New Album > INNOCENCE
US Release Date: 21 March 2006
Label: Cooking Vinyl Records, USA
Innocence seems like a strange title for Luka Bloom's tenth studio album.
However, Innocence is an album that could easily be mistaken as an
accomplished debut. Bloom's lyrics are so insightful and fresh that you'd be
forgiven for mistaking him as a young and disillusioned twenty-something,
instead of a 50 year old who has been making music for 36 years. Musically,
Innocence is just as simple and static. There's an unrivalled tenderness to
Luka Bloom's enchanting, earnest songwriting - his musical and lyrical
delivery possesses that special charm. His deft, delicate touch on the
six-string and distinguishable Irish lilt in his honeyed vocals draws you in
immediately with the heartfelt opener 'Primavera', from which the ensuing
mood is set. And of course, there's a gentle dose of mellow instrumentals on
Innocence to round out the album.
The US version contains two exclusive
bonus tracks that are not on the UK version - 'Doing The Best I Can' and
'I Am Not At War With Anyone'. Bloom seems to always manage a sense of freshness
with anything he puts his mind, voice and hand to, and Innocence beautifully
captures the emotions of these purposeful messages by a master of his game.
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Hybrid Magazine - music reviews - May 2006
Luka Bloom - Innocence
Cooking Vinyl
When something happens that threatens to end your musical career, it leaves
the soul questioning life's purpose. But when you struggle through that hard
time, recording one of your finest and most tender records in the meantime,
and then make a full recovery, there is only one thing to do: celebrate!
Luka Bloom seems to be celebrating his re-emergence to full health on his
newest record, Innocence. All the doubts and introspection on
last year's Before Sleep Comes have come full circle to end in a brilliant
commemoration of life and rebirth on Innocence.
'Primavera' begins the album with an eloquent foreshadowing of the
themes to come, which rolls nicely into the lilting softness of 'First Light
Of Spring'. These two songs set the tone for the entire album, building
on the tender benevolence of the songs on Before Sleep Comes and fleshing
out the ideas of a wondrous resurrection of the world from the sleep of winter.
By the time 'Innocence' begins, there is a low, mellow mood already
built that makes the soul wholly receptive for the insidious splendor of Luka's
lyrical genius. "I remember the taste / of the first kiss by the river / and
the promises we'd keep / forever and ever... and I choose innocence / after
my tears."
'June' is another fine example of the rebirth theme that weaves its
way throughout this album with such a delicate and deliberate feel, bringing
to light the true feeling of joy that Luka seems to have found in his
ability to once more play music as he'd like. And dig the groovy Van
Morrison-esque feel that the song gives off - an instant classic.
Alternately, Innocence is interspersed with some darker and more pressing
themes, as well. 'No Matter Where You Go, There You Are' deals
with the story of a man outcast from his own land and how he finally comes
to find some happiness in the sorrow of a foreign land and its music.
'Miracle Cure' finds the songwriter entreating the world to step
back and realize the most direct path to happiness and peace is simply
forgiving those that trespass against us. Luka has finally found time to
record his classic 'City Of Chicago' on Innocence. After many
years of hearing Christy Moore playing the song, it is a simple joy to
hear it from the mouth of the man who wrote it. And the highly personally
political 'I Am Not At War' makes a strong statement that the
world's leaders would be well advised to stop and think about themselves.
But ultimately, everything comes back to the simple happiness that Luka
obviously finds in music and the world around him. And nowhere is this
displayed more prominently than on the amazingly complex 'Gypsy
Music'. There is a wondrous amount of joy that inexplicably fills the
yearning of Luka's voice and his rhythmic guitar strumming. But the apex
of Innocence's beauty lies in the amazing depth of the wonderful
'Thank You For Bringing Me Here'. This song, possibly more
than any other of his career, accurately captures Luka's ability to flesh
out a simple observation into one of his most heartrending and
magnificent songs. The lyrics have an almost sing-songy feel, but
a depth and power that belie their simple pronouncement.
Innocence is far more than simply a ray of hope and celebratory joy in the
life of Luka Bloom. This brilliant collection of songs transcends all of his
earlier works, and simply lays out for the world why Luka is truly one of
the world's finest songwriters, now or ever.
Album Review by David DeVoe
www.hybridmagazine.com |
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Special Guest > Sabrina Dinan
Luka Bloom:
"...Sabrina Dinan from Ennis in County Clare will join me on the tour. She will be
opening every show for me. Sabrina did the shows in Holland and Belgium before Christmas,
and was a great hit. I think the US audiences will love her. We will be doing our utmost to ensure
that every single gig is a special evening for us all. I can't wait, and look forward to lots of happy
nights throughout America."
Lukabloom.com newsletter - 9 March 2006
Sabrina Dinan launches her debut EP at the Roisin Dubh
By KEVIN MCGUIRE
For fans of the acoustic scene in Galway, the name Sabrina Dinan will not be unfamiliar.
The County Clare-born songstress has been wowing audiences here in the city for almost five years.
Now the Ennis girl releases her debut EP The Bondi Hotel on Tuesday January 3 in the
Róisín Dúbh...
Over the past four years Sabrina has regularly supported Mundy, Roesy, Paddy Casey, Damien Dempsey,
Luka Bloom, and Aussie legend Paul Kelly...
Encouragement for Sabrina has not only come from members of her family but also from some well
respected musicians. People such as Luka Bloom, Liam O'Maonlai of The Hothouse Flowers,
Albert Niland, and Myles O'Reilly of Juno Falls have been singing her praises.
"It keeps me thinking that I'm on the right road," Sabrina says of the endorsements.
"Sometimes I get moments where I wonder whether I'm doing the right thing. When
people say nice things it makes you believe in yourself a lot more. It's really cool
that all those people believe in me."
Luka Bloom believes in Sabrina so much that he recently invited her to tour with him in Holland
as support act. She jumped at the chance and it has proved to be an important learning curve.
"It was great because it gave me a little glimpse of what life is like as a full-time musician,"
she says. "It sort of motivated me to keep sticking at what I'm doing. Luka taught me so much and he
gave me some good advice as to where to go from here. He's a great live performer and I learned
a lot of things about that too."
...For more info on Sabrina Dinan log on to www.sabrinadinan.com.
Galway Advertiser - Thursday, 29 December 2005
www.galwayadvertiser.ie
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Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - The Barns @ Wolf Trap, Vienna, VA
Returning to The Barns for the first time in six years, Dubliner Luka Bloom
will rock you with old favorites, and songs off his new record Innocence.
Vienna, VA - As the D.C. area rockets into spring, The Barns at Wolf Trap remains
alive with everything from funk to singer/songwriters. Ireland's Luka Bloom kicks
off the month...
Born Barry Moore in Newbridge, Ireland, in 1955, Bloom comes from a tight-knit-family
with a deep fondness in music. Only one year old when his father passed away, Bloom
was raised by his mother and siblings in an industrial town known for its rope and cutlery
manufacturing. He is the younger brother of popular Irish singer-songwriter Christy Moore
and was hired to play with Moore's groups Planxty and Moving Hearts beginning in 1969.
After receiving encouragement from his older brother, Bloom embarked on his own musical
career in the 1970s. By the mid '80s, with three solo albums to his name, Bloom relocated
to the United States. To further establish his independence from his already famous older
brother, he changed his name to Luka Bloom in 1987.
Upon moving to the United States, Bloom settled in Washington D.C. After one performance
in a Georgetown pub, Bloom was so well received that he began playing regular shows in
the area and developed a loyal fan base.
While still living and performing in Washington D.C., Bloom accepted an invitation to appear
regularly at the Red Lion in New York's Greenwich Village in 1989. He traveled back and forth
between D.C. and New York to perform; however, by the end of 1989, he had decided to
make New York his permanent home. It was in New York that Bloom's talent was recognized,
and he was subsequently signed to Warner Brothers Records. His first U.S. album for Warner
Brothers, 'Riverside', was released a year later in 1990 and was followed by 'Acoustic
Motorbike' in 1992 and 'Turf' in 1994.
In 1995, Bloom separated from Warner Brothers and returned home to Ireland. He began
work on a new record in 1997 in a cottage in Birr. 'Salty Heaven' was completed at
Abbey Road Studios and released in the fall of 1998.
Inspired by Ani DiFranco's independent way of working and producing music, Bloom
decided to do the same. In 2000, without the backing of a major record label, Bloom
made 'Keeper of the Flame', an album comprised entirely of covers. 'Keeper of the Flame'
was hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as "an absolutely gorgeous outing".
Bloom's next record 'Between the Mountain and the Moon', released in 2001, is characterized
by Bloom himself as "a very special CD in my life". Bloom followed these
albums up with 'Amsterdam' in 2003 and 'Before Sleep Comes' in 2004.
