Imelda May Rocks 3Arena

It seems like only yesterday when Liberties belle Imelda May burst onto the scene, a rockabilly queen, dressed head to toe in leopard print, with her trademark hair styled in a sky high quiff, sliver of blonde to the fore. Us Dubs swelled with pride as we watched our girl go from Meath Street to the mean streets of London to Los Angeles, delivering stellar performances on Later...with Jools Holland, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and even the 52nd Grammy Awards, alongside rock veteran Jeff Beck.

There have been some modifications along the way, most dramatically May’s progression from her rockabilly roots into the more soulful soft rock style on her most recent album, Life Love Flesh Blood. It almost feels reductive mentioning that the hair was transformed too, given the sheer talent of this singer, songwriter, and multi instrumentalist.

Last nights show in the 3Arena confirmed that Imelda’s enduring appeal is rooted in the fact that she is one of the most down to earth rockstars out there. She is as comfortable singing an acoustic version of 'Girl I Used To Be' on a raised stage in the middle of the crowd as she is all-out moshing with an eight-piece band to banger 'Should’ve Been You'.

There’s something enticingly familiar about May’s stage persona. Throughout the performance she’s constantly asking everyone if they’re ok and apologising to members of the audience for having her back turned to them. There’s a fantastic moment when she catches a glance of her daughter in the audience and asks her family, who are sitting in the row in front of me, ‘who gave her that ice-cream!?’ A good question!

Her song 'Game Changer' is the highlight of the night, as she proudly declares "this night has been a game changer for me” and invites none other than boxing legend Katie Taylor on stage, to rapturous applause.

The show ends with a unique take on the classic 'Santa Claus' with fake snow falling from the rafters. One particularly enamoured woman leans in to inform me that "You’re never too old to rock out.” As long as Imelda May is onstage, that is...