Irish music hero Damien Dempsey is in the U.S. touring behind a newly released "Best Of" album.

If some of us Americans aren't aware that Dempsey even had any hits, well, that's how the music world sometimes works. The great ones are often ignored or under-publicized.

Rest assured, though, in his native land and across Europe, Dempsey is a huge and revered musical icon whose socially aware and melodic songs seem to fuse the finest aspects of the Young Dubliners, Mike Scott, the Hothouse Flowers and even across-the-sea influences like Bob Marley.

Dempsey appears tonight in New London, appropriately enough at Hanafin's Irish Pub. Yeah, it's Sailfest weekend, and there's a lot going on - but Dempsey is the real deal and well worth your time.

- RICK KOSTER

Damien Dempsey,

8:30 tonight, Hanafin's Irish Pub, 312 State St.,

New London; $10; (860) 437-9724.