Bloom's music has been characterized by the Melbourne Sunday Herald Sun as getting
"more moving with every album he makes". In 2005, Bloom released his latest record,
'Innocence', and continues to perform around the world promoting his unique and
melodic music.
www.wolftrap.org
Music Monthly - Baltimore/Washington - May 2006
Luka Bloom
The Barns at Wolf Trap
April 5, 2006
Luka Bloom is one of the most talented and underappreciated singer/songwriters in music today.
For almost 30 years Bloom has been playing music professionally, both as a solo artist and a
member of various groups. And while this native of Newbridge in County Kildare, Ireland, has
earned quite a following of dedicated fans over the years for his solo work, he has never
gained the mainstream attention a man of his considerable abilities deserves. None of this
mattered to the throng of fans that packed the charming confines of Vienna, VA’s The Barns
at Wolf Trap for the opening show of Bloom’s first U.S. tour in years.
The evening started with an all-too-brief set from Irish newcomer Sabrina Dinan.
This show marked her first American performance and she wowed the audience from the
first few notes on. Dinan had a controlled and sultry voice that revealed a maturity that
far exceeded her age, but she was also very likeable because she wasn’t afraid to show
her own vulnerability as a solo artist standing alone on the stage. I expect to hear a
lot more from this performer in the years to come.
Following Dinan’s brilliant opening set would be a tough undertaking for most artists,
but Bloom was more than up to the task. He began his performance with the politically
poignant 'I Am Not At War With Anyone', an extra track on the U.S. release of
his new album, Innocence, and followed it with 'Open Up Your Arms', another
political song influenced by the disarmament of Ireland’s IRA in September of 2005.
But this evening was not all about politics and the state of the world, but rather
it was about the beautiful music Bloom has created throughout his career.
Blooms new album, Innocence, is a nice collection of the acoustic folk pop
sound he has employed on most of his past albums. Songs like 'City of Chicago',
'Thank You for Bringing Me Here' and 'Primavera' sound just as good
live as they do in the studio.
Though songs from Innocence were definitely the focus of the evening, Bloom
delighted his fans with classic song after classic song pulled from his older albums.
Though he has never had "hits" in the popular definition of the word,
songs like 'Diamond Mountain', 'Exploring the Blue' and
'Sunny Sailor Boy' were welcomed like long lost friends by the audience.
The evening was brought to a somber conclusion with Bloom’s elegant take on the
traditional folk ballad 'Black is the Colour'.
Bloom was in fine form throughout the course of his performance and the
crowd was right there with him. If every gig on his American tour is as well
received as the one at Wolf Trap, it should be a memorable trip through
the states for Bloom.
Live Review by Greg Yost
www.musicmonthly.com
The Connection Newspapers - Mount Vernon Gazette - March 30, 2006
In Search of Innocence
Irish musician, Luka Bloom explains the inspiration behind his 10th album release, 'Innocence'.
When Irish singer-songwriter Luka Bloom was 9 years old, he picked up
the guitar for the first time and was shocked by a sense of deja-vu. The
youngest of six children growing up in Newbridge County, Ireland, perhaps
the familiarity with the guitar was a product of being the sibling of
notable folk-musician Christy Moore, or maybe it stemmed from a spiritual
connection to music that he would later discover and incorporate into his
music. With his 10th album, 'Innocence', out on the shelves, Luka
Bloom is beginning his first major U.S. tour in nearly a decade at the Barns
at Wolf Trap on Wednesday, April 5.
Bloom took some time to discuss his life, music, and tour in a
phone interview >>
Interview by Christopher M. Staten
www.connectionnewspapers.com
Times Community Newspapers - Entertainment - April 05, 2006
'Innocence' in Bloom
Irish-born musician Luka Bloom talks about his new release 'Innocence' with
the nervous anticipation of a first-time father in a hospital waiting room.
"I have no idea who likes my stuff in the States anymore," he said. "I think
they only play my music on nighttime radio, and the only people who hear me
are truck drivers and lonely housewives who can't sleep."
Bloom conducted this interview by phone from his countryside home in Dublin.
He was reacquainting himself with all things American by watching and
strumming the guitar to music from his favorite western, "Big Country",
the 1958 Oscar-winning classic starring Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Carol
Baker and Jean Simmons.
"This album is creatively different from what I've done before," Bloom said.
"My whole approach to the guitar and style of playing is different from when
I was a one-man rock band playing venues in D.C. After playing that way for
10 to 15 years, I grew tired of it and felt a need for change and redirected
my energies considerably. I still love the guitar, but I play it in a different way."
This tour marks the 20th anniversary of Bloom's first tour in America. Bloom
said he was prompted to perform in the States years ago when a honeymooning
Michael Jaworek of The Birchmere in Alexandria approached him at a venue in
Ireland and asked him about playing in America. It was not long before Bloom
headlined at Murphy's Irish Pub in Washington, D.C.
Interview by Michael Wilson
www.timescommunity.com |
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Friday, April 7, 2006 - Outpost in the Burbs, Montclair, NJ
The Montclair Times - Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Singer-songwriter Luka Bloom makes a tour stop at The Outpost
A respected musician entering his 37th year of touring, Irish
singer-songwriter Luka Bloom will be performing live in concert on Friday,
April 7, at 8:30 p.m., at the Outpost in the Burbs, located in the First
Congregational Church, 40 South Fullerton Ave. Sabrina Dinan opens.
Bloom's brand-new CD, 'Innocence', was released earlier this month on
Cooking Vinyl, and he will be singing and playing selections from this disc
and many popular favorites from earlier in his career. A prolific artist,
Bloom has recorded 10 albums since 1990, and his newest CD is being well
received by critics and loyal fans of his songwriting style.
For Bloom, the whole story of this album is interesting and different. "Life
is an endless stream of challenges, and for this singer, the most important
ingredient to hang on to is our innocence and wonder at the world," he
stated in an e-mail to The Times.
www.montclairtimes.com |
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Saturday, April 8, 2006 - Tin Angel, Philadelphia, PA
Luka Bloom, with Sabrina Dinan
7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 8
Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia
215-928-0770. Tickets: $28
www.tinangel.com
The Morning Call, Allentown, PA - April 6, 2006
Irish singer-songwriter Luka Bloom returns with newfound innocence
By Len Righi
In the early 1990s, when Irish folk singer-songwriter Luka Bloom released the albums "Riverside",
"The Acoustic Motorbike" and "Turf" during a five-year stay in America, he became
famous for his aggressive acoustic guitar strumming; striking, uplifting originals and unusual covers,
particularly hip-hop star L.L. Cool J's "I Need Love".
Nowadays, the 50-year-old Bloom, who earlier in the decade was sidelined by recurring tendonitis,
plays guitar softly. But his pristine instrumental technique, along with his meditative singing and
spiritual songwriting, are so carefully nuanced, he still carries a big stick.
His just-released CD, 'Innocence', which Bloom will showcase Saturday night at
Philadelphia's Tin Angel and Sunday night at the
Sellersville Theater, extends the soothing
vibe of 2004's "Before Sleep Comes", a nine-song EP of originals and traditional Irish melodies.
On the new disc, Bloom, who now lives about 40 miles south of Dublin, sings in a voice that
alludes to Van Morrison, Al Stewart and Gordon Lightfoot. He captures with great delicacy the
beauty of simplicity and the simplicity of beauty ("Primavera"); the preciousness and
uncommonness of true love ("Venus"); the healing power of forgiveness
("Miracle Cure"), and the purity of first experiences ("Innocence").
His songs about Irish heritage and music connecting various places around the globe are
not as compelling. However, "No Matter Where You Go, There You Are", about an
expatriate Algerian carpenter and fiddler who finds peace in Galway, comes close.
Bloom has spent much of his life on the road. He began his career as Barry Moore, playing
in England in 1969 with his older brother, Christy,
the [now-retired] Irish music legend. (Moore became Luka Bloom in 1987.)
Still, Bloom hasn't lost his zest for live performance and strives to make every show special.
As he told the Brisbane News last year: "The very least the people who have gone to the
trouble of buying tickets deserve is that the artist wants to be there."
www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/
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Sunday, April 9, 2006 - Sellersville Theater 1894, Sellersville, PA
Luka Bloom - Modern Folk Icon
Sunday, April 9, 2006
7:30pm - $22.50
www.st1894.com
An..."intelligent and passionate songsmith with uncanny ability
to see the power and meaning in the atoms of daily life."
~Jackie Hayden, Hot Press
The Morning Call, Allentown, PA - April 15, 2006
The Week In Reviews
LUKA BLOOM
The grinding national debate about immigration served as an unintentionally
perfect backdrop to Luka Bloom's sublime performance Sunday at the
Sellersville Theater.
"I like Irish music," said the 50-year-old singer-songwriter,
"but I've heard enough of it."
With those words, Bloom launched into 'Gypsy Music', a song from his latest disc,
'Innocence', that's more Budapest than Belfast. Later in the 100-minute set came
'Primavera', that grew out of his experiences hearing a Portuguese singer. The
auld sod, Bloom noted, also is getting a needed jolt from auslanders. "There are places
in Ireland where 'Deliverance' could very easily have been filmed," he quipped, leading
into the Middle Eastern-influenced 'No Matter Where You Go, There You Are'.
