Never easy to pigeonhole, Dukes of Portland have moved through numerous musical styles over the last few years to much critical acclaim.
The band won some early praise as one of the UK’s Top Ten “Unsigned” bands from Radio 1’s Oneworld website (later to become BBC Introducing).
The home-style release of their “First Fruits EP”, represents influences spanning The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield and The Byrds, forged through contemporary writing and harmony rich production. This refreshing debut (recorded in a dusty old theatre down the road from their rented house) gave rise to summer festivals, Manchester’s “In the City” and numerous BBC radio sessions that year.
Still Country-Tinged, “Come in no.23?” followed as the second independent recording. A more commercial awareness and extended track listing presents something more mainstream altogether. “Expect to see them on Jools Holland at some point in the near future..” exclaimed Manchester Music.
Track “Oh Loved” went through to the final rounds of the ISC Songwriters Contest in Nashville and with the band touring both records (supporting “Boy Kill Boy”), they climbed to top 5 in www.download.com’s alt-country chart.
More material, more shows and more noise bring us up to date.
Gigging with “Little Barrie” and Dodgy’s “Nigel Clarke” provided a solid test bed for the third Dukes of Portland record. Their strongest (and first real studio) recording, we have been told to expect something new, dynamic and memorable.
The band has retained integrity while shedding their country skin and changing up a gear in the process. Sounds like something to look forward to if you ask us..
In at The Deep End (EP) is available on download from ALL good stores now.
"Such a refreshing sound, I could listen to this all seasons. A highly promising debut".
Manchester Music, UK (on First Fruits).
"It's immensely refreshing to hear Dukes of Portland describe themselves in a similar way to The Thrills, but then sound a million times better... an amazing voice, somewhere between Harvest era Neil Young and the youthful innocence of Damian Rice... This is a remarkable EP... making it one of the most delightful pieces of work High Voltage has ever listened to".
High Voltage, UK
"If you're one of those people that still think that folk music is cool, you'll love this. I could see these guys opening for Neil Young, CSN or even Mr. Dylan himself".
Gigs Unlimited, UK
"Primed for Radio 2 play... Expect to see them on Jools Holland at some point in the near future... it's the kind of MOR that gets people asking for More".
Manchster Music, UK
"The band that don't sound anything like a band from Northwich should!".
High Voltage, UK
"Out of the unsigned wilderness before long if there's any justice left in this weird world... this is stylish, country-tinged pop... "First Fruits" and "Come In NO.23?" deserve to be the start of something illustrious indeed".
Whisperin & Hollerin
"Accomplished and I mean as good as anything you are likely to hear, They should, by rights, be giving the likes of Kings of Leon a good run for their money: and then there are ghosts of Gomez blowing in the brush".
Soundsxp
"Maaan, it was soooo Rock n'Roll!"
BBC Radio, UK
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