The Duhks in Denmark

Subject: The Duhks in Denmark
From: Brendy
Date: 17 Sep 07 - 01:49 AM

Yo, one and all...

Yep, We, The Marstal Irish Festival Committee, have them booked to play this coming Sunday (23rd Sept 2007) at Tolboden, Marstal, Ærø. Denmark.

Incredible band!

Any Danish, Norwegian, Swedish or German Mudcatters that have the opportunity should try and make it over to the island this weekend.
Its an afternoon/early evening gig, so all those who have to get back to work on the Monday can make the last ferry out.

Hopefully see a few of ye there.....

B.

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: Ernest
Date: 17 Sep 07 - 01:58 AM

Sorry, I can`t be there...but good luck to you and have fun!
Best
Ernest

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 17 Sep 07 - 03:05 AM

Great band. Saw them at Cambridge a few years ago and really loved their sound.

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 17 Sep 07 - 10:31 PM

Even their CDs don't prepare you for the level of energy and musicianship you'll experience at a live show. Don't miss the chance to see them live.
- Phil

Duhks Tour Schedule

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: open mike
Date: 18 Sep 07 - 01:09 AM

AND CHECK OUT THEIR TATOOS! UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL...

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: Brendy
Date: 18 Sep 07 - 08:09 AM

Do the girls have any tattoos?????
.... I'll ask them....

In case anyone needs directions, Marstal is situated here: Google Map of Marstal, Ærø

B.

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: John Hardly
Date: 18 Sep 07 - 08:17 AM

Some pictures from when I saw them in May. The new lead singer is just fabulous.
duhks

me and the duhks

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 18 Sep 07 - 08:46 AM

Oh - the tattoo girl is gone! Never mind, chaps...

To be honest, I didn't think her voice was that special - it was the whole vibe of the rest of the band that I liked. So it would be interesting to hear them with a new singer!

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: John Hardly
Date: 18 Sep 07 - 08:49 AM

The new singer is nothing short of remarkable. Here's a small sample...

Whole Lotta Love

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: open mike
Date: 18 Sep 07 - 02:25 PM

wow, yes what a voice....

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 18 Sep 07 - 08:50 PM

Sarah Dugas is an great singer, here are some more pics of her with the band.
- Phil

Duhks with Sarah Dugas, April 07

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: BanjoRay
Date: 19 Sep 07 - 10:11 AM

Brendy - this may be a daft question, but what are the Duhks doing at an Irish Festival?
Interesting Merlefest clip from John Hardly. I notice they had Casey Driessen with them on fiddle - amazing bluegrass fiddle player, who taught at Sore Fingers this Easter, where John Paul Jones (in the same clip on mandolin) was learning Old Time Fiddle from Trevor Stuart - and so was I. Is Casey one of the band or just sitting in?
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: John Hardly
Date: 19 Sep 07 - 10:39 AM

just sitting in

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: Brendy
Date: 19 Sep 07 - 09:47 PM

..... ah, we're all related, BanjoRay; 'Bringing It All Back Home' saw to that.

We run the Festival on the second weekend in August every year, and once the tourists have gone, we try and put on a few gigs for ourselves and the local people; one a month/6 weeks.
Something to pass away a few winter nights.

Good music is good music, and it's just, as I say "The Festival Committee", in association with the good Eugene of Ceol Concerts trying to create a bit of a buzz around the place.
We were trying to find a venue for 'The Mammals' a few weeks ago, but the deadline passed before we could find a place for them.

I'll probably spend the winter here myself, this year, as I want to get a bit of writing done, so if we can get a regular 'thing' going every once in a while, well, so much the better.

B.

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Sep 07 - 02:57 PM

Oh man, sorry to hear that Jessee the Tatoo Girl isn't a Duhk any more. Whatta voice! I always think of her when someone talks about the Duhks.

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: Brendy
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 08:46 PM

Refresh!

B.

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 24 Sep 07 - 12:18 AM

So, how was the show?

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: Brendy
Date: 24 Sep 07 - 09:10 PM

"Shows", Uncle Phil.
Shows.
... the truth is soon unfolding....

I was sitting in the pub when they drove up in the hired Ford somethingorother van.
Toldboden in Marstal is one of those pubs that you come across only every once in a while. It's the old Customs building, and when you walk in, you can see the old workmanship that has gone into it. The surroundings are plush, without giving that impression of presumption or expense.