Bloom jumped over the pond, too, with his Celtic rap (on LL Cool Jay's 'I Need Love')
and 'Make You Feel My Love' by Dylan.
Dressed not unlike his 100-strong WXPN-ish following in a black golf shirt and slacks, Bloom
clearly relished the humble small-town setting. He is joking about aging, his rainy homeland
and his better-known brother, Christy Moore.
Showing no signs of the tendinitis that forced him to alter his percussive guitar playing
on recent recordings, Bloom aggressively strummed and plucked enough for two, providing
his own bass lines.
Just as satisfying were the moments of shattering heartbreak ('Diamond Mountain')
and wonder ('June') - he is an Irish singer, after all.
After bringing the audience in on the gentle 'Sunny Sailor Boy', Bloom savored the
"lovely sort of Sunday evening feel to that". But enjoying a bit of craic,
Bloom lightened things up, saying how the song lifted him up to where he could imagine
himself "on the set of an Enya video, with Celtic mist rising up over my arse."
He closed with 'You Couldn't Have Come At A Better Time' from his 1990 debut disc.
How appropriate.
Live Review by Tim Darragh
www.mcall.com/entertainment/music |
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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - Club Café, Pittsburgh, PA
Luka Bloom - EARLY SHOW
Tuesday, April 11, 2006 at 7PM
Doors Open At 6PM
Tickets $20 in Advance | $22 Day of Show
Call Club Cafe at 412-431-4950 for more details.
www.clubcafelive.com
The Pitt News - Celebration of cultures and youth - A & E - April 7, 2006
One of America's Great Student Newspapers
Innocence - Luka Bloom
Cooking Vinyl Records
It's difficult for a musician who sings about political or social issues to avoid
the stereotype of the star using the limelight as a pulpit. But Luka Bloom
manages this deft act on his newest release, Innocence.
Bloom - who takes his name from Suzanne Vega's song "Luka"
and the hero of James Joyce's "Ulysses", Leopold Bloom -
sports a tranquil voice as his strumming guitar recalls a heritage of Irish
musicians singing in an intimate home or pub atmosphere. The lyrics are
contemplative rather than antagonistic, and most are infused with
Bloom's Irish spirit.
The album's title track is an introspective look back to a time of innocence
when the young Catholic Bloom was awed at the sight of the candles and
incense in church, waited expectantly on Christmas morn for gifts - a time
when everything made perfect sense. The song sets the atmosphere for
many of the other tracks as he continually returns to a theme of simplicity
and insight through innocence.....
read more >>
Armed with a guitar and simple messages of truth, Bloom's songs resonate
with two voices - that of a man looking back with all the wisdom he has
gained through knowledge of life's problems and that of a child, innocent
of cruelty and malice, just born into that world. Then again, perhaps
the wisdom of old age and the innocence of a child are not that different,
it's just during the time in between that we lose our way and make the
mistakes. Luka Bloom would likely agree.
Luka Bloom appears at Club Cafe on April 11 at 7 p.m... For more information
contact Club Cafe at (412) 431-4950 or visit www.clubcafelive.com.
MICHAEL BOYLES - Senior Staff Writer
www.pittnews.com
Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Entertainment news briefs - Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Bloom's 'Innocence'
Irish singer-songwriter Luka Bloom looks inward for inspiration and outward
for instrumentation on his newly released 10th studio CD.
'Innocence' begins with a familiar acoustic folk sound but adds traditional
influences from Spain and the Middle East and a few jazzy fills on soprano
saxophone and clarinet. Disciplined, controlled arrangements never monopolize
songs that stretch from worldly stories of adventure to introspective
contemplation. And, as usual, Bloom isn't afraid to take on hot political
issues or share intimate revelations.
He returns to the South Side's Club Cafe tonight for a 7 p.m. early show ($22).
JOHN HAYES - Post-Gazette staff writer
www.post-gazette.com |
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Thursday, April 13, 2006 - The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI
Luka Bloom - Contemporary Folk
Show starts at 8 pm - Doors open at 7:30 pm
www.theark.org
"Acoustic guitar-led balladry infused with warmth and wisdom."
--Sunday Telegraph, Sydney
Irish singer-songwriter Luka Bloom started life as Barry Moore of Newbridge,
County Kildare. In 1976 he began playing the clubs in and around Dublin, and
he's been refining his songwriting craft ever since. He made up the name
Luka Bloom on the plane to the U.S., where he moved in 1987.
The songs on his new album, Innocence, deal
with spring, summer, immigrants both from and to Ireland, the effects of war and
disaster on children, and the transit of Venus across the sun, among other topics.
A contemporary master of the art of songwriting, Luka Bloom is on the road in the U.S.
for the first time in many years. "It's been a long time since I've committed to
a tour like this in America, but I really want to sing these songs there, and meet
lots of people on the way," he says. "Simply can't wait for it."
ann arbor's 107one - concert calendar
It's a safe bet to say most of Luka's American fans first heard his music via a cover of LL Cool J's
"I Need Love" back in 1992. If you haven't been listening since, Luka's put out several very
very good folk records since. His 10th release, Innocence, comes out in the USA a
couple of weeks before his show at the Ark. He's coming a long way to play for us, the least
you could do is find out what audiences around the world already know - Luka's
best when he's on stage!
www.annarbors107one.com/concert_calendar.html |
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Friday, April 14, 2006 - Gunther Murphy's, Chicago, IL
Gunther Murphy's is excited to welcome...
Chicago Reader Guide to Music: treatment
Listings for Friday, April 14, through Thursday, April 20, 2006
LUKA BLOOM Irish singer-songwriter Barry Moore, born in County Kildare, took
his stage name from a Suzanne Vega song and a character in Ulysses, and he's put out ten
albums since his 1990 debut, Riverside. Last year's 'Innocence' (Big Sky) might be his
most beautiful yet -- though I could've said that about every one when it came out. Bloom's
approach is so sparse and direct, leaning heavily on his lyrics and his delicate guitar playing,
that each song makes its mark individually: "City of Chicago" is a great-famine
weeper, "June" sounds like an Astral Weeks homage, "Salvador"
celebrates Brazil's most interesting city, and "No Matter Where You Go, There You
Are" is a heart-wrenching story about a Muslim immigrant finding himself through
music. His peace anthems aren't very subtle, but anthems don't have to be.
Sabrina Dinan opens. 8 PM, Gunther Murphy's, 1638 W. Belmont, 773-472-5139, $30.
--Monica Kendrick
www.chicagoreader.com/music/treatment.html
Chicago Sun-Times - Club hopping - Friday, April 14, 2006
LUKA BLOOM
The Irish singer-songwriter writes thoughtful, evocative songs full of life's hidden details
or what he calls the "phenomenon of the ordinary". A literary lyricist, his songs
recall a time when thoughtful songwriters were expected to deliver a message. On his
recent release, 'Innocence', Bloom continues his musical evolution, exploring traditional
folk music as well as Middle Eastern and Spanish music. Sabrina Dinan opens at 8
tonight at Gunther Murphy's, 1638 W. Belmont. Tickets, $30. Call (773) 472-5139.
--MH
www.suntimes.com/output/entertainment |
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Saturday, April 15, 2006 - Irish Cultural & Heritage Center, Milwaukee, WI
Maximum Ink Music Magazine - 7 April 2006
Headlining Milwaukee’s Irish Cultural & Heritage Center on April 15th
contemporary troubadour and masterful acoustic guitarist LUKA BLOOM
performs from his poignant Innocence. Hushed, luscious seductions of
intimate intricacies, Innocence flows with hope, wisdom and compassion.
John Noyd
www.maximumink.com
Irish American Post - Vol. 6 Issue 4 - Spring 06
Out of Proverbial Music Box, Bloom Upbeat on Latest Road Tour
Singer songwriter Luka Bloom returned to Milwaukee for the first
time since performing at Irish Fest 2004, for an evening concert at
the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center (ICHC) on Tax Day,
April 15. For those who were first introduced to him at the festival,
this particular show promised a good night. Fans had a lot to look
forward to, and hearing Bloom’s voice fill the Hallamor, the main
concert hall at the ICHC, was at the top of the list.
Bloom was perfectly at home milling around a kitchen at the ICHC a
ew hours before he was scheduled to perform. Putting on a kettle of
water for tea, he gladly chatted with a fellow who, like himself,
was also from Co. Kildare.
"I don’t operate according to a master plan. I like being free. I
like being able to go where I want to go," he said later,
sitting comfortably in a small room at the ICHC......
Local Celtic musician Jeff Ward laid the opening notes for the evening with a
45-minute set of his own, songs many in the audience happily knew. However,
few in the audience knew that there would be a second opening act. On this
night, it was Sabrina Dinan, a young Irish musician who had been touring
with Bloom since February. In more recent years, he has made an effort to take
along younger, aspiring musicians with him on the road.
