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About Us

About Us

About Us

The Nest Collective is a leading force in contemporary and cross-cultural folk music.
We bring people together to experience extraordinary music, rekindling connections with nature, tradition and community.

Biography

Founded in 2005 by Mercury-nominated artist Sam Lee, the Nest Collective began as a small gathering of music and folk lovers. Today, our vibrant annual programme includes a diverse range of music events in locations across the UK, featuring outstanding emerging and established folk, world and roots artists from across the globe.

Because we embrace and encourage connection with nature, many of our events take place outdoors in beautiful green spaces, both in cities and rural areas. We welcome an ever-growing community to our events in London and around the country.

“Tradition is tending the flame, it’s not worshipping the ashes.” – Gustav Mahler

The Nest Collective is proud to collaborate with a host of leading venues including Southbank Centre, The Roundhouse, Natural History Museum, Tate Modern and Tate Britain.

We also curate stages at a number of major UK music festivals, including Shambala and Cambridge Folk Festival.

The Nest Collective Includes...

Campfire Club

Discover extraordinary music around the campfire in beautiful green spaces.

Singing With Nightingales

Join us in the forest to hear the finest musicians duet with the sweet sounds of the nightingale.

Ceilidh Liberation Front

A radical dance sensation, reinventing the lore of the Ceilidh.

Nature Pilgrimages

Step out of the every-day and journey into nature.

Fire Choir

Open to all, this community choir is dedicated to revitalising communal singing with activism and empowerment at its heart.

Magpie’s Nest

Our much-loved one-day festival, celebrating the finest folk and roots music from around the world.

Our Team

Sam Lee

Artistic Director

The bloke what started it all off… Singer, song collector, nature frolicker, pilgrim, river swimmer, dancer, serious face puller, dreamer, hater of online dating biogs.. oh wait a minute…

Sam Lee website

Thom Ashworth

General Manager (interim)

Folk based noise maker and general know-it-all. Lover of British traditional music, tabletop games, pizza, and black metal.

Thom Ashworth website

Ollie Denton

Marketing Manager

Island-hopping drummer & photographer. Can mostly be found in the garden.

Laura Sheldon

Finance Manager

When not doing finance stuff can mostly be found sorting fruit and veg, or up a mountain.

Pascal Pearce

Production Manager

A very mysterious individual with a wealth of experience putting on events around the world.

Looby Mills

Marketing Assistant

Actor and theatre-maker with a myriad of part-time jobs.

The Nest Collective is a company limited by guarantee (company number 08534319) and a not for profit organisation. We rely on the loyal support of our audiences and funders to deliver our annual programme and season of events.

We are governed by a dedicated Board of Directors:
– Guy Morley – Director, No Nation
– Sherry Neyhus – Executive Producer, Upswing
– Sam Lee – Founder, The Nest Collective

Never miss a show...

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The Nest Collective

Never miss a show...

Sign up to our monthly newsletter for the latest Nest Collective news and events