The Duhks are finally back with their long-awaited new studio album Beyond the Blue released via Compass Records on June 24. As you can hear from the Album sampler below their two year break seems to have re-energized the band who sound the best they’ve ever done in their 13 year career, has it really been that long?
It’s not all about rejuvenation though as the line-up has also gone through some changes with the return of vocalist Jessee Havey and the addition of new members, fiddler Rosie Newton, drummer/percussionist Kevin Garcia, and guitarist/bouzouki player Colin Savoie-Levac. Duhks founder Leonard Podolak has revealed how the new shape and sound of the band came about. “All of the people who have been in the band over the years, including non-touring founding members Tania Elizabeth and Jordan McConnell (who both appear on the album) have had a hand in shaping our sound and direction. The goal with the new record was to draw on everything we’ve learned over the years and everything we know about where we want to take the music now and create something as fresh, exciting and forward thinking as possible.”
The production has also been given some progressive rope in the form of Mike Merenda and Ruth Unger of The Mammals, but they reassure us their music is still firmly rooted in the traditions of folk music. Beth Neilson Chapman fans will also be pleased to hear that the title track is that very same song Beth co-wrote with Gary Nicholson for her ’97 album ‘Sand & Water‘. The Duhks call on Charlie Rose’s lap steel which works it’s magic perfectly alongside Podolak’s claw hammer banjo playing. Listen to this and a few other full-length tracks below:
US Tour Dates
06/27-6/28 – Kate Wolf Festival – Laytonville CA
06/29 – Mountain Sage – Groveland CA
07/9 – Roots Revival Stage – Winston Salem NC
07/11 – Redwing Roots Music Festival – Mount Solon VA
07/12 – Workhouse Arts Center at Lorton – Lorton VA
07/13 – Blissfest Amphitheater – Harbor Springs MI
07/25-7/26 – Floydfest – Floyd VA
08/1 – Summer Sounds – Greensburg PA
08/29-8/31 – Rhythm & Roots Festival – Charlestown RI
09/5-9/6 – Sisters Folk Festival – Sisters OR
10/11 – US National Whitewater Center – Charlotte NC
11/6 – Fort Lewis College Community Concert Hall – Durango CO
11/8 – Brighton Armory Performing Arts Center – Brighton CO
Pre_order Now from our Folk Music Store:
[aom url=https://klofmag.com/musicstore/shop.php?c=folk_music&n=358899031&i=B00JUREKKK&x=Beyond_The_Blue]