Music
Press
Coming from the same Dundee scene as The View and The Law, energetic young quartet Luva Anna are possibly the best of the bunch.
With their folky style and co-vocalist Drew Gray's Dundonian singing voice, they share a lot in common with The Pogues, while Dave Webster's gravelly blues vocal fits better with the more rocking tunes.
The songs are about relationships (Coma Girl), love triangles betwen pensioners (Wooden Shoe) and the perils of going without drink (Sober). They also pay homage to one of their mate's pulling rituals in The Ballad Of Boaby Smith and it's a tale the band tell with characteristic humour.
The closing Angry Fat Bouncer was the best of all, a frantic grudge match that had the entire crowd dancing, proving this is a band who are easy to fall for.
John Kelly
- The Sunday Mail
The pick of the new bands hidden away on the smaller stages in Connect's dark forest areas, Luva Anna may well be friends with fellow Dundonians The View, but their salty sea-shanties have more in common with The Coral. Definitely ones to watch... - NME
Barfly, Glasgow, Fri 9 Nov
Dundee may currently be famous musically for giving the world The View, but other than a similar capability for whipping the audience into a frenzy, it's clear from their opening, perfectly harmonised sea shanty that Luva Anna are a unique proposition altogether.
Covering a musical spectrum that's as big as their hair (ie fairly big), by the third song, it's King Creosote-meets-Pogues, and 'Coma Girl' is introduced with the explanation that 'This song's about making love to a woman in a coma and you're not sure if she's going to get out'. And they say romance is dead, eh?
Things then take a surprisingly Fratelli-esque turn after which the audience is treated to falsetto vocals that hit Jeff Buckley highs, followed by the obligatory brief nod to reggae, before their set climaxes in forcefully physical fashion. The fact that they've gained a name for themselves through the festival circuit makes perfect sense. After all, who can resist a folk-rock hybrid that you can dance to? Even if a few more of the spine-tingling opening harmonies throughout would have been warmly welcomed. (Emma Newlands)
- The List Magazine
Discography
Self titled, limited edition, 2000 pressed EP. Selected songs have been played on XFM Scotland, Radio Scotland, Radio 1 and Radio 2.
Photos
Bio
Influenced by classic irish, english and scottish folk music, and citing bands such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and The Beach Boys as heroes, Luva Anna push the boundaries, challenging the more generic sounds emanating from most bands these days.
With more than 200+ gigs under their belts, over a 3 year period, taking in tours of Britain with close friends, The View, a handful of festival appearances last summer and more to come this summer, Luva Anna's live show is rumbunctious, full of energy and second to none.
They are definitely a band you will want to see live again and again.
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