COOL PHIL AND LUKE GET SET FOR THE SWING
IT’S FAIR to say we in Ireland have a wealth of talent when it comes to singing and songwriting. And one of those who doesn’t get the recognition he richly deserves is Luke Thomas.
Once tipped as the next big thing, Thomas has yet to achieve the heady heights he is capable of but there’s still plenty of time for the rest of the world to understand what a great artist Thomas is.
Thomas has a soulful voice that leant itself well to his early life as an R&B singer.
At age 15 he was standing on the stage of the Olympia Theatre as support to Coolio. By 19, he was performing in the RDS with Mary J Blige.
‘Most people didn’t realise that I was Irish until I started talking and then I got a big cheer,’ Thomas said at the time. ‘It was a dream come true to be on the same stage as her.’
Thomas scored a top ten hit with Alrite (the DJ’s got it pumpin’) but things didn’t quite take off the way they should have.
A few years ago though, Thomas reemerged with a different style but still one that showcased his silky vocal skills.
His band The Swing Cats have performed on the likes of The Late Late Show, for Michael D Higgins and have even sold out the National Concert Hall this year with their jazzy take on some old classics, hitting the No.1 spot in the album charts.
Now fans will get the chance to see Luke in action on April 22 along with some very special guests at supper club Twenty Two. Legendary songwriter and pianist Phil Coulter will join with Luke for a show that is set to be recorded live for a new DVD that will also be broadcast on television at a later stage.
Showband legend Paddy Cole is also on the bill for the big night which will see Luke and The Swing Cats recreate all the glamour of old Hollywood right in the centre of Dublin.
As performers, The Swing Cats put on a polished show that’s worthy of any big Vegas stage and with the added attraction of both Phil and Paddy.
If you can’t make the live performance — and tickets are going very quickly — keep your eyes peeled for the DVD and television show later this year.