America hit Ireland

Now a duo, featuring original members Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, the group play the National Concert Hall, Dublin on 11 March 2009.

America made their breakthrough in 1972 with the single 'A Horse With No Name', which was a No.1 smash hit record. On the back of that success, their debut album – ironically recorded in London – and originally released in 1971 went platinum, as did the follow-up, Homecoming.

Their best-known tunes, which also include 'I Need You', 'Ventura Highway', 'Don't Cross The River', 'Tin Man, 'Lonely People', and 'Sister Golden Hair' were cornerstones of 70’s Top 40 and FM rock radio, with their 1975 History: America's Greatest Hits going 4 times platinum. In all, they had seven albums produced by Beatles producer George Martin.

In 2007, the band released their first new album of all original material in some time, produced by Adam Schlesinger (Fountains Of Wayne) and James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) and featuring guests, Ryan Adams, Ben Kweller, Jim James and Patrick Hallahan (My Morning Jacket), and Ira Elliot and Matthew Caws (Nada Surf).

"We've grown up in a world of show biz, seen styles change, seen technology change," Bunnell muses. "But basically Gerry and I have stayed very much the same. We still have those standards in songwriting that we were hoping to establish. We've lived pretty full lives and managed to hold on to some sanity, although the world seems crazier every day."

Tickets for their Dublin show are €44.50.