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| Photo: Louise Bichan |
Lau, who have won the BBC Folk Awards Best Group no less than four times in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013 are playing what promises to be a very special and atmospheric show at St John the Evangelist’s Church, Lancaster on Sunday 24th November.
Lau are modern folk music’s most innovative band and without doubt one of the most exciting, inventive and thrilling live acts on the planet.
In 2007 their debut album Lightweights and Gentlemen mixed original tunes with inspired arrangements of traditional material and rocketed Lau to the fore of the burgeoning new folk scene.
Having dramatically cemented their reputation as a blistering stage act, Lau followed their debut with the much loved Lau Live album just a year later and in 2009 came the equally acclaimed Arc Light with a grander setting that produced a heavily played single ‘Winter Moon’ and an invitation from Mojo Magazine to cover The Beatles ‘Dear Prudence’ for their White Album celebrations.
Cue more awards, triumphant international touring, a proud catalogue of stomping festival appearances, splinter bands, solo recordings and a string of intriguing recent collaborations with rock legend Jack Bruce (Cream) Karine Polwart, Adem and a vast new orchestral work ‘Strange Attractors’ with composer Brian Irvine and The Northern Sinfonia.
Their last album Race The Loser was recorded with American producer Tucker Martine (Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists, R.E.M., Laura Veirs) in Scotland throughout the Spring of 2012. ‘Race The Loser’ pushes Lau’s complex, yet accessible sound, even further to the outer reaches of folk music whilst retaining all the strengths of the original acoustic trio (Kris Drever Vocals/Guitar, Martin Green Accordion, Aidan O’Rourke Fiddle).
The concert is being promoted by Alec Lyon of Lyon Events, “When I heard Lau were looking to do a tour of churches I jumped at the chance to present such an amazing act in an unusual setting. Their shows are always brilliant but set against the Georgian backdrop of St Johns I really think this is going to be a remarkable night”.
St. Johns, a redundant church on on Lancaster’s North Road, is a product of industry and prosperity, built in 1754-55 when the congregation of the nearby Priory church became too large. It’s been the backdrop to a varied range of events in recent years.
• Lau – 8.00pm, Sunday 24th November, St John the Evangelist’s Church, North Road, Lancaster. Full details of the concert and online ticket sales can be found at www.lyonevents.co.uk or cal 01792 229960 to book tickets by phone.