On 29th April we had the return of the Sisters (of the Bevvy variety) to Letham Nights.  But can you believe it? Now the brothers (of the Black Oil variety) are coming back again to be reunited with their extended family. With new songs in their locker and a swagger in their step from playing support to Buddy Guy (at Buddy Guy’s!!! in Chicago!!! – I know, right!), the boys are desperate to get back on stage at Letham Nights. The boys are embarking on their 3rd Annual Tour of the UK, and as always, the tour would not be complete without a stop in their favourite village to see their favourite folks.   This from band member Tony Manno: “A TBOB UK tour without a Letham Nights stop is not a tour at all. This time we’ll be bringing Johnny Action on the drums to make sure every foot in the house doesn’t stop stompin’ all night!”

Check them out here and here

Opening for them will be the inimitable Mick Pritchard with his pared down, gutsy, bare-necessities blues. Quiet and unassuming offstage, when he gets behind that microphone, you’ll know he’s there alright!

So what’s keeping ya?  Get your reservations in quick – It’s only 5 weeks away.

To reserve a ticket use the contact details on this page.

You can also sign up to the Letham Nights Facebook Group.

If you accept the invite to the event on Facebook please also leave a message to say how many tickets you want,

Thanks,

Mike xx

Photos from The Bevvy Sisters appearance at Letham Nights…

We are delighted to announce that once again, before even a sweet Bevvy note has been sung or guitar tenderly plucked, the Bevvy Sisters have attracted a full house to Letham Nights for a ‘Right Royale Bevvy’ on Friday 29th April, kicking off at 8pm and opening with a set from virtuoso jazz guitarist, David McGregor. If you did not manage to book your ticket we are truly sorry but wish you a fine Friday evening.  If you are still keen to come, please still contact us in case we get some call-offs.

If you DO have your reservation, here are a few wee reminders….

1. There is a licensed bar – the wonderful Clap & Tipple, with cheery (sometimes buxom) staff on hand to help you quench your thirst with a fine range of beers, wines, soft drinks and snacks as far as possible locally sourced and organic…
2. We will be having a raffle to support AGLIT- Adolescent Girls Literacy Programme in Malawi with truly wonderful prizes…
3. The craftscotland pop-up shop will be on hand to offer you a range of products from local makers
4. There will be prizes – yes PRIZES! – for the best tiara or crown worn on the evening (following from the Right Royale Street Party at the Well Tree in the afternoon)

So we’ll see you there – bring a happy smiling face and your tiara!

Michael xx

The craft shop will be back with (wedding) bells on! Following a successful pop-up at the November 2010 Letham Nights, craftscotland are presenting a range of gifts fit for any wedding pressie list. There will be rings from Jane Gowans who recently completed a year long artist-in-residency at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee. Local lass Claire Heminsley’s tea towels, which are designed in Letham, hand printed in Edinburgh and each have their own story printed on the label, will be available to buy on the night. We will also be introducing ceramicist Cosima Sempill. Cosima’s work is featured in the current edition of Real Life Weddings magazine after she created 150 ceramic favours for her brothers wedding last year.

25% of all sales go towards the running costs of craftscotland, the national agency which promotes Scottish craft, and 25% of all sales are donated to Letham Nights. So whether you are looking for a wedding present or feel like treating yourself to something handmade in Scotland, make sure you bring cash to the pop-up shop as it’s cash only sales.

For more information on craftscotland visit craftscotland.org

Well we always knew those fine young ladies who call themselves the Bevvy Sisters were elegant, debonair and sophisticated.  But we didn’t know just how…

Check this out from new Bevvy, Roberta, fondly known as Banana Bevvy…!
“Kate Middleton and I are distant cousins [ooh get you! Ed]. I say distant with slight nostalgia… true, we’re not so close these days, but as kids, we had a riot together.

Our favourite thing to do was climb trees in my back garden. We’d always arrive back home completely covered in mud (which I’m sure would come as a bit of a surprise to her new family-in-law). We were also big Singing Kettle fans [Oh dear, had they not heard of the Happy Gang? Ed]. We spent a lot of time singing, “Spout! Handle! Lid of metal! What’s inside the singiiiiiiiing kettle!?” at the top of our lungs through a Fisher Price cassette tape player – complete with toy microphone. Ah, those were the good old days…

As we got a little bit older we grew apart a little. My last memory of us as teenagers was getting a little bit drunk for the first time ever and her telling me how much she admired the Royals. With all due respect, they’ve never really been my cup of tea. I was interested in other things. I think this was when I realised we were growing apart as people. My passion was music, hers was royalty. I suppose it’s understandable, the life of a musician isn’t always a glamorous one. Especially a musician with a penchant for tree-climbing.“

So there you are people.  Poor deluded Banana Bevvy – think what she could have become…. But wait a minute!!!  Look what she has become!  A fully fledged Bevvy Sister – and what’s more, playing at Letham Nights on 29th April!!

