Imelda May, Best Irish Female: 2009 Meteor Music Awards March 18, 2009 - Sassy Irish songstress Imelda May walked away with the award for Best Irish Female at the 2009 Meteor Music Awards last night. Tuesday night saw the cream of the crop' of the best Irish and International artists gather together at the 2009 Awards' ceremony. 19 awards were handed out altogether; 8 of them chosen by the public. 2009 is already proving to be a whirlwind of a year for Imelda and she can now add this award to the one that she picked up in 2008 for Best Female Newcomer of the Year, at the prestigious Irish World Newspaper Awards. Imelda's signature style and vintage rockabilly music is starting to turn her into a hotly tipped' one to watch for 2009 and her live shows showcase a contagious amount of 'Boogie Woogie'. Last night she performed alongside big names such as James Morrision, Elbow and Stereophonics and wowed the crowd with an energetic performance of her catchy hit single 'Johnny Got A Boom Boom. Other big name winners included Duffy, The Script and Westlife. http://meteormusicawards.meteor.ie/index.aspx

UNIVERSAL MUSIC PRESENTS NEW SIGNING
IMELDA MAY,
A HOT TALENT FOR 2009

Album: Love Tattoo - out now
Single: Big Bad Handsome Man - 6th April, 2009

"Like Winehouse, she shakes up traditional jazz and soul with a powerful dose of good old female attitude. May is the real deal… Fabulous."
--The Metro--

Universal Music, the world's largest record company, has announced the signing of Irish-born singer/songwriter Imelda May. With her unique fusion of rockabilly, blues and jazz, Imelda has already made a huge impact on the live scene, performing frequently alongside Jools Holland who's a big fan.

Imelda May has now released her debut album 'Love Tattoo' on Blue Thumb/UCJ, home to other rising stars Teddy Thompson and Beth Rowley. 'Love Tattoo' is a timeless collection of jazz-a-billy, delivered in Imelda's contemporary, direct and inimitable style.

Dublin-born Imelda got her first break through UK boogie woogie maestro, Jools Holland. She firstly supported his summer tour, a huge honour for an as then unsigned artist. She has since performed on his BBC Radio 2 show as well as 'Later With Jools' on which she performed 'Johnny Got a Boom Boom', one of the leading tracks on her new album 'Love Tattoo'. She received an incredible audience reaction to this, not to mention a Universal Music contract.

Imelda has also shared the stage with an impressive array of musical talent, including the late Kirsty MacColl, Alison Moyet, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Van Morrison and Scissor Sisters. Her influences of Billy Holiday, Dinah Washington and queen of rockabilly, Wanda Jackson, can be heard in her unique, intoxicating blend of music.

Her sassy, burlesque-inspired style and performances last year earned Imelda the nomination of Best Burlesque Singer 2007, as well as an L.A. Movie debut as the singing voice in the forthcoming American gangster move, 'Dark Streets'.

2008 saw Imelda awarded Best Female Newcomer of the Year at the prestigious Irish World Newspaper Awards and, with her career really taking off, you can't help but feel that 2009 will be the year when Imelda May achieves mainstream success this side of the Irish Sea.

Personel:
Imelda May - Vocals, Bodhran
Dave Priseman - Trumpet, Flugle Horn, Percussion
Darrel Higham - Guitar
Al Gare - Double Bass, Bass Guitar
Steve Rushton - Drums

http://www.imeldamay.com 
http://www.myspace.com/imeldamay1

Courtesy of:
Jenna Knight, Online Press Officer
HyperlaunchDMG
jenna.knight@hyperlaunchdmg.co.uk 
http://www.hyperlaunchdmg.co.uk 

Note from The BlackCat:
Although Imelda might be a new talent to the big public, and finally signed to a major label, but "Love Tattoo" is not really her debut album. With husband Darrel Higham she recorded a CD for Foot Tapping Records in 2003 titled No Turning Back.

Used with permission, 2009