Groove Tube with Cian O’Connell

Crooner, raconteur, multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, Jack Lukeman has had many musical lives and reinventions – and he shows no sign of slowing down with that musical diversification…because it keeps it interesting, he says. The Kildare native first came to prominence back in the nineties as the face of Jack L and the Black Romantics, whose sole album Wax revolved around unique interpretations of the music of Jacques Brel.

He went on to record a host of solo LPs, including the multi-platinum award-winning Metropolis Blue in 1999. Most recently, Jack released an eleven-track solo record Echo On and featured on Trevor Horn’s Echoes – a covers album littered with orchestral takes of iconic rock tracks.

Last week, Jack embarked on his latest tour. It will take him around Ireland and the UK, and in a week’s time, on Friday, May 31, it will bring him to Galway’s Town Hall Theatre.

At the time of speaking, Jack is fresh from playing Tullamore’s Esker Arts Centre, which opened in April of last year.

“Lovely new sound system and lovely décor and everything,” he says of the venue.

“It’s nice to see it happen in the middle of the country like that – it’s always nice when a new theatre opens.”

The morning after performing in Tullamore, Jack was back in his old primary school, Ardscoil na Tríonóide, in Athy to perform for the current crop of students.

It signalled a busy start to a tour that will eventually take him to Dublin’s Pepper Canister Church in late December.

“There was an awards ceremony, so I went down and presented the music award and sang them a tune and sent them on their way for the summer,” he says.

“It’s nice to be asked to do these things. You’re not always around to do them so you kind of take the opportunities when you are… [Touring] is always very exciting. It carries its own kind of energy when you start doing shows.

Pictured: Jack L…Town Hall date at the end of the month.