Dan Donnelly’s 5th studio album Are We Having Fun? is out now.
Released in the U.K. on the Levellers own label OTF Recordings and in Europe on Holland’s Gentlemen Recordings, Are We having Fun? Is an album that has been long awaited.
Dan’s critically acclaimed last album, Country And Northern was released in 2011. Since then Dan has been a full touring member of British Indie rockers The Wonder Stuff and co-wrote their top 40 album “30 Goes Around The Sun.” He has also been collaborating with French super group Celtic Social Club.
Dan grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland and rose to local fame with acoustic live favourites Watercress. He then moved to New York at the turn of the millennium where he learned his solo craft on the folk circuit of Greenwich Village. Since then he has played in over 20 countries worldwide, supporting acts such as John Martyn, Air, Duran Duran, Ian Dury and Bob Geldof. He is a regular face on the U.K. festival circuit and collaborates with musicians from all over the globe.
Donnelly found success in Ireland with Watercress, a four-piece acoustic folk-rock band. 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, playing on the folk circuit of Greenwich Village. 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, Oysterband and The Levellers.
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 Stockton 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.
The album will be preceded by the singles ‘Time of Our Lives’ and ‘I Don’t Care’.
Artist’s website: https://www.facebook.com/DanDonnellyMusic/
‘Time Of Our Lives’:
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