The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Brothers in arms back to bring some festive cheer to music fans
MUSIC: Kingdom duo ready for two nights of Christmas gigs in the capital
The kingdom’s favourite musical duo have returned with a new Christmas cracker sure to fill music fans across the globe with festive cheer.
Garry Griffin and Uncle Isaac of The Brothers Fife have looked out their denim jackets and released their fourth yuletide track, Wintertime Lovin’, to the delight of their ever-growing fan base.
And the pair – whose musical style harks back to Scotland’s greats, from The Proclaimers to Andy Stewart and the Alexander Brothers – are due to take to the stage for their first two live performances next weekend.
While last year’s Christmas track A Little Love For Christmas documented Isaac’s desperate quest for romance in the cold winter months; Wintertime Lovin’ picks up with the Fifer besotted with the woman of his dreams.
Speaking exclusively to The Courier, Griffin said several “D-list” Scottish actors had originally been teed up to star in the Uncle Isaac role in the video for the track.
Ultimately, deciding there was no one better for the job than himself, Isaac donned his kilt, red bow tie and denim jacket and got in front of the camera once again.
Griffin said: “We did auditions for the (Isaac) role, but Isaac said he was the only person who could portray this.”
In tribute to the legendary Reid twins, the retro music video was filmed in Edinburgh’s Leith Shore area.
“We wanted a positive, family song. The Proclaimers’ Sunshine on Leith track was (filmed) around that area in a cafe. We took inspiration from the greats,” he said. “It’s had an absolutely fantastic response.
“We were asked by the bar the Dragonfly in Edinburgh if we’d like to do a live show. We expected to sell maybe about 20 tickets. The first night sold out at 50 tickets. We put on another show due to popular demand. We’ve had to turn people away,” he added.
“We will be sticking to our own material, playing our most-loved songs.”
Garry Griffin and Uncle Isaac are the stage monikers of Grant Jeffrey, originally from Kingskettle, and Andrew Lennie, of Newburgh.
The pair found online fame after releasing their first festive song as The Brothers Fife in December 2015, and since then their tunes have become a festive tradition in the kingdom and beyond.
Christmas Holidays – made as a Christmas gift for Mr Lennie’s family after the pair found themselves “pretty skint” – was followed by Proclaimers tribute, Christmas (I’m A Fan) in 2016.
The Brothers Fife are playing the Dragonfly on December 21 and 22.
“We wanted a positive, family song... we took inspiration from the greats. GARRY GRIFFIN