Damien Dempsey’s importance as a singer and songwriter of great passion, conviction and beauty has never been more prominent. He is that rare gem of an artist, an ex boxer – with the soul of a poet, whose heroes and influences are as diverse as Christy Moore, Shane McGowan, Luke Kelly and Bob Marley.

At the beginning of 2023 Dempsey went into rehearsals for a 20-night residency at the Abbey Theatre, with his hugely successful debut show, Tales from the Holywell. The Conor Pearson-directed production was followed by a 14-date Irish tour and a support slot for The Saw Doctors at Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl. 2023 has also seen the first new music from Damien since 2018’s sublime Union album.

Hope Calling is the first single from his as yet untitled 2024 new album and is released via Sony Ireland. As Damien suggests “…I believe we must always carry hope in our hearts, hope lives in dreams and imagination and visualisation, and without it we would never solve or create anything, so keep it safe in your heart, always. I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing without hope, it helps us along through life like music does.”