July

Damien Dempsey is back!

Irish folk favourite Damien Dempsey will return your Union on Friday 5 December. The singer will headline the Mandela Hall for another amazing show.

For Damien Dempsey, people and place are King. His voice is Dublin yet wholly distinctive, almost clichéd to say it, but he is part of a rich bloodline of Irish singers from Luke Kelly to Ronnie Drew, Christy Moore to Andy Irvine. Their kin outside Ireland are Springsteen and Guthrie, Dylan and Marley.   Damien's live performance is legendary.  His fanatical audience identify with a singer who has emerged from the working-class streets of Dublin's Northside with his powerful self-belief intact, and a storyteller's eye for detail in the writing and delivery of his songs.  His concerts can be almost spiritual occasions – with fans singing along to every word.

Described by The Times as “the Bob Marley of Ireland” and by the Irish Examiner as "one of the most important and evocative singers of all time" his stage presence was nurtured by the legendary folk singer Christy Moore who, in mentoring a shy young Dempsey, advised him, “if you’re nervous, tell the audience you’re nervous”. And Dempsey himself says: “The audience has always been with me. They feel what I feel.”

Damien is an award-winning artist, having won several prestigious Irish Meteor Awards including Best Irish Male and Best Traditional Folk Award. His albums have topped the charts and achieved platinum status, and he has been lauded by, among others, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Billboard, MOJO and The Sunday Times.   He has supported such legends as Bob Dylan, Sinead O'Connor, Morrisey and Bruce Springsteen.  

Last year Damien sold out his Sydney Opera House St Patrick's Day show followed by headline shows across Australia.  The summer saw a support slot with Bruce Springsteen at Kilkenny Stadium, and his own headline show at Dublin's Iveagh Gardens, whilst September brought his first US tour in 5 years, encompassing festivals and headline shows including a sold out Bowery Ballroom in New York.  Damien toured Australia once more in November before heading back to Ireland for headline dates in December including his now legendary Christmas shows at Vicar Street.

Tickets on sale now priced £15.50 (+ booking fee) and are available from Students’ Union Reception and Ticketmaster. It’s going be a great show, so don’t miss out! Find out more and check out our full event listings here.