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Union Duke: Left Behind

The last of four new songs from the TO roots-rockers features shimmering steel on a sweetly tender tune.

Union Duke: Left Behind

By Kerry Doole

Union Duke: Left Behind (Independent): It has been an eventful week for this Toronto-based roots-rock combo. Union Duke showcased at the AmericanaUK Conference in London on Tuesday and has also just released this new cut, the last of four new songs produced by Jeff Hazin.


In a press release, the group states "Left Behind is the only soft-ish sound of the music we’ve released over the last year. Once we got into the studio, we had the opportunity to explore some really cool ideas that are pretty new for us. It was a lot of fun building this tune and taking it from mellow and simmering to a driving banjo-driven sing-along. Plus… lap steel guitar played by our very own Rob McLaren!"

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"It is a song about leaving things behind. We aimed to capture the feeling of loneliness and isolation that you can feel when you’re far from the one(s) you love. It’s about the distance often forced between us and the longing to be together again."

The result is certainly a pleasing one  The shimmering steel underpins a tune that shows real tenderness while maintaining a lively feel sure to go over well live.

Union Duke has released three albums, 2013's Bandits & Bridges, 2014's Cash & Carry, and 2016's Golden Days.

Upcoming shows are in Orillia (March 28), Sudbury (April 17), and Collingwood (April 18).

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Ed Sheeran performs onstage at iHeartRadio Z100's Jingle Ball 2025 Presented by Capital One held at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2025 in New York, New York.
John Nacion/Billboard

Ed Sheeran performs onstage at iHeartRadio Z100's Jingle Ball 2025 Presented by Capital One held at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2025 in New York, New York.

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