LEADING the rockabilly revival, the queen of Irish music Imelda May shows no signs of mellowing, combining jazz, blues and at times punkish style with an elegance not matched by anyone else.
With her clinging pencil dress, rockabilly quiffed hair and bright red lipstick, the show opened with the foot-stomping tracks of Tribal and then Wild Women, both from her fourth and latest album Tribal.
The audience were quick to get to their feet and danced throughout.
Supported by her band, with their vintage attire, the graduate of the Dublin clubs has a penetrating voice and burlesque style that wowed the Leicester crowd.
Big Boy swinging the old time bluesThe music may be inspired from a bygone age but it is delivered with contemporary precision.
Imelda turned 40 in July and she may have come to our attention a little late but she is making up for that in true rock ’n’ roll style.
She was supported in Leicester by Big Boy Bloater who she also credits for her success, telling the audience: “He gave me a break when I needed it.” And they were truly grateful he did.
On leaving the historic de Montfort Hall, it is not a tour bus you want to see waiting to whisk her on to the next town but a pink Cadillac. Imelda May wraps up her British and Irish tour this week.
Pictures by Chris Egan
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See More: Big Boy Bloater, Imelda May, Leicester, Music, Tribal
