As the Summer Solstice twilight nears, join us for a haunting evening of stories told through music, words and art by Soft Lap. Author and historian Amy Jeffs, artist Gwen Burns and musician Natalie Brice join in mesmerising harmony to sing these timeless tales of love and death kept alive through generations of telling.
Across cultures and centuries, trees have stood as guardians of life, inspiring stories that connect us to nature, spirituality and tradition. In The Folklore of Trees, Aidan Meighan brings these tales together with rich cultural context and intricate illustrations, sharing the myths, legends and secrets of the world's most iconic trees, and the seasonal customs, protective charms and superstitions associated with them.
Join us in welcoming acclaimed Canadian artists Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen when they tour the UK. Their blend of Celtic traditional and contemporary folk tunes take us on a journey with “emotional depth and technical prowess … a standout in the folk music genre” (Independent Music). Their first album as a duo, Home, won the Music Nova Scotia Award Roots Traditional Recording of the Year, and has been nominated for the East Coast Music Award Traditional Release of the Year. Rachel and Darren have also been nominated for the Canadian Folk Music Award Ensemble of the Year and New/Emerging Artist(s) of the Year.
Join us in conversation with bestselling author and columnist Sally Coulthard. We’ll discuss the hidden history of the coast through objects found along its shoreline and brought to life in Sally’s new book, A Brief History of the Coast in 100 Objects. Described as “a true celebration of the flotsam and jetsam left by time and tide” (Rose Ferraby) and “a wonderfully rich and very different narrative that reeks of tang and pungent atmosphere” (Alistair Moffatt), this is a much anticipated follow up to A Brief History of the Countryside in 100 Objects, which was a Waterstones Best Book of 2024 for Nature Writing, and is very popular here in the Book Tree too!
