Folk group Lo & the High Road invite listeners into a twilight world of myth, music and magical ambiguity with their new single Lanterns in the Mist, out now. Weaving together Celtic instrumentation and modern folk storytelling, the track continues the ensemble’s tradition of grounding fantasy in emotional truth, set to a soundscape of bouzouki, bodhrán, fiddle and harmonized vocals that feel like they’ve wandered out of the fog between dreams and daybreak.
Led by Lauren Halász (vocals, bass, bodhrán, whistle) and Colin McMahon (guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, production), the Cobourg-based project draws inspiration from folklore, fairy tales and the living tradition of Celtic music. “This song is from the perspective of a child who is being stolen away by fairies,” explained Lauren. “It’s a theme in stories from cultures all over the world. Sometimes they’re taken for sinister reasons, sometimes to be saved. We wanted to leave that question open.”
Musically, the song plays in that same liminal space—balancing ethereal beauty with unease. “When Lo brought me the lyrics, I was struck by the darkness,” said Colin. “But what I heard was something energetic, almost danceable. So we settled into that tension—between wonder and danger, between the comforting past and the unknown world ahead.”
The lyrics are a sonic invitation to follow the fairies through oak and ash, to leave behind kings and crowns, and wander into a world where dew tastes like honey and violins shimmer with gold. The fairies—sung in wispy three-part harmony—are at once alluring and untrustworthy, leaving the listener suspended in longing.
Lo & the High Road has developed a devoted international following of more than 200,000 fans online, many of whom use their music as soundtracks for Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, woodland weddings and even Renaissance Faires. Their first album Jackalope Tales (& other stories) reached more than one million streams and established the band as an emerging voice in Canada’s modern folk scene.
Lanterns in the Mist is the band’s latest exploration of myth, music and meaning—a song that resonates with anyone looking for escape, imagination or even healing. “I think I wrote this song as a coping mechanism,” said Lauren. “Sometimes we all need a space between worlds to rest. A place where the land is healthy and we are safe. A place to keep our lanterns lit.”
Following the release of the single, Lo & the High Road will bring their haunting harmonies and rich arrangements to Ontario stages throughout the summer:
Lo & the High Road – 2025 Tour Dates:
- Aug. 10 – Summer Music in the Garden, Toronto, ON
- Sep. 12 – Victoria Hall, Cobourg, ON
Fans of Celtic traditions, fantasy storytelling and indie folk revival will find themselves at home in the mossy, melodic world Lo & the High Road continues to build. “We’re not trying to escape reality,” said Colin. “We’re trying to build bridges between the old stories and the ones we’re still writing.”
