Brrr!  It has been chilly  but Letham Nights #24 will warm you up!

Saturday 23rd June 8pm £8/£6

Before long it will be midsummer.  It’s sure to be a long balmy night and with the sound of The Gillyflowers drifting through the air, you won’t be able to stop yourself steppin out for a bit of a dance at Letham Village Hall…

The Gillyflowers are lead by hard-wired and intrinsic talent, Kirsten Adamson. Spending time in Nashville with dad Stuart Adamson of Big Country, at the tender age of 12 Kirsten recognised that her particular song writing style was ‘a little more country’ than a girl from Scotland’s should be.

Moving around so much as a child also landed Kirsten in Orlando for a while where she developed much of her live experience and, having served her ‘apprenticeship,’ became a guest vocalist for Big Country both live and on the album Driving To Damascus.

Now 26 and living in Edinburgh, she has just finished writing her first album and has been lucky enough to meet 6 like minded individuals with talent and passion for her music. The band have just finished recording their first album in Edinburgh with producer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Ali Moniak, which will be due for release summer 2012.

”The Gillyflowers have a growing following, and have in Kirsten Adamson a Dolly Partonesque country singer of poise and mighty ability.” David Pollock – The Scotsman

”With Adamson’s voice and acoustic guitar lent harmonic weight by two similarly apparelled female back-up singers, several examples of wild-flower discreetly adorn the stage. Both lend a showbiz dash to an already tight-knit and well-turned-out combo.” Neil Cooper -The Herald

“See them while you can still see the whites of their eyes. If your heart doesn’t melt, ask your doctor for a transplant.” Ed -17 Seconds Records

QUICK! Book a ticket!

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The website received the following plea for help. Can you help a bride in need?

Hi I was wondering if anyone can help me…. I had a singer booked for my wedding at balbirnie house, glenrothes for 6-7pm on sunday 17th june 2012 to sing and walk around the tables as my guests ate, my booking has now cancelled and i am struggling to find someone else… can anybody help? Thanks Nicky- 07964097072 / wicked_cola@hotmail.com

The Letham Nights team is pleased to announce that another supremely high quality act has been secured for our next gig on 23rd June….

The Gillyflowers!

Edinburgh band, The Gillyflowers are led by hard-wired and intrinsic talent, Kirsten Adamson, who, having spent time in Nashville with dad Stuart Adamson of Big Country at the tender age of 12, recognised that her particular song writing style was ‘a little more country’ than a girl from Scotland’s should be!

The band’s line up includes the soulful bass vibrations of Kelso, country drumming from a country boy at heart, Arron, Phil, the fastest chops in the land, on lead guitar, the talented Mr Bartlett on Keys, Joey the psychobilly fiddler and sugar sweet backing vocals from Ali and Kirrie.

Grab a sneak preview of the band here and get your booking in QUICK!! Once again, we expect this to be a sell out so don’t delay…!

”The Gillyflowers have a growing following, and have in Kirsten Adamson a Dolly Partonesque country singer of poise and mighty ability.”David Pollock – The Scotsman

”With Adamson’s voice and acoustic guitar lent harmonic weight by two similarly apparelled female back-up singers, several examples of wild-flower discreetly adorn the stage. Both lend a showbiz dash to an already tight-knit and well-turned-out combo.” Neil Cooper -The Herald

“See them while you can still see the whites of their eyes. If your heart doesn’t melt, ask your doctor for a transplant.” Ed -17 Seconds Records

Letham Nights #23 was incendiary with all 3 acts setting the place alight with their performances.

Having sold out faster than any previous show, Letham Nights #23 on April 21^st promised to be a great night and it didn’t disappoint.  After Mike F had completed the in gig safety demonstration and introductions, Xander Duffy came on for the first slot of the night.

This was Xander’s third visit to Letham Nights and his unique style of cover versions and original compositions (often in the same song) was as fresh as ever.  He quickly won over the crowd with an impassioned performance and drew loud cheers and foot stamping following his tributes to Amy Winehouse and an impressive Whitney Houston medley.  I feel the vocal acrobatics at the end of “I Will Always Love You” might even have been assisted by the lady herself.

One swift stage changeover later and The Boston Tea Party took the stage.  Drawing from the rich seam of late ‘60’s blues-rock, these guys unleashed a string of classic songs by artists such as Muddy Waters, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, The Allman Brothers and Bob Dylan.  Into this they also mixed their own excellent compositions and played throughout with stacks of skill and drive.  The crowd loved this set and gave Reuben and the guys a rousing welcome to Letham Nights.  They will be invited back!

