PROFILE
The older brother of Irish folk singer Luka Bloom, Christy Moore is Ireland’s premier singer-songwriter. The former lead-vocalist and chief song-writer of Planxty and Moving Hearts, Moore helped to bring the musical traditions of Ireland up to modern standards and he has been a major inspiration to many modern Irish artists.
Traditional Irish music had little influence on Moore’s early music, trained in old-time pop tunes and religious music, Moore was inspired as a teenager by American Rock & Roll. Moore moved to Britain in the 1960s and began busking in the streets, whilst seamlessly extending his repertoire of traditional and folk songs. After returning to Ireland later in the decade, Moore released his debut album, Paddy On The Road.
Whilst recording his album Prosperous, Moore assembled a band that evolved into Planxty. The group’s fusion of Celtic music and high-energy rock made Planxty one of Ireland’s most influential bands, and brought Moore together with fellow diverse and skilled musicians Donal Lunny, Liam O’Flynn and Andy Irvine. Although he left Planxty in 1974, Moore returned when the band’s original line-up reunited in 1979. He remained with Planxty until 1983, when it evolved into a new band, Moving Hearts; Moore served as front-man there until leaving to resume his solo career in 1985.
Prominent albums from Moore’s solo career for the following 20 years include Ride On, Voyage, Smoke and Strong Whiskey, King Puck, Graffiti Tongue and Burning Times. The excitement of Moore’s concerts have been documented on five live albums, Live in Dublin, and two Live at the Point concerts, as well as Live at Vicar Street and Planxty Live. His solo recordings between 1981 and 1991 were anthologised on the Christy Moore Collection, and The Collection Part 2 followed in 1997.
2009 saw the release of Listen, a collection of thirteen songs that included lead single the “Ballad of Ruby Walsh”, as well as a unique version of Pink Floyd’s “Shine on you Crazy Diamond”, and a tribute to the late, great Rory Gallagher “Rory is Gone”. Listen was released on April 17th 2009 and immediately soared into the Irish charts at NUMBER ONE, holding the coveted spot for four consecutive weeks.
Listen’s chart success in 2009 - 40 years after his debut album release - reaffirms Christy Moore’s universal fan base, cementing him as an Irish icon and as one of the most compelling and inspirational musicians Ireland has ever produced. It is his deep urge to connect with the listener and to transmit the meaning of the songs he sings that has endeared Christy to his audiences and helped to create and develop a faithful following that quite frankly alludes most other artists.
Douglas Hyde Centre, Roscommon
Highland Hotel, Donegal