Hurry now! Only a few tickets left!

Recently in Letham we were saddened by the death of Letham resident Judith Fairley after a short illness.  Judith was an active and committed member of Letham Hall Committee.  She was also active in supporting her global community, raising funds in aid of ‘AGLIT’ – an Adolescent Girls Literacy programme in Malawi. This is a project which supports girls who have left or dropped out of school in rural Malawi, encouraging them to continue learning whilst growing vegetables and taking part in other activities to support their homes and generate income.  Judith was particularly engaged in funding a treadle pump for the project to supply water to a very dry part of Malawi.

We have decided to hold a raffle at Letham Nights on 29th with all proceeds going to AGLIT.  Prizes will include a Bevvy Sisters CD and one of the new Letham Nights T-shirts.  Please give generously to support this cause.

You can also support this cause by going to the fund-raising coffee morning in Letham Village Hall on Saturday 30th April from 10.00 ’til 12.00 the morning after the gig…  Please support this fund-raiser with your presence and/or with a donation.  Donations of raffle prizes and items for the baking stall can be handed in on the morning or given to Pat Laidlaw (01337 810279) or Kath Black (01337 810202)

29^th April – A very special day!  Why?  Well, dontcha know?  The Bevvy Sisters are coming to Letham Nights by Royale Appointment for a Right Royale Bevvy!

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

LETHAM NIGHTS #16

18^th February 2011

Letham Village Hall

After the disappointment of having to cancel the Bevvy Sisters gig due to the awful weather, we were really looking forward to blowing the winter blues away with Letham Nights 16. We had Buckley’s Chance and the Howie Fyfe Experience booked to entertain you. The crew had bought in the beverages and snacks, the hall was looking as classy as ever, Geoff the sound guy was ready……… when we got the call……. Buckley’s Chance singer Syuzan had been struck down with a bad case of food poisoning and would have to cancel. They were “gutted” not to be able to play such is the reputation that Letham Nights has earned. We will reschedule, that’s a promise. We, on the other had, didn’t have time to be “gutted”, a few phone calls later we had arranged for half of the Moonzie Allstars and the very impressive Mick Prichard, self confessed ”South Yorkshire’s premiere ”sighted” blues man”. David Adam, from the Moonzies, came all the way down from Blairegowrie to play for us. Mick was attending the gig anyway but brought his guitar and vocal chords along with him. The Howie Fyfe Experience were able to lengthen their set accordingly. I have to say at this point “Well done to everyone involved, out of adversity, it’s amazing what can be achieve with a positive attitude”, thanks again to Roy, Claire, Michael, Mick, Emma, Zoe, Leo and Geoff as well as all the musicians mentioned earlier.

The Howie Fyfe Experience kicked off the proceedings with a first set, plucking from the very rich sea that is Americana, a varied and diverse selection of well known and lesser well known songs. Written by or made famous by the great and the good,  John Prine, David Allen Coe, Bobby Bare, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Rolling Stones, Steve Earle, Gram Parsons, Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen to name a few. Songs including Speed of the Sound of Loneliness; Lafayette; You Never Even Call Me by my Name; Miller’s Cave; Streets of Baltimore; He Lays in the Reins; Willin’, were the highlights amongst great songs of the first set.

 A short break to allow the Clap and Tipple to fill everyone’s glasses was followed by the birthday celebrations of Lynne. Lynne, Sharon and friends have graced us with their presence on almost all of the Letham Nights held over the two odd years we have been in existence. This was followed by Mick Pritchard. Mick had already graced the stage at the open mic section of The Loveliest Night of the Year event. He played a short set, having been asked to play just hours before the show started. Four songs, two covers, Neil Young’s Harvest Stack ‘o’ Lee by Mississippi John Hurt, one self penned Minnesota Bound and a brilliant rendition of “The Bear Necessities”, the reception to this almost like an encore. I have to say Mick is becoming a force to be reckoned with, his performance has come on in leaps and bounds since his last appearance in June. Great guitar picking and a versatile, powerful and soulful voice really wowed the crowd.

