Laura Hockenhull grew up in a family full of music. It was natural that she would develop an interest in performing. What is amazing is the quality of her performance, her ability to interpret songs in a new and refreshing way and her constantly developing skill and confidence.
The first time I heard Laura was on a recording. She joined Pete Morton to sing the part created for Norma Waterson on Sweet Loving Friendship from Peter Bellamy's The Transports. I was not the only one to be impressed. Laura's track was the first to receive national radio airplay (on both Radio 4 and Radio 2). Reviewers regularly singled out the track as one of the standout recordings of the set (which included, among others, Fairport Convention, Coope Boyes & Simpson, Steve Tilston and Grace Notes, the trio with which Laura's mum sings!). Mike Harding on Radio 4's folk programme advised listeners to "keep an eye on Laura Hockenhull because Free Reed think she is going places and so do I."
On successfully completing her university degree, she moved to York where she was welcomed into the thriving music scene, regularly singing both solo and with other musicians including the band Boss Caine. Her repertoire expanded to embrace many styles and genres of music from traditional ballads to rock, from American singer songwriters to folk songs.
When another Free Reed set was being compiled, I did not wait and hope that she would again volunteer a welcome contribution. Instead, I approached her directly, asking whether she would consider recording a version of Janis Ian's In The Winter. The result, which she recorded in collaboration with John Dipper, is one of the standout moments of the set, MidWinter, and is literally breathtaking.
Laura may still be establishing her reputation, but every time she sings live or is played on the radio, the growing number of her admirers increases.
Nigel Schofield
