McLaughlin developed a deep love for rurality and traditional music. Picking up the fiddle and guitar before his teens, he was inspired by the local folk music of islands and his mother’s involvement in the local Shetland Folk Festival.

Whilst drawing the from the wellspring of Scottish traditional culture, McLaughlin is not afraid to break the mould, weaving in new stories, songs and sounds to the continuum of folk music - earning the artist the genre label, alternative-folk.

He has also received wide-ranging praise for his songwriting from the likes of Earmilk, BBC 6 Music, The Herald, The Scotsman, and Clash Magazine.

“…a testament to McLaughlin’s incredible songwriting skills…” - Earmilk
“…phenomenal energy and great songwriting.” - BBC 6 Music
“Powerful, brooding songwriting.” - Clash Magazine

In 2024, Seán released his debut EP, “Ninewells”, with band The Wind-Up Crows, showcasing his alternative roots sound and earning praise from critics throughout UK and beyond.

Joined regularly by renowned Shetland-fiddle player, Vicky Gray, and long-time collaborator, Stephen Thom, on Mandolin, the group are equally at home in alternative indie-rock and traditional music worlds. The evocative songwriting and authentic delivery mean that Seán R. McLaughlin & The Wind-Up Crows are set to join the continuum of inspirational Scottish music.

The Wind-Up Crows Live band is currently:

Seán R. McLaughlin - Vocals & Guitar

Vicky Gray - Fiddle & Vocals

Stephen Thom - Mandolin & Vocals

Sandy Batchelor - Drums

Fraser Walpole - Guitar & Bass

Roberto Cassani - Double Bass

Label Contact : info@stitchrecords.com

Contact Band: windupcrowsmusic@gmail.com

“GOODNIGHT, LAD” ARRIVES 3RD MAY 2024

Stitch Records is proud to announce the release of the eagerly awaited debut album from Seán R. McLaughlin & The Wind-Up Crows. Titled, “Goodnight, Lad”, the album was co-produced by Seán McLaughlin, Andy Monaghan (Frightened Rabbit), and Jeremy Backofen (The Felice Brothers). The album lands on 3rd May 2024.

“Goodnight, Lad" was primarily recorded in McLaughlin’s home studio (a lockdown build project), but mixed between Andy Monaghan’s Glasgow studio and Jeremy Backofen’s place in Upstate New York.

Of the record Andy Monaghan states;

“Sean is a beautiful artist - honest and raw. His songs are searching for the secrets that life gives, inner and outer connection, a joy to be part of it.”

Jeremy Backofen has said;

“...it was a pleasure working with Seán - a very crafty songwriter with a great voice. I could tell he and the band spent a ton of time arranging and producing these songs. Easy to mix and easy to listen to.”

The record is indebted lyrically to McLaughlin’s upbringing on the tiny island of Bressay in the Shetland islands, with rural imagery and the pull of the north running through the songs. These ideas can be found in tracks such as “Wishing Well” and “Run Aground”. Elsewhere on the record, McLaughlin deals with the surreal effects of grief (first single, “Ninewells”) and a knack for song-short-story writing on tracks such as, “The Lightning Tree”.

The record features contributions from internationally renowned and award-winning musicians such as Ragini Shankar, Lewis McLaughlin, and Joe Montague, alongside celebrated Shetland folk artists such as, Vicky Gray, Alex Johnson, and J. J. Jamieson.

The record is to be launched at a homecoming show with Seán R. McLaughlin & The Wind-Up Crows travelling 200 miles north of mainland Scotland (a 13 hour boat trip) to the Shetland Islands, premiering the album in its entirety at the Mareel Theatre & Arts Centre as part of the Shetland Folk Festival.

Website: http://www.windupcrows.com
Pre-Order Vinyl & CD: https://windupcrows.bandcamp.com/
Pre-Save Link: https://windupcrows.ffm.to/goodnightlad
Instagram: @windupcrows + @sean_r_mclaughlin
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/windupcrows