Well, it always promised to be a great evening - the Traditional Young Musician of the Year 2008 and guitarist with the highly successful folk band Breabach, playing in Letham Village Hall.  

Yet we didn't really anticipate just how good it would be.  Not only did we get a virtuoso performance from The Twa Ewans (Robertson and McPherson), we also witnessed the birth of a new star, 15 year old Becky Gowans who blew us away with her raw natural talent.  

The hall was packed with more than 120 people and business was brisk in the bar as the Travelling Transition Tavern quenched our thirst with locally sourced beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks.  

The two Ewans kicked off with a string of ballads and tunes, including 'Norther' by Ewan MacPherson and ‘When I'm Gone' by Phil Ochs. The audience warmed to their beautiful blending of vocals and guitar playing and even enjoyed a bit of participation in the odd chorus.  The duo finished off their second set with a wonderful rendition of the Dave Sudbury classic ‘The King of Rome'.  

In between though, we had a set from Becky. What a revelation! She rattled her way through nine songs, seven of which she had penned herself (‘City Lights', ‘A Little Romance' and ‘Letters'), and one of which she thought might be a bit ropey because ‘I only wrote it yesterday'.  Her rapid-fire strumming combined with note-perfect voice were breathtaking and she rightly received a standing ovation as she finished off with the classic ‘Caledonia' by Dougie MacLean. We have not seen the last of this girl.  

The next Letham Nights, featuring Wolftrain on 14 March  is coming up fast, so get your tickets now...more 

More Letham Nights  

Artist links

Ewan Robertson
http://www.breabach.com/
http://www.myspace.com/ewanrobertson  

Ewan MacPherson
http://www.myspace.com/macphersonmusic  

Becky Gowans
http://www.bebo.com/beckygowans
http://www.myspace.com/beckygowans

For more videos and images see http://www.letham.org.uk/