Listen, and look up, as the finest musicians in the land duet with the sweet sounds of the nightingale.
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In spring 2021, join folk singer Sam Lee and special guest musicians on an unforgettable adventure.
Enjoy songs and stories by the fireside followed by a late night trek into the woods to find the nightingales, then experience a concert like no other as Sam and the musicians join the birds in an improvised duet with their brilliant nightsong.
Come on this singular and memorable journey with us, as darkness falls upon the springtime woodlands of southern England.
Each year, for a short period mid-April, a few thousand nightingales fly to southern UK from Africa. They can be heard in just a small number of special locations, taking up songful residence after dusk. The territorial males serenade loyally each night for no more than six weeks among the blackthorn and forest margins, giving unbelievable privilege to those who know where to go.
Running from 7pm through to 12:30am, this is not a typical gig, and each night is unique. Enjoy an escape into nature, learn about these majestic birds, and marvel at the incredible human-avian musical collaboration.
Your ticket includes dinner and drinks provided round the campfire.
Tickets are extremely limited, with a maximum of 30 places per night. Overnight camping options will be available at our Sussex site.
Special guest musician for this date is Rihab Azar
London-based, Syrian-born musician Rihab Azar is a celebrated oud player, and was the first woman oudist to perform accompanied by the Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music.
For more information on Singing With Nightingales please click here.
What our audiences say:
“…lying under the stars listening to the nightingales everything lifted…Thank you so much.” – Janet
“It was, as promised, magical” – Dan Damon, BBC R4
“Still aglow. One of the most profound and magical nights of my life.” – John M
“It was just wonderful from beginning to end and is a very special memory.” – Caroline J
“The food and hospitality were wonderful, the music was spellbinding and the atmosphere was really very special indeed.” – Alison S
“What an experience; the company, the camp fire, the food, the (human) singing, the woods, the flowers and trees, the stars, the nightingales and other birds singing. Wow! Never to be forgotten.” – Colin & Marianne
“It was quite magical being in the woods as the wind dropped and the campfire warmed us. I thought we may hear one or two nightingales, but not four or five. Quite surreal!” – Kate L
“The food was delicious. The farm was a lovely spot too. I’m still buzzing from such an amazing evening.” – Fiona S
“Nothing could have prepared me however for the uncanny experience of tramping silently through the woods in almost total darkness, completely still and silent save for the echoing songs of numerous nightingales and the hootings of a far-off owl.” – Charles B
“It showed us a new way of hearing, seeing and being. Or perhaps not a new way at all, but a very old way.” – Fiona M
Mercury Prize-nominated folk singer, conservationist, song collector, award-winning promoter, broadcaster and activist.
Learn More
Sussex
Secret location near Lewes, Sussex. Exact location and directions will be sent to ticket holders.
This beautiful location in the East Sussex countryside has a thriving population of Nightingales who make this their springtime home. The farm and its associated meadows and coppiced woodlands are a pristine wildlife environment.
Its closeness to Lewes and fast train direct from London to the nearest station of Cooksbridge make this a wonderful site which has allowed us many hours of deep listening and memorable times round the fire. Due to sensitivity with the small population of birds and being that this is private land and not public forest we must keep the exact location secret until your ticket has been purchased and instructions are ready to be sent out.
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