Sean Lakeman

Early life and beginning career

Sean was brought up in Buckland Monachorum, near Yelverton, Devon with his brothers, fellow folk musicians Seth Lakeman and Sam Lakeman. He began playing guitar at the age of six, and was noticed as a prodigious musical talent from an early age. He played with his parents, Geoff and Joy Lakeman, and with his brothers in a family band. He also made up a quarter of the BBC Radio 2 'Young Tradition Band' alongside Catriona MacDonald, Luke Daniels and Simon Thoumire.

In his early career he partnered folk fiddle veteran Tom McConville on the UK folk club circuit, and from the early 1990s, played guitar as part of the ’Lakeman Brothers’, with brothers Seth on violin and Sam on piano. The trio wrote and produced the album Three Piece Suite (1994), upon which Kathryn Roberts was a guest singer for two tracks.

Forming the band Equation

Kathryn Roberts and Kate Rusby asked the Lakeman Brothers to accompany them as a backing band for a tour of Portugal in September 1994. On their return to the UK the five agreed to form a permanent band and Equation was born.

The name of the band refers to the initials of the band members' names, KR2 + SL3.

Shortly after forming, Irish singer Cara Dillon replaced Kate Rusby and in the summer of 1995, they signed a record deal with Blanco y Negro (Warner Music Group).

The group recorded their debut album at Peter Gabriel's Realworld Studios in 1995-'96. The album, entitled Return to Me, was produced by David Bottrill (Tool, Muse, King Crimson). There was a single release, "He Loves Me", with an accompanying promotional video. The band performed on MTV and VH1, but weeks before the release of the album the record label shelved it. It was not released in 1996, but in 2003 it saw a release under Rough Trade after Geoff Travis (the band's A+R) bought its rights.

The band toured throughout the UK and Europe, and completed ten tours in the USA throughout the late 90's. The line-up would change over the years but Sean and Kathryn were constants as Equation went on to produce four albums: Return To Me (recorded 1996, released 2003), Hazy Daze (1998), The Lucky Few (1999), First Name Terms (2004), and The Dark Ages EP (2001).

Equation has since been referred to as a folk supergroup as its members have all achieved considerable success.

Seth Lakeman

Sean has produced four albums for his younger brother Seth Lakeman which broke the boundaries and perceptions of traditionally based British folk music. Freedom Fields went gold in the UK and was voted BBC Radio 2 Folk Album of the year (2007). The Mercury music prize nominated Kitty Jay, and Poor Man's Heaven which were both certified Silver in the UK. Sean was also a pivotal member of his brother Seth's touring band for 9 years, playing guitar.

Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman

Sean is also one half of the highly respected folk duo 'Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman' with his wife, singer Kathryn Roberts. They have recorded four albums together: 1 recorded in 2001 and 2 recorded in 2003, and after a 9-year hiatus, Hidden People (2012). Tomorrow Will Follow Today, released in early 2015, led to a tour of the UK.

In 2013 and 2016 the couple were voted Best Duo at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Kathryn's song 'The Ballad Of Andy Jacobs' was also nominated as Best Original Song at the same awards in 2013.

Record production

Sean is an in demand record producer for folk and folk-rock bands. His production credits include two highly acclaimed albums for The Levellers (band), plus other acts such as Seth Lakeman, Bellowhead, Frank Turner, Billy Bragg, Imelda May, The Willows, Carus Thompson, Show of Hands, Mad Dog Macrea, The Long Hill Ramblers and Rev Hammer.

Sean also appears as a session guitarist on albums by Cara Dillon and Caroline Herring.

Personal life

Sean is married to singer Kathryn Roberts and they have twin daughters, Poppy and Lily, born 1 July 2007.