Quite an busy few weeks in terms of gigs .. last week we dropped into Oran Mor to catch Duke Special and Foreign Slippers (Gabrielle Fröd).
We walked in while Andy Knox finished off the last song of his supporting act, and a few minutes later were beautifully surprised by Foreign Slippers’ unique combination of an intricately handmade hat replete with bird and fast but delicate vibrato.

Duke Special was up to his usual theatrical tricks with lots of energy including a few songs based around the silent films of Hector Mann (although you’ll be hard pressed to find them in any archives, a Duke-style twist I only realised when trying to write this post!). There there were a few moments where you noticed was the final gig of the tour, but otherwise an brilliant evening with two excellent artists

currently listening to: duke special | foy vance | mumford and sons | laura marling | foreign slippers | van morrison (especially “Never Let the Spirit Die”| pedro the lion | oscar peterson | iain archer | dan lyth (although i’ve nearly had enough of all of them, i’m open to other suggestions..!)

There are few who can ingeniously slip in regae tragedy in the style of Madness (Diggin an Early Grave), a song ending with a pseudo-charismatic repetitive riff with a few “amens!” thrown in for good measure (Why Does Anybody Love), Music to Watch Pete Rollins Go By (Let me go.. please please please), and a track possibly co-composed with Mary Poppins (I never thought this day would come) end up at number 6 at the Irish album charts on their first week of release!

Duke Special, a fine addition to any musical Canon.

Had a beautiful evening last night.. ending up listening to an artist I’ve heard very little of, but lots about, after picking up a copy of Metro and randomly opening up at the gigs page – a pleasant surprise!

Like Duke Special, the resident Nothern Irish population turned up in force to see Foy Vance… and i’ve spent the majority of my train journey over to Glasgow trying to work out just what it is about these two guys that catptures the imagination.. here’s my seemingly incoherent best shot.

adminssion of the instituitional messed-up-ness and complicity in sectarianism “curse those fifes and damn those drums.. belfast… leave me behind.” and in contrast there’s this something beautiful about the little stories of grace that bring both tears but also leaving you feeling like the stone-holders after Jesus gets up after his dust doodling excercise.. guilt-trip-free inspiration towards love and kindness.. “would you lay your love on me, could you Shake me till i’m clean a salvation tambourine” “Indiscriminate act of kindness”
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