 Geoff and David, after a short break performed a “Half Moonzies” set, the musicianship, the songs and the chemistry between Geoff and David was electric. Great interplay between the Cumbrian Pipes, whistle, guitar, bazouki and percussion (Yes, there were only the two of them on stage) ensured the crowd rose from their seats to dance a jig during their set. They roared through 9/8’s, Mutt and Bear (David’s creative use of a loop pedal, multi layering the pipes), AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie and Good Bye Bertha (from the Moonzie AllStars debut CD Hypnagogic)

 The Howie Fyffe Experience performed their second set which was more upbeat than the first, exactly what the crowd wanted. The dancing continued as Copperhead Road; Splendid Isolation; Long Black Veil; Wild Horses; Do Bad Things; Worry Too Much; Jezebel; Bible and a Gun; Wine Do your Stuff; Poncho & Lefty; Peaceful Easy Feeling; Keep Your Distance; Two More Bottles of Wine were rattled off.  Some of the best Americana songwriters songbooks were lovingly rendered by Ned |Geddis, Guitars, CC Campbell, keys and fiddle, Pete MacLeod, bass and Colin Maclean on percussion. Ned brought out quite an evil looking black and chrome Fender Telecaster during the set which seemed right for the encore, Six Days on the Road and You Aint Goin’ nowhere.

The Clap and Tipple bar was left with much less stock than when they set up, all that dancin’ is sho’ ‘nuff thirsty work. Once again the bar was kept busy all night, well done every one, once again fabulous wines and Scottish beers and Organic Ciders, all as locally sourced as practical.

Roy

Thank you to everyone who came to Letham Nights #16 with the wonderful Howie Fyffe Experience, the amazing Mick Pritchard and a stunning impromptu set from the ‘Half-Moonzies’ (there were only two of them!).  A review of the gig will be posted as soon as…

In the meantime though, we wanted to let you all know that our rescheduled Bevvy Sisters gig has been rescheduled again due to circumstances beyond everyone’s control.  Breaking with normal Letham Nights tradition, this is a Friday 29th APRIL!  As you know this is an extra public holiday.  One thinks there is something else happening that day but clearly the Bevvys playing Letham Nights is reason enough for a holiday and we intend to have a Right Royale time of it.

As you may know, the sweet sound of the Bevvy Sisters has been gracing the airwaves and live performances across the country for some time now and they have built up a quite formidable national reputation.  The last time they played Letham it was a complete sell-out and this time promises to be no different, so get your booking in early to avoid disappointment.

Join us for a Right Royale Bevvy – 29th April 2011 – Letham Village Hall, Letham, Fife 8pm – Midnight.

Here we go again…!  Letham Nights is good to go again after the disappointing cancellation of our Christmas Bevvy in December.  And we are delighted to present you with a fantastic series of gigs to take us through spring and into summer.  You will also see that there are also many other opportunities for entertainment in the local area over the next few weeks and months…

So here’s what we’ve got:

LN#16 – 19th Feb – Buckley’s Chance and the Howie Fyffe Experience for a night of country rhythm and blues. Kicking off with a twang….!!
Letham Nights #16 poster leaflet

See poster for details and get your booking in…

LN #17 – 2nd April – The Return of the Bevvy Sisters – booking now – first refusal to those who pre-booked for 18th Dec.

LN#18 – 4th June – The Third Annual Black Oil Brothers extravaganza – booking now

We have still not been quite brave enough to get the online ticketing sorted so in the meantime booking arrangements are the same as usual: let us know by email/ phone/ txt.  We will put you on our list and pay on the door on the night.  Contact details below.

Don’t forget to put these dates in your diary too….

29th Jan – Belgian Beer tasting night at Giffordtown village hall – contact Doug for tickets (tel 01337 830956)

12th Feb – Red Wine Productions – Love Letters by Alan Bennet (see attached flier)

26th Feb – NHTT Celebration – contact louise@nhtt.org.uk

4th March – Cabrach play Collessie Village Hall – contact Bridgette McCafferty for tickets Tel:  01337 827888

Letham Nights now supports small enterprises across the globe through Kiva, an amazing online microcredit organisation.  We aim to support small businesses in the entertainment sector – earning a living by making, selling, performing music.
Join the Letham Nights On Loan group and contribute to the success of our selected entrepreneurs.