis-Stempel
Singing With Nightingales
Sam Lee: The book release precedes my annual series produced by The Nest Collective of live and online concerts bringing musicians and audiences into the field to perform with and experience the song of real nightingales.
‘The experience struck me so deeply that I have struggled since to put it into words…beautiful and necessary’
The New Statesman
This year we have a nearly-sold-out season of 25 field concerts in Sussex and Gloucestershire. And following in the footsteps of 2020’s sensational Earth Day Live broadcast (see below) we are hosting 3 online live transmissions with an extraordinary line up of musicians and voices.
14 April – Singing with Nightingales: Homecoming (Online)An online event featuring submissions from the public and the first opportunity to hear the first singing nightingale as they arrive in Southern England this year.
22 April – Singing with Nightingales : Earth Day 2021 (Online) An online event celebrating Earth Day with Sam Lee broadcasting live from the Sussex countryside with pre-recorded contributions from a wide array of artists and speakers including Anna Meredith, Karine Polwart, Martin Green (Lau), Bill Laurance (Snarky Puppy) with many more to be announced
2nd May – Singing with Nightingales : National Dawn Chorus Day (Online)
16 April – 29th May – Singing With Nightingales : Field Nightly concerts in Sussex and Gloucestershire featuring ESKA, Cosmo Sheldrake, Johnny Flynn, Justin Adams, Blythe Pepino, Anna Phoebe, Matthew Barley, Jonny Byers, Shirley Smart, Adrian Freedman, Emily Hall, Lisa Knapp, Hyelim Kim and Nathaniel Mann
1st May – Singing With Nightingales : Festival Featuring Bernard Butler, Millicent Chapanda & Byron Wallen in Sussex
11th May – Singing With Nightingales: Live in Theatre Featuring Bernard Butler, Alice Zawadzki at Grand Junction, London, W2
For ticket & all booking info please see: https://thenestcollective.co.uk/includes/singing-with-nightingales/