While some may have been a little put off that they had to wait longer to see Bloom,
Dinan quickly won over the crowd with her captivating command of the guitar. She
only added to a great evening of music, leaving the stage to a rousing applause.
Bloom then happily took the spotlight to greet the eager crowd. With four amplifiers in
front of him, his welcoming voice filled every corner of the ICHC, a former church. He
played several tunes from Innocence, including "City of Chicago", a tune
about Irish emigration. When it looked as though the evening was about to end, he
obliged a wealthy smattering of applause with two encores. He sang the second minus
his guitar and microphone, at the edge of the stage. Even without any amplification
or microphone, he still projected his voice comfortably.
Bloom left a jubilant crowd behind at the ICHC, heading for shows on the West coast,
before aiming for Arizona, Colorado, and Texas.
Interview & Live Review by Mario Raspanti
www.gaelicweb.com/irishampost/year2006/05may |
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Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - The Triple Door, Seattle, WA
LUKA BLOOM, opener Sabrina Dinan
Tuesday 04/18/2006
Mainstage 7:30PM
$20 advance | $23 day of show
www.thetripledoor.net |
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Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - Aladdin Theater, Portland, OR
Aladdin Theater - Upcoming Shows
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Luka Bloom w/ Sabrina Dinan
Ticket Price: $18.50 adv | $20.00 dos
All Ages - Doors at 7:00 PM | Show at 8:00 PM
www.aladdin-theater.com |
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Friday, April 21, 2006 - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA
Date: Friday, April 21, 2006
Luka plays GAMH with a new album in tow, 'Innocence'.
Doors: 8:00 PM | Show: 9:00 PM
Tickets: $21 General Admission - SEATED SHOW!
www.musichallsf.com
|
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Saturday, April 22, 2006 - E3 Playhouse, Santa Cruz, CA
Saturday, April 22nd at 7:30pm
LUKA BLOOM presented by the
CELTIC SOCIETY
$15adv/$17door | Call 831.466.9033 for info
The newest performing venue in downtown Santa Cruz,
E3 Playhouse at 435 Front St.,
in the old Cymbeline Records building, next to The Metro Center. Tickets are on sale,
just across the street from the venue, at More Music, 512 Front St. For reservations,
call Sheila at (831) 464-2128, Bob at (408) 847-6982 or e-mail celtsoc@aol.com
The Celtic Society
of the Monterey Bay will be presenting the brilliant Irish singer,
songwriter & guitarist Luka Bloom.
The charismatic & captivating Luka Bloom comes to Santa Cruz celebrating the
release of latest masterpiece, and 10th CD overall, Innocence,' on the Cooking
Vinyl label. Luka began performing in 1969 under his real name Barry Moore,
touring with his brother, the famed Irish singer Christy Moore. Since then his
exhilerating, exuberant & electrifying concerts have thrilled audiences around
the world. Luka's original compelling compositions, including 'The City of Chicago',
'Delirious' & 'You Couldn't Have Come At A Better Time', are poignant, poetical
pieces full of the joy of living. Luka is also renowned for his cover versions,
such as LL Cool J's 'I Need Love' and the Elvis Presley classic 'Can't Help Falling
in Love', which he makes uniquely his own and for traditional ballads such as
'Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair'.
Touring in support of Luka will be the young Irish singer/songwriter Sabrina Dinan.
To have the opportunity to see & hear this intense & incredible internationally
renowned performer in an intimate 124 capacity venue will be indeed a rare
experience. Bloom's Day comes early this year, giving us all reason to rejoyce.
For more on Bloom aka Moore, visit www.lukabloom.com.
www.celticsociety.org/events.html
Bohemian.com - Music & Nightlife - Santa Cruz
Saturday, April 22
Luka Bloom
E3 Playhouse; $19; 7:30pm.
"D'yez not know nothin' by Christy Moore? / The next thing you'll be wantin'
is Danny Boy." So sang Black 47, a band that initially endured much heckling
for its twisted take on traditional Irish music. Luka Bloom - the artist formerly
known as Barry Moore - must know something of which Black 47 speak, having
himself begun performing with his brother Christy Moore back in 1969.
Since then, he's changed both his name and his style, developing a more
deeply personal sound that wouldn't feel out of place on a double-bill with
his Cooking Vinyl labelmate Jackie Leven. Ten albums on, Bloom's latest CD,
Innocence, finds the singer-songwriter in fine form, although
I'm not keen on the smooth jazz horn accompaniment that occasionally slips in.
E3 owner/sax player Wes Anthony would probably disagree with me on that last
point, but we'd both agree this is a show worth catching. (BF)
www.bohemian.com/calendar/santacruz.html |
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Sunday, April 23, 2006 - Knitting Factory Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
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Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - Glendale Community College, Glendale, AZ
Luka Bloom At Glendale College
Wed Apr 26 - 7:00 P.M. - $15
Glendale Community College
Performance Arts Center
6000 W Olive Ave (59th Ave. and Vogel)
Glendale, AZ 85302
lukainarizona@yahoo.com
www.azirishmusic.com
Glendale Community College - News Service - April 14, 2006
Renowned Irish Singer-Songwriter to Perform at GCC, April 26
Luka Bloom, one of Ireland's premier singer-songwriters, will perform at Glendale
Community College (GCC) Wed., April 26, 8:00 p.m.;
Tickets are $15, available in advance at lukainarizona@yahoo.com or at the door of the
GCC Performing Art Center (PAC) on April 26. GCC is located at 6000 W. Olive Avenue in
Glendale; the PAC is best reached from the campus entrance at 59th Avenue and Vogel
(first light north of Olive.) A talented guitar player and singer, Bloom is also a gifted
storyteller whose original songs are simple and effective. According to a reviewer in
Brisbane, Australia, "He takes delight in sharing intimate moments with his captivated
audience and loves to take you on a journey with him."
www.gc.maricopa.edu/news/
The Arizona Republic - April 25, 2006
Songster blooms in a new land
His brother is Christy Moore, one of Ireland's most beloved singers, rivaling Bono and
Van Morrison. Yet Luka Bloom needed to change his name and leave his homeland to find
musical success.
Born Barry Moore in 1955 in County Kildare, Bloom struggled as a folk singer for 10 years
before moving to Washington, D.C., in 1987. Taking his name from the central character of
Suzanne Vega's hit Luka and the young protagonist of James Joyce's Ulysses (Leopold Bloom),
he released the acclaimed Riverside in 1988.
With his ninth studio album, Innocence, in stores, Bloom makes his Arizona concert
debut Wednesday at Glendale Community College. We spoke with him recently.
Question: How is the tour going?
Answer: It is great. We've been on the road for about five days, starting in
Washington, D.C., and I'm in Pittsburgh now. This is my longest tour of the U.S. in 10 years,
30 shows - and I'm playing many places for the first time, including Glendale.
Q: Didn't you write in one song "I'd love to see Arizona"?
A: (Laughs) Yes. That song (I'm a Bogman) was a love song to the part of Ireland
I grew up in - a boggy place that isn't much to look at. But it is my home, and I love it.
Actually, I was in Phoenix once for two hours about 10 years ago - part of a whirlwind
promotional tour of Borders Books.
Q: Yet you first found your success in the United States.
A: Yes. I had struggled for about 10 years in Ireland before I moved to the States 20
years ago. In a way, this tour is my thank-you to the United States.
Interview by Michael Senft
www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/ |
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Friday, April 28, 2006 - Trilogy Lounge, Boulder, CO
The Celtic Connection - A Monthly Publication - April 2006
KBCO and Celtic Events & Entertainment Present
Luka Bloom with Special Guest Sabrina Dinan
Friday April 28 at The Trilogy in Boulder and
Sunday April 30 at Lannie's in Denver
It's been a few years since Irish Troubadour LUKA BLOOM has graced our U.S. shores and music
venues. The international recording artist will return to the States for the better part of April and
May with his two guitars, a box of effects, and his new album 'Innocence'. Released
earlier in 2005 in Europe and Australia, 'Innocence' has just been released here, complete with
two bonus tracks for the American market.
A master interpreter, Luka has continued to balance original songs with reinventions of tunes by
a diverse range of songwriters. His reworking of LL Cool J's "I Need Love" transformed
the song from its hip-hop origins to a brogue-inflected folk tune. His latest offering, Innocence,
contains 11 new songs and one old gem. In 2005 Luka spoke about the CD, "The whole story
of this album is interesting and different. Life is an endless stream of challenges, and for this singer,
the most important ingredient to hang on to is our innocence and wonder at the world."
Perhaps it is the use of these ingredients that led the Irish Times to say, "...Bloom seems
to always manage a sense of freshness with anything he puts his mind, voice and hand to and
'Innocence' beautifully captures the emotions of these purposeful messages by a master of his
game."
