News/Reviews
December 2007
Another Baby!
Denny is now the proud father to another beautiful baby girl. Katie Bartley was born on the 5th of November and is a very welcome addition to Denny and Karen's blossoming family.
Some bad news
After 15 years without a break, Denny has finally decided that he cannot bear to sit next to Chris any longer and is going to take some time off from the band (well, he told us it was to spend time more time with his babies whilst they were little, but we think anyone deserves a break after all that time!)
But some good news too!
Last Night's Fun are very pleased to announce that Findlay Napier will be joining them in 2008.
Findlay is a best known for his work in multi-award winning Scottish band back of the moon, a master guitar player and beautiful singer; we are delighted to welcome Fin to the line-up.
Further details about Fin can be found here.
Summer 2007
GIG Review Edale Village Hall. Edale Parish Magazine - ‘Ringing Roger’.
Those who managed to secure a ticket for this thrilling night of Anglo/Irish music were supremely rewarded, in a village hall packed to the Gunnels. First on was the faultlessly-voiced Bella Hardy. With her haunting fiddle accompaniment, Bella chose songs with strong stories, Notably ‘Young Edmund Of The Lowlands Low’ – complete with warning to young Abby France not to imitate young Emily of the song, who had badly deceived her landlord daughter.
Onto the main event – ‘last night’s Fun’. I had this in my diary as ‘Irish Band – 8pm’, but the members had more connection with Yorkshire. Chris Sherburn, who introduced them and played Anglo concertina, is decidedly from these parts; that’s not to say he hasn’t kissed the blarney stone at some point. His cajolery came thick and fast, mainly at the expense of fellow band members Ciaran Boyle (Bodhran), Nick Scott (Uilleann pipes) and Denny Bartley (Guitar and vocals). Their playing absolutely sizzled helped by dramatic arrangements, and Dennys’s soulful voice. ‘The Tinkermans daughter’ was a great example – the story of a mutually beneficial daughter/donkey trade in, the song gradually drew in the sinister drone of from the pipes that gave way to a full blown reel ‘the holly bush’. The wildness of the tunes belied the absolute mastery these guys had of their instruments. The enthusiastic crowd matched its applause only with laughter at the hilarious inter-band banter, making this an immensely entertaining evening by performers at the top of their game. James Marson.
New Album…
Still a twinkle in our eyes but planning to start recording over the summer,
watch this space!
Gig Review: Monday Music club at the Regent.
Monday 19 February 2007.
"Well, that old 'Sorry, Full House' sign is seeing more of life these
days and this time is was thanks to Last Night's Fun who paraded themselves
as a foursome with the addition of bodhran player Ciaran Boyle to the established
Chris Sherburn, Denny Bartley and Nick Scott setup.
We had the trio at the Sal in February last year and it was a pleasure to welcome them back to Doncaster, particularly with the dimension that Ciaran adds to the music. He sang a few songs and, at one point, introduced one with a longer line of patter than Chris!
Some wonderful arrangements again and Denny's vocal interpretations of songs - one of which was accredited to Shane McGowan - once again balanced the set wonderfully against Chris and Nick's sorcery on the concertina and uilleann pipes. Great night." http://www.robertchiswick.co.uk/Regent.html
LNF caught on camera
Check out the link for some audience videos of us in 2006! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzw27ledVv
Review of Last Night's Fun's gig at Otley Festival
by 10-year-old Alex Dando
"On Saturday it was an action-packed day with over 20 bands playing
at 15 venues. The atmousphere was amazing and the biggest crowd of the weekend
that i saw was at Prince Henry's Grammer school for the band called Last
Nights Fun. The crowd of about 400 people had all come to see and listen
to the 3 people of that group.
One man plays the yulayan pipes. They make a lovely sound, full of sadness
and somehow can tell stories. The singer's voice is sad and gruff, but hits
you hard. He can play the guitar quite well too. The last man does most
of the talking. He is the one in charge and plays the anglo consetina. It's
a good instrument because it can play fast and beautifully. I like the bits
where everything stops, then it all starts again because it makes it dramatic.
They are a bit like a sandwich, 2 bits of bread and a filling but it all
swaps round." (sic)