Kitty Daisy & Lewis
Encyclopedia
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis is a three-piece band comprising the siblings of the Durham family. Their music is influenced heavily by R&B, swing, jump blues, country and Western, blues, Hawaiian and rock 'n' roll. They are all multi-instrumentalist
s playing guitar, piano, banjo, lapsteel guitar, harmonica, double bass, ukulele, drums, trombone, xylophone and accordion between them.
Kitty Durham is the youngest of the group and primarily sings and plays drums, harmonica, ukulele, banjo, trombone and guitar. Daisy Durham is the eldest of the group, who primarily sings and plays drums, piano, accordion and xylophone. Lewis Durham is the middle child who sings and plays guitar, piano, banjo, lapsteel and drums. He collects and plays/DJ's 78rpm records and has built a home studio for the band to record in. It consists of 1940's and 50's recording equipment such as 8 track tape machines and vintage BBC and RCA microphones. Kitty, Daisy and Lewis do not use computers or any digital format during the recording process.
Kitty, Daisy and Lewis have been performing from a young age, and have therefore built up a fanbase, which Amy Winehouse
, Chris Martin
, Eagles Of Death Metal
, Dustin Hoffman
and Ewan McGregor
are supposedly part of. They have had worldwide success with sold out tours and have opened for Coldplay
, Razorlight
, Richard Hawley
, Jools Holland
among others.
The band are signed to BBC Radio 1
DJ and Bestival
curator Rob da Bank
's label, Sunday Best
, who released their second single "Mean Son Of A Gun", a song originally cut by Johnny Horton
in the 50s, with the B-side "Ooo Wee" which they first heard on a 78rpm record sung by Louis Jordan
. This was released on 45rpm, CD and a limited edition 78rpm vinyl. The tracks were recorded at home. The vinyl was also cut by Lewis using his own equipment at The Exchange Mastering Studios, which is owned and run by his father Graeme.
On 30 May 2011, Smoking in Heaven is due to be released on CD & vinyl (double LP & 78rpm Album) also on Sunday Best
.
, Mika
, Billy Bragg
, Mark Ronson
and Razorlight
at London's Earls Court Arena
.
They also played the main stage at Bestival
in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 as well as playing twice at Glastonbury
in 2007 and 2008. They have featured in Vogue
and performed on Blue Peter
. The band also featured in the 2008 documentary We Dreamed America
about the influence of American roots music on British musicians.
When performing live, their parents, Graeme Durham and Ingrid Weiss play guitar and double-bass. Graeme Durham is a founding member and mastering engineer at The Exchange recording studios in London, and Ingrid Weiss is the former drummer of The Raincoats
and was encouraged to play the double bass by Kitty Daisy & Lewis.
Kitty Daisy & Lewis were one of the opening acts in North America for Coldplay
's Viva La Vida Tour.
They also have featured in the 2009 Primavera Sound in Barcelona, Rock Am Ring & Rock Im Park in Germany and Lowlands in the Netherlands.
In July 2010 they played on Thursday night of Latitude Festival
in the Cinema Tent in a Blues Brothers themed night.
In August 2010 they played Belladrum Tartanheart Festival and were loudly applauded for their great performance.
In August 2011 they will open for rock band, "Phish" at The Gorge outside of Seattle, WA.
, playing their song "Mean Son of a Gun".
They also appear in the German film "Dinosaurier", directed by Leander Haußmann and premiered on Christmas Eve, 2009. This also featured four of their songs from the debut album.
Their 2008 self-titled album received a positive review from The Times
, who said "the vibe is irresistible". Their singles "(Baby) Hold Me Tight" and "Buggin' Blues" were released on 15 December 2008.
"Goin Up the Country" was also used in the closing credits of Welcome to the Rileys
.
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
s playing guitar, piano, banjo, lapsteel guitar, harmonica, double bass, ukulele, drums, trombone, xylophone and accordion between them.
Kitty Durham is the youngest of the group and primarily sings and plays drums, harmonica, ukulele, banjo, trombone and guitar. Daisy Durham is the eldest of the group, who primarily sings and plays drums, piano, accordion and xylophone. Lewis Durham is the middle child who sings and plays guitar, piano, banjo, lapsteel and drums. He collects and plays/DJ's 78rpm records and has built a home studio for the band to record in. It consists of 1940's and 50's recording equipment such as 8 track tape machines and vintage BBC and RCA microphones. Kitty, Daisy and Lewis do not use computers or any digital format during the recording process.
