Dan Donnelly (singer)

Daniel Thomas Donnelly  is a singer-songwriter.

Growing up in Belfast, Donnelly played in a number of local bands, finding success in Ireland with Watercress, a four-piece acoustic folk-rock band for whom he played guitar, mandolin, percussion and "plumbing" (a home-made didgeridoo). They released six EPs between 1995 and 1998, when they released their one album, Bummer, all on their own local label, Creeping Herb. The Donnelly-penned Candlemaker reached the No.1 position on the Irish Indie Chart.  Watercress disbanded in early 2001.

After the demise of Watercress, Donnelly moved to New York to pursue a solo career. Whilst there he released two studio albums, Bootleg (2005), and Yearning a Living (2007), which received extensive airtime on BBC Radio, as well as one live album Live in NYC (2008). Donnelly also played as a session musician for several artists, including Joy Zipper.

In 2009 Donnelly returned to the UK to live, and settled in Exeter. In mid-2010 he signed with record label IRL.  In October 2010 he released the single 'Running', followed by the album 'Country & Northern' in May 2011.  He then relocated to Middlesbrough in the North East of England.

Donnelly is part of the Stockton on Tees pub based male voice choir, Infant Hercules.

Donnelly has toured extensively, performing solo shows and supporting artists such as The Levellers, Oysterband, Seth Lakeman, Damien Dempsey, and Duke Special. He has also performed as part of the live bands of The Levellers, Oysterband and Joy Zipper. His own recording and touring live band, Sonovagun, has included Ali McMordie of Stiff Little Fingers on bass guitar and television composer Roy Harter on keyboards and theremin.

Donnelly has become a favorite act on the UK summer festival circuit, having performed at Glastonbury Festival's Leftfield stage, Beautiful Days festival, The Big Session, and various festivals throughout Europe.

In May 2014 Dan was announced as the newest member of the alternative rock band The Wonder Stuff.

In 2018 Dan has become the lead singer and guitarist for French super group Celtic Social Club After a string of successful European festival performances they are working on an album due for release in 2019.

A long awaited follow up to Dan’s critically acclaimed Country and Northern will be released in November 2018. Entitled, Are We Having Fun? The album will be preceded by the singles Time of Our Lives and I Don’t Care.
Dan finished a masters in music in 2019 and in the same year has co-written an internationally successful album with The Celtic Social Club entitled ‘From Babylon To Avalon’ He is currently focusing on running a music venue, pub and kitchen in Sunderland with his business partner, Barry Hyde from The Futureheads.

Discography
 Bootleg (2005)
 Yearning a Living (2007)
 Live in NYC (2008)
 Country & Northern (2011)

References

External links 
 Official site of the band Sonovagun
 Message Board
 Dan Donnelly Blog Site

Category:Songwriters from Northern Ireland
Category:Musicians from Belfast
Category:Irish singer-songwriters
Category:1974 births
Category:Living people
Category:The Wonder Stuff members
Category:21st-century Irish singers