Singer Duffy to perform first live concert in 15 years after sex assault ordeal

4 hours ago

Eleri GriffithsBBC Wales

Brit Award-winner Duffy announces she will host a "secret intimate gig" and play new songs on 5 July in London

PA Media Duffy on stage with a microphone — Brit Award-winner Duffy announces she will host a "secret intimate gig" and play new songs on 5 July in London

Warning: This story contains distressing content, including details of sexual assault, kidnapping and suicidal thoughts

Singer Duffy has announced her first concert in more than 15 years, after she revealed that a sexual assault and kidnapping had led her to step away from public life.

The Welsh singer said on social media that she would host a "secret intimate gig" and perform new songs for fans on 5 July in London.

Duffy rose to fame in 2008 with her debut album Rockferry, earning three BRIT Awards, a Grammy Award and an Ivor Novello Award.

In March, it was announced that she would give her first in-depth interview for a Disney+ documentary, speaking about the ordeal that led to her long absence from the music industry.

Duffy will share her experiences in a new Disney+ documentary

Getty Images A picture of Duffy, who has short blonde hair — Duffy will share her experiences in a new Disney+ documentary

Aimée Anne Duffy grew up between Gwynedd and Pembrokeshire before becoming an overnight sensation with hit single Mercy and Rockferry, which became the UK's best selling album of 2008.

But after the release of her second album and the announcement of a third, Duffy disappeared, leaving fans and the music industry wondering why.

Almost a decade later in 2020, Duffy revealed in an Instagram post that she had been attacked and later published a personal essay on her website, describing how she was drugged and taken to a foreign country where she was raped.

She explained that the ordeal only ended when she managed to escape her perpetrator, who has not been identified.

The singer said "utterly no-one" knew about the assault and captivity, which she said had left her suicidal.

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On Friday, Duffy told fans via a story on her Instagram account that she would be hosting a balloted gig.

"I'm doing a secret intimate gig in London on the 5th July, next month, and I would love nothing more than for some of you to attend," she wrote.

"It's only small capacity so we can only select a few, but really looking forward to it, I will sing some new songs."

Last month, also shared a black-and-white image from a recording studio on Instagram, writing: "If only I could find the right words to explain how much I've missed you all. Working on coming back to you."

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