Gold-star concert in store from timeless Declan O’Rourke

Dublin singer-songwriter Declan O’Rourke will play the Róisín Dubh on Saturday, December 19.

Declan released his fourth studio album Gold Bars in the Sun earlier this year. In a move that bucks the modern trend, he avoided streaming services like Spotify and made the album exclusively available through his website.

It features a guest appearance by American legend John Prine, who sings on the track Let’s Make Big Love.  Prine, like O’Rourke, has spent a lot of time in Kinvara and it’s fitting that the pair have collaborated. Both are songwriters whose work is timeless and avoids modern digital trickery.

Declan’s song Galileo, from his debut album Since Kyabram is a bona-fide classic. It caught the ear of Paul Weller, who said he wished he had written it, but it was American singer Josh Groban who gave the song huge exposure when he recorded it in 2010. Scottish singer Eddi Reader is also a big fan of Declan’s and has recorded several of his compositions.

But the best performer of Declan’s songs is the man himself. Assured and charismatic, his voice recalls Sinatra in its smoothness.

With the centenary of the Easter Rising approaching, Declan may play some of the songs he has written about 1916 – or simply draw from his four albums. Either way, expect an evening of melody and craft. Support from Luan Parle, tickets €28/€26 members.