In Tua Nua back in town
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IT was 30 years ago this year that ‘In Tua Nua’ supported U2 on the European leg of The Joshua Tree Tour. They are now setting out on their first Irish tour since 1988, coming to The Spirit Store on Sunday October 1.
The band toured extensively throughout Europe and the US during the 1980’s promoting their albums ‘Vaudeville’ and ‘ The Long Acre’. During the 80s, In Tua Nua had nine top 20 singles here in Ireland.
One of Ireland’s premier live acts, they shared stages with Bob Dylan (Slane), Fleetwood Mac, and Eurythmics to name but a few while also opening on stadium tours for Simple Minds and of course U2. In Tua Nua reformed for some gigs in 2004 and then again in 2012 when they played The Electric Picnic.
So what have they been up to in the intervening years?
Lead singer Leslie Dowdall released two solo albums and had a smash hit with her song ‘Wonderful Thing’. Leslie tours Ireland constantly with wing man Mike Hanrahan and also plays regularly in Spain.
Singer/drummer Paul Byrne, who wrote the majority of In Tua Nual’s songs, released his critically acclaimed solo album ‘Cruel & Tender Ways’ in 2014. He is also is a member of The Drays and The Guilty Party.
Bassist Jack Dublin formed the studio project Audiokiss. Their album was successful in Italy while recent single ‘I Don’t Wanna Say’ featuring Megan Burke charted in the US digital charts.
Paul and Jack first played together in Deaf Actor in 1980 before forming In Tua Nua in 1983. They have since been banging out beats for Rocky de Valera and The Gravediggers, The Guilty Party and Shane McGowan and The Shane Gang making them one of Ireland’s longest running rhythm sections.
The new line up includes Rosie MacKenzie, a talented young fiddle player from Canada based in Dingle, Sarge O’Hara ex The Mod Ls on Keys, Dave McGinley ex Eugene/Precious Stones on Guitar, and Leo Rickard and Martin Nolan will share the uilleann pipe role (at different gigs).
In 2012 Leslie, Paul and Jack went into the studio and re-recorded a version of ‘All I Want- ed’. Their most successful single from the 80s, it had reached number 69 in the UK charts and became a college radio hit across the US. Other notable singles were ‘Seven Into The Sea’, ‘Heaven Can Wait’, ‘Somebody To Love’, ‘Coming Thru’ and ‘Don’t Fear Me Now’. Also, in 2012 Virgin/EMI released the albums ‘Vaudaville’ and ‘ The Long Acre’ on iTunes and Spotify.