Following on from the success of his recent homecoming shows, Damien Dempsey has confirmed a pre-Christmas blowout in Vicar St. on December 6.

Prior to that he's clocking up some serious mileage as the opening act on Morrissey's North American tour, and plugging the release there of Seize The Day. While the track-listing is identical, the Stateside version has a different cover which is pictured here.

Mozzer isn't the only rock veteran singing Damien's praises, with Wonderstuff mainman Miles Hunt declaring: "I remember saying to a friend when I heard that Joe Strummer had died, trying to find some positivity in such awful news, 'It has been a privilege to have lived in his times'. This is how I feel about Damien Dempsey. I feel utterly moved by his sounds every single time. The man is pure astonishment to me."

In a further display of fandom the Stuffies' new single, 'Better Get Ready For A Fist Fight', includes an acoustic cover of Dempsey's 'Apple Of My Eye'.