In concert Luka loves to take his audience on a magical journey with intimate songs and
delightful stories interspersed with some brilliant guitar playing. Luka is taking a mid-tour
vacation in Colorado, but he will give a couple of intimate performances in Denver and Boulder.
On Friday April 28th Luka will perform at the popular Boulder night spot,
Trilogy Wine Bar and Lounge.
In addition to their music room, the Trilogy offers wonderful wining and dining in case
you are interested in a pre-concert meal.
Luka will swing down to Denver on Sunday April 30th and entertain in the cozy confines of
the newly opened Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret,
located in the historic Clocktower building on Arapahoe and 16th Street Mall.
Sabrina Dinan, up-and-coming singer songwriter from the Galway music scene, will open
for Luka for both Colorado dates.
Friday April 28, 8pm show (restaurant and bar open early for meals and happy hour)
The Trilogy Wine Bar and Lounge, 2017 13th St (just off Pear St. Mall)
Tickets available across the street at the Boulder Theater Box Office, 2032 14th or
Celtic Events at 303-777-0502.
Sunday April 30, Show 7pm, Doors 6pm. Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret,
Arapahoe St (at 16th Street Mall), Denver. Available at: www.lannies.com,
303-293-0075 or Celtic Events 303-777-0502.
www.celticconnection.com
The Celtic Connection - April 2006
INNOCENCE - LUKA BLOOM
Big Sky Records
Child's Play
Luka Bloom seems to be a happy man in the world these days. Hit latest release,
'Innocence' is at it says. It explores some themes, times and places when one
could lose oneself in the tall grass of summer, or the first flowers of spring, and the chaos
of the world faded away. For a while. For reality does creep in on the footsteps of a few
songs, but the overwhelming vibe is one of more ease, less angst.
The title track is a good example.....
This album, 'Innocence' was just released in the U.S., but has been out in Ireland and Europe
for about a year. I asked Luka if the songs stay fresh when he gets to bring them to new ears.
"Totally", he replied. "I decided at the start to give this record all the time it deserves
to find its way and am in absolutely no rush to let it go.".................
Luka Bloom seems to be much more content with himself these days and even he will admit that he has
come to an acceptance "life on life's terms" as he put it. As his longest tour in the U.S. in many
years is set to begin, Luka is already anticipating his trip here. "I can't wait to sing these songs in
Colorado!", stated Luka. Which is another subject near and dear to Bloom's heart. Since his first
appearance in Boulder in 1990, Luka has made it a stop almost every time he has toured in the U.S.
What about Boulder makes it special?
Bloom replied, "The sky, the mountains, the name Colorado which rolls off like a song title,
the space, the quiet, the hippy trippy taxi drivers in Boulder who talk like they're still on their
way home from Woodstock. I love it all!!"
Reward the inner child. Catch Luka Bloom's guitar and word magic now on 'Innocence'.
You have been notified.
Interview & album review by Cindy Reich
Celtic Connection, Denver, Colorado, April 2006 |
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Sunday, April 30, 2006 - Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret, Denver, CO
Luka Bloom - Irish Singer/Songwriter - SOLD OUT
Sunday, April 30, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.
The music of Luka Bloom is, as one critic wrote, "more moving with every album he makes..."
There's an unrivalled tenderness to this Irish singer/songwriter's enchanting, earnest work - his musical
and lyrical delivery possesses a special charm.
Luka's deft, delicate touch on the six-string guitar and the soft Irish lilt of his honeyed, sensual voice
will draw you in immediately. Don't miss this international star in our intimate setting.
www.lannies.com
Westword - Music :: Now Hear This - April 27, 2006
Luka Bloom
Sunday, April 30, Lanny's Clocktower Cabaret
By Michael Roberts
Casual music listeners in the States probably know Irish singer-songwriter Luka Bloom
for just one song: his 1992 cover of LL Cool J's "I Need Love". Bloom's rendition of
this hip-hop seduction opus, which earned substantial airplay on a slew of radio formats,
treated the tune with unexpected respect, resisting the temptation to turn it into a mere
folk-music goof -- yet the novelty of the concept wound up making him seem gimmicky anyhow.
He's been fighting the misperception ever since, and with Innocence, his tenth studio
recording (and first for the Cooking Vinyl imprint), he goes a long way toward putting
it to rest. Of the fifteen tracks here, all but one is a Bloom original -- and the sole
exception, "Larry Redican's Bow", is a rearrangement of a traditional instrumental,
not a new version of a Jay-Z throwdown. Moreover, tunes like "Primavera",
"Miracle Cure" and the geopolitically dense "No Matter Where You Go, There You Are"
exude gravity and thoughtfulness. Thanks to their quality, Bloom may finally beat the rap.
www.westword.com/Issues/2006-04-27/music/nowhearthis4.html |
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Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - Cactus Cafe, Austin, TX
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Friday, May 5, 2006
Luka Bloom Message
Greetings from a warm, sticky Atlanta.
Sabrina (the supreme singing/songwriting sensation from Ennis, County Clare),
Peter (the supreme tour manager from San Francisco), and I are past the halfway mark
of our journey around the US. 17 shows, 10 flights, many many miles of travel; the blur sets in.
What day of the week is it? Where are we next? Where were we yesterday? And that's
without the drugs! There is an almost surreal momentum that sets in to a tour like this.
There is this clear daily focus in the show. Everything revolves around the arrival on
stage around 8pm each day. The travel, the hotel, the soundcheck, the food; everything
is calculated to end in this moment of arrival at the beginning of the show. Everything
else becomes a blur; there is a clockwork mundanity to the rest of the day, so that
nothing gets in the way of the show.
When I'm at home, I read a newspaper most days; watch news, listen to
radio. On tour it all fades away, as we become immersed in this journey. It
demands our total commitment and attention. It has to. If every show is
important and unique, then we have to be completely present for every show;
even if we've flown 1,000 miles that day, to get there.
A tour such as this is a great privilege. We get to feel the momentum
of the journey, to witness spring in different parts of America, and then we
get to sing. There is so much to love about America. The nature here is
simply breathtaking. And our week in Boulder Colorado
was an opportunity to taste a little tiny piece of that. I try on a tour like this,
to find a moment to get the breath back, to stop moving. There, we could go
for a cycle, sit by a stream, and not be living to a schedule, just for 2 days.
And it is a rewarding experience, if too short.... And it is simply a very
exciting country to sing in. There is still an incredible love of music and
song here; people are deeply committed to their music, and will travel great
lengths to experience it. And, they are unbelievably open and gracious in
expressing their appreciation of the work.
So many fun shows in such different places. A
church in Montclair, New Jersey
and in Milwaukee;
a dinner club in Seattle; An
old brothel in San Francisco; an
old former porn cinema in Portland Oregon, an
Irish rock dive in Chicago;
hippy heaven in Santa Cruz and
Boulder......... and we're only
halfway there...... Everywhere we go, when I sing 'I am not at war with
anyone', there is a very thoughtful hush in the crowd ending with a very
strong reaction to the song. Obviously, in such a huge country, there are
many who support the war, or at least support their soldiers; but I believe
there are many many Americans who are horrified by this war, and who feel
very misrepresented by their government in executing the war. It does the
heart good to meet some of them.
We sing every day. We laugh a lot. We miss home, but it won't be long now.
Happy days. The Atlanta soundcheck is in an hour.
Over and out, Lukaxx
www.lukabloom.com |
Friday, May 5, 2006 - The Five Spot, Atlanta, GA
At The Five Spot Cafe
Presented by Windstorm Productions
LUKA BLOOM with special guest Sabrina Dinan
Fri, May 5, 8:30pm | $17.50
Celtic Twilight - Upcoming Celtic Events in the Atlanta Area
Luka Bloom, the younger brother of Irish folk singer Christy Moore,
will appear at the Five Spot (993 Euclid Ave in Little 5 Points) with
special guest Sabrina Dinan, Friday, May 5, 8PM.
Tickets are $17.50 and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets
including by phone at 404-249-6400, on line at www.ticketmaster.com
and also at the Variety Playhouse Box Office and on line at
www.variety-playhouse.com.
atlanta.celtic-twilight.com |
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Saturday, May 6, 2006 - The Handlebar, Greenville, SC
EARLY SHOW - LUKA BLOOM
Veteran Irish singer/songwriter brings Emerald Isle gems!