Anyway...., I went out and Jordan was the first guy I met. Then Aoife, Tania, Scott, and Leonard.
They didn't seem overly worried that the PA system hadn't arrived yet. Marstal, early on a Sunday afternoon, is not the most active time of the week, and when it hadn't arrived by 30 minutes to kick-off time, the Duhks decided to do the whole thing unplugged.
We had about 40 locals and a few Danish friends of the band, and that was it!

Aoife Donovan from Boston, who I gather is the new lead singer, has a voice second to none, and she and Tania bounce well off each other. Leonard's clawhammer style on the 5 string janbo is 'awesome' (a superlative I got used to hearing over the weekend, as well ;-)) Scott's got rhythm, and he can knock out some patterns that 'all-in-one' drum of his (I forget the name of those kind of drums, now)

There is always something a bit strange about being a fairly famous band playing a gig in a place where none of the audience have ever heard of you.
If you (as a famous band) impress such an audience, then I think you sort of have it made as a musician.

Toldboden acoustically rocked on Sunday evening, and towards the end of the second set, Aoife announced that they would do another gig on Monday evening at 7pm, even though it was supposed to be their day off.
I'm just after leaving the after-party of it not long ago. There was a few more around tonight; among them a few bemused German sailor-types, whom the high winds and heavy seas yesterday left stranded on the island for another day.
I've been playing in a pub up the street during the summer, and the Duhks had been piling up to my gig after they'd finished playing, for food and pints.
We've all had a good weekend.... ;-)

Jordan is a luthier in his home incarnation, and when Scott told me that he had made a guitar for John Doyle, I told him I'd be in touch over the next year about something similar (I want to 'retire' my Washburn soon, and I need one with my own specs stamped on it, anyway...) Jordan uses a '70 as his bottom string in his 'Dropped D' setting. It's also one of his own guitars.
His DAGDAD guitar, incidentally, is a Larivee.
Say no more....

The Duhks, ladies and gentlemen, are not only brilliant individual musicians; they are great craic as well.
They have said that they will never forget this weekend.

I have a tendency to believe them. ;-)

B.

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: Brendy
Date: 24 Sep 07 - 09:57 PM

.... Oh yeah, forgot to mention....

Jordan's left arm is one huge tattoo. I couldn't make all of it out, but then, I'm not really a 'tattoo' kinda guy, so I didn't inspect it too closely, neither.

Tania's got a cute little one, though....

.... anyway, I told the lads about this thread, and they might take a wee shufty in, if they've got time.
They're in Langeland tonight, and Christiania in Copenhagen on Wednesday. Then they hit Ireland.

Keep an eye out for them.

B.

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 25 Sep 07 - 08:41 AM

Man, what a great weekend! At risk of repeating myself, no recording or video prepares you for the real thing. I'd give my left one to be there the first time they play for an Irish crowd.
- Phil

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: GUEST,Rob McConnell
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 06:18 PM

Hey Everyone, This is Jordan McConnell's Dad here, hope you don't mind me adding my two cents worth. It has been great reading all the comments about the bands adventures in Denmark. We miss them when they are away and getting any news home is sometimes a challenge, so stumbling on this site has been real interesting.

As a way of clarification, Aoife O'Donovan is a guest singer for The Duhks, coming from another superb group called Crooked Still. Don't miss them if you have any opportunity to see them, they are very special and original. Aoife I believe helped set up this tour for the band and filled in for their regular singer Sarah Dugas when she could not make it. Sarah herself just joined the band this spring and is a phenomenal multi-lingual singer from Winnipeg who has really added a new dimension and creative boost to the band. Hope you all get a chance to hear her with the group sometime in the future too, her Portugese acapella song with Scot on percussion is a must listen.

Thanks to everyone for making their trip to Denmark so great.

Rob McC

Subject: RE: The Duhks in Denmark
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 07:45 PM

Welcome, Rob. I crossed paths with Jordan and the band a few months ago. I enjoyed getting to meet them though I am closer to your age than your son's age. Obviously he was raised properly -- the first thing he did when we met was jump up and offer me his chair. I wouldn't embarass him by telling this in front of his cool musician friends, but since you are his dad and no one else is listening...
- Phil