MUSIC Imelda May to ring in the New Year in Castlebar

ROCKABILLY ROYALTY Imelda May will play at the Royal Theatre on New Year’s Eve.

Imelda May to ring in the new year in Castlebar


Ciara Moynihan

Undisputed queen of the rockabilly scene Imelda May will ring in 2012 at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar. Her Christmas concert at the same venue last year, when she shared the bill with Sharon Shannon and Mundy, was a roof-raiser, and this year is sure to test the rafters once more.
Born in Dublin and raised in the Liberties, Imelda May’s singular voice set against a heady backdrop of surf guitars, blues and rockabilly has struck a chord with Irish listeners, while her striking ’50s image has graced style pages and magazine covers. She even caught the eye of Roberto Cavalli, who flew her out to Italy in 2009 to perform at his private party during Milan Fashion Week.
But May is no aloof cool cat. Her open, fun personality wins hearts and minds wherever she goes. May’s 2008 appearance on ‘Later … with Jools Holland’ and her Grammys performance with Jeff Beck catapulted her from the small stages of Dublin bars to international acclaim – with her legion of Irish fans cheering her all the way.
May’s latest album ‘Mayhem’ sees the singer continue to develop her uniquely modern fusion of classic musical genres.
The album not only showcases her song-writing ability, it builds on her earlier offering, ‘Love Tattoo’, to bring in different influences. The spirit of early PJ Harvey has been detected in the first single ‘Psycho’, whilst the moving ‘Kentish Town Waltz’ has drawn comparisons with Chrissie Hynde.
May’s own favourite songs include the stomping ‘Johnny Gotta Boom-Boom’ and the delicate ‘Falling in Love with You Again’, which was inspired by her husband (and band guitarist) Darrel Higham.
New Year’s Eve revellers in Castlebar will no doubt be treated to renditions of both.
Support on the night will come from Headford’s own rockabilly and bluegrass band, Joe Furey and the Hayride, while the inimitable Buck Taylor will inject some soul into the proceedings.

Imelda May will play in the Royal Theatre, Castlebar, on Saturday, December 31. Tickets, (€30 standing; €35 seated) are available from the Royal Theatre box office (0818 300 000) and www.ticketmaster.ie

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COMPETITION See Imelda May on New Year’s Eve