Kitty, Daisy & Lewis

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis are a UK rock and roll and rhythm and blues group formed around the Durham siblings. The line-up centres on Daisy Durham, Kitty Durham and Lewis Durham, and the group is active from 2000 to the present. Their membership is also listed as Daisy Durham, Kitty Durham, Lewis Durham and Kitty Liv.

Style and instrumentation

Their music draws on rhythm and blues, rockabilly, swing, jump blues, country and western, blues, Hawaiian music and rock and roll. Between them, the siblings play a wide range of instruments, including guitar, piano, banjo, lap steel guitar, harmonica, double bass, ukulele, trombone and accordion. Kitty Durham sings and plays drums, harmonica, ukulele and guitar; Lewis Durham sings and plays guitar, piano, banjo, lap steel and drums; and Daisy Durham sings and plays drums, with piano also among her instruments.

Recording and releases

The band records at home and avoids using computers or other digital formats in the recording process. Their second single, Mean Son Of A Gun, is a version of a song originally recorded by Johnny Horton in the 1950s. It is issued on 45rpm, CD and a limited-edition 78rpm vinyl format, with the tracks recorded at home. Lewis Durham cuts the vinyl using his own equipment.

Live activity and appearances

When they perform live, their parents, Ingrid Weiss and Graeme Durham, play double bass and guitar respectively. Ingrid Weiss is the former drummer of The Raincoats. The band supports acts including Mika and Razorlight at Earl's Court Arena in London, appears on the main stage at Bestival in 2006, and plays at Glastonbury twice in 2007. They also feature in Vogue and perform on Blue Peter.

Location and background

The group lives in Kentish Town, north London, and attends or has attended Acland Burghley School. Lewis Durham also collects and DJs 78rpm records and builds a home studio for the band. The band is associated with the Sunday Best record label.