Imelda May (IE)

About

Also known as: Imelda Clabby

Imelda May built her reputation as one of the most distinctive voices in rockabilly revival, a sound she has carried through six studio albums while drawing comparisons to jazz legends like Billie Holiday. Her 2009 album Love Tattoo hit number one in Ireland and put her on the radar of Jools Holland, leading to appearances on his legendary BBC show. She then performed at the Grammy Awards with Jeff Beck in tribute to Les Paul, a moment that cemented her standing far beyond the Dublin scene she came from. Over the years she has collaborated with T Bone Burnett, received guidance from Bono, and turned up as a surprise guest at U2's homecoming show, where Bono called her "the other queen of Ireland." Her 2021 album 11 Past the Hour showed her moving comfortably between rock and more poetic territory, and that same year she contributed a striking cover of Metallica's "The God That Failed" to The Metallica Blacklist charity tribute. She also performed at the 2023 Jeff Beck tribute concert at the Royal Albert Hall, sharing the stage with Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood.