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Cast your minds back to early May 2009. There yet? Good. You will remember we were entertained by three guys’ from Chicago who had searched the internet for venues in Scotland to add to their UK tour itinerary. Luckily the “Green” ethos of Letham Nights was a deciding factor and we were the lucky recipients of a storming show. The “Long Way from the Delta” show was an uplifting, authentic and foot stomping event. There was a connection felt by all who had attended the gig and this was sustained during the rest of their tour and indeed the following year using the usual social networking sites. Tony Manno said to me last week that he thought “life is so amazing when a decision made last year resulted in this friendship and Letham Nights being so close to their hearts”. I couldn’t agree more.

It wasn’t long before we were asked if they could return to Letham in the spring of 2010. They were so keen to play for us again that they told us they would arrange the UK tour dates around when we could fit them in. Last year they started the tour with us and this year they wanted to finish the tour with us then stay on a few days to relax before heading home to Chicago and a gig at the world famous “Buddy Guy’s”. We hadn’t set out our line up as far ahead as that but quickly decided on the 22nd May 2010.

A week later Ladybank band Skin and Bones contacted us asking about the chance of getting to play at Letham Nights. Brian cycled over a demo CD and after a wee listen thought they would be right on the money for the Black Oil Brothers as the support act. Synchronicity at work me thinks. Certainly serendipity.

So onto May, and the show. Before the sound check the band were lying on the grass at the side of the hall, taking in the sunny weather. Hamid and his 10 year old son Samadi turned up at the hall. Samadi had e-mailed the band asking what the chords were for “Saturday Afternoon”, a song on the album. They suggested at that time that he should get up on stage to play the song with the band during the show. Samadi was chuffed to bits, and did the sound check with the band, his guitar proudly sitting next to the bands guitars.

Skin and Bones came on stage to warm applause and played through their set of covers. Comprising Led Zepplin, Biffy Clyro, Neil Young and Foo Fighters songs. Sarah and Karen’s lovely harmonies along with Kev’s guitar and Brian’s percussion were well received by the sell out crowd. (The tickets were sold out two weeks before the gig, a first for Letham Nights, could this be a sign for the future?). All too soon their set was finished, leaving the stage to great cheers. They had only played six or seven gigs since they got together and really impressed the audience.

The Black Oil Brothers came on and continued where they had left off last year, playing through the album and adding a couple of covers along the way. Starting off with “Goggles Paisano”,“Going for Broke”, “Saturday Afternoon” starring Samadi, “Robert from Hibbert”, “Johnny and the Pale Rider”, “One for Suzie” and The Rolling Stones “Dead Flowers” where I was persuaded to make my live debut, Tony Manno very helpfully whispering the chords to me as I strummed along, grinning like a fool [You were great Roy! Ed.]. They finished the set with a fantastic version of The Band’s “The Weight”.
Once again their foot stompin delta blues, great guitar work and gritty vocals went down a storm, these guy’s know their trade and had the audience eating out of their hand.

As the night closed, they promised to come back next year… What do you all think?
Kev from Skin and Bones told me they were so inspired by the night that they were going to work on original material.

What a night!

During a small break in the Black Oil Brothers set Neil from the North Howe Transition Toun Movement presented us with a metal Letham Nights sign and extolled our efforts and successes during the last 18 months. The whole team were summonsed and a round of cheers were gratefully received. We had also found out that Michael had been nominated as an inspirational advocate on sustainability and green issues, achieving a top 20 placing from over a hundred nominees for the Scottish Green List, a fantastic accolade

The article in the Scotsman went something like this

Mike Farrell

Sometimes being green can seem slightly dry and worthy, but not when Mike Farrell is involved.
He has set up a local gig night called Letham Nights, which is aiming to fund a “zero carbon” village hall for Letham in Fife at the same time as providing a stage for local talent.
The project supports North Howe Transition Toun, aiming to tackle climate change in Letham, Monimail, Bow of Fife, Collessie, Giffordtown and Charlottetown.
Mr Farrell and his team are in the middle of a busy 2010 programme, which is attracting local and international acts. This list celebrates the incredible work going on by unsung heroes around the country.

