COBOURG, Ontario, October 9, 2026 — Canadian Celtic folk duo Lo & the High Road has released its second studio album, Standing Stones, a 14-track collection exploring mythology, historical events, environmental concerns and human relationships through traditional folk instrumentation and contemporary arrangements.
The Cobourg-based group, comprising Lauren Halász and Colin McMahon, takes a darker musical and lyrical direction than its 2023 debut, Jackalope Tales (& other stories).
The album follows a successful crowdfunding campaign that helped finance CD and vinyl production, with Kickstarter supporters acknowledged in the physical release.
‘Standing Stones’ Expands the Duo’s Celtic Folk Sound
Written primarily by Halász and McMahon, Standing Stones combines influences from medieval European music, Celtic traditions, Renaissance compositions and modern indie rock.
The album was recorded in the duo’s home studio, with McMahon serving as producer and Halász providing lead vocals.
Several guest musicians contributed traditional instruments, including Saskia Tomkins on nyckelharpa, a Swedish keyed string instrument with centuries of history.
Steáfán Hannigan contributed uilleann pipes, Irish flute, tin whistle and bodhrán, while Jordan Baldwin provided violin and viol.
Electric guitar and full drum arrangements introduce a more contemporary sound on selected tracks.
“Overall, we wanted this album to feel out of time,” the duo explains, “some songs feeling very old, fitting the mythology and history they were based off of, and some tracks a little more modern.”
Title Track Explores Community and Shared History
The title song, Standing Stones, originated from McMahon’s interest in exploring friendship, community and non-romantic love.
Its inspiration comes from ancient standing stones found across Europe, monuments whose original purposes remain subjects of historical and archaeological investigation.
“I have this idea that the earth remembers, even if people do not,” Halász says.
The recording incorporates medieval-style vocal harmonies from Christine Dando and violin arrangements by Baldwin intended to evoke the sound of historical instruments.
Historical Events and Greek Mythology Shape Album’s Themes
Several tracks examine darker subjects through stories drawn from historical records and classical mythology.
Salem addresses the Salem witch trials, incorporating words attributed to Sarah Good, who was executed in 1692.
The song includes her recorded response to Reverend Nicholas Noyes:
“I am no more a witch than you are a wizard, and if you take away my life, God will give you blood to drink.”
“In a way, Sarah Good was my co-writer,” Halász says.
Musically, Salem introduces electric guitar, drums and layered vocals, moving beyond the duo’s predominantly acoustic arrangements.
Environmental Themes Emerge in ‘God of the River’
God of the River draws inspiration from Book 21 of Homer’s Iliad, in which the river Scamander rises against Achilles following the killing of Trojan soldiers.
“We wanted to write something about the environment, and humans’ treatment of it, while still staying within the themes of myth and history that flow throughout this album,” the duo explains.
Another track, The Weaver, combines traditional textile-working songs with the Greek myth of Arachne, whose weaving abilities provoke the goddess Athena.
The album also includes interpretations of traditional material such as Wild Mountain Thyme and Canaries.
Canadian Folk Duo Builds on Streaming and Touring Success
Lo & the High Road’s debut album, Jackalope Tales (& other stories), has accumulated more than 2.8 million Spotify streams across nine tracks, according to the group’s promotional materials.
The duo also reports a combined social media following exceeding 200,000 worldwide.
Its music has attracted audiences interested in fantasy storytelling, Renaissance festivals, tabletop role-playing games and Celtic musical traditions.
During 2026, the group toured between Toronto and Halifax, performing with supporting musicians Dave Finneran, Christine Dando and Jordan Baldwin.
Appearances included Kingston’s Ironwood Fantasy Fair and the Cultivate Festival in Port Hope, Ontario.
Independent Release Supported by Fans and Canadian Musicians
The album features additional contributions from Amanda Weatherall, Evan Dando, Martin Gladman and David Finneran.
Cover artwork was created by Abbey Komes, while the recording was published through Will-o’-Wisp Records, with SOCAN credited in the release information.
The successful crowdfunding campaign reflects the role direct audience support can play in financing physical releases for independent Canadian musicians.
With Standing Stones, Lo & the High Road continues developing its blend of traditional folk music, historical storytelling and modern production while expanding its catalogue for Canadian and international audiences.
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