Photo by Chia Chong
While this blog is known primarily as an Atlanta-based publication, we have been known to feature artists from Athens and other Georgia locales outside our fair city. This particular post takes for its subject the Savannah-based artist Dare Dukes, who’s not only been know to play an Atlanta stage or two, but whose offbeat and ornate banjo-driven folk folk also happens to make for mighty fine listening.
They say you can judge a person by the company the keep, and if the same can be said for musicians then Duke’s next record, Thugs and China Dolls, should be definitely one to keep an ear out for. Scheduled for release on January 17 via Starland Records, the record not only boasts assistance from members of Of Montreal, TV On the Radio, Modern Skirts and Hope for Agoldensummer, but it also features guests vocals and viola from Marla Hansen, who has recorded and toured with Surfjan Stevens and the National, among others.
“Meet You at the Bus” is the first single from the new album and while it takes a few moments for the song get going, it ultimately finds Dukes in a playful pop mood, wrapping his jaunty rhythms in a warm, upbeat melody and whimsical horns. Check it out below.
In support of Thugs and China Dolls, Dukes has several January show dates scheduled, including a stop at the Highland Ballroom on January 21. Atlanta’s Book Club and Georgia Fireflies are also slated to perform. The full lists of dates can be seen below.
Dare Dukes Show Dates:
Jan 19 – Savannah, GA – The Sentient Bean
Jan 20 – Savannah, GA – The Jinx
Jan 21 – Atlanta, GA – Highland Inn Ballroom w/ Book Club, Georgia Fireflies
Jan 24 – Charlottesville, VA – Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar
Jan 26 – Brooklyn, NY – The Rock Shop
Jan 31 – Nashville, TN – The Basement
More Info:
Web: www.daredukes.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dare.dukes
Bandcamp: www.daredukes.bandcamp.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/daredukes
