Grainne Duffy
Recently featured on the front of the culture section of The Sunday Times Grainne Duffy was described as  'The spiritual heir to Rory Gallagher, an Irish blues singer of real integrity'. What high praise but Grainne Duffy live show is testament to this as the singer, songwriter and guitarist Grainne is a festival favourite there wowing crowds with her energetic performances, her passionate vocals and guitar playing backed by a stellar band left the audiences begging for more this year. On Friday 9thDecember Grainne will return to her Dundalk as part of her UK and Irish tour to launch her second album ‘Test of Time’. The album which has not even been released yet has been picked up by BBC Radio 2 Dj’s like  Alex Lester and Terry Wogan who have already begun playing the first single ‘I know Were Gonna Be Just Fine’.
 
Grainne released her debut album ‘Out of the Dark’ in 2008 and has never looked back since. Her debut releasegarnered much deserved praise in worldwide publications such as Guitarist, Guitar Techniques, Rock 'n' Reel, Maverick and Classic Rock. Classic Rock magazine declaring ‘In a world of chic rockers Duffy is the real deal’
It also received much airplay on BBC Northern Ireland and RTE Radio. Earlier this year she was invited to do a session on Pat Kenny morning show. This release also lead to Grainne being asked to play many of Ireland's leading festivals and festivals abroad such as Svalbard Dark Season Festival in Norway and 3 days at Glastonbury in England. There she was lucky enough to share the stage with such wonderful artists as Joan Baez, Suzanne Vega, Sinead O Connor, Seasick Steve and The Blockheads to name but a few. She was also commissioned to sing an advertisement for BBC Northern Ireland - 'Get Here' campaign recorded in The Beatles producer George Martin's Air Studio in London and reopened the Ulster Hall Belfast with renowned songwriter Paul Brady. Alongside this she also was asked to take part in R.T.E’s highly acclaimed Other Voices music programme along with Eric Bibb, Christy Moore, Duke Special, Elbow, Lisa Hannigan, Mick Flannery, Billy Bragg and many more. She has also been lucky enough to have taken her music on extensive tours of Europe including Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Isle of Man, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Poland and Norway
 
Her new album 'Test of Time' which will be launched locally on Friday the 9th December in The Spirit Store Dundalk features 11 self penned tracks mixing her varied influences of blues, soul and pop music. Recorded in Holywood, Co. Down over the last year it was then mixed in Capitol Studios L.A. by Niko Bolas who has worked with Neil Young, Rod Stewart, Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock, Keith Richards, John Mayer, Los Lonely Boys and Melissa Etheridge. Album mastering was also by Grammy award winner Richard Dodd in Nashville. The launch in The Spirit Store will be a special occasion for Grainne as it is a local gig in her tour on which she will have been in Poland for 10 ten shows, the UK including a sold out gig in Dingwall’s London with Beth Harte and many other shows across Ireland and Northern Ireland. This is a night not to be missed by any true music fan and if you have experienced Grainne and her band at the Monaghan Blues Festival then you will know how great this will be. Alongside Grainne on lead guitar and vocals, the band will feature the wonderful talents of Paul Sherry on second guitar, Davy Watson on bass and backing vocals, Ronnie oFlynn on drums and John mcCullough on keyboards. The Spirit Store, a special venue for live music and where Grainne herself remembers witnessing many of her favourite gigs will be a very special memorable night for the release of Grainne’s second album. Don’t miss this opportunity to catch Grainne and her band in such an intimate setting before she hit’s the ground running next year promoting her second album in Ireland, the U.K., Poland, Norway, Spain and all over Europe. Doors open at 8pm on Friday 9th December. For more information on Grainne Duffy go to www.grainneduffy.com