Moving Hearts to play 3Olympia Theatre next month

Moving Hearts have announced a fully-seated gig at 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin on Sunday, March 20, 2022.

“Being in Moving Hearts, certainly in the first two years of its existence, was like being dragged along the street by a speeding bus”, says founder member Donal Lunny.

They started playing together in Dublin’s Baggot Inn, in 1981. The first line-up featured Christy Moore, Donal Lunny, Declan Sinnott, Eoghan O’Neill, Brian Calnan, Keith Donald and Davy Spillane. The next three years saw various personnel changes and additions, and they ceased touring in the spring of 1984. They regrouped in December 1984 to record their acclaimed album, The Storm.

Moving Hearts did not perform or record for most of two decades, until reforming in 2007 – playing a series of sold-out concerts in Dublin's Vicar Street, which was met with major critical acclaim.

When asked why Moving Hearts had reformed in 2007, the band described it as "unfinished business":

"When we last played it was as an instrumental band, and we always felt we hadn't finished exploring the possibilities of our unique line-up," they stated.

The following years saw the Hearts play acclaimed concerts worldwide from the Festival Hall London, Royce Hall in UCLA, and the major festivals and concert halls of Europe.

"Over the last decade, there have been many offers made to Moving Hearts to appear in concert, but due to all of us having major commitments to other projects, it wasn't always possible," the group comment.

Before the onset of the pandemic, Moving Hearts had also performed at the inaugural Killarney Folk Festival, a series of sold-out shows in Dublin's Olympia Theatre, a run of nights at The National Concert Hall, a lauded performance at the Fruit Market at Glasgow's Celtic Connections, and numerous shows throughout Europe.

The band's line-up for the special appearance at 3Olympia Theatre includes some of Ireland's most celebrated musicians, including: Donal Lunny (bouzouki), Davy Spillane (uilleann pipes and low whistles), Keith Donald (sax and bass clarinet), Eoghan O'Neill (bass), Noel Eccles (percussion), Anthony Drennan (guitars), Liam Bradley (drums), Graham Henderson (keyboards) and special guests.

Tickets from €45.05 (including booking fee) go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday February 16, at 9am, via Ticketmaster.ie.