A well kent face on the Glasgow Folk and Roots scene, mandolinist, tutor, singer and composer Laura-Beth is a founding member of award winning folk bands The Shee & Kinnaris Quintet. She was nominated for the MG Alba Composer of the year award in 2013 after the success of her Celtic Connections commission and debut album ‘Breathe,’  and again in 2024 alongside Ali Hutton for their ‘From The Ground’ debut album.

Hailing from Lincolnshire,  her parents immersed LB in a diverse range of musical influences from an early age. They ran a local session which lead to Laura-Beth’s background in Old-time, Bluegrass and roots music. Feeling a desire to progress further, she moved to Newcastle to study the mandolin and composition on the Folk Music Degree, where she discovered a love for exploring traditional music from all over the world, and met her fellow band members in The Shee.

After university, LB moved to Glasgow and toured extensively with The Shee and as a dep in Frigg and Shooglenifty. Years of sessioning in Glasgow’s musical melting pot, she became a stalwart of the traditional music scene, gigging with Kinnaris Quintet, in a duo with Jenn Butterworth and in brand new collaboration, From The Ground, in which she co-writes and performs with Ali Hutton.

LB is the newly appointed Head of Youth & Communities at The National Piping Centre, where she is currently based.

If you would like to get involved, she runs the Glasgow Mandolin Band, an easy going, free, community band or take a look at Glasgow Mandolin Retreat – a yearly weekend she run’s in partnership with Ethan Setiawan. This one attracts mandolin players from all over the world to come and learn from top class mandolin players, with a focus on both Scottish and Bluegrass styles.

You can find some of Laura-Beth’s tuition on her patreon page, as well as performances and access to behind the scenes footage.