Nominees

Look out for a new star in the glittering firmament of great Irish singers: with the release of her new album In Love and Light, Heidi Talbot is truly set to shine. After five years as lead singer with the Irish-American super group Cherish the Ladies, and high praise for her previous solo outing, 2004's Distant Future, Talbot now extends her talents over a broader, bolder musical canvas, in company with a stellar cast of guests. Drawing on the full, diverse spectrum of influences that inform her singing, In Love and Light complements Talbot's exquisitely expressive, honeyed yet ardent voice with guest contributions from Eddi Reader, ex-Solas guitarist John Doyle, fiddler John Mc Cusker and flute/whistle ace Mike McGoldrick.

In 2002 Talbot was invited to join Cherish the Ladies and in between the band's hectic touring schedule she continued to develop her solo work, releasing Distant Future in 2004 on the Nashville-based roots label Compass Records. Produced by John Doyle, the record featured such distinguished guests as multi-instrumentalist Dirk Powell, concertinist John Williams and fiddler Rayna Gellert. Three years later, the recording of In Love and Light coincided with her decision to leave Cherish at the end of 2007.

The launch of In Love and Light, at Glasgow's world-renowned Celtic Connections festival in January 2008 kicks off an exciting year for Talbot, who'll be featured as a guest on forthcoming albums by Radiohead drummer Philip Selway, and the new trio collaboration of John McCusker, Kris Drever and Idlewild singer Roddy Woomble. Between times, she'll be touring both the US and Europe extensively to promote In Love and Light.