Another quick change and Anderson, McGinty, Webster, Ward & Fisher (AMWWF) squeezed themselves and a huge array of instruments onto the stage.  Having had some stunning reviews from recent gigs and lots of local and national exposure on local radio and press (not to mention the now classic session on Tenement TV), their reputation preceded them and we knew we would not be disappointed.  From the opening chord to the final encore it was a great performance with a huge dynamic range of whispering ballads to thundering climaxes sometimes in the same song.  Talent and charisma ooze from every one of these guys and the performance was a great showcase for their songs, playing and stage presence.  Instruments were swapped continuously but unobtrusively between the band, and the lead singing passed from one player to another seamlessly, giving new meaning to the term virtuosity.  Songs from the new album like ‘Poor John’, the burlesque ‘Agony’ and the beautiful lullaby ‘Jessica’ were mixed with songs we can only hope will appear on the next album like the rollicking ‘Sally Brown’, ‘Boo Hoo’ and a stunning encore of ‘Hold Still’.  The compositions were strong and memorable, played with passion and perfection and left the crowd shouting and stamping for more until the very last minute of the night.  It’s just too much talent for one band and what a privilege to have had them play for us

You might just be able to get a ticket for their show at the Reading Rooms in Dundee on 5th May.  If not you will catch them at one of the many Festivals over the summer, notably the Big Tent at Falkland.  A grateful Big Tent promoter happened to be at this Letham Nights and lost no time in booking them after the show!

Letham Nights’ own warm and friendly bar, staffed by volunteers giving freely of their time and bringing to you a fine array of drinks and snacks beautifully presented and served with a loving smile and a cheery bit o’ banter.  As far as possible, in keeping with the Letham Nights ethos of living lightly on the land, we source all of our drinks and snacks from local suppliers, particularly Luvians bottle shop and always try to offer you a range of local, organic or fair trade beers, wines and soft drinks.

Enjoy, clap… and tipple!

The Banana Sessions

So. Another great evening of dancing and merriment at Fife’s foremost village hall shindig.

We’d been trying for some time to get Amy Rayner to the hall and we finally managed it on Saturday. Amy blew everyone away with a polished and confident performance which belied her young age. Her amazing composure and stage presence is a result of much hard work on the cabaret circuit but this was by no means music for the disengaged diner. A great selection of covers and equally strong original songs included one youthful call to arms which may have raised an eyebrow or two amongst the Letham Nights baby boomers. And what a voice.

Amy Rayner

Letham Nights is nothing without the community and it was a pleasure to welcome Lynne and The Letham Lullaboys to the stage for their ‘fifth rehearsal’. Inspired to start the band by attending Letham Nights (Lynne is practically an ever-present) they warmed hearts, raised smiles and packed the floor with their specially penned Letham Nights Blues.

Lynne and The Letham Lullaboys

All of which loveliness brought us to the bonkers and brilliant The Banana Sessions. Roberta Banana is no stranger to Letham Nights having once deputised heroically for a poorly Bevvy Sister. Tonight she returned with her usual amigos musicale to delight us once again. Musical nerds (such as your own humble correspondent although I prefer ‘aficionado’) will be rapt to note that the band utilised all four orchestral groups namely woodwind, brass, percussion and strings uniting them to toe blistering, shoe leather shredding effect. A mixing of tempos and musical flavours that one can only describe as a euphoric aural anarchy led the crowd down a rabbit hole and a Prodigy medley (all of this with acoustic instruments remember) very near took the roof off. Get your Buckfast here!

What band?

You know the one… they’re getting amazing 5-star reviews everywhere they go like this one

“I have rarely, if ever, been as overwhelmed and enthralled by a live performance as I have been tonight” Joe Leightley, Glasgow Music

And they played this glorious set on Tenement TV the other week

Aye, I know the one you mean now… What about them??

They’re coming to Letham Nights!!

Yer kiddin me on!

No, it’s true! 21st April 2012, 8pm, Letham Village Hall, Fife on the A92 just 15 minutes from the Tay Bridge, 10 minutes from Cupar and 15 from Glenrothes… 

If you know what’s good for you, get booked in now!  Tickets are selling fast already

Sign up on the event page on Facebook or use the contact details on this page to book.

See you there!

You certainly will!  I wouldn’t miss it for the world!

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There you go!

Emerging and very local artist, Amy Rayner, will support The Banana Sessions at Letham Nights #22 with songs from her new eponymous EP.  Rising star Amy from North East Fife, is a young singer-songwriter with a prodigious talent who cites as amongst her influences Sheryl Crow, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, The Pretty Reckless, Bright Eyes, Belle & Sebastian and the Eels.   For more info… http://www.amyrayner.co.uk/