Kitty, Daisy and Lewis have been performing from a young age, and have therefore built up a fanbase, which Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
, Chris Martin
Chris Martin
Christopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
, Eagles Of Death Metal
Eagles of Death Metal
Eagles of Death Metal is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, formed in 1998 by Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme. Despite their band name, Eagles of Death Metal are not a death metal band. Hughes stated that a friend was introducing Josh Homme to the death metal genre...
, Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Lee Hoffman is an American actor with a career in film, television, and theatre since 1960. He has been known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and vulnerable characters....
and Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor
Ewan Gordon McGregor is a Scottish actor. He has had success in mainstream, indie, and art house films. McGregor is perhaps best known for his roles as heroin addict Mark Renton in the drama Trainspotting , young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy , and poet Christian in the...
are supposedly part of. They have had worldwide success with sold out tours and have opened for Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
, Razorlight
Razorlight
Razorlight are a UK based indie rock band formed in 2002. They are primarily known in the UK, having topped the charts with the 2006 single "America" and its parent self-titled album, their second...
, Richard Hawley
Richard Hawley
Richard Hawley is a guitarist, singer-songwriter and producer. After his first band Treebound Story broke up, Hawley found success as a member of Britpop band Longpigs in the 1990s. He later joined the band Pulp, led by his friend Jarvis Cocker...
, Jools Holland
Jools Holland
Julian Miles "Jools" Holland OBE, DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, and television presenter. He was a founder of the band Squeeze and his work has involved him with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Who, David Gilmour and Bono.Holland is a...
among others.
The band are signed to BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ and Bestival
Bestival
Bestival is a four-day music festival held at the Robin Hill country park on the Isle of Wight, England. It has been held annually in late summer since 2004. The event is organized by DJ and record producer Rob da Bank and is an off-shoot of his Sunday Best record label and club nights. The initial...
curator Rob da Bank
Rob da Bank
Robert John Gorham, known by the pseudonym Rob da Bank, is a British disc jockey. He presents a Friday-night/Saturday-morning show, Rob da Bank, on BBC Radio 1 from 5am-7am, focused on promoting new left field music...
's label, Sunday Best
Sunday Best
Sunday best or Sunday Best can mean:* Sunday best clothes, traditionally reserved for wearing to church on Sundays* Sunday Best * Sunday Best...
, who released their second single "Mean Son Of A Gun", a song originally cut by Johnny Horton
Johnny Horton
John Gale "Johnny" Horton was an American country music and rockabilly singer most famous for his semi-folk, so-called "saga songs" which began the "historical ballad" craze of the late 1950s and early 1960s...
in the 50s, with the B-side "Ooo Wee" which they first heard on a 78rpm record sung by Louis Jordan
Louis Jordan
Louis Thomas Jordan was a pioneering American jazz, blues and rhythm & blues musician, songwriter and bandleader who enjoyed his greatest popularity from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. Known as "The King of the Jukebox", Jordan was highly popular with both black and white audiences in the...
. This was released on 45rpm, CD and a limited edition 78rpm vinyl. The tracks were recorded at home. The vinyl was also cut by Lewis using his own equipment at The Exchange Mastering Studios, which is owned and run by his father Graeme.
On 30 May 2011, Smoking in Heaven is due to be released on CD & vinyl (double LP & 78rpm Album) also on Sunday Best
Sunday Best
Sunday best or Sunday Best can mean:* Sunday best clothes, traditionally reserved for wearing to church on Sundays* Sunday Best * Sunday Best...
.
Touring
They have supported artists such as Jools HollandJools Holland
Julian Miles "Jools" Holland OBE, DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, and television presenter. He was a founder of the band Squeeze and his work has involved him with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Who, David Gilmour and Bono.Holland is a...
, Mika
Mika (singer)
Mika is a British singer-songwriter.After recording his first extended play, Dodgy Holiday EP, Mika released his first full-length studio album, Life in Cartoon Motion, on Island Records in 2007. Life in Cartoon Motion sold more than 5.6 million copies worldwide and helped Mika win a Brit...
, Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
, Mark Ronson
Mark Ronson
Mark Daniel Ronson is an English DJ, guitarist, music producer, artist and co-founder of Allido Records. He currently works with his band under the music alias of Mark Ronson & The Business Intl....
and Razorlight
Razorlight
Razorlight are a UK based indie rock band formed in 2002. They are primarily known in the UK, having topped the charts with the 2006 single "America" and its parent self-titled album, their second...
at London's Earls Court Arena
Earls Court Exhibition Centre
The Earls Court Exhibition Centre is an exhibition centre, conference and event venue located in west London, United Kingdom in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea . It is the largest exhibition venue in central London. It is served by two underground stations, Earl's Court and West...
.
They also played the main stage at Bestival
Bestival
Bestival is a four-day music festival held at the Robin Hill country park on the Isle of Wight, England. It has been held annually in late summer since 2004. The event is organized by DJ and record producer Rob da Bank and is an off-shoot of his Sunday Best record label and club nights. The initial...
in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 as well as playing twice at Glastonbury
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
in 2007 and 2008. They have featured in Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
and performed on Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
. The band also featured in the 2008 documentary We Dreamed America
We Dreamed America
We Dreamed America is a documentary film, directed by Alex Walker, that delves deep into the dark recesses of the British music scene. Examining the relationship and ongoing exchange between British and American roots music, the film looks at the British fascination with the most American of...
about the influence of American roots music on British musicians.
When performing live, their parents, Graeme Durham and Ingrid Weiss play guitar and double-bass. Graeme Durham is a founding member and mastering engineer at The Exchange recording studios in London, and Ingrid Weiss is the former drummer of The Raincoats
The Raincoats
The Raincoats are a British post-punk band. Ana da Silva and Gina Birch formed the group in 1977 while they were students at Hornsey College of Art, London, England.-Career:...
and was encouraged to play the double bass by Kitty Daisy & Lewis.
Kitty Daisy & Lewis were one of the opening acts in North America for Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
's Viva La Vida Tour.
They also have featured in the 2009 Primavera Sound in Barcelona, Rock Am Ring & Rock Im Park in Germany and Lowlands in the Netherlands.
In July 2010 they played on Thursday night of Latitude Festival
Latitude Festival
The Latitude Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk, England. It was first held in July 2006....
in the Cinema Tent in a Blues Brothers themed night.
In August 2010 they played Belladrum Tartanheart Festival and were loudly applauded for their great performance.
In August 2011 they will open for rock band, "Phish" at The Gorge outside of Seattle, WA.
Media appearances
The band appears in the 2009 film Last Chance HarveyLast Chance Harvey
Last Chance Harvey is a 2008 American romantic drama film written and directed by Joel Hopkins. The screenplay focuses on two lonely people who tentatively forge a relationship over the course of three days...
, playing their song "Mean Son of a Gun".
They also appear in the German film "Dinosaurier", directed by Leander Haußmann and premiered on Christmas Eve, 2009. This also featured four of their songs from the debut album.
Their 2008 self-titled album received a positive review from The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, who said "the vibe is irresistible". Their singles "(Baby) Hold Me Tight" and "Buggin' Blues" were released on 15 December 2008.
"Goin Up the Country" was also used in the closing credits of Welcome to the Rileys
Welcome to the Rileys
Welcome to the Rileys is a 2010 American independent drama film directed by Jake Scott, written by Ken Hixon, and starring Kristen Stewart, James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo. The film debuted at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.-Plot:...
.
Albums
- A-Z of Kitty, Daisy & Lewis: The Roots Of Rock 'n' Roll (2007)
- Kitty, Daisy & Lewis (2008) Sunday Best UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#149 - Kitty, Daisy & Lewis (2009) DH Records (US Release)
- Smoking in Heaven (2011) UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#145, AUS #96
Singles
- "Honolulu Rock and Roll" (2005)
- "Mean Son of a Gun" (2006)
- "Going Up the CountryGoing Up the Country"Going Up the Country" is a song performed by the American blues-rock group Canned Heat. It appeared on their album Living the Blues and was also released as a single, reaching #11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, #19 on UK Singles Chart and number one in 25 other countries...
" (2008) - "(Baby) Hold Me Tight" (2008)
External links
- Sunday Best
- Website
- A Brief Recording History, by Lewis Durham PDF file located here: Tape Op Recording Magazine