Declan O'Rourke is in Draiocht, Blanchardstown, on 27th June.

Declan O'Rourke making Draiocht debut

Declan O’Rourke is a well-established and respected name in the Irish music industry.  He has achieved critical acclaim for his soulful love ballads, playing to sold out crowds in his native Ireland and, more recently, further afield.  Declan has performed on the same bill as Bob Dylan, and attracted the praise of countless industry giants, including Paul Weller, Jonathan Ross, John Prine, and Paul Brady amongst others.

His debut album Since Kyabram debuted at no. 5 on the Irish Charts and scored double-platinum sales, earning him three Meteor Awards nominations including Best Male, Best Album, and Best Folk/Traditional Album, and a five-album recording contract with Richard Branson’s Virgin label, V2.  

His debut single ‘Galileo (Someone Like You)’ has been recorded and performed by many artists, including singer Josh Groban who cut it for his fifth studio album Illuminations.  Declan has performed ‘Galileo’ at the 25th Anniversary Gala Celebration of Ireland’s National Concert Hall, at the opening ceremony of the Solheim Cup 2011, and at the BBC ‘Proms in the Park’ with the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast.

O’Rourke’s second album Big Bad Beautiful World debuted at no. 4 in the Irish Charts and has also achieved Platinum status.  It easily consolidated his appeal in Ireland and also with his growing list of well-connected champions. Support slots followed in the UK and Europe to the likes of Paulo Nutini, Snow Patrol, Teddy Thompson, The Cardigans, Badly Drawn Boy, Divine Comedy and Badly Drawn Boy.

He has appeared on two seasons of the popular music show Other Voices, as well as season five of BBC’s Transatlantic Session, alongside Alison Krauss and Amos Lee. 

Declan has recorded songs with English folk sensation Kate Rusby, Swedish pop artist Peter Jöback, and dobro-king Jerry Douglas.  ‘Modfather’ Paul Weller has included Declan’s recordings of ‘Sarah (Last Night in a Dream)’ and ‘Galileo’ on two CD compilations of his favourite songs included in commemorative editions of both Mojo and Uncut magazine. 

In 2008, Declan established his own record label Rimecoat, and set about recording a batch of new and exciting material, written in a storm of creativity throughout 2009 and 2010, which eventually became his third record, Mag Pai Zai.

It managed to top the success of his first two albums, holding its own in Ireland’s Top 10 Album Charts for four consecutive weeks, and scooping Album of the Week on BBC Radio Scotland and RTE Radio 1.  ‘A Little Something,’ the album’s first single climbed to the no. 2 spot in the Today FM Top 40 Singles Charts.  Mag Pai Zai also made it into The Irish Times’ ‘101 Irish Albums to Hear Before You Die,’ with the opener:

“Declan O’Rourke is an example of how quality control can work in your favour; he hones songs quietly and assiduously until they are just right. There are songs here that are as rich as dark chocolate melting into your brain; songs sung in a resonant, reflective voice that will bring tears to your eyes and make you contemplate important matters such as life, love, what makes the world go round’. 
 

Draiocht Blanchardstown, Main Auditorium
Friday 27 June, 8pm
Tickets: €22/€20 conc
Booking Tel: 01-8852622 or online www.draiocht.ie