Lau

Lau is a Scottish contemporary folk band from the United Kingdom, active since 2005. The group consists of Kris Drever, Martin Green and Aidan O’Rourke. Its name comes from an Orcadian word meaning “natural light”.

Music and style

The band works in folk and celtic music, and is known for combining guitar and vocals, piano accordion, and fiddle in its line-up. It is described as a trio of exponents of modern traditional music.

Career

Lau forms in 2005 and quickly becomes established on the UK folk scene. The group wins Best Group at the BBC Folk Awards in 2008 and receives the same award in the following two years as well. In 2009 it releases Arc Light.

In 2010 the band records and releases the five-track EP Evergreen with singer-songwriter Karine Polwart. Its third album, Race the Loser, follows in 2012. That year the band also appears on Later... with Jools Holland and performs the song “Torsa”. In 2019, John Parish produces the album Midnight and Closedown.