`Like an epic lock-in somewhere suitably remote, peat-smelling and rain-lashed' - Plan B
Lau is a formidable union of three of the finest and most innovative exponents of modern traditional music: Kris Drever (guitar and vocal), Martin Green (piano accordion) and Aidan O'Rourke (fiddle). Together, their explosive live performances have been generating a major buzz around the UK folk circuit but theirs is now a world-wide party.
`..combined sense of musical style, adventure and fun makes them one of the most exciting new acts in recent years' - The Telegraph
The summer of 2007 saw them take festivals by storm across Europe and North-America, the Autumn took them to Japan and Cape Breton. They kicked off 2008 at the BBC Folk Awards where they gave what was widely regarded as the performance of the night and went on to win BEST GROUP award !
Following on from Lau's acclaimed debut album, `Lightweights & Gentlemen' (Reveal Records/ 2007), LAU LIVE " was recorded in Edinburgh and will be released by Navigator in April 2008, capturing the excitement of their shows.
Lau are the product of a highly creative Edinburgh music scene in which musicians often play with different bands and experiment stylistically. Scottish Fiddler Aidan O'Rouke and guitarist Kris Drever teamed up with charismatic Green, a Scotland-based Englishman probably best known for his work with Eliza Carthy. Together, Lau have taken a new approach to the folk scene by writing much of their own material, creating complex and melodic compositions which change as the emphasis shifts between their 3 instruments; moody or frantic accordion interwoven with driving fiddle and guitar.
Kris Drever
Kris Drever - is a native of Kirkwall, Orkney. His distinctive guitar playing and singing have generated a great deal of interest and his debut album, Black Water, won him many accolades including Best Newcomer at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. He has toured the world and performed with The Battlefield Band, John McCusker, Harem Scarem, and with his father, folk singer and guitarist Ivan Drever. He has also toured England, Ireland and Wales with folk stars John McCusker and Kate Rusby.
"...huge abilities on guitar and a highly evolved contemporary singing style" - Scotland on Sunday
Martin Green (Accordion)
Martin Green grew up playing English and Irish traditional music in the south of England. He has played with many of the great singers including Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson, Kathryn Tickell, Linda Thompson, Joan Baez and a long-term collaboration with Eliza Carthy which culminated in a duo album "Dinner" released in 2001.
A keen interest in composition and more contemporary music lead to several theatre and performance based commissions including musical director for the huge outdoor show "Albatross" (2004) and work with jazz trumpeteer Colin Steele on a production of "The Little World of Don Camillo", which is still touring nationally. A sought after collaborator, in the last year alone Martin has performed with John Rae's Celtic Feet, The Unusual Suspects, Salsa Celtica, The Felsons, and The Daniel Lapp trio.
"Martin Green is as virtuosic as he is entertaining." The Guardian
Aidan O'Rourke (Fiddle)
Aidan is a fiddle player and composer from Oban on the West Coast of Scotland. He has toured extensively in Europe and North America from the age of 15 and has made his name as one of Scotland's most expressive and dynamic musicians. At 19, Aidan formed Tabache with Claire Mann and went on to record the internationally acclaimed album 'Waves of Rush'.
Aidan also performs with Blazin' Fiddles (Live Act of the Year 2004) and has now performed on more than 60 albums ranging from Runrig to Michael McGoldrick and Karen Mathieson. Recently he was nominated as 'Instrumentalist of the year' at the Scots Traditional Music Awards and recent commissions have included a piece entitled 'Mantra Alba' which welcomed the Dalai Lama to Scotland in June last year.
"O'Rourke underlined the sheer quality available in this band, with marvelous, soft toned articulation and apparently endless reserves of musicality." The Herald