In Tua Nua

• Leslie Dowdall - vocals
• Ivan O'Shea - guitar
• Martin Clancy - keyboards
• Steven Wickham - violin, replaced 1986 by Aingeala De Burca
• Vinny Kilduff - pipes, replaced 1986 by Brian O'Briain
• Jack Dublin - bass, ex Deaf Actor
• Paul Byrne - drums, ex Deaf Actor
  
  

Bio:

In Tua Nua were a mid-80s rock-folk-trad amalgam who never quite found their focus.

The first In Tua Nua sessions began in 1983 with guitarist/engineer Ivan O'Shea (one time Modulators and Yeah! Yeah! roadie), composer Martin Clancy, opera singer Miriam Blennerhassett and drummer Paul Byrne (ex Deaf Actor). They were joined by bassist Jack Dublin (ex Deaf Actor, Gravediggers), piper Vinnie Kilduff (then best known for his appearance on U2's "October" album), and violinist Steve Wickham (another Deaf Actor connecton, now best known for his time with The Waterboys and playing on U2's "War" album). The search for a permanent female vocalist led to the discovery by Paul Byrne of Sinead O'Connor, who co-wrote some material, but at 16 she was too young to tour and so the place ultimately went to Leslie Dowdall (ex Electric Maggots, Assembley) who'd spent part of 1983 with the Rhythm Kings.

In Tua Nua debuted in 1984 with a single on Mother Records and subsequently signed a high profile deal with Island Records. They appeared on Anything Goes (RTE) as an octet with Daragh Tanham (sax). They won the Stag/Hot Press Award that same year.

The first Island single was selected as Single of the Week in Melody Maker and the band successfully completed recording of their debut LP to be titled "Map Of Years". But the release of this album fell through for some reason and after two years of waiting with no sign of it coming out, by which time Wickham & Kilduff left for The Waterboys, the band left Island Records. Island issued a singles compilation "Somebody To Love" but the original debut LP remains unreleased.

After the Island debacle, the band regrouped, added new members Brian O'Briain (ex The Host) on pipes and Aingeala de Burca on violin and wrote some new material. They signed to Virgin Records in the spring of 1986 and finally released an album in 1987, titled "Vaudeville". De Burca was replaced by Lovely Previn (of the Wilf Brothers) after recording of the second album "The Long Acre" in 1988.

In Tua Nua split somewhat acrimoniously following completion of their unreleased third in 1989. This was finally made available (as an itunes download only, alas) in 2007 thanks to the efforts of Paul Byrne.

In Tua Nua appeared on TV in Ireland (RTE) and elsewhere many times over the years. Besides promo films and mimed performances, there are also live recordings including a full RTE In Concert show and a BBC Radio In Concert hour from ca 1989. They also appeared at Self Aid in 1986 and a video of their performance of "Seven into the Sea" was used as a promo clip for the "Live For Ireland" album.

Leslie Dowdall pursued a solo career. Paul Byrne recorded as Sugar Candy Mountain and was later a member (with Steve Wickham among others) of the Texas Kellys, a bluegrass outfit who released a mini-CD "Stay All Night" in 1996 which included a track originally by In Tua Nua ("Jealous Knife", by Martin Clancy). Jack Dublin formed The Great Divide with Matt Spalding and Jenny Newman (vocals, ex Toy With Rhythm), and later managed Christina Calls. He eventually return to his pre musical career as a painter/decorator and is now a full time interior designer, but is also gigging again with the Gravediggers, as is Paul Byrne, who also works at Phonic Studios in Dublin. Aingeala De Burca was involved with the Harvest Ministers.

In Tua Nua reformed for one-off gig on Easter Sunday 2004 and subsequenly played more shows.

tracks:
Somebody To Love
Coming Thru
Fire In My Heart

tracks:
Blue Eyes Again
Coming Thru'
King Of Kings
Take My Hand
Somebody To Love
No Love, No Pain
Into The Dark
Fire In My Heart

tracks:
Seven Into The Sea
Right Road To Heaven
Love
No Solution
Valuable Lessons
Heaven Can Wait
Voice Of America
Rain
Pearl Of Dreams
Walking On Glass
[Vaudville]

Note:
All (CD?) versions listed "Vaudeville" as the final track, but not all pressings contain this track.

 



tracks:
Woman On Fire
All I Wanted
Wheel Of Evil
Meeting Of The Waters
Innocent And The Honest Ones
World Wired Up
Some Things Never Change
Don't Fear Me Now (Kiss You Once More)
Emotional Barrier
Long Acre
Sweet Lost Soul

MP Records reissue bonus tracks:
The Word Punishment
Everybody's Darling
Boys Keep Swinging

tracks: Seven Into The Sea (live)

side one:
Storm Rising
Little Freedom
Change
Don't Bring The Family
Lorraine

side two:
Sunset (later titled When Night Came Down On Sunset)¹
Sparkle
Sweet Nothing
You Don't Love Me (later titled Your Crime Is Final)¹
Chain Of Love
If You Don't Want Me

Notes: A Virgin's "Pre Cut" release sent out to journalists and the like. The release was eventually cancelled. The album was finally released in 2007 as When Night Came Down On Sunset with a different running order and two re-titled tracks (¹).

tracks:
Storm Rising
Don't Bring The Family
Chain Of Love
If You Don't Want Me
Change
Your Crime Is Final
Sparkle
Little Freedom
Sweet Lorraine
When Night Comes Down On Sunset
Sweet Nothing

Notes:
The unreleased third album, 11 tracks recorded in LA in 1989, finally released in 2007, albeit as an iTunes download only. To get it, click here. Note "Sweet Lorraine" is not a Uriah Heep cover.

We need your help to correct and/or complete this entry. If you can provide more information about this band, have scans, photos or any other memorabilia we can use, or spare copies of any releases, then please get in touch.