An unrivalled tenderness lives in Luka Bloom's enchanting, earnest songwriting. His deft, delicate
touch on the six-string guitar and the distinguishable Irish lilt in his honeyed vocals draw you in
to his fresh and insightful story-songs. Having tread stages all over the globe, 36 years honing
his craft, Luka Bloom has created an indelible place on the music map. Like many Irish families
then and now, Luka comes from a family of singers and writers, first going on tour with his older
brother, Christy Moore, in 1969. Since then, he has brought his songs to clubs, theaters,
festivals, bars and arenas the world over, playing alongside The Pogues, the Violent Femmes,
Dixie Chicks, Hothouse Flowers and the Cowboy Junkies, to name a few. This is Luka's first
Handlebar appearance. Our hardcore Celtic crowd, not to mention our Greg Brown/David Wilcox
fans, won't want to miss this true giant of Emerald Isle folk music. 7:30 p.m. $15
www.handlebar-online.com |
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Sunday, May 7, 2006 - Duke Power Theatre, Charlotte, NC
Luka Bloom, with Sabrina Dinan
Duke Power Theatre at Spirit Square **change of venue**
Sunday, May 7, 2006
Doors at 7:30 PM; Music at 8:00 PM
Ticket Price: $15.00 to $17.50 - Reserved Seating
Presented In Conjunction With Landshark Entertainment & NCBPAC
Tickets can be purchased in advance by phone at 704.372.1000,
at The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Box Office (Founder's Hall)
or online at Carolina Tix.
www.blumenthalcenter.org
Poster: Maxxmusic
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Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - Gravity Lounge, Charlottesville, VA
C-Ville Weekly - Charlottesville's Newsweekly - Issue #18.20 :: 05/16/2006 - 05/23/2006
The Tale of Pearl and Edmond, Luka Bloom and Nextwave
Stage, music and comic reviews
Luka Bloom
Gravity Lounge - Tuesday, May 9
After having him described to me as an Irish acoustic-guitar troubadour, I was unsure
of what to expect from singer/songwriter Luka Bloom at Gravity Lounge on Tuesday night.
Hailing from Newbridge, Ireland, and with over 36 years of touring experience under his belt,
Luka put on a remarkable show filled with genuine passion and glory. Before 1987, Luka
was known as Barry Moore, and changed his name after a trip to the U.S.
It’s one of the simple, great life experiences to walk into a music hall having never heard
the artist before, and to be completely blown away. Luka’s songs are filled with stories
of war, love, solitude, soul shine and life. He captured the moment with each song, and
without cue often got the audience singing the chorus. In one song about mermaids,
the women in the audience did a sweat "ooo, aaah" that recalled Homer’s
sirens calling the men ashore.
His musical dexterity was not perfect, but he had impeccable timing of his chords,
as well as an incredible range in his voice. The lower timbre sounded much like Lou
Reed, while his high near-falsetto reminded me of David Gray. He switched guitars
throughout the night, from a straight acoustic to semi-electric that had a sweet
and mesmerizing delay. He was also constantly talking and engaging the audience,
and performed three encores well past the bedtime of most of the folk-loving crowd
at Gravity Lounge.
Having been truly inspired, I picked up his latest album, Innocence, which Luka
graciously signed. (A nice perq for a Tuesday-night small town show.) The album
doesn’t quite capture his live sound or feeling, but it showcases his love for
humanity, and his thirst for all of life’s experiences and wonder.
Incidentally, I had the chance to ask Luka about the "Irish troubadour"
moniker, and he replied "I’m happy with that." Well, I was equally happy with
him and his performance - and it seems that the world is a bit happier, as well.
PQ: It’s one of the simple, great life experiences to walk into a music hall
having never heard the artist before, and to be completely blown away.
Live Review by Bjorn Turnquist
www.c-ville.com |
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Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - Rams Head Tavern & Onstage, Annapolis, MD
Luka Bloom
w/ Sabrina Dinan
Wednesday, May 10th
8pm | $22.50
www.ramsheadtavern.com
Having tread the boards of stages all over the globe, 36 years of craft honing has given
Luka Bloom from Newbridge a place on the music map. Turning 50 in 2005, Luka has brought
his songs to clubs, theatres, fesitivals, bars, arenas and dives all over the world.
From McGanns in Boston to The Tivoli in Brisbane to Red Hot Club in Newbridge.
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Saturday, May 13, 2006 - B.B. King Blues Club, New York, NY
LUKA BLOOM
Saturday, May 13, 2006
8:00PM | Doors @ 6PM | $25.00 Advance
GA Seated Show | First come, first seated
Standing room at bar
www.bbkingblues.com
village voice > nycguide
Luka Bloom - B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
Irish-born singer-songwriter Bloom has been away for a while. He returns with an absolutely
wonderful CD entitled Innocence - a great showcase for his ability to take thoughtful lyrics
and make them sound spontaneous. Song after memorable song, it’s hard to imagine letting
him get away again for long.
(ABER)
www.villagevoice.com/nycguide
New York Daily News - Entertainment - Friday, May 12, 2006
Maintaining 'Innocence'
When songwriter Luka Bloom turned 50 last year, he made a list of
things he hoped to hold on to in his life. Teeth and hair topped the list.
"And there was one other thing," Bloom said. "Innocence."
Small wonder Bloom titled his latest album after that starry word, and used the
lyrics and music on it to argue the need for faith and wonder in the face of easy
cynicism.
"There are two kinds of innocence," Bloom elaborates. "The kind
we're born with, which we can't keep. Then there's the kind we choose."
Since his debut album in 1988, Bloom has chosen his words and ideas with care,
and matched them to finely spun folk-rock tunes. Though born in Ireland (as brother
to folk legend Christy Moore), Bloom first established his career in New York, living
here and playing clubs in the late '80s. The singer returned to Ireland a decade ago,
to be closer to his large family. But he continued to tour the U.S. sporadically.
For his latest road show, Bloom decided to spend more time playing in America
than he has in 12 years. (Tomorrow, he headlines B.B. King's.)
Bloom's latest album proposes a generous response to conflict, on both a personal
and a global level. In "Miracle Cure", he argues that "forgiveness"
is the most powerful source of security. "You only have to look at where
rage takes us," he explains.
Bloom gave his music some fresh turns this time. There's more Mediterranean
influence for one thing, evident in the guitars. "I don't listen to pop or rock
anymore," he says. "The music I hear is North African or Gypsy music.
I needed a new palette."
For all the beauty and peace of Bloom's music, he's hardly lost in bliss. In the
song "Venus", he punctures the cliche that love comes to everyone
who waits. "The knight in shining armor is not always there," he allows.
No wonder he terms himself "a realistic romantic".
"I know what's going on in the world," he says. "But I still
refuse to stop offering hope."
Jim Farber
www.nydailynews.com/entertainment
Irish Voice - Entertainment - Wednesday, 17 May 2006
An Upbeat Bloom Thrills Audience
The tone of Luka Bloom’s show at BB King’s
last Saturday was a more upbeat affair. It was a warm performance peppered with Bloom’s
trademark sense of humor.
"I know Innocence is a bizarre title for a new album from a guy who is 50,"
he exclaimed in front of the sold-out crowd. "I’ve been reflecting on holding onto
your innocence and everything else that’s important to hold onto at this age.
Like hair and teeth."
He opened the set with 'I Am Not at War With Anyone', a controversial antiwar
song from Innocence that was released around the time the Irish were protesting
the use of Shannon Airport by the U.S. military at the start of the Iraq war.
The song was met with warm applause. "I don’t get many f***in’ war
mongers to my shows," he replied.
Bloom has been on one of the longest world tours of his career in support of Innocence,
his most engaging work to date. He told a funny story about how a Swiss promoter
billed him as the Irish Bob Dylan. "Some people will say anything to sell tickets,"
he joked as he launched into Dylan’s 'To Make You Feel My Love' from Bloom’s
excellent covers album of a few years ago, Keeper of the Flame.
Bloom was unplugged and seated for the entire set, which was a bit of a departure
from the more spirited live shows of his past. His toned down performance might
have been the onset of middle age or the result of some throat problems and
carpal tunnel syndrome that have plagued the performer in recent years.
The reinvention of style was something heavy on his mind when he sat down
with the Irish Voice
on the eve of this tour and told his fans to expect a different
performer. Based on the enthusiastic crowd reaction, his new laid-back demeanor
has not diminished his popularity.
He threw some surprises in the set, including a new tune, 'See You Soon'.
He followed that with a rousing cover of the Cure’s 'In Between Days'. Bloom
described it as the perfect pop song that he sometimes sings "with my hair
piled up, black clothes and makeup on in my hacienda in the bogs of Kildare,"
a reference to the Cure’s goth persona.
He also turned in a stellar performance of 'City of Chicago', a song he wrote
in 1984 that has been covered by half of the trad players in Ireland, "including
my brother, Christy Bloom," he said of his brother Christy Moore’s chart topping
success with the song.
Goose bumps spread throughout the room as he encouraged the crowd to sing
along with him on 'Sunny Sailor Boy', a classic from his classic album Turf.
"That was a beautiful, magic moment," he said. "I felt like
I was in an Enya video, with the mist creeping up me arse."
While Bloom was somewhat critical of the movement of the Irish of singling
themselves out in the battle of immigration as being special during a recent
interview with the Irish Voice, he lent his support to immigrants as he
introduced the Middle Eastern ditty 'No Matter Where You Go, There You
Are', a song about a Moroccan friend who recently relocated to Galway.
