Moriarty

Moriarty is a French cabaret-folk group formed in Paris in 1995. The group is made up of Rosemary Standley, Charles Carmignac, Arthur B. Gillette, Thomas Puéchavy, Éric Tafani, Vincent Talpaert, Stephan Zimmerli, Charlène Dupuy, Médéric de Vanssay and Davide Woods. It draws on blues, country, folk and rock, and the members have French, American, Swiss and Vietnamese backgrounds, with most of them raised in France.

History

The group takes its name from Dean Moriarty, a character in Jack Kerouac's On the Road. It begins as a five-piece and later includes three former members: Charlène Dupuy, Médéric de Vanssay and Davide Woods.

After a concert in 2005, the group is noticed by Jérôme Deschamps and Macha Makeïeff, who later co-produce its first album with Naïve Records. Moriarty also wins the Prix Paris Jeunes Talents around the same period.

Recordings and recognition

The group attracts wider attention at the Printemps de Bourges in 2006 and 2007. Its first single, Jimmy, from Gee Whiz But This is A Lonesome Town (2007), is a success and leads to a performance at La Cigale. The album sells more than 50,000 copies in a few months and is certified gold a year after release.

Moriarty then tours in Canada, Switzerland, Spain, Germany and England. In 2008 it performs at Solidays, Eurockéennes de Belfort, Francofolies de La Rochelle and Fête de l'Humanité, and it is one of ten artists nominated for the Constantin prize.

Style

The group performs standards, blues songs and original rock compositions. Its live shows are arranged around a single microphone, and its sound is shaped by traditional Celtic music, country and blues.