Mostly at Letham Nights the acts come to us. They see the website or someone recommends them. It is one of the delightful things about this venture that lots of people out there are great musicians and they just want to be heard. But with the Bevvy Sisters it was different…

How it happened…
Location: Falkland
Occasion: “The Big Tent” Festival Summer 2009
Reason: handing out flyers for Letham Nights
Outcome: The Bevvy Sisters appearing at Letham Nights 11.

Sheltering in a tent to avoid the rain we stumbled across The Bevvy Sisters set. Luck was on our side that day because we were blown away by the performers on the stage. The Bevvy’s and their band played with joy, harmony and humour. Brilliant vocals shone through, I can’t think of three voices that were meant to sing together more than Kaela Rowan, Lindsay Black and Heather MacLeod. David Donnelly, guitar and mandolin and James Mackintosh on drums and percussion provided the perfectly judged backing to the sisters. Their incredible musicianship gave a huge soundscape to balance the beautiful vocals.

Michael and I approached them after the performance, handed them our card and gave them a wee resume of what Letham Nights is all about. They promised to get in touch as they were booked for the rest of the summer. That suited us as we were also sorted for artists.

Subsequent investigation revealed a gathering of fantastic reviews, a CD release, The St James Sessions, recorded (in single takes) at The St James Hall in Innerleithen and then wowing the crowds at this year’s Celtic Connections, pulling huge crowds wherever they played.
The e-mail came through and the date was set. Around this time Michael had been contacted by Colin McLean of the Edenists, recommending a young singer songwriter called Kirsty Keatch. She has just back from Manchester after winning the prestigious MIBI songwriters award. Chris Martin from Coldplay awarded her 25 out of 25 and Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe commented that her song is a “heartbreaking, gorgeous, ethereal pop track”.

And so to Letham Nights #11
Kirsty gave us a very impressive and confident show of self-penned songs using her electric guitar and a bank of effects to create loops of soaring melody. She sang her way through Silent Voices, Riddles, Moonbeam, Little Butterflies, Teardrop and the beautiful Dragonfly to name a few. The audience were held in a quiet and reflective mood by these lovely songs and by this future star. If there is any justice in this world Kirsty will be around singing for us for a very long time.

The Bevvy Sisters then graced the stage. There are others who have waxed eloquent about the rich, magical, sweet vocals that flow through swing, jazz, folk and Americana. I cannot add much to what has already been written. Songs from their debut St James Sessions CD were fully represented, amongst them The Littlest Bird, 1000 miles, The Way You Know You Do, Draw the Line and Apocalypse. They also covered the classics, Mary Don’t You Weep, Rock My Soul and Leadbelly’s Cow Cow Yikkey. The Letham Nights crowd were keen to get up and dance and were even tricked into descending onto the dancefloor to a 20 second ad jingle in the style of 50’s American TV! If the Cohen brothers are looking for some tunes for their next film, they should have a listen to The Bevvy Sisters. Each song was greeted with enthusiasm by the Letham Nights full house. There was dancing and audience participation and during the song Smoke, lighters blazed as the song was sung. As we had seen from the gig at the Big Tent, where they are booked to appear again this year, this band are certainly going places, and deservedly so. A straw poll taken at the end of the gig and the results were unanimous…Utterly Fantastic!

Hi folks,
Apologies for yet another email. Just to let you know that the Black Oil Brothers gig on 22nd May at Letham Village Hall is now SOLD OUT. The boys’ reputation from last year has clearly had an impact!

If you hadn’t got round to booking a ticket and would like to be informed of any returns, please just let me know and I will get in touch if we have any cancellations.

If you want to try your luck on the door on the night, please be prepared to wait until those who have made reservations have taken their seats,

If you DO have your reservation…. SEE YOU THERE for another great Letham Night!!

all the best,

Mike : )