Luka Bloom

Kevin Barry Moore, born in Newbridge, County Kildare in 1955, grew up in a musical family and began writing songs at an early age. He toured with his brother Christy Moore at just fourteen and spent the following years honing his craft, playing gigs across Ireland and Europe, and releasing early albums such as Treaty Stone (1978) and In Groningen (1980). After experimenting with different styles, including fronting the Dublin post-punk band Red Square, he reinvented himself in 1987 under the name Luka Bloom—a combination inspired by Suzanne Vega’s song Luka and James Joyce’s Leopold Bloom. Moving to America, he built an audience in Washington D.C. and New York through residencies in small clubs before breaking through with Riverside (1990) and The Acoustic Motorbike (1992). His dynamic guitar playing, emotional songwriting, and willingness to experiment—such as covering L.L. Cool J’s 'I Need Love'—helped him stand out on the international stage.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Luka Bloom toured extensively across Europe, Australia, and the U.S., releasing acclaimed albums such as Turf (1994), Salty Heaven (1998), and Keeper of the Flame (2000). He became known not just for his studio recordings but also for the power and intimacy of his live performances. Continuing into the 2010s with works like This New Morning (2012) and Frúgalisto (2016), Luka maintained a balance between tradition and innovation, often drawing inspiration from his Irish roots and his adopted home in Clare. His career reflects a lifelong dedication to songwriting, performance, and artistic independence, always marked by a deep connection to place, people, and the possibilities of song.

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