Moriarty is made up of five artists of French, American, and Swiss origin. The members were mainly born in France to American parents. The group was named Moriarty in reference to Dean Moriarty, the hero of On the Road by Jack Kerouac.

Moriarty draws its inspiration from traditional Irish music, country music and the blues, using instruments like the double bass, harmonica and kazoo, while adding in original sounds from typewriters, hotel bells and other sounds. The group sometimes plays huddled around only one microphone on stage, a practice started in their earlier concerts, resulting in an organic quality of mixing and a close acoustic and physical connection between the musicians.

After a French tour with more than 170 concerts which saw them performing at both larger festivals and smaller theatres, the Franco-American quintet went on the road in 2009, starting on January 10 in New York, USA, and then touring the United States, Canada, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, England, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia and India. On December 24, 2009, in Mumbai, India, they played the final show of that tour, which spanned 18 countries through 100 concerts. By that time their debut album had sold about 150 000 copies worldwide. Meanwhile the members of Moriarty have also appeared as guests on Franco-English singer Emily Loizeau's second release, and were amongst the artists involved in The Fitzcarraldo Sessions project, initiated by members of french rock band Jack the Ripper, with which they co-wrote the single "Alice and Lewis (Soon will come too soon)".

Members
Rosemary Standley: vocals, xylophone, kazoo
Thomas Puéchavy: harmonica
Arthur B. Gillette: guitar, piano, percussion
Stephan Zimmerli: double bass, guitar
Charles Carmignac: dobro, guitar, xylophone
Vincent Talpaert: drum kit and percussion in concert
Gilbert Moriarty, mascot of the group
Colette Moriarty, along with Gilbert, Colette appears at Moriarty's concerts.