Union Duke is five guys, 24 beers, and a half-ton truckload of foot stomping folk rock. They are heading out on tour and will travel from island to island - notably Vancouver Island to Prince Edward Island this summer.
Union Duke is a Toronto folk quintet, but they are as far from gentle easy folk songs as one can get and still remain in that musical genre. They are dynamic, energetic and belt out those harmonies like a jack hammer. Yes, they are folk but they are also bluegrass, country, rock and rockabilly all in the same breath. They are city slickers in cowboy boots and they know how to have a musical party! They describe themselves as two-fifth city, two-fifths country and one-fifth whiskey. They can get the audience a hopping and clapping to their music, bringing back memories and times when lyrics meant something and words were understood.
“We play high energy folk rock/country/bluegrass. We like to keep things upbeat and aim to get the audience moving,” said Jim McDonald via Facebook.
Union Duke has recorded three albums, Bandit &Bridges, Cash &Carry and Golden Days. It’s a record of pain and struggle, lessons learned – and of laughter between friends, tenderness between lovers. One minute you’re following banjo music rambling down a country lane. The next minute you feel the pulse and pound of the amplifiers.
These five guys have been making a commotion in one way or another ever since they were kids. They have fun on stage and in turn audiences find them irresistible. Their performances are often sold out and their fans know all the words to their songs. They will sing along and become part of the performance, just like sitting around a campfire and singing your heart out with your friends. They are that kind of band, a mixture of the good-old-days, the new grass phenomena, country and rocking’ folk. They are Ethan Smith, Jim McDonald, Matt Warry-Smith, Will Staunton and Rob McLaren.
“We’ve played Vancouver and some interior BC gigs before, but this will be our first time playing a gig on the Island. We’re super excited about it,” said McDonald.
Union Duke will be stomping the floor boards in the Upstairs Lounge at Oak Bay Recreation Centre, 1975 Bee St., on Friday, May 5. Doors open at 6 p.m., just in time for a beverage or dinner before the show which starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available through Recreation Oak Bay, Ivy’s Bookshop or online at beaconridgeproductions.com. More at the door.