As Laura’s mum is a violin teacher, she was forced into a twice-daily practice routine from the age of 4. Picking up the piano and saxophone along the way, she grew up on a diet of classical music – winning local competitions and leading orchestras, but of an evening hearing the twangling of old-time banjo from her Stepdad in the kitchen whilst he avoided doing the washing up. Once Laura got to York uni to study music, she soon learned that it was much more fun playing fiddle music around the pubs with a pint in her hand than sit for hours in rehearsal rooms. To divert from the essay-writing she began to listen and study a vast range of folk music, and it’s this megamash of influences, together with a cheeky grin of rebellion, that she now brings to Blackbeard’s Tea Party.

Photo: Andrew Moore

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