2026 marks the 20th anniversary of DUKE SPECIAL’s much revered album ‘Songs From The Deep Forest.’
He will be celebrating this landmark by touring the UK & Ireland throughout 2026, playing the album in its entirety, followed by a second set of Duke’s much loved songs.
By nature, Duke Special (aka Belfast's Peter Wilson) is a curious person. He is curious about music, theatre, books, poetry, art, love, life, redemption, death and 78RPM records. All of this is evidenced by the variety of musical adventures throughout his career. He has released 14 albums and EPs, toured all over the world and has been involved in a diverse array of other projects, including writing the music for Deborah Warner’s critically acclaimed 2009 production of Mother Courage and Her Children at London’s National Theatre and being commissioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to write a series of original songs based on photographs for their exhibition of the photographers Stieglitz, Steichen and Strand
Performing live is still one of Duke Special's main passions, and over the years he has played to captive audiences across the world. Whether he performs solo, as a duo with his long-time friend and percussionist Chip Bailey, with a full band, a string quartet or full orchestra, a Duke Special show is always a unique experience.
Support act will be Oliver Cole -
Having had some success with his first band Swampshack, Oliver Cole formed the three-piece rock band, Turn. Oliver was Turn’s singer, songwriter and main guitarist, and they soon signed to Infectious Records in London, which was home to Muse, Ash and Garbage, among others. Turn enjoyed great success and popularity, playing sell-out gigs at Vicar Street and a packed to the gills standout performance at the Oxegen festival in 2005.
They released three Irish Top 10 albums, ‘Antisocial’ (2000), ‘Forward’ (2003), and ‘Turn’ (2005) and were nominated for Ireland’s coveted Choice Music Award. Cole left the band in 2006 to begin work on his first solo album, ‘We Albatri’, which was recorded in Germany. Upon its release in 2010, The Irish Times gave the album 5 out of 5 and made it their album of the month.
Oliver continued to progress his career as both a songwriter and solo artist, on ‘Year of The Bird’ which was released to huge critical acclaim in 2015.
