Forged from the same roaring hearth as U.K. folk luminaries like Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, and the Watersons, London-born and bred singer, visual artist, promoter, educator, and survival skills instructor Sam Lee fell under the spell of traditional folk music while completing a four-year apprenticeship in his early twenties under the tutelage of legendary Scottish archivist/balladeer Stanley Robertson. Sourcing material from English, Gypsy, Irish, and Scottish traveler communities, Lee's debut album, Ground of Its Own, was released in 2012. Produced by Gerry Diver and featuring mixes from Nick Drake engineer John Wood, the album was nominated for that year's esteemed Mercury Prize. ~ James Christopher Monger