The Banana Sessions Mixtape Album Tour is coming to Letham Nights

Saturday 3rd March 8pm – midnight

Tickets £8.50/£7

from lethamnights@btinternet.com

Prepare yourself for an explosive live performance!

www.thebananasessions.co.uk

The Banana Sessions are a Scottish five-piece, each with their own musical style and wild imagination. The band formed in 2007 and soon became known for their unique style of pop music with heavy folk and jazz influences. And in the four years that they’ve been together, they’ve played blazing live shows across the UK; recorded two EPs – the Yellow EP and the Green EP; and most recently, released their debut album, Mixtape.

The Yellow and Green EPs were both recorded live over a few days, in an attempt to catch the band’s energy at its best, but Mixtape sees The Banana Sessions explore a much more intricate and mature sound. The album features a selection of Scotland’s musical finest, including Martin Green & Aidan O’Rourke (Lau); Lindsey Black & Heather McLeod (The Bevvy Sisters) and Ross Ainslie (Treacherous Orchestra/Salsa Celtica); and was produced and engineered by Garry Boyle (The Depot), mastered by Stuart Hamilton (Castlesound Studios) and with concept production by Dave Hook (Stanley Odd).

The Banana Sessions are a live force to be reckoned with, and are now renowned for their explosive live performances both on stages and off. Their much talked about bout of guerilla gigs included appearances on various forms of public transport (buses, trains, subways, etc.) across the UK. And on a train from Glasgow to Edinburgh one night, their impromptu performance impressed a writer from The Skinny so much he gave them a four star review. After this, they were asked to perform at Glasgow’s Subway Festival, ventured further afield to Ireland and London, where they played an impromptu gig at Fruit Towers – home of Innocent Smoothies – and entertained the crowd every night at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival aboard a most unusual venue, The Pink Bus.

The band are now UK festival favourites; and have had their Wellington boots firmly wedged into the muddy fields of such staples as Wickerman, Insider, Knockengorroch and Kelburn Garden Party. More recently, they were delighted to be named one of the highlights of Beatherder 2009/10 and in 2011, rocked the socks off Glastonbury.

The Banana Sessions’ reputable shows have gained them recognition across the UK but they’ve also managed to make an impression worldwide with their famous ‘Prodigy Medley’ (view below), which has reached over 200,000 hits (and counting) on YouTube and was posted by The Prodigy themselves on their own website. February 2012 sees the band embark upon The Banana Sessions Mixtape Album Tour… so keep your eyes peeled for them at venue near you.

The Banana Sessions are:

Roberta Pia – Lead vocals, Calum Wood – Guitar/Backing Vocals, Tom Pickles (Flute, melodica & whistles), Calum McIntyre (Drums, percussion & backing vocals), Tom Donaldson (Tuba or Sousaphone)

And now here is that famous ‘Prodigy Medley’,

At noon on 14th Jan 2012, Letham Nights became a ‘constituted body’. Phwoarr!

This means that we are now an official voluntary organisation with a chair, treasurer and secretary and a bank account.  This is very exciting.  We will now be able, if we can get our act together, to organise online ticketing.  We will be able to apply for grants more easily.  Most of all, we will be able to have committee meetings (ORDER! ORDER!) with minutes, and once a year (obviously) an Annual General Meeting!  Woohoo!

Click here to download the constitution

So there you are.  Look out for our deliberations…

More importantly, look out for details of the next Letham Nights which will be on 3rd March with the highly talented and entertaining….

Banana Sessions! – lots of wonderful details to follow…

featuring The David Latto Band, Chloe & Silas and the Adriana Spina Band

October is Oxjam month when music events across UK are dedicated to raising money for Oxfam. Letham Nights will be supporting this campaign with a fantastic open mic night on Saturday 1st October at 8pm featuring a talented array of acts as well as a set from Edinburgh band Buckley’s Chance. If you would like to reserve a ticket, contribute to Oxjam or offer to perform at the open mic session, please use the contact details opposite to let us know!

Donate to our Oxjam campaign – click on the link below…

Please note that we are raising funds for, but do not represent, Oxfam

It’s going to be a packed day with the Annual Letham Flower and Produce Show taking place.  Local makers and bakers and gardeners and growers from across the parish will be showing off their skills and vying for the favour of the judges to win the top prizes.  Why not make a day of it and come along at 2pm to see the winning entries.  The auction at the end of the afternoon is always a great chance to stock up on delicious home made cakes, jams and jellies, wine, flowers and prize vegetables.

