Veteran Irish band In Tua Nua celebrate their 40th anniversary with a gig at Opium Live, Dublin this Friday, 13 October. We asked front woman Leslie Dowdall the BIG questions . . .
Formed in 1983 in Howth, the band had 10 hit singles in Ireland during the 80s and played support to Bob Dylan at Slane Castle and U2 on the European leg of their Joshua Tree Tour.
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Their debut single Coming Thru (the first ever release on U2's Mother Records) was followed by their first UK release Take My Hand, which was co-written with the late Sinéad O’Connor.
They went on to release two albums - Vaudeville in 1987, which produced another hit with Heaven Can Wait. Their best-known album The Long Acre (1988) yielded the single All I Wanted and spent five months in the US college charts.
The band broke up in September 1989 having just completed their third album for Virgin.
Since then, In Tua Nua (with founder members Leslie Dowdall, Paul Byrne and Jack Dublin) have reunited on various occasions, notably for tours in 2004, 2012.
In 2022, In Tua Nua performed at the Forever Young Festival and last June they performed to a 20,000-strong crowd in St. Annes Park on a bill with Lionel Richie and The Human League.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
Singer songwriter, music educator and all-round lovely person.
How would you describe your music?
Uplifting, contemporary.
Who are your musical Inspirations?
Joni Mitchell, Annie Lennox, Chrissie Hynds, Elbow.
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What was the first gig you ever attended?
U2 at Croke Park.
What was the first record you ever bought/streamed?
Joni Mitchell - Blue.
What’s your favourite song at the moment?
Comatose Brother - Harvest Moon.
If I could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra.
Where can people find more of your music/information?
In Tua Nua website, all social media platforms and Spotify.
Alan Corr
In Tua Nua play Opium Live, Wexford St, Dublin this Friday, 13 October.
