Luka Bloom
Luka Bloom is down under for his first tour of Australia, but he is coming to our shores soon enough. He will embark on a major North American tour in late spring to celebrate the release of his new album, Eleven Songs, on Bar/None Records.
The tour will begin on May 17 at Joe’s Pub in New York City, and will take Bloom throughout the U.S. and Canada until June 21, when he returns to New York for a show at the City Winery.
Eleven Songs is Bloom’s 11th album; he co-produced, recorded and mixed with original Frames’ guitarist David Odlum.
The record features Bloom on a number of different guitars with tasteful backup that includes stand up bass and drums on some tracks and strings and a choir on others, which is in contrast to the stark acoustic arrangements from his last few albums.
He also asked a number of friends to drop by Grouse Lodge in Co. Westmeath, where the album was recorded, and you can hear Dave Hingerty (ex-the Frames) and Liam O’Maonlai (ex-Hothouse Flowers) on piano.
Says Bloom, “By the time we left Grouse Lodge 20 songs became 15, and we knew we were on to something good. And suddenly we were done by mid May, so off we went to Black Box in France again, and over 10 days, 15 songs became 11. We were done and we were, and are, very happy.”
Keep it tuned to this column for interviews and reviews of Eleven Songs. Bloom’s virtuoso guitar playing, heartfelt performance and dry onstage wit make him one of the most entertaining men ever to pick up an acoustic guitar.
Check out www.lukabloom.com for more information and check him out when he visits your city.