Globally revered Irish artist Imelda May has announced today that she is taking her acclaimed Raised on Songs & Stories tour into the after hours for The Lock In in Spring 2027. The 18 venue tour next year will see Imelda return to Vicar Street for 3 dates on 22 & 23 Feb and 17 March after selling out the venue 5 times in 2026. Tickets for the tour go on sale Tuesday 27th October 2026 at 10am through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.ie)
Staged as a traditional Irish pub, Raised On Songs & Stories: The Lock In will be a night of
music, poetry and the kind of togetherness that stays with you long after the doors close.
Featuring stripped back versions of Imelda’s wide discography and some of her favourite songs, and integrated - as with every lock-in - in participation from the room and rich storytelling of her life and career.
Imelda May said, “I’m bringing my ‘Raised on Songs & Stories Tour’ back to you this spring thanks to your requests. It’s not the exact same show as before but it’ll have the same elements of being a loose, intimate, personal night of story and song but this time in a ‘Lock In’ environment (instead of previous sitting room) which is one of my favourite times in life when a wonderful night grows momentum and continues well into the morning. It’s when laughter becomes louder, stories are elaborated and songs become truer and the room either hushes or erupts depending on the vibe. It’ll be a night of capturing golden moments together, following where it flows and warming our hearts with magic. Can’t wait to see you all again.”
“Imelda May doesn’t simply deliver these ballads; she enters them, inhabits their histories and becomes the desolate figures they portray… She’s a gifted songstress who makes her unique Irish exploration of life a universal experience”
Waterford News & Star
Joining Imelda as special guests for these dates are Limerick-based duo The Woodgies. After growing up in Geneva, the sisters moved to Limerick to immerse themselves in Ireland’s
traditional music scene, studying traditional song and chant while exploring the musical heritage that has long been part of their family story. At the heart of The Woodgies is the connection between two voices which gives their music a distinctive identity that sits beyond straightforward folk.
Born and raised in The Liberties area of Dublin, Imelda May has become one of Ireland’s most celebrated female artists as a singer, songwriter, actor, producer, poet, presenter and storyteller. Known for her eclectic blend of rockabilly, jazz, blues, and soul. Her breakthrough self-written and produced album, Love Tattoo (2008) catapulted her to international fame and remains the biggest selling album by a homegrown female artist in Ireland. Over time, Imelda’s music evolved, embracing more introspective themes including in her most recent album 11 Past the Hour (2021) which marked her fourth Number 1 album in Ireland and fourth Top 10 in the UK. Imelda’s recent albums are a departure from her early rockabilly revival style with a sound that sits firmly outside of any sharply defined genre box, widely spanning blues, rock, soul, gospel and jazz. On November 26th, Imelda will release a reflective EP inspired by her Raised On Songs & Stories tour featuring the stirring new song Don’t Cry for Me and some of her favourite classics.
Imelda is also a passionate poet, with her debut poetry collection A Lick and a Promise going straight to No.8 in the Irish Times Bestsellers Chart (Hardback Non Fiction), and receiving international acclaim as well as having a poem added to the Irish school curriculum.
In 2026, Imelda finished her broadest ever tour of Ireland, with 30 dates of her intimate
Raised On Songs & Stories tour followed by a further reprise of 10 shows in the UK including 2 sold out London Union Chapels. In the summer, Imelda returned to her rock n roll roots performing three exclusive shows in Europe with Darrel Higham. She also joined Ronnie Wood as special guest for his Fearless tour playing across the UK & Europe. This November, Imelda and Ronnie head out for further shows across South America, performing in Argentina, Brazil and Chile for the first time ever in her career.
In recent years Imelda has also turned her talent to the silver screen, appearing in her first major film role alongside James Purefoy and Maggie Steed in Fisherman’s Friends: One and All. In 2024, she played Pierce Brosnan’s wife in Four Letters of Love, and also returned to her critically acclaimed portrayal of Kathleen Behan in Peter Sheridan’s Mother of The Behans over the last three summers across Ireland.
A true creative, Imelda immerses herself in art across many forms, and these special Irish evenings will showcase her unique ability to evoke the purest of emotion. A proud advocate of Irish culture, Imelda remains a trailblazing and multifaceted artist.
