b. 1977, Dublin, Eire. Growing up in Donaghmede on Dublin's Northside, singer-songwriter Dempsey gave up an amateur boxing career to concentrate on music. He studied at the Ballyfermot "Rock School' for three years, learning about all aspects of the music industry from performance to the workings of record labels. After completing his studies, Dempsey recorded and released 1995"s Contender EP (as Dempsey). The release provided an early indication of Dempsey's musical style, drawing on folk, reggae, rap and traditional folk music Two years later he released the reggae-tinged "Dublin Town", that broke into the Irish Top 20 and received extensive radio play on many Dublin stations. Dempsey then spent a brief period in New York working and performing at the Irish bar Rocky Sullivan's. He returned to Ireland to complete They Don't Teach This Shit In School. Released in 2000, the album established Dempsey as a provocative and confrontational singer-songwriter steeped in the harsh realities of urban life. Stand-out tracks included the title song, a re-recorded version of "Dublin Town", and "N.Y.C. Paddy", which detailed Dempsey's experiences of living in New York.

Listen to Damien Dempsey at Finetune.

• (2008)  Seize The Day

• Apple Of My Eye
• Celtic Tiger
• It's All Good
• Jar Song
• Factories

• Kings Of Leon
• Godspeed You Black Emperor
• Regina Spektor
• Feist
• Peter Bjorn and John
• Be Your Own Pet
• Dears
• Editors
• Elbow
• Feeder
• Kate Nash
• Mick Flannery
• Queens Of The Stone Age
• Sigur Ros
• The Stills
• The Subways
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• Morrissey
• Basement Jaxx
• Duran Duran

• Brazman
• emertannam
• PUMPKINLOVEGUTS

• Brazman on 2009-03-19 20:15:10.880:
  Damien Demspey is a legend, a true dub, with a very distinct voice and singing stlye, he reminds me of a young ronnie drew. keep on making music damien you legend.