It's simple, it's sweet, it's beautiful – the blues, done correctly, remains one of the most powerful forms of music you will ever hear.
Just ask Savages' Jehnny Beth. Walking into the Luminaire, the singer was struck by the voice, the presence of Duke Garwood: “He was playing sweet ballads with a tint of free-jazz; his voice was thin and full, like a Chet Baker turned into a midnight wolf. The first question was 'who is this guy'?"
Who indeed. Signed to Heavenly, Duke Garwood is now set to provide the answer. New album 'Heavy Love' drops on February 9th, a record which is both aware of its past but very careful not to be over-awed by it.
Set to play a flurry of live shows in support, the singer recently shot a special edition of the Heavenly Sessions. 'Disco Lights' is a modern, very noir fairy tale – a quietly intense narrative which recalls the trance-like state in some of John Lee Hooker's recordings.
Check it out below.
Duke Garwood has confirmed the following shows:
February
9 London 6pm Rough Trade West
12 Bristol 6pm Rise
13 Nottingham 7.30pm Rough Trade
April
7 Leeds Wardrobe
8 Glasgow King Tuts
10 Newcastle Cluny 2
11 Manchester Deaf Institute
12 Nottingham Bodega
14 Southampton Joiners
15 Bristol Louisiana
16 London St Pancras Old Church
Photo Credit: Steve Gullick
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