Duncan Toombs has just dropped what might be the most personal song of his career. “Steel on Steel” is a beautiful tribute to his late father Bob, who passed away in August 2021. I suggest having some tissues on standby before you press play.
“I started writing this song while I was making trip’s back home to Toowoomba [Gooneburra Country] visiting my father in hospital. He was suffering from multiple mini stokes due to the lung cancer which was found while running tests on him. I finished the song the day the nurses called me while at home to let me know he had passed,” Duncan recalled. “It was soon realised that I would not be able to be at my father’s funeral as the QLD border was locked again. With the help of my producer Rod McCormack, we recorded and mixed the song within a matter of days. My family then helped me create a short video for it which features a trip I took to Europe with dad and my two boys in 2018 and It was played at my father’s service. I watched my father’s service via live stream from my lounge room with my family and the saving grace from not being able to be there was that at least my energy was there in the room with him. My dad was a train driver and worked for QLD Rail for over 30 years. He was a true people’s champion. I miss him a lot.”
“Steel on Steel” is the title track from Duncan’s debut album, which went to number one on the ARIA country charts. Most at home on stage, he’ll be keeping his father’s memory alive when he plays this song at the following shows:
20-22 October 2023 – Groundwater Country Music Festival, Yugambeh Country/Broadbeach
24 November 2023 – The Beer Shed Brewing Co, Tharawal Country/Leumeah
25 November 2023 – Tassie Music Muster @ National Park Hotel, Palawa Country/National Park
1-8 December 2023 – Cruisin’ Country @ Brilliance of the Seas
25 January 2024 – Tamworth Family Reunion @ Wests, Kamilaroi Country/West Tamworth
Image used with permission from Tombstone Records