Gráinne Duffy

Gráinne Duffy

Gráinne Duffy is an Irish guitarist, singer and songwriter hailing from County Monaghan, Ireland. Her music blends blues, soul and Americana, enriched with delicate Celtic, pop and rock elements. Her professional career began in 2007, the same year she released her debut album Out of the Dark, a strong introduction that quickly highlighted her rising talent. Described by The Sunday Times as “a blues singer of real integrity,” Duffy has developed a style that is uniquely her own while paying sincere homage to soul, blues and rock traditions. In 2011 she released her second album Test of Time, produced in collaboration with Niko Bolas (Melissa Etheridge, Los Lobos). The release, along with the video for the title track, further expanded Duffy’s reputation in the U.K., followed by audiences across Europe, Canada and Australia. Career highlights include performances at the Glastonbury Festival (2008 and 2022), the Woodford Folk Festival, the Tremblant International Blues Festival and the Mahindra Blues Festival. In 2014 and 2015 she won the Blues Matters Writers Poll awards for Best Vocalist and Best Solo Artist. With a voice that is passionate, raw and honest, paired with melodic and expressive guitar lines, Duffy continued to build momentum. In 2017 she recorded in the United States with producer Justin Stanley (Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow), resulting in her third album Where I Belong. In summer 2018 she shared the stage at the Cornbury Festival alongside artists including Alanis Morissette and Mavis Staples. Duffy released her fourth studio album Voodoo Blues in October 2020, receiving international acclaim and reaching #7 on the U.K. IBBA Top 40 and #13 on the U.S. RMR Top 50 charts. The album also led to her winning the Independent Blues Awards 2021 for Best Modern Roots Artist. In August 2021, together with Johnny Logan and accompanied by the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, she recorded a live performance of Hey Jude for an RTÉ program. In May 2023 Duffy released her fifth studio album Dirt Woman Blues, produced by Grammy winner Chris Goldsmith (Ben Harper, Blind Boys of Alabama) and guitarist Marc Ford of The Black Crowes. The album was a major success, reaching #1 on the U.S. RMR Top 50 for seven consecutive weeks, as well as #2 on Australia’s Top 30 and #2 on the U.K. IBBA Top 40. In June 2023 she was nominated for the Blues Blast Music Awards, and the following month she performed her first U.S. concerts in Chicago and New Orleans. The success of Dirt Woman Blues led to appearances at major U.S. festivals in summer 2024, including Bluesapalooza Festival, Telluride Blues & Brews Festival and the W. C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival, alongside artists such as Gary Clark Jr., John Primer and Ben Harper. In 2025 Duffy tours Colorado and performs four shows on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise in the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez. Earlier that year, in January, she recorded new material in Los Angeles at 64 Sounds Studio with an all-star group of musicians including Marc Ford, renowned drummer Kenny Aronoff, Jørgen Carlsson of Gov’t Mule on bass, Peter Levin on keyboards, Justin Stanley and longtime guitarist Paul Sheryl. The new album, co-produced by Marc Ford and Justin Stanley, is scheduled for release in May 2026 and blends energetic rock inspired by great British bands of the 1970s with Duffy’s exceptional vocals and lyrical craft. It will also feature her distinctive interpretation of Need Your Love So Bad, honoring her first guitar hero and inspiration, Peter Green.