Thank you for all your support in 2023. Since we are at the end of the year, let’s look back…
Although, if reviewing the year is not for you, just go straight to the link for next year’s shows!
Ticket links for all our shows and events for 2024>>
The link is always updated to give you all our dates and events in one place. You can also follow Letham Nights on Eventbrite to see our programme for the year as it evolves.
The year began…
…with a beautiful show from new all-female outfit CLR Theory with support from Mima Merrow. Gill Higgins’ and Hannah Jarrett-Scott’s new work was conceived during covid and came to fruition in the context of the gathering storm around pay and conditions for NHS staff. As a qualified surgeon, Gill had worked throughout the covid crisis, including in ICU in Glasgow Royal Infirmary and in her ‘spare time’, not only began to develop this new music with Hannah but together, they set up the Scottish wing of Medical Supply Drive to source PPE for her colleagues. The Letham Nights team contributed to this in a small way by taking part in contacting potential suppliers and so we were proud to have the opportunity to present their new music as a celebration of our NHS and other key workers during the pandemic. It didn’t disappoint! It was a joyful affair – beautiful melodies, spine-tingling harmonies and innovative rhythms combining into a warm, enveloping soundscape.
Then came MAD MARCH!
High energy, high bants, Orkney duo Saltfishforty sold out in no time and even an extra SF40 lunchtime show at Monimail Tower drew in a sold out crowd of young families. Douglas Montgomery and Brian Cromarty’s sensational music, phenomenal natural sound was so well crafted it seemed effortless! The banter was of the very finest quality to match! The opening act from Esther Swift (ahem, appearance 2/3 within 12 months) was enchanting and emotive and she then joined the boys for a few numbers, taking the music to another level.
Just a week later, it was time for My Muses – a wholly new departure for Letham Nights and the village hall: a stunning, innovative dance performance directed by the highly-regarded, award-winning choreographer and performer, Fleur Darkin. Another sold out audience watched in awe as the 4 performers created a haunting immersive dance experience and then invited everyone to get on the floor for a proper, full-on DJ set from Matthew Brown, creating our very first Letham Hall Club Night on that iconic dance floor. A very special night!
Finally, bleeding into April…
Don’t forget the Ceilidhs!
The magnificent Herculean Revival Ceilidh Band began what became a series of highly popular ceilidhs. These have continued throughout the year and finish on the last day of January with a special Hogmanay Hoolie – Tickets here >>
Another first in June – Letham Nights Goes Classical!
Local violin teacher, Eva Lundell put together a classical recital with her long-time musical partner Keiko Asakawa-Golden, who came across from the States to play for us. Every aspect of the repertoire was carefully considered, rehearsed in Brooklyn at Easter time and presented to another full house in an engaging and entertaining evening. We’ll have to do that again said EVERYONE!
All that jazz!
In August, the amazing multi-award-winning jazz outfit (very big outfit!) Fat-Suit crammed themselves onto our tiny stage with 8 consummate players and an array of keys, guitars and horns, and delivered a virtuouso performance of their upbeat and exuberant tunes and arrangements, bringing in a new audience of devotees and thrilling another packed out hall. Opening for them we had a lovely set from Kirkcaldy pair Graeme and Adel.
The Other…
…brought an-other inspired collaboration, this time crossing continents and bringing together the music of different cultures into an amazing evening of rich rhythms and percussive magic. With players from Scotland playing with those with experience of migration from Iran, Chile and Brazil, the diversity of voices and instrumentation blended into a beautiful whole that was testimony to the power of international collaboration – Not to mention the THIRD appearance in 12 months of the extraordinarily talented harpist, Esther Swift, now a firm Letham Nights favourite, AND an exciting opening act from local pair Robin Mason and Colin Donati as ‘Various Moons’.
Finally, in December…
Oh my! Were you there? Did you miss this one? Well, it was a beauty! Two unique and distinctive voices. Two of the very, very best. A sensational opening set from Beth Malcolm that would melt your heart followed by a quite extraordinary performance from Lizabett Russo that made it fit to burst. Our sound engineer Alan Ramsay said ‘it’s as if singing and playing like that is just like breathing to them – I don’t know how they do it’. And neither do we, but we are so glad we got to experience this on our wee village hall stage.
Thank you to everyone involved. We did it again!
Future Letham Nights Shows
We are currently finalising our Spring and Summer programme for 2024 and already we have 5 exciting shows planned and 4 booked and in the bag. Look out for more info in January but right now, get these dates in your diary:
10th February – Juliette Lemoine and Friends – beautiful jazz-folk sounds led by Juliette’s cello compositions and supported by an extraordinary group of talented friends including Mercury-nominated Fergus McCreadie on keys – wow! Tickets here >>
27th April – The Megan Henderson Trio – Megan Henderson of Breabach, one of the foremost talents in Scottish Folk music and Musician of the Year 2022 at the Trad Awards, returns with renowned cellist Su-a Lee & pianist Alistair Paterson, to showcase her brilliant new work. Tickets here >>
1st June – It’s a beauty, just not fully cooked and ready to put on the table!
29th June – The Tomorrow Band – Lead Sister – ever since we staged our Year of Funk with Tom Maguire and the Brassholes (twice) and James Brown is Annie, we have listened to your pleas! Bring us more! And here it is, the female-led incarnation of the exciting, funktastic, Tomorrow Band. Tickets here >>
24th August – The Bluebells – Yes, those Bluebells!! Those purveyors, along with Orange Juice and Aztec Camera of that most iconic of sounds of the early 80’s post-punk pop. And they are back, not just with the oldies but some newies too, from their recently released album In the 21st Century. Ticket Link Soon!
Green Arts Initiative
Letham Nights is a member of the Green Arts Initiative, an interactive community of Scottish arts organisations working to promote sustainability and reduce their environmental impact – a perfect fit for Letham Nights!
Run by Creative Carbon Scotland and Festivals Edinburgh since 2013, the Green Arts Initiative supports Scottish arts organisations to be at the forefront of growing an environmentally sustainable Scotland.
Letham Nights…
Letham Nights began in December 2008. Our vision is to bring high quality music to our village hall and provide a stage for talent, both local and global. At the same time we want to promote sustainability and work towards creating a zero carbon village hall. 15 years and over 100 acts later, we have drawn in an audience which now regularly sells out in our 120-capacity hall. We have supported hall improvements so that we now have double glazing, better insulation, renewed wiring and a new efficient boiler. In early 2024 we began a process which we hope get us to our zero-carbon goal by 2025. The events are renowned for their high quality music and the unique, warm and friendly atmosphere. We really do put on THE BEST SMALL GIGS IN THE WORLD!
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Contact
If you would like to take to the stage or the dance floor at Letham Nights, buy tickets or simply find out more, contact:
Michael t 01337 810372 m 07838 820659 mike@lethamnights.org
www.lethamnights.org
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Letham Village Hall, Fife is on the A92 just 15 minutes from the Tay Bridge, 10 minutes from Cupar and 15 from Glenrothes.
Don’t forget that the Clap and Tipple bar will be on hand to quench your thirst and tickle your tastebuds !