At this point we need lots of help to clear up after the flower show and QUICKLY get set up for Letham Nights.  If you are around your help would be greatly appreciated!

Once we get this done, get the musicians sound-checked, the lighting sorted, tables laid, bar set up (phew!) it will be time to welcome our star guests for the evening….

LET THE MUSIC BEGIN!

First up, local boy, David Latto.  David has been making his mark over the past few years playing venues across Fife and beyond and delighting audiences with his unique brand of country/americana.  Here is a review of his new EP “Three Thousand Miles From Nashville”

He taps into the melodic and lyrical traditions of a culture three thousand miles from his home and imbues it with vitality.  Latto’s voice is particularly compelling, warm and resonant, with just a touch of his native accent evident, whilst the sparse arrangements really allow the songs to shine.

We have a treat in store!

We are then delighted to welcome back to Letham and Scotland – for the third time!! – the wonderful Chloe Hall from Melbourne, Australia.  Chloe is a big fan of Letham Nights making our spines tingle the last time she played with her heartwarming melodies and the moving stories in her songs.  This time she will be accompanied by virtuoso violinist Silas Palmer. Together they have just finished recording their new album, financed entirely through the pledges of fans.  Add your name to the list of pledgers and get the new download or a hard copy or a whole range of other possibilities…. We can’t wait to hear it! Here is what others have said about Chloe:

Chloe Hall has power. Every once in a while you attend a concert that has you wondering why you’ve never heard much about the artist on stage because they sound so good.

Finally, in an exciting triple bill, we will have sparkling, rising star, singer-songwriter Adriana Spina, one of the most exciting talents in the independent Scottish music scene.  Adriana has been a sell-out success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and made headlines when she was handpicked to support Sheryl Crow in the American superstar’s only UK headline date of her tour.  She will be joined by her four-piece band to finish off a cracking evening in style.

Adriana’s debut album “Never Coming Home” has just been released so we will be one of the first to get the chance to hear her new music and buy the CD.

The Bevvy Sisters: Powerhouse harmony trio. Radio-era chic, now retro cool.
Three sassy lassies. Reinventing the genre and covering all the exits.

Mixing classy original songs, vibrant vintage folk and artful contemporary covers into the headiest of musical cocktails, Scottish harmony outfit The Bevvy Sisters unites the richly seasoned voices of Heather Macleod, Lindsey Black and Roberta Pia, with Shooglenifty percussionist James Mackintosh and David Donnelly (ex-Salsa Celtica/Finlay Quaye) on guitar, mandolin and backing vocals. With sell-out shows at Glasgow’s world-famous Celtic Connections festival for the past two years, they have won a string of glowing reviews and extensive UK radio play. Check out songs from their album The St James Sessions.

And take a look at what the experts think:

‘I feel it’s my calling to be an understudy Bevvy Sister’ Eddi Reader

‘Luscious. Lovely. Tuneful. The Bevvy Sisters can mix the dirtiest martini in town, then sing it.’ Eliza Carthy

‘The only thing better than getting to listen to The Bevvy Sisters, is getting to sing with them’ Dick Gaughan

David McGregor, who we first met at a Haiti benefit gig in Dunbog, is a virtuoso jazz guitarist with a huge talent – and he has agreed to open for the Sisters.  His intricate and delicate picking on his own compositions and some classic jazz covers, is captivating.  After many years living in Scotland working in bands, recording and tutoring guitar, David is now living in Paris in the heart of the European jazz scene  …but he was not going to miss the chance of playing at Letham Nights with the Bevvy Sisters! Have a listen at http://www.myspace.com/davidmacgregorjazz

Tickets are already going well for our next two Letham Nights – Saturday Nov 6th with the Coaltown Daisies and the Moonzie Allstars and then our Christmas Bevvy with the Bevvy Sisters on Saturday 18th December. Get your ticket order in – don’t miss out! Email lethamnights@btinternet.com tel 01337 810372

We are also delighted to welcome a new ‘pop-up shop’ to Letham Nights with gifts and artefacts on sale from artist members of Craft Scotland. So if you are thinking of Christmas gifts, this will be an ideal opportunity to buy some high quality hand made craft items for family and friends.

