Duke special - Press Release, December 2004

Resident in Belfast and carrying within his songs hints of the city’s music hall legacy, as a writer and performer Duke Special cuts an interesting dash. As likely to be found alone at a piano with only a wheezing old gramophone for company as he is to be surrounded by a vaudeville orchestra of musical cohorts.

One part late-night poker room balladeer, the other all flying hammers and devil-may-care, Duke Special mines an historic vein of pop writing, harking back to a pre-Beatles era of literate and theatrical performers. He brings a unique musical identity to songs of genuine warmth and accessibility. As the Duke once said, “I hear beauty, dirt, tremolo and smoke.”

Duke Special has toured extensively over the past year throughout Ireland, the UK and Germany including three tours with Aqualung as well as one with Juliet Turner and John Power (The La’s, Cast). The Duke’s reputation continues to spread with Jack White (of The White Stripes) and The Hives among his growing set of admirers.

Duke Special has just completed the follow up to the successful “Lucky me” EP. The new recording is entitled “My Villain Heart” and continues to showcase the otherworldly, imaginative and original song-writing that has become the Duke’s trademark. A compilation of tracks from these EPs will be released as an album in April 05.

For further information or check out www.dukespecial.com

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