In Tua Nua

In Tua Nua is an Irish rock band known for blending rock with traditional Irish music, incorporating uilleann pipes, violin, and acoustic guitars into their sound. Their name is a phonetic spelling of An Tuath Nua, meaning "The New Tribe" in Irish.  

Origins and Early Success  
Formed in the early 1980s, the original lineup included Leslie Dowdall (vocals), Jack Dublin (bass), Vinnie Kilduff (uilleann pipes), Ivan O'Shea (guitar), Martin Clancy (guitar), Paul Byrne (drums), and Steve Wickham (violin). The band was the first to sign with U2’s Mother Records in 1984, releasing the single Coming Thru. Shortly after, they joined Island Records, where they recorded their debut album. Their early singles included Take My Hand, co-written with a young Sinéad O’Connor, and a cover of Jefferson Airplane’s Somebody to Love.  

Lineup Changes and Major Label Releases  
Following Steve Wickham’s departure to join The Waterboys in 1985, In Tua Nua underwent changes, with Aingeala de Burca (violin) and Brian O’Briain (uilleann pipes) joining the group. That same year, Island Records dropped the band, and their recorded debut album was never officially released, though a compilation of singles and B-sides surfaced in Italy.  

Signing with Virgin Records, the band released Seven Into the Sea in 1986, one of their most recognized songs. Their debut album, Vaudeville, followed in 1987, leading to extensive touring. After further lineup shifts, they released The Long Acre in 1988, featuring radio hits All I Wanted and Don’t Fear Me Now. All I Wanted reached No. 69 on the UK Singles Chart.  

A third album was recorded in Los Angeles, but before its release, the band split. Virgin initially shelved the album, but it was eventually made available in 2007 under the title When Night Came Down on Sunset.  

Reunion and Legacy  
Although officially disbanded in 1990, In Tua Nua reunited in 2004 for occasional live performances. In 2010, re-mastered editions of Vaudeville and The Long Acre, featuring bonus tracks, were released in Italy.  

Lead singer Leslie Dowdall pursued a solo career, releasing two albums in the 1990s, while Paul Byrne and Jack Dublin remained active in the music scene, performing with Rocky de Valera and The Gravediggers. In 2010, they also played alongside Shane MacGowan of The Pogues.  

In Tua Nua's unique fusion of rock and Irish folk continues to resonate, with their music regarded as a pioneering influence in Irish rock history.