The Fiery Five-Piece Festival Favourites
Gill Sherry
Having grown up in Inverclyde, Lynette Beaton was attuned to Scotland’s traditional music and folk scene, and it’s perhaps no surprise that she dreamt of becoming a musician.
The same could be said of her childhood friend, Lauren O’Dohoghue, and before they knew it, they were performing their first gig as a two-piece in a local pub in Gourock.
“We started out about 12 or 13 years ago,” Lynette informs me, “and kept on gigging for a good few years in pubs. Then, in 2020, we got our first gig up in Fort William and it was after that we started to break into the Scottish music scene and get offers for festivals and stuff like that.”
Both girls were confident vocalists with Lynette also playing the piano and violin, and Lauren the acoustic guitar. They were later joined by drummer Amanda Ballingal, and Ari Loughlin on double bass. By 2021, the band was complete thanks to Linzi Miller who joined them with her electric guitar.
The Laurettes soon gained a reputation as a fiery five-piece known for its fusion of indie folk and Celtic rock. The band can also boast another dimension when joined by piper, Anna Smart.
A familiar name on the festival circuit, the all-female band caught the attention of Keith Morrison who offered them a record deal with Wee Studio Records in Stornaway.
“We were supporting the likes of Skerryvore and Peat and Diesel… and he’d heard some of our songs. I think he just liked our energy.”
As a result, the band’s debut album Meet Me at the Mainstage was released in 2024.
“It’s been very well received. Over the years we’ve been recognised as a festival-favourite band because the whole point is, when we’re writing, we try and make sure that all the songs are able to be received by the audience and that they can understand and participate.”
All of the songs on the album were written by Lynette and Lauren, most with live audiences in mind.
“They can physically participate as well,” she adds, “by doing dance moves and being involved in chants and stuff. So the album went down really well. It got to a number in the download charts, but I can’t remember what it was.”
Seriously?
She laughs it off but does recall watching the charts closely.
“It was my friend that told us we’d made it into the top 20 a few months later. I didn’t realise the download chart was a separate category alongside the official chart. It was a fantastic achievement.”
A number of singles from the album also did well, namely ‘Witches’, ‘Mainstage’ and ‘Homebird’.
“Now we’re really known at the festivals, everyone’s singing the words back. And we get lots of messages from people saying how they can relate to the words and the feelings. Because it’s all about us touring, starting from nothing, going on to have our own band… just the journey and the fun that we have along the way.”
Of all the festivals the girls have performed at, is there a stand-out favourite?
“Our favourite festival is always Tiree. That was the first festival we went to. It was a kind of accident… we got a slot for someone who couldn’t make it, and they asked if we’d do a longer set than we were supposed to do. That led us to Belladrum to 17,000 people. That was the moment of thinking, Wow, we’ve done it, we’ve arrived! We’ll never forget that. It was really special.”
Other special moments include a supporting slot at Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom, although, the dream is to be the headline act at this iconic venue.
“We’re aiming to do that ourselves. And everyone would dream of playing the Hydro one day. That’s the manifestation in some shape or form.”
In the meantime, plans are afoot for a second album.
“We brought one single out this year, ‘Love Letter to Glasgow’. It got picked up by the Commonwealth Games, so we played it at the SEC Armadillo for all their volunteers just recently.”
The song is considered a bridging single until they can get back in the studio and have a second album ready for next year’s festival season. Not an easy task when the girls have other obligations to fulfil. Lynette, for example, is a music lecturer with her own music business.
“We’re not quite there yet,” she admits, referring to the possibility of a full-time career with The Laurettes. “We’re all a bit scared to take the leap.”
Understandable. But with a second album on the horizon and another season of festivals up their sleeve, it shouldn’t take long before the leap seems a little less daunting. Not forgetting the Scottish tour which includes a date at St Luke’s in Glasgow on Friday 23rd October.
“That is a dream come true, because we’ve always been desperate to do St Luke’s. It really is a big step up particularly as it’s our own headline show.”
The girls promise “a night to remember” with the audience being at the forefront of what the band hopes to achieve.
“We’ll probably play the album in its entirety, and we’ve a few surprises and tricks… We’ll make sure the audience can enjoy themselves.”
Further Scottish dates are still to be announced, and the band also hopes to perform south of the border, over in Ireland, and across to Europe. A return trip to America is also on the cards.
“We’ve signed with Apex Music International,” Lynette confirms. “That was a big thing this year. Our agent is Caroline Gilmore from The Eves. It’s been great and we’re looking forward to the next chapter and seeing what that’s going to bring for us.”
I feel excited on their behalf. The girls, who are not just bandmates but “absolute best friends” have already achieved so much, and they deserve whatever success is to follow.
“We’re all from the same town. Me, Lauren and Ari all went to school together. Lauren, Amanda and Linzi all studied at the college that I now teach at in Inverclyde. Ari and I also both studied at the Royal Conservatoire. We don’t take anything for granted. We’re really honoured to be doing what we’re doing and we’re just going to keep working hard.”
I’ve no doubt that hard work will be rewarded. In the meantime, in this ‘Dream’ edition of Ayrshire Magazine, does Lynette have a dream she’d like to share?
“People always say that we’re the female version of The Proclaimers… so it would be absolutely amazing to see how we would connect and if we could ever support them at a big gig sometime. And K T Tunstall as well… we’d love to connect with that next level up. Fingers crossed we can keep on going and do something like that.”
You can buy tickets to see The Laurettes at St Luke’s on 23rd October from: www.stlukesglasgow.com/events/st-lukes-presents-the-laurettes/
