Preview

We were first introduced to Duke Special aka Peter Wilson as support act for Bill Mallonee last November - dreadlocked, eye-shadowed, with just a piano and a crackling gramophone, through which he played samples, the Duke cut an, er, interesting dash! However, his short set was a cameo of stunning originality and a startling experience. With a wonderful, emotionally-charged voice, that seems to speak of hope and despair at the same time, he won the audience over, and delivered two encores.

Resident in Belfast and carrying within his songs hints of the city's music hall legacy, as a writer and performer Duke Special is a one-off. 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.

Duke Special toured and supported: Bill Mallonee (Vigilantes of Love), Maire Brennan (Clannad), Peter Case, Nick Harper, Steve Earle, Ron Sexsmith, Andy White, The Black Velvet Band, and Brian Kennedy

Emily Williams returns to Wales after her recent international performances in Holland, the U.S.A. and Mexico, with folk band Ember. Now she is taking time out to record her first solo album and is performing her own original material to delighted audiences around Wales. Playing songs that have been described as 'haunting, lyrical, poetic, moving and often funny', Emily's style has been compared to that of Tracy Chapman, Tori Amos, P.J. Harvey and Bjork.................

Review

Okay, where were you? You really should know by now that when we beg you not to miss a gig, it's with good reason! Still, each and every member of the relatively small crowd who weren't put off by our (possibly ill-advised) 'New Artists' Showcase' promo blurb will surely know by now that they witnessed a true genius at work, and will no doubt be raving on endlessly about the extraordinary talents of the Duke. Hey-ho. You can lead a horse to water ...

Anyway, first things first. Machynlleth's Emily Williams, moonlighting from folk trio Ember, proved her worth with a confident opening solo set. Bravely kicking off with an a-cappella 'Sospan Fach', Emily showcased a selection of her thoughtful observational songs (a debut CD is due later this year), displaying a nifty guitar technique and a strong young voice with a clever catch in it. As a solo female folkie, it's a crowded field she's entering, but she's distinctive and assured enough to make her mark. You saw her here first.

Those who, like all of us at HQ, marvelled at Peter Wilson (a.k.a. Duke Special) on his previous visit, supporting Bill Mallonee last November, were already familiar with his distinctive image: an impish young man, he resembles, perhaps, a dreadlocked Marc Bolan who's spent a year or two on the new-age festival circuit. Whereas he previously relied on his sophisticated multi-instrumental backing tracks, replete with banks of harmony vocals (everything his own work), this time he brought with him Chip Bailey, a marvellously entertaining and accomplished drummer/percussionist, to underpin his sturdily lyrical piano playing, and the backing tracks, 'played' through his trademark vintage wind-up gramophone, came into play on just two songs, 'I Let You Down' and the yearningly lovely 'Closer to the Start' - both (like practically all the songs) have HIT written all over them, the latter possessing a chordal structure that could be the work of Jimmy Webb ... yes, that good. Elsewhere, on piano ballads like 'As Good As It Gets', 'Kill Me Quickly Please' and 'Freewheel', Duke starts head down, an arresting sight, face curtained by locks, before throwing back his head to deliver a chorus in a voice that has the purity and impact of Nilsson, say, or Mick Hucknall, but always with that beguiling Belfast brogue.

Over the course of ninety minutes or so, Duke and Chip cast an unbreakable spell, leading us through a catalogue of songs whose qualities are as timeless as the very best pop classics - instantly memorable melodies coupled to lyrics that are poetic affirmations of life, from sadness to joy, all delivered with a passion and commitment that's nothing less than truly moving. A debut airing of a song, with accompanying poem, written in a garden en route to the gig, had more than one observer close to tears. Crashing cymbals and eccentric percussion lend an occasional circus/vaudeville flavour to proceedings (Chip plays a mean cheese-grater!). As cover versions, Duke took Springsteen's 'Blinded By The Light' and (Laughing Len) Cohen's 'Hallelujah' and made them his own, while among the many encores (we just couldn't let 'em go!) was a rousing 'You Are My Sunshine', featuring Chip exploring all the many possibilities of that most versatile of contrivances, the Stumpf Fiddle.

I, along with the entire Cambria Arts crew, will stand on Van Morrison's coffee table and tell the world that Duke Special is the best thing to come out of the Emerald Isle in years, and if you don't come and see him when we get him back for you (plans are already afoot), you'll go straight up to your room. And no supper.