Make sure you’re up-to-date on all our forthcoming events and activities, plus we’ll be showcasing the best pics and movies from past Duke of Uke events here!

Sparky Deathcap

Sparky Deathcap is a young musician and cartoonist from Manchester, now living in London. His style has been compared to Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective, although one can hear the innocent truth of Daniel Johnston in his lyrics combined with the sad lament of Elliot Smiths vocals. Banjo, whistling and hand claps dance with lyrics that speak of first loves, being creepy, entrails of dead animals and parks in September.

Sparky has started up his own independent record label Nettle Jam as well as his own daily cartoon website Tear Jerky; his illustrations often accompany his performances. He has toured with Daniel Johnston and Los Campesinos! As well as supporting Panda Bear, Shearwater and Julie Doiron.

“shuffly indie folk fetches up somewhere in-between Leonard Cohen, Grizzly Bear and Moldy Peaches.” – Timeout

Planet Earth

Released on Young and Lost Club, Planet Earth is like a summer song; with a 50’s driving drum beat, a hint of surf guitar and soothing vocal harmonies this band makes you feel like slipping on the canvas shoes and bunking off of work on a sunny afternoon.

They have shared the stage with artists such as Laura Marling, Johnny Flynn, Jeffrey Lewis and Noah and the Whale to name a few.

King and the Olive Fields

You have to love the titles of King and the Olive Fields songs, such as Dinosaurs, Fingerpainting and Trumpet Song. One could be easily mislead into thinking he is a children’s song writer and in a way they embody just that, simple innocent, beautifully well written songs that can easily trigger nostalgia.

Tickets cost £7/£6concs and are available from The Whitechapel Gallery.

SOLD OUT Friday 29th May 2009

Woodpigeon
Don’t miss! A last chance to see the impressive Calgary-based Woodpigeon play the final night of a long tour, including ‘Phrased & Confused’ dates across the whole of England, four shows in Ireland and two shows in Sweden! Their latest single “Cities of Weather” was released on 18th May, from their brilliantly crafted album “Treasury Library Canada”. Led by vocalist/guitarist Mark Hamilton, Woodpigeon are very busy mixing a magical brew of infectious melodies and plotful lyrics, dreamily instrumented by an orchestral arrangement of vocals, strings, woodwind and percussion.

Guardian **** “an inspiring meditation on exile and return”
Mojo **** “seductive”
Q **** “melodic and affecting”
Uncut “rich acoustic chamber pop with quietly barbed lyrics”
The Independent “moments of magic”
The Observer “well worth investigating”

Serafina
Also one of the Children of the Vault, classically trained harpist Serafina Steer sounds like a beautiful version of the undead, washing ethereal vocals over off-kilter keyboard and harp sounds. Singing of everyday thoughts and upsetting dreams, Serafina fills the room with glorious rambling melodies, distracting you from her (potentially dangerous) superhuman powers.

Honeybear
Notwithstanding his charming arrangements, affable demeanour and excitable dedication to exploring folk traditions, Honeybear’s Aaron Meyer may well be a sign of the increasing power of Calgary’s current musical climate. Songs that conjure an image of a ukulele-toting honeybear riding illegally on the roof of a steam train through 19th century Canada, and others that explore the darker longings and misgivings of the bear that missed the train.

Stuart Silver
Stuart Silver is a critically acclaimed writer/performer working solo and collaboratively across theatre and gallery venues, television, Radio, public spaces and in creative educational contexts.

Please note, this is a seated venue and there are only 80 tickets available.

Entry by advance tickets only. Tickets cost £10 and are available from the Duke of Uke shop and website at http://www.dukeofuke.co.uk/duke-presentsbr-chamberbreticket-p-710.html

Look forward to seeing you all there!

If you have any pics or movies from our past events, please post them here or send to info@dukeofuke.co.uk. Thanks.

By the way, please feel free to start publicising your events on our GIG LISTINGS blog!