Globally revered Irish artist Imelda May has just announced new 2026 dates for her much acclaimed “Raised on Songs & Stories” tour across the UK. This tour features a unique series of intimate evenings with new stripped back versions of her wide discography and favourite songs, integrated with her famed poetry & storytelling. Full list of new dates below and tickets go on sale Friday 12th December at 10am via www.gigsandtours.com and https://imeldamay.komi.io/.
Imelda speaks on the ‘Raised on Songs and Stories’ tour: “It’ll be an evening of songs, poems, stories, joy and beauty. This idea evolved naturally over the last couple of years. You see, when I write, produce and release an album I get so excited to perform the songs live that I fizz up and plan and rehearse gigs with such enthusiasm that I’m like a little thrilled whirlwind but too often I leave room for little else. I work out which songs will flow best into another to create the vibe desired that I sometimes don’t leave much space for the unknown which is where a different magic lies. This space is the place where I exist most and write and create. So it feels right to stay there a while. To have a gig where someone might ask for a song I haven’t visited in a while and I think ‘yeah let’s give it a go’, or where I can tell you the stories behind the songs and how I ended up working with some of the people I’ve worked with so far. Not a ‘show’ this will be a shared night of what music, art, connection and creativity means to me, with you.”
Born and raised in The Liberties area of Dublin, Imelda May has become one of the UK & Ireland’s most celebrated female artists as a singer, songwriter, actor, producer, poet, presenter and storyteller. Imelda’s breakthrough album Love Tattoo (2008) remains the best-selling album of all time by a homegrown female artist in Ireland, whilst most recent album 11 Past the Hour (2021) marks her 4th No. 1 album in Ireland and 4th Top 10 in the UK. Her debut poetry book A Lick & A Promise (2022) is already on its third re-print, with the Irish government using one of her poems on billboards across the country for their “Rethink Ireland” campaign as well as included in the school curriculum.
A dynamic live performer with her unique blend of rockabilly, jazz, rock and blues she has toured across the world and performed with legends such as Jeff Beck, Lou Reed, Bono, Noel Gallagher, Jeff Goldblum & Ronnie Wood. This year in addition to her own shows, she joined Sting as special guest on his UK summer shows, the Corrs on 2 massive homecoming shows in Dublin & Cork and is currently on tour with her beloved friend Jools Holland across the country.
Imelda also made her return to the stage this summer performing in the one woman play ‘Mother Of All The Behans’ for it’s third summer in the 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin & Everyman Theatre in Cork and extending with weeks at Belfast Opera House and Theatre Royal Waterford. Based on the book by Brian Behan, adapted and directed by Peter Sheridan, the role sees her return to her critically acclaimed portrayal of the formidable Kathleen Behan with a soundtrack performed by herself. A proud advocate of Irish culture, Imelda relished the opportunity to tell the personal stories of Irish history through an incredible female trailblazer like herself.
Imelda’s recent turn to the silver screen also saw her latest film role as Pierce Brosnan’s wife in ‘Four Letters of Love’ alongside Helena Bonham Carter and Gabriel Byrne hit global box offices this year.
A true creative, Imelda immerses herself in art across many forms, and these special U.K. evenings will showcase her unique ability to evoke the purest of emotion using her voice as her sole instrument.
APRIL 2026
Fri 10 Apr Birmingham Town Hall
Sat 11 Apr Leeds City Varieties
Mon 13 Apr Sheffield Memorial Hall
Tue 14 Apr Bristol St Georges
Thu 16 Apr London Union Chapel
Fri 17 Apr Liverpool Tung Auditorium
Sun 19 Apr Manchester Stoller Hall
Tue 21 Apr Norwich Epic Studios
Wed 22 Apr Ipswich Corn Exchange
Photo credit: Mark Stedman