"The Irish are really good about having people feel sorry about them, and
we rely on people like you to buy this up," he joked. "Me, I’d rather
stand with the Mexicans instead. We have our own immigration going on in
Ireland at the moment and it is a beautiful thing. There are parts of Ireland
where the gene pool is way too small."
Bloom closed his set with LL Cool J’s 'I Need Love', before dipping into
his back catalog for a spirited 'Love Is a Monsoon' and 'You Couldn’t
Have Come at a Better Time'.
If you missed this show, you can still catch Bloom if you don’t mind a little ride.
Trust me, the man is worth it! He will play Morristown’s Bickford Theater on
Wednesday, May 17 (973-971-3706) before heading to Philadelphia’s famed
World Café Studios (www.worldcafelive.com).
www.irishabroad.com/news/irishinamerica/entertainment/AnUpbeatBloomThrillsAudience.asp
Columbus NewsCenter - May 20, 2006
Irish troubadour's surprised by warm reception to anti-war song
NEW YORK
From the vantage point of largely anti-war Europe, the United States can seem
like a pro-war country.
So Irish singer-songwriter Luka Bloom said he expected some discomfort,
maybe some walkouts over his song 'I Am Not at War With Anyone'.
Bloom has opened each date with the song and been greeted warmly for it.
He says it's not an angry song, but rather, "it's childlike".
Bloom is wrapping up eight weeks in the United States with a gig in Piermont,
New York, -- a few miles north of New York City.
www.columbusnewscenter.com/newsroom |
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Sunday, May 14, 2006 - House Concert, Staten Island, NY
A very special house concert featuring Luka Bloom,
Mother's Day, Sunday May 14 at 7 pm.
Luka Bloom will be performing in our living room in his first
ever house concert! The concert is on Mother's Day, Sunday,
May 14. Also from Ireland is Sabrina Dinan and she will open
the show at 7 pm. There will be a LIMITED amount of tickets
sold!! Tickets are $40. Light refreshments will be provided.
For further information please email tomjode@aol.com.
Staten Island Advance - Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Luka Bloom plays a house party Saturday after his B.B. King's gig
Acoustic House
Luka Bloom, a singer/songwriter who has gigged with the Violent Femmes, the Dixie
Chicks and the Cowboy Junkies, plays a house concert Sunday in New Brighton.
Bloom has jammed in clubs, theaters, festivals and bars around the world, having
gotten his start with his older brother, Christy Moore, in 1969 when the pair
toured English folk clubs.
Sometimes haunting and spare, his latest independently released album,
'Innocence' speaks to ideas like peace, immigration and forgiveness.
Bloom, aka Barry Moore, will play at 7:30 p.m. Sabrina Dinan opens the show
at 6 p.m. Tickets are $40. Call 718-815-0815 or e-mail tomjode@aol.com for
the address of the concert. All of the proceeds will benefit Bloom.
The singer comes to New Brighton straight from a B.B. King's Blues Club &
Grill date on Saturday. Tickets for that 8 p.m. show are $25 in advance.
212-307-7171. bbkingblues.com.
JODI LEE REIFER - Advance Staff Writer
www.silive.com |
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Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - Regattabar @ The Charles Hotel, Cambridge, MA
Regattabar Jazz Club @ The Charles Hotel
Luka Bloom
Tuesday May 16 - 7:30 pm
Tickets: $25.00 -> SOLD OUT
"There's an unrivalled tenderness to Luka Bloom's enchanting, earnest songwriting -
his musical and lyrical delivery possesses that special charm. Deft, delicate touch
on the six-string and distinguishable Irish lilt in his honeyed vocals draws you in
immediately."
~Scott Podmre, Melbourne Sunday Herald Sun
www.regattabarjazz.com
Skope Magazine, Boston - News - May 08, 2006
Luka Bloom’s Innocence Out On Cooking Vinyl US March 2006
Returns For First US Tour In Five Years
Some musicians grow wizened by the road; Luka Bloom has thrived on it. Innocence,
Bloom’s 10th studio album, to be released on Cooking Vinyl US in March 2006, captures
that journey with a magical ear for life’s hidden details or what he calls the "phenomenon
of the ordinary".
"...A literary Lyricist. Bloom’s singing is distinctive for it’s clarity and conviction... Not
one of folk’s eccentric voices, he’s a more tender deliverer." Rolling Stone
"When you have been singing as long as I have been, it’s very easy to go into
automatic pilot and just churn out songs," explains Bloom. "I think it’s a bit
of innocence and wonder at the world that makes my work interesting."
The Irish born singer and songwriter accomplishes this through weaving tales
and tunes together in songs that seep from every pore and melodies that
celebrate the ordinariness of life. Images of the first lights of Spring, white lilies
blowing in the breeze, and children walking on a windswept beach vividly
resound through Innocence, Luka Boom’s heartfelt and intimate album.
www.skopemagazine.com |
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Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - Bickford Theatre, Morristown, NJ
Luka Bloom
Special guest: Sabrina Dinan
Wednesday May 17 - 7:30 pm
The Bickford Theatre @ The Morris Museum
6 Normandy Heights Rd.
Morristown, NJ
Tickets: $35
Box Office: 973-971-3706
www.morrismuseum.org
Luka Bloom to Perform at Morristown's Bickford Theater
Ireland's esteemed singer/songwriter, Luka Bloom, brings his
full-toned voice and splendid guitar to The Bickford Theater in the
Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Rd, Morristown, NJ on Wednesday
May 17, 2006 at 7:30 pm. Tickets, $35, are available by calling the
Bickford Theater Box Office, 973-971-3706.
Luka Bloom, on every occasion an exceptional performer, is wildly received
by impassioned newcomers as well as devoted fans. With his spiritual and
romantic magnetism and charismatic stage presence, Bloom affectionately
creates a familiar intimacy enclosing himself and his audience.
A charming story-teller with a gorgeous voice and radiant soul, Bloom,
with his expressive guitar style and reflective and eloquent lyrics,
captivates his listeners to lead them on a cherished pilgrimage.
Introducing songs from his latest CD, Innocence, as well as surprising
long-time admirers with well-loved confections, Bloom began his 2006
US tour in early April to sold-out shows. Biography and tour dates may
be found at www.lukabloom.com.
"Luka Bloom is the modern-day exemplar of the fetching Irish bard."
~Beth and Jules Greenstein
HomeGrownRadioNJ.com
HomeGrownRadioNJ - Northwest New Jersey's Internet Radio Station
"Free For All" with Beth and Jules Greenstein - Tuesdays from 9am to noon
Upcoming Special Events
Finally, on Tuesday, May 9 at 9am, Luka Bloom is back,
touring behind his most recent CD, "Innocence".
Listen to an interview Beth & Jules snagged with him on his last tour here,
in which he reveals that his name is *really* Moore (he's the brother of the
iconic Irish singer, Christy Moore), and how he chose his present name.
He'll be appearing at the Bickford Theater in Morristown on May 17.
HomeGrownRadioNJ.com
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Friday, May 19, 2006 - World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA
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Saturday, May 20, 2006 - Turning Point Cafe, Piermont, NY
The Turning Point - Home of Great Music
Luka Bloom
Saturday, May 20, 2006
New Start time for Luka Bloom 6:30, doors open at 5:30
Tickets $40.00 --> SOLD OUT
www.turningpointcafe.com
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Live Reviews
05 April 2006 The Barns @ Wolf Trap, Vienna, VA - Greg Yost, Music Monthly
09 April 2006 Sellersville Theater 1894, Sellersville, PA - Tim Darragh, The Morning Call
15 April 2006 Irish Cultural & Heritage Center, Milwaukee, WI - Mario Raspanti, Irish American Post
09 May 2006 Gravity Lounge, Charlottesville, VA - Bjorn Turnquist, C-Ville Weekly
13 May 2006 B.B. King Blues Club, New York, NY - Irish Voice
Live Reviews by Fans
07 April 2006 Outpost in the Burbs, Montclair, NJ - Deborah Sandford
08 April 2006 Tin Angel, Philadelphia, PA - Denise Smith
09 April 2006 Sellersville Theater 1894, Sellersville, PA - Rachael Irwin
11 April 2006 Club Café, Pittsburgh, PA - Sandy Prusak
13 April 2006 The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI - Mary Barber
15 April 2006 Irish Cultural & Heritage Center, Milwaukee, WI - Uncle Flip
15 April 2006 Irish Cultural & Heritage Center, Milwaukee, WI - Cindy Pawelski
15 April 2006 Irish Cultural & Heritage Center, Milwaukee, WI - Sheryl Wiggins
21 April 2006 Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - Frances Baye
21 April 2006 Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - Lain Barbary
22 April 2006 E3 Playhouse, Santa Cruz, CA - Eileen Pinto
22 April 2006 E3 Playhouse, Santa Cruz, CA - Pam Middings
23 April 2006 The Knitting Factory, Hollywood, CA - Rob Mullally
30 April 2006 Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret, Denver, CO - Cindy Reich
03 May 2006 Cactus Cafe, Austin, TX - Chuck & Karen Nagel
06 May 2006 The Handlebar, Greenville, SC - Uncle Flip
13 May 2006 B.B. King Blues Club, New York, NY - Deborah Sandford
14 May 2006 House Concert, Staten Island, NY - Deborah Sandford
16 May 2006 Regattabar, Cambridge, MA - Laura Harrison
17 May 2006 Bickford Theatre, Morristown, NJ - Victoria Romani
19 May 2006 World Café Live, Philadelphia, PA - Denise Smith
20 May 2006 The Turning Point Café, Piermont, NY - Mary Shustack
20 May 2006 The Turning Point Café, Piermont, NY - Tom Gramegna
Concert Photos
07 April 2006 Outpost in the Burbs, Montclair, NJ - Warren Churgin
08 April 2006 Tin Angel, Philadelphia, PA - Marc Pujol
09 May 2006 Gravity Lounge, Charlottesville, VA - Osmund Geier
17 May 2006 The Bickford Theatre, Morristown, NJ - Lewis Perlmutter |
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Luka Bloom on radio
KINK FM 102
Wednesday, April 19 @ 3pm
KINK Live Performance Lounge
Luka Bloom :: Radio interview & performance
Portland Oregan Radio Stations - kink.fm
KBCO 97.3 FM
Friday, April 28, 2006
KBCO Studio C -
Photo Gallery
Luka Bloom :: Photos provided by Ryan Kingsbury
KBCO Studio, Boulder, Colorado - www.kbco.com
WFUV & 90.7 FM
Sunday, May 28 - 8-11 AM
John Platt - City Folk Sunday Breakfast
Musical memorials to folk heroes, and an interview with Luka Bloom.
