Lanterns on the Lake is an English indie rock band from Newcastle. The band is composed of Hazel Wilde, Paul Gregory, Bob Allan and Angela Chan. Lanterns on the Lake formed in 2007 and was founded by core members Wilde & Gregory, and former member Oliver Ketteringham. They self-released two EPs and a single before signing to the Bella Union record label in December 2010.
The band released their debut album Gracious Tide, Take Me Home in September 2011. The album was recorded by the band in their homes and produced by the band’s guitarist Paul Gregory. The album received mainly positive reviews and received a metacritic rating of 74. During this period Lanterns on the Lake supported Explosions in the Sky on their UK tour including the O2 Academy, Brixton. The band has also toured with Low, including a performance at the Royal Festival Hall in London and with Yann Tiersen, including a performance at The Roundhouse.
The band’s follow-up album Until the Colours Run was released in October 2013 in UK and Europe. The album received positive reviews, receiving a metacritic rating of 84 with many reviewers noting its socio-political undertones. Drowned in Sound declared it “one of the best records of the young decade”. The group extensively toured Europe, and in early 2014 they embarked on their first tour of the US. In November 2015 the group released their third album Beings worldwide. Beings was met with critical acclaim with Drowned in Sound declaring Lanterns on the Lake as “One of Britain’s most crucial bands of the present moment.” and DIY Magazine describing the group as “virtually without equal”.
Following touring throughout 2016 the band took a break. It was during this break that Wilde began writing many of the songs that would go on to make up Spook the Herd. The band developed the songs over the course of a year before recording at Distant City studios in Yorkshire. This was the first time the group had gone into a studio to record. Wilde has commented that “We are a pretty insular band in how we work, and trusting other people enough to allow them to get involved is not always easy for us.”The album was produced by the band and mixed by the band’s guitarist Paul Gregory. The album was released in February 2020 and received positive reviews with MusicOMH describing it as “a masterpiece”. The album was noted for reflecting on issues including polarized politics, social media, addiction, grief and the climate crisis. The album was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in 2020.
In June 2023, Lanterns on the Lake released their fifth album, Versions of Us. Following the departure of the drummer, Ol Ketteringham, they recruited the Radiohead drummer Philip Selway to perform drums and percussion. According to Wilde, Selway helped them create a “whole other version” of the album and restored their confidence in the songs. Versions of Us received acclaim, with a Metacritic score of 82.
