band bio

Overton & McCann are an Edinburgh-based duo whose intricate vocal harmonies and distinctive blend of guitar, ukulele, piano and trumpet blurs genre boundaries while keeping a folk essence.

Gareth Overton grew up in Yorkshire immersed in the vibrant culture of brass bands. This early exposure to music was honed through later performances with larger ensembles in London and Brussels. Gareth's interest in folk harmony came as he got into choir singing and went to workshops with The Young’uns. He began to focus on songwriting after teaming up with Lorraine.

Lorraine McCann is from Dundee and began singing and playing bass in the 1980s, in a C&W band which branched out to play pop and rock covers on a ferry from Aberdeen to Shetland. At sea, in the middle of the night, she began to write her own songs. Demos were made but, as often happens, post-uni life took over and put music aside for many years to work in publishing.

The partnership was formed after Lorraine put an advert on Gumtree for someone to sing harmonies with. Initially Overton & McCann performed covers but then developed their own material. A debut EP, “Overton & McCann”, was released in 2023 and since then the pair have gained recognition for their songwriting. 

In January 2026 Gareth’s “Getting Over Going Under” won the inaugural Wild Song songwriting challenge. The 2025 Edinburgh Folk Club songwriting competition also gave him first place for “It’s All Happening Tonight”. Lorraine had earned the runner-up spot when her song “Not The End Of The World” was in the same competition the previous year.

Overton & McCann’s songs are thoughtful reflections on universal yet under-explored subjects. They firmly believe that music can soothe the tender spots and help us all through life.

Their second EP is titled “The Forest” and will be released in September 2026.