TRACK LISTING:

Produced by Luka Bloom & John Fitzgerald
Recorded at Lettercollum Recording Studios, Timoleague, County Cork in 2015
Recording engineered by John Fitzgerald
Mixed by John Fitzgerald
Mastered by Brian Masterson at Soundscape Studios, Sandycove, County Dublin

All Tracks written and composed by Luka Bloom (IMRO/MCPS Ireland)

Design by Steve Averill
Cover photo by Lieve Boussauw
Booklet Photography by Amelia Stein
Vegetables donated by Moy Hill Community Garden, Moy, County Clare

Musicians:
Luka Bloom - Vocals, Guitar, Banjo
Jon O'Connell - Double Bass
Jimmy Higgins - All Percussion
Bill Shanley - Electric & Acoustic Guitars
John Fitzgerald - Guitar, Ukelele, Hammond Organ, Vocals
Adam Shapiro - Fiddle
Paula K O'Brien - Backing Vocals on JANUARY BLUES and AUSTRALIA
Gavin Moore, Paula K O'Brien, Vicky, Ashleen, Laura, Colm
and Leonard Cahill - Backing Vocals
Paul Dunlea - Trombone
Brian Morrissey - Banjo on JIGGY JIG JIG and GIVE IT A GO
Conor Byrne - Flute

© 01-02-2016 Luka Bloom - BigSky Records BSCD-0009
The Planet Company (Australia) | V2 Records (Benelux/Germany)

It was December 2012. I made the move to the people’s Republic of North Clare in the West of Ireland. Wind and rain howling all around me, it felt apocalyptic and wild, and I loved it.

A visitor to Clare since 1973, I never really felt the Winter wind before. In three short years I have come to love this time of warm fires and slow tunes. There is no hurry, because it is down time. Even the Wild Atlantic Way cannot entice big numbers to come. And so we go quiet. We play with and for, each other. This inspired The JANUARY BLUES.

The song FRÚGALISTO I owe to Fergal Smith and all the good people of Moy Hill Community Garden. They are all half my age and they are teaching me about life, as we face into a challenging future for our children and grandchildren.

I could talk about all the songs, the North Clare baby boom that inspired JIGGY JIG JIG; the dream of being a surfer in middle age in GIVE IT A GO...

But it is best to just hear the songs, and see what they mean for you.

The last song is WAVE UP TO THE SHORE. I wrote it in 1971, when I was 16. Pat Colgan was my English teacher then. Pat, and his wife Margaret encouraged me to write songs. I thank them both from the bottom of my heart. It took many false starts, and 44 years to finally record this song. My nephew Gavin sings it with me.

Lettercollum House in Timoleague, County Cork gave me the best recording experience of my life I believe. And with the musicians and singers who ventured to West Cork, we took our time, and stepped up to the songs. Some days, Billy the Alsatian sat at my feet when I sang. I just knew everything was fine in this world. And it is.

Thank you everyone.

Luka