Songs played live in Studio A: She Moved Through The Fair - Miracle Cure - June - City of Chicago
from the album Innocence: No Matter Where You Go, There You Are
> Luka Bloom Interview with John Platt by Deborah Sandford
Wednesday, June 7 - 8:15 AM and 4:45 PM
Take Five -
Short interview/performance clips from visiting artists in WFUV's Studio A.
A master of covers tunes, Luka Bloom talks with WFUV's John Platt about
a new record of his own songs, called 'Innocence.'
Wednesday, June 7 - 9 PM
Words and Music from Studio A :: Luka Bloom with John Platt
Public Radio Fordham University, New York - wfuv.org
XM Satellite Radio
XM Radio - The Loft Sessions
Ditch your shoes, grab a bean bag and join us for the Loft Sessions...
where we invite our favorite artists up to the Loft and ask them to
create their ideal intimate musical session, especially for you. And as always
at the Loft, the music is paramount, so you'll hear everything from hit
gems to adventurous covers - even the occasional choice insight - all at each
artist's discretion. The Loft Sessions. Meet the artists as they are.
The Loft Sessions
Listen on Mondays @ 12 Noon ET
June 26 :: #99 Luka Bloom
From songs off the new album Innocence to plenty of our
favorite covers (Dylan, The Cure, and more!), Luka's sagacious
songwriting and disarming Irish wit captured us completely.
Please join us for this truly compelling session.
Encore Presentations:
Monday @ 9:00 PM ET | Thursday @ 3:00 PM ET | Thursday @ 9:00 PM ET | Saturday @ 6:00 PM ET
XM Satellite Radio - www.xmradio.com |
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Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Luka Bloom Message
Greetings,
To those of you hoping to hear me in Boston, Kansas, and Newport this weekend
in America, I must extend my apologies. I got a throat and chest infection earlier this
summer which has lingered, and after some gigs and recording, I’ve been advised by
my doctor that this weekend in the air and doing gigs in America would not be a
great idea for my health.
As I am finally trying to listen to my body and to the
advice of others, it is with reluctance that I withdraw from this weekends shows.
No matter where it is, I hate to lose a show and I hate to let people down, but
I intend to be singing and writing songs for many years; so I have to allow myself
to stop, when it is absolutely necessary.
In a hectic year, sadly this weekend is more than I’m able for right now. Having had
such a great tour in the US in April and May, I hope people will forgive me, and know
that I am determined to play the US as often as possible.
May you all have a great weekend, especially at the Irish festivals, with the many
great artists performing there. And may I see ye soon.
Best wishes,
Luka
www.lukabloom.com |
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> cancelled
Thursday, August 31, 2006 - McGann's Pub, Boston, MA
Thursday August 31st
Luka Bloom in Concert (Music/Dance)
Irish singer Luka Bloom brings the American tour of his new CD, 'Innocence',
an album of 11 new songs and one old gem, to McGann's of Boston.
Tickets are $20.00. For more information call McGann's Pub at (617) 227-4059.
robert1610@aol.com http://www.lukabloom.com
Organizer(s): McGann's of Boston
www.irishemigrant.com |
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> cancelled
Saturday, September 2, 2006 - Kansas City Irish Fest, Kansas, MO
Luka Bloom withdraws from KC Irish Fest
August 30th, 2006
Luka Bloom has had to withdraw from Kansas City’s Irish Festival this
Labor Day Weekend due to a throat infection.
The Festival website has The Hothouse Flowers replacing Luka’s slot on
Saturday’s Festival Schedule to add to their Friday performance, which is
a wonderful opportunity to see this great Irish band in a more intimate
setting as they show off their multi-faceted versatility.
Kansas City Irish Fest at Crown Center
1st, 2nd & 3rd September 2006
Saturday, September 2nd
Boulevard Pub Stage:
11:30 AM: Millish
1:00 PM: Eddie Delahunt & Friends
3:30 PM: Seamus Kennedy
5:30 PM: John Spillane
7:30 PM: Luka Bloom > Hothouse Flowers
9:30 PM: Gráda
more info: www.kcirishfest.com
Kansas City Irish Festival Blog
by Dan Regan
Friday, May 26, 2006
Luka Bloom's Innocence
Luka Bloom's new CD Innocence has been getting a work out in my iTunes the past
couple weeks. I'm listening to it right this minute, as a matter of fact. And the more
I listen to it, the more I love it and the more I'm excited that we have such an
amazing artist coming to the Kansas City Irish Fest this year. The new CD is
understated, and quiet in places to the point where you might almost miss the
power that is there in the lyrics, guitar and Bloom's rich voice. He says of the
new record: "The whole story of this album is interesting and different.
Life is an endless stream of challenges, and for this singer, the most important
ingredient to hang on to is our innocence and wonder at the world."
That sense of wonder is on display all over this album, with songs about such
simple joys as the coming of Spring, a young girl's trip to the beach with her
parents, and summer sunshine.
On Innocence, he moves effortlessly from songs that display the sense of humor
that is often seen in a Luka Bloom penned lyric (Doing The Best I Can), to a
simple, beautiful instrumental (Peace On Earth), to a really haunting version
of his well known famine immigration ballad City Of Chicago. He tells a story
of modern immigration into Ireland in No Matter Where You Go, There You Are.
No stranger to political statements, he takes on The Iraq War in the beautiful
I Am Not At War. No stranger to the music of the big world, he won't
allow himself to be pigeoned-holed into an "Irish" sound.
Listen to Gypsy Music and Venus and you'll see what I mean.
And Bloom's song June reminds me of Van Morrison's classic Sweet
Thing, and that can't be bad.
This is one of those too rare records, for me anyway, that doesn't have a weak
spot on it. Luka Bloom is on the Boulevard Pub Stage at 7:30 on Saturday,
September 2. We are lucky people.
Read more:
Luka Bloom on Irish KC
(Updated Regularly)
Luka Bloom withdraws from KC Irish Fest
Luka Bloom's New Records
Luka Bloom DVD - Won’t Be Long Now
Happy Birthday Luka Bloom
Luka Bloom Maintains Innocence
Not Just An Irish Folk Singer
Luka Bloom & Christy Moore
An Irish Cure for Kansas City
Luka Bloom in Irish Festival
Luka Bloom: Review of Innocence
Bloomsday in Kansas City
Seachtain na Gaeilge: Ceol '06
Shamrocks, Shenanigans & Smiling
kcirishfest.blogspot.com |
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> cancelled
Monday, September 4, 2006 - Newport Waterfront Irish Festival, Newport, RI
9th Newport Waterfront Irish Festival
Labor Day Weekend: September 2 - September 4, 2006
Monday, September 4, 2006 - 11 am to 6 pm
Center Stage
11:00 The Shananagans (2 sets)
1:00 Pogey
2:00 Hunt Family Fiddlers
3:00 Luka Bloom > Glengarry Bhoys
4:30 Tommy Makem
LATEST NEWS: August 29, 2006
Due to a lingering chest infection and on the advise of his doctors in Ireland, Luka Bloom
has been forced to cancel all of his upcoming US Tour dates, including the 9th Annual
Newport Waterfront Irish Festival. He will be replaced by the fabulous Glengarry Bhoys
on Sunday, September 4, at 3:00pm on Center Stage
more info: www.newportfestivals.com/Irish-Festival |
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