Internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Luka Bloom released his twelfth album, Eleven Songs, in autumn 2008 on Big Sky Records.The album was preceded by the debut single, ‘I’m On Your Side’ and now new single ‘Don’t Be Afraid Of The Light That Shines Within You’ will release on February 20th in Ireland, the US, Germany, Holland, Belgium and Australia.

Don’t Be Afraid Of The Light That Shines Within You is, in Luka’s words, “Two chords, two verses and a chorus - a very simple song, and yet it says everything I want to say at the beginning of 2009. Since 1993, at the start of every February, I have watched large groups of men and women gather in my home county of Kildare. They come to welcome the beginning of spring. They come to Kildare because it is the home of Brigid, whose feast day is February 1st. Brigid is the goddess of love, poetry, justice in prechristian Ireland, and she is the patron saint of Kildare. There is reflection, talk, music and dance…a gathering of people who want to celebrate the coming of spring, and who want to call Brigids’ qualities into the world, to light a spark for change. And every year we gather to welcome the light into our world; and to hope that more light will shine in the world; and that someday out of the darkness of war, hunger, greed, poverty, will come the light of community, sharing, justice, music, dance, peace and love. I wrote the song around 2000 and for some years I only sang it in Kildare, and often only in February. In 2008, i felt a momentum within myself, which resulted in the record ‘Eleven Songs’ and finally recorded ‘Don’t Be Afraid Of The Light That Shines Within You’. 

Returning to the raw live sound of his earlier records and brimming with inspiring lyrics and sumptuous melodies, Eleven Songs reminds us why Bloom is such a master of the concert stage. The album was co-produced by Luka and David Odlum (ex-Kila and ex-The Frames) and recorded in Grouse Lodge in County Westmeath.

Musicians on the album include Dave Hingerty (ex-The Frames), Trevor Hutchinson, Liam O’Maonlai (ex-Hothouse Flowers), Paul Smith, Cora Venus Lunny, Ken Edge, and the Gardiner St. Gospel Choir. Backing vocals are Sinead Martin and Robbie Moore.

Like many Irish families Luka Bloom comes from a family of singers and songwriters and first went on tour many moons ago with older brother Christy Moore. In 1987 Luka went to the US and toured with The Pogues, The Violent Femmes, Hothouse Flowers and The Cowboy Junkies, and in all he has now enjoyed eighteen years of successful worldwide tours.

In 1990, Luka was signed to Warner Music in LA and over the next four years recorded three albums for them. Luka has released a further seven albums on his own label – Big Sky Records.
Over the years Luka has brought his songs to clubs, theatres, festivals, bars and arenas all over the world. In the last 10 years he has concentrated in performing in Australia, Holland, Belgium and Germany. His incredibly gifted electro-acoustic guitar playing guarantees an impassioned live performance of his original, poetic and melodic songs.