The Last Battle (band)
| Company type | Indie folk band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2009 in Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Founder | Scott Longmuir |
| Defunct | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Edinburgh , Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
| Website | thelastbattle |
The Last Battle was an alternative indie folk ensemble from Edinburgh, Scotland, established in 2009 with singer-songwriter Scott Longmuir at its core. Their band name was inspired by a novel written by C.S Lewis. They produced two albums: Heart of the Land, Soul of the Sea (2010) and Lay Your Burden Down (2014).
Early history
At the start of 2009, following the dissolution of their former band, Longmuir and bassist Paul Barrett embraced a D.I.Y. ethos by recording in Barrett’s modest apartment, utilizing non-traditional recording environments and inviting musicians proficient in traditional instruments such as cello, glockenspiel, and ukulele.
In the wake of the growing popularity of Scottish alternative folk groups like Frightened Rabbit, they submitted demos to independent record labels. After attracting attention from A&R representatives, they assembled a live lineup.
Barrett enlisted his partner Flora MacKay to play cello, while Longmuir brought in his partner Ella Duncan on glockenspiel, her sister Arwen for backing vocals, and friend Daniel Barnett on acoustic guitar. Percussion duties were taken up by Liam O’Hare, a friend from high school.
The origin of their band name traces back to a moment when Longmuir asked Barrett about his current reading material; Barrett answered with "The Last Battle," a children’s fantasy book by C.S Lewis.
Their inaugural live performance was an acoustic set on 4 October 2009 for Oxjam in Edinburgh. Their first complete live show occurred on 14 November at the Wee Red Bar within Edinburgh College of Art, where they supported Fife singer-songwriter Panda Su.
By the close of 2009, The Scotsman identified them as "Ones to Watch for 2010." Recording sessions for their debut album commenced early that year.
Releases
On 5 July 2010, The Last Battle issued their debut single "Ruins" through Scottish label 17 Seconds Records, managed by Ed Jupp. The single received four-star ratings from both The List and The Skinny magazines. Their first album, Heart of the Land, Soul of the Sea, was released on 4 October—exactly one year after their initial live appearance.
The band celebrated their album launch with a sold-out event at The Roxy in Edinburgh on 13 September 2010. This concept album revolved around a love story between two contrasting characters: one deeply connected to the land and apprehensive about the sea, the other eternally bound to life at sea. The album garnered significant praise, topping numerous bloggers’ year-end lists and ranking among Avalanche Records’ top ten best-selling albums in Scotland for 2010.
To promote the album further, 17 Seconds Records released their second single "Natures Glorious Rage" on 6 December 2010. Subsequently, the band completed a six-date UK tour alongside Sheffield’s Book Club, culminating at The Garage in London.
Several tracks earned airplay on BBC radio shows hosted by Vic Galloway, Gideon Coe, and Ally McCrae. In "The Scottish Bams," a poll involving over thirty Scottish music blogs and websites, the album secured the eighth position.
Capitalizing on this success, The Last Battle released The Springwell EP on 18 July 2011, once again recorded at Barrett’s residence. Lauren Mayberry from The List awarded it three out of five stars, highlighting its appeal to followers of Fence artists such as Kid Canaveral and King Creosote. The Sunday Herald also provided a positive critique. The EP launch occurred at The Wee Red Bar on 30 June with King Creosote as support.
During tours, The Last Battle supported notable acts including First Aid Kit, Dawn Landes, King Creosote, and The Unwinding Hours. In 2011 they performed at Fence Records’ annual Home Game festival and participated in other events like Scarborough’s Acoustic Gathering.
In 2012, work began on their sophomore album in the studio. Throughout 2013 they made various live appearances including BBC sessions recorded during the Edinburgh Fringe and Aberfeldy Festival.
Their second full-length release, Lay Your Burden Down, came out in 2014. Following a period of reduced activity, the group quietly disbanded in 2015.
Towards the end of 2014, Scott Longmuir launched a solo project under the moniker Beard of Truth with the album A New Light, and also performed under his own name.
Members
- Scott Longmuir (2009–2015)
- Caroline Overy (2012–2015)
- Liam O'Hare (2010–2015)
- Craig Kenny (2012–2015)
- Jonathan Bews (2011–2015)
- Arwen Duncan (2009–2012)
- Ella Duncan (2009–2011)
- Paul Barrett (2009–2012)
- Flora MacKay (2009–2011)
- Brian Pokora (2011)
- Daniel Barnett (2010)
Albums
- Heart of the Land, Soul of the Sea (2010)
- Lay Your Burden Down (2014)
EPs
- The Springwell (2011)
- A Wee Red Tale Live (2011)
Singles
- "Ruins" (2010)
- "Nature's Glorious Rage" (2010)
- "Once Upon a Boxing Day" (2010)
- "Hope Is Gold" (2012)
- "Here's to a Little Xmas" (2012)
- "Wherever Our Feet Take Us" (2013)
- "Perfecting the Art (Of Saying Nothing)" (2013)