Then on Saturday 18th December, join us for a spectacular Christmas Bevvy as we once again host the amazing, the wonderful, the delightful and delectable…. Bevvy Sisters supported by the captivating jazz guitar of David McGregor .  Can you think of a better Christmas night out?

Click on the links to sample the music and then get your bookins in! Happy to take your reservations for both gigs.  Just send email or phone or text.

Talking late into the night we got onto the subject of recipe’s. The discussion went onto discuss the fact that recipe’s aren’t

always food related. There are recipes for, say, a happy life, a good book or a perfect day, I bet you have many more examples.

With these thoughts bouncing around our heads Claire, Michael and I thought about the recipe for the perfect Letham Nights.

This is what we came up with

1800g of Celebrating Fife
2 fl oz of Midsummer
7 visiting relatives, From the USA
70°F of fantastic weather
13 Locally sourced performers, young and fresh
6-10 seasoned open mic musicians, various ages
1 compere, preferably juicy
2 professional, performing arts-based practitioners.
100 burgers from Pillars of Hercules
25 punnets of free strawberries
4 pints of cream, optional.
1 Clap and Tipple bar, fully stocked and staffed
1 Luva Anna.

To start, early in the morning mix together the two Arts practitioners with the 13 young performers, leave to photosynthesise for the rest of the day, making sure the creative juices flow nicely. Set aside to marinade towards a performance.

Meanwhile, arrange the Hall, the Clap and Tipple bar, the Pillars burgers, the strawberries, cream and the 7 relatives along with the PA, the Celebrating Fife funding and weather. Leave to soak up the atmosphere.

Then, mix all the elements together for the food part of the day, Make ready the audience by serving great veggie burgers/salad and very tasty free strawberries, allow situation to relax until done. Mix in 70°F temperatures and sunshine.

When replete, start the performance.
It started in a “flash mob” style, no introduction, straight into the performance, the young people walking through the hall from the various entrances. It took the audience a few seconds to realise what was happening. The performance included the spoken word, both solo and collectively, singing and musicianship. They conveyed a surprisingly honest take on teenage thoughts, fears, humour and sorrow. Being in the “gang” or not, loneliness, body image were issues also touched. Haggis man being particularly poignant.
They had written a song called the Loveliest Night of the Year and sang it beautifully.
Huge thanks to the young performers, to the tutors Fiona Miller and Mick Slaven for their fantastic efforts. What they managed to achieve in a day was remarkable.

Next, allow the musicians to play and sing their hearts out. First up, and as a wee taster for the music side of the day Roy Campbell and Mick Slaven performed two songs one of which Roy knew and the other Mick knew, neither had been practised beforehand.
Rhythm Is a Dancer and Pills and Booze were well received.
Steven Tom Smith soulfully sang through his beautiful songs, You Burn, Invisible Boy and If This Song Had a Name.
Mick Pritchard – Wow, who would have thought that voice would have come from Mick. He played Soul and Blues classics as well as a new song about his tortoise Herbert.
Kevin and Karen Scott, half of Ladybank Supergroup Skin and Bones played “May you never”, ”Still haven’t found what I’m looking for” and a version of The Black Oil Brothers’ Wednesday Afternoon.
Xander Duffy. Well, this was Xander’s second visit to Letham Nights and his voice soared and soared. He is completely unique and engaging, a tremendous voice and song writing skills. His songs featured a couple of covers – Hit the Road Jack and Halo along with his own I Go Back To and the brilliant Freedom.

Then add the acoustic Anthill Mob to finish. They played through rock and Blues classics from AC/DC to Zeppelin, to get everyone dancing.
What a fabulous mix of people – we do have some brilliant talent locally.
All this was seasoned with “peppered” comments from our comedy compere, the very “fruity” Bruce Devlin as each musician took the stage. Thanks Bruce… no really, thanks!

Finally, place on stage, one of the best live band’s the world has ever seen, Luva Anna.

They played for us in November and were truly fantastic then. This time it was no different.
They kicked off with the chillingly beautiful Sea Shanty, a 4 part vocal harmony that had the audience stunned. They then “battered” through old favourites like Coma Girl, Angry Fat Bouncer, Pigeon Song and The Ballad O’ Boaby Smith as well as newer numbers like Dumba Dumba, Sober, This is F*****g Urgent and Postcards – and of course the wonderfully evocative love song ‘Hold Still’.

Two encores were demanded by the audience which had an insatiable appetite for Luva Anna.