Luka Bloom

• Genre: New Folk
• Hometown: Newbridge
• Luka Bloom Website

About

Bloom, born Barry Moore in Ireland, is the brother of famed Irish folk singer Christy Moore. He recorded a handful of records under his own name in Ireland before coming to America to forge an identity outside the shadow of his more famous brother. He changed his name and developed an open-tuned, heavily processed acoustic guitar sound that was almost orchestrally full, freeing him from the constraints of a backup band. He scored a deal after developing a devoted following, which grew with the release of a series of critically acclaimed records. One of his more interesting experiments is an acoustic treatment of rapper LL Cool J's "I Need Love," done as an impassioned, straight-faced love song.

- Tom Heyman