Nominees

Damien Dempsey is an Irish singer and songwriter who mixes traditional Irish folk with contemporary lyrics to deliver social comment on the positive and negative aspects arising from Ireland's Celtic Tiger society.Born and raised in Donaghmede, a Northside suburb of Dublin, his earliest musical influences came from the post-pub musical sessions that were held in his parents house when he was a toddler.Upon completing secondary school at Mount Temple Comprehensive School, he attended the Ballyfermot "Rock School" for 2 years. There he studied musical performance and management and his first EP, "The Contender" was released in 1995 on the school's record label.

His first commercial single "Dublin Town" was released in 1997, and reached number 18 in the Irish music charts. The Irish music magazine "Hot Press" praised the single, remarking that it was "..an underground anthem for disaffected youth and closet balladeer alike". His first full length album, titled "They Don't Teach This Shit In School" was released in 2000 and contained a re-recorded version of this song.

His next release, in 2002, the "Negative Vibes EP" featured Sinéad O'Connor on the title track and led to an invitation to support Sinéad on her 2002/2003 Irish, UK, and European tour.

Damien's second full-length album, "Seize the Day", was released in May 2003 in Ireland on Clear Records via Sony and entered the charts in its first week of release at No. 5. It has since achieved double-platinum sales. Released in May 2004 in the UK on IRL, the album was awarded "CD of the Week" in the Sunday Times and received enthusiastic reviews in National and music press.

In 2004 Dempsey toured extensively headlining his own shows as well as supporting Bob Dylan during the Irish leg of his European tour and making his debut appearances at The Fleadh and Womad.He has earned the support of his peers, particularly Morrissey, who invited Damien to support him on various UK and Irish dates as well as his autumn 2004 US tour. Morrissey went on to sign Damien to his label (Attack), and "Seize the Day" had its U.S. release in October 2004.

His third album, "Shots", simultaneously released in Ireland and the UK in March 2005 entered the Irish album charts at #1.Dempsey flirted with controversy during his Oxegen 2006 performance. On the main stage on Saturday afternoon, the singer sensationally suggested that Patrick Pearse would be "turning in his grave" at the state of modern Ireland.

He supported British folk-rock band The Levellers on their UK tour in the spring of 2006 as well as playing at The Levellers' music festival Beautiful Days in August 2006.

Damien's first live album, "Live at The Olympia" was released June 2006 in Ireland and the UK. The album was recorded at Dublin's Olympia Theatre on December 15, 2005.

"Shots" was released in the U.S. on the United For Opportunity label in June 2006 and Damien undertook a coast to coast tour.

On the Fleadh 2007 tour Damien, along with Sharon Shannon's Big Band, toured Ireland and the UK with Willie Nelson.His fourth studio album, "To Hell or Barbados" released in June 2007, entered the Irish album chart at No. 2. An extended version of the album, which included a bonus CD featuring previously unreleased and rare tracks, was released in Ireland via Sony BMG in November 2007.

Dempsey's fifth studio album, a covers album entitled The Rocky Road, was released on June 6, 2008 in Ireland via Sony BMG, with a UK release via IRL on June 9, 2008. The lead single "A Rainy Night In Soho", a cover of the Pogues' original, was released on May 30, 2008.