26/05/2012

Lau announce new album and tour

One of modern folk music’s most innovative bands Lau return with their third album ‘Race The Loser’ on October 1st (via Reveal Records). The trio’s captivating live and studio performances have seen Lau pick up three consecutive BBC Folk Awards for Best Group (2008-2010). ‘Race The Loser’ was made in Scotland with American producer Tucker Martine (Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists, Laura Veirs, R.E.M.) with the original acoustic trio - Kris Drever vocals/guitar, Martin Green Accordion, Aidan O’Rourke Fiddle.

Kris Drever ‘Tucker picked up our ball and ran the full length of the pitch and off out of the stadium with it.’

Martin Green ‘we found a producer who understood both our traditional roots and encouraged me to find a place for our love of electronic music within Lau’s sound.’

The band have spent the two and half years since the critical and commercial success of their ‘Arc Light’ album collaborating on a variety of special projects including EP’s with electronic producer Adem and Scots singer Karine Polwart and a live show and documentary for the BBC with rock legend, Cream bassist Jack Bruce. In addition Lau wrote a vast new orchestral piece ‘Strange Attractors’ with composer Brian Irvine which debuted at The Sage, Gateshead in 2011 and was performed by Lau and the Northern Sinfonia.These collaborations have added much to ‘Race The Loser’s’ sonic quality, electronic explorations and original songwriting.

Aidan O’Rourke ‘you could draw a line from our debut ‘Lightweights and Gentlemen’ through ‘Arc Light’ and the ‘Versus’ EP’s to where we find ourselves now with ‘Race the Loser’. We're more confident in our writing and the noise we've created this time feels closer to the sound which we have been aiming for.’

Famed for their incredible live concerts, the band have been asked to curate their own mini festival ‘Welcome To Lau-Land’ at London’s Kings Place venue (Oct 17-20). The festival will feature musical friends and influences such as Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick as well as Mercury Prize nominees King Creosote & Jon Hopkins. Lau will launch ‘Race The Loser’ on Thursday 18th October at their King’s Place festival, before embarking on a full national tour throughout November.

‘Race The Loser’ UK Tour Dates:

18/10/2012 London, Kings Place Album Launch

01/11/2012 Inverness, Ironworks

02/11/2012 Aberdeen, The Lemon Tree

03/11/2012 Glasgow, Oran Mor

04/11/2012 Dundee, Gardyne Theatre

06/11/2012 Edinburgh, The Queens Hall

07/11/2012 Leeds, The Brudenell Social Club

08/11/2012 Sheffield, The Greystones

09/11/2012 Nottingham, The Glee Club

10/11/2012 Manchester, The Deaf Institute

11/11/2012 Cambridge, The Junction