Dublin-born singer-songwriter Damien Dempsey has enjoyed the praise and patronage of folks like Morrissey and Sinead O'Connor (he has opened for both on tour), but his music is as rooted in traditional Irish folk as it is modern alternative rock. Debuting with the 1997 single "Dublin Town," which reached the Irish Top 20, and the 2000 indie album THEY DON'T TEACH THIS S--T IN SCHOOL, Dempsey signed with Sony for 2002's SEIZE THE DAY. This was followed by 2005's SHOTS, 2007's TO HELL OR BARBADOS, and 2008's THE ROCKY ROAD, all of which were extremely successful in Ireland.