The Forum in Waterford has "kept the best wine til last" for local music fans, with 2 of the biggest shows of the year scheduled for the final 2 Saturdays before Christmas. Bell X1 will play on 12th December and the date is the final show added to their hugely successful Irish Tour, which includes 3 sell-out nights at Dublin's Olympia Theatre. Imelda May visits on 19th December and this will be the final gig of a phenomenally sucessful year for the rock & roll singer, other than a "small little" date at the 14,000 capacity O2 in Dublin a few days later ! Tickets for both shows are on sale now at BPM Records and The Forum (051 871133).

Their "very special" December shows top off a phenomenally successful year for the band both home and abroad. Bell X1 released Blue Lights On The Runway in February this year, it went to No. 1 in Ireland and has since achieved double Platinum sales. The first single The Great Defector reached No. 1 in the Irish Airplay and Download Chart, and the follow up The Ribs Of A Broken Umbrella has also enjoyed great airplay. Having established themselves as our biggest homegrown rock band with previous albums like Neither Am I, Music In Mouth and Flock, the band have spent a lot of this year touring the UK, Europe and the US, but did manage to return home for 3 huge shows, the Marquee in Cork, supporting U2 at Croke Park and headlining Electric Picnic. Now they end 2009 with an extensive Irish Tour, including the hotly anticipated date at The Forum where they played a great sold out gig back in 2006.

Dublin-born Imelda May is regarded by fans and critics alike, as one of the finest vocalists on the Irish/UK music scene. She's a rockin' little minx; tough, sassy, sexy, classy. A big voice on a fine tiny frame.

She has performed for royal families, at huge festivals for all types of music, pubs and clubs, national radio stations, and at gigs all over the world. Imelda has carved out an extensive repertoire of cool covers and amazing self-penned songs. For a young woman she has all the musical experience of a veteran Rockabilly warrior. Imelda has shared the stage with Alison Moyet, Dionne Warwick, Bryan Ferry, The Supremes, Sister Sledge, Scissor Sisters, Elvis Costello, and Elton John. Imelda is currently touring all over Europe with her talented band of renowned musicians; Steve Rushton on Drums, Al Gare on Bass, Darrel Higham on guitar, and Dave Priseman on trumpet. "Love Tattoo" is by far the biggest selling album of 2009 in Ireland and resulted in Imelda starting her year at the 400 capacity Crawdaddy venue in Dublin and ending it with a 14,000 capacity show at the O2. Before that you can catch Miss May and her hot hot band at The Forum on 19th December.