Declan O'Rourke is a critically acclaimed singer and songwrriter from Dublin, Ireland.

 

Jon Pareles of The New York Times said there was virtuosity in his guitar playing, with 'intricately contrapuntal picking and meticulous dynamics' and that his calling was as a balladeer.  Paul Weller has said of Declan's song 'Galileo' that it is possibly the greatest song written within the lasty thirty years.

 

Declan plays to sold-out crowds in his native Ireland and regularly tours in Europe, America and Australia.  A consumate and versatile performer, his songs mesmerize, whether performed solo, with a band, with a string quartet or full concert orchestra.

 

In 2013, Declan released his third studio album 'Mag Pai Zai', which made it into The Irish Times' '101 Irish Albums to Hear Before You Die'.  Mag Pai Zai was Declan's first record to be released Stateside.  Specially repackaged and mastered for US audiences, the US edition garnered cricical acclaim from such national media outlets as The Wall Street Journal, American Songwriter, NPR's World Cafe, USA Today and Mountain Stage.

 

Last year, Declan decided to try something completely new by releasing a new digital only track every month, absolutely free through his mailing list and social media platforms.  He called the project Howlin' Lowly Moons, and through it he has released some of the best recordings of his career, directly to fans and absolutely free.

 

Declan released his fourth studio album Gold Bars on Boxing Day.  Largely composed of Howlin' Lowly Moons songs gathered together for the first time on beautifully packaged CD and vinyl.

 

"He writes the sort of classic songs that people don't write anymore, that sound like they've been around forever.  Listen to Galileo, which is possibly the greatest song written in the last thirty years".   Paul Weller of 'The Jam', Mojo Magazine, April 2012.