Formed in 2012 when three friends met busking at the Rory Gallagher Festival in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, Deuce is fuelled by a shared admiration for the guitar legend.
Lead singer and guitarist David Hawkins recalls his own journey as a fan: “A friend handed me a copy of Rory’s Calling Card album in 1999, and after hearing ‘Barley and Grape Rag;’ I was hooked.”
“The three of us, myself on vocals and guitar, Stephen Flood on drums and Niall Dunphy on bass have been Rory fans for many years.”
Recently, Hawkins had the rare honour of holding Gallagher’s 1961 Stratocaster, and describes the experience as “emotional.” The guitar recently sold for €1.07m. Invited to Bonhams in London, he also had the opportunity to play through Rory’s Vox AC30 amp, Dallas Rangemaster, and Takamine acoustic guitar.
Since their early busking days, Deuce has performed across Ireland and Europe, building a set list of Gallagher’s timeless tracks like ‘Tattoo’d Lady,’ ‘Bad Penny,’ ‘Shadow Play,’ and ‘I Fall Apart.’
Their dedication shines as they capture both the energy and technical skill that made Gallagher a global icon in the 1970s and ‘80s. While staying true to Gallagher’s original sound, Deuce bring their own flair, delivering Gallagher’s blend of blues, rock, and folk with fresh intensity.
Together, they cover the full spectrum of his music, championing the style that led Gallagher to sell millions of records worldwide.
Their approach has earned acclaim from fans both at home and abroad. “Our goal is to give every gig the passion Rory himself put into his music and Monroe’s is the perfect venue,” says Hawkins.
Tickets €10 from www.monroes.ie
