SONOVAGUN comes from the saying
"Son of a Gun" implying shock or disbelief.
Back in the days when the Irish sailed to
America the women aboard often befell unexpectedly pregnant. The area behind the midship
gun, and behind a canvas screen was usually where infants were born as it was kept very
clean. If paternity was uncertain (which happened quite a lot on such long journeys) the
child would be entered into the log as the "Son of a Gun".
Sonovagun is the musical project of Dan Donnelly. Originally from Belfast Northern
Ireland Dan made the same westward journey, which gave rise to the saying "Son of a Gun"
and now lives and plays in New York. He plays his own, with his band Sonovagun and with
other bands such as Joy Zipper and the Invisible Swordsmen.
Dan has been singing, playing and writing music since an early age. He started his career
as singer and songwriter in critically acclaimed Belfast band Watercress and penned many
of their most popular songs including Candlemaker, which reached number 1 in the Irish
indie charts and Stars Shine On, which also topped the same chart. He has played with
Watercress, solo and with Joy Zipper all across the globe supporting bands such as, Air,
The Levellers, The Darkness, Duran Duran, Ian Dury and Turin Brakes to name but a few. A
regular fixture on the New York live scene both solo and with his band Sonovagun, Dan
plays three or 4 gigs a week throughout the five boroughs and has gained considerable
recognition as a singer and songwriter.
The Sonovagun project was started in winter of 2002 when the freezing weather caused Dan
to stay at home and record 12 songs rather than brave the elements. "FALLEN" was the
first e.p. Which sold out immediately. Then came "BOOTLEG". A collection of songs
recorded at home by Dan in 2003/4 released independently in a few shops, via the internet
and for sale at the many gigs Dan plays in Europe and the States. 2005 saw yet again more
recording as the songs have again piled up on paper and in Dan's head. There was also a
glut of gigs in throughout the U.S. and U.K. These included the Glastonbury Festival and
Beautiful Days Festival.
He has gained considerable recognition as a singer and songwriter in recent years. In 2006 Dan has supported Seth Lakeman twice on sell out tours of Britain. In the summer of 2006 he played at festivals in the UK including the Beautiful Days Festival and many solo gigs around England, Ireland and America. In the latter part of 2006 saw the release of “The Beach E.P.†In 2007 Dan released the album “Yearning a Living†which has already sold considerably in The U.K. and U.S.Dan’s gig schedule for 2007 was intensive and varied including slots at, The Big Session Festival UK, The Prague Fringe Festival CZ, Glastonbury UK and The Great Escape Festival UK. Dan also both supported and played onstage with Oysterband for their “Meet You There†album tour in the latter half of 2007 and then again for their acoustic tour in early 2008. He is one of the only artists that has performed on stage with both The Levellers and Oysterband, arguably the finest folk rock acts in the U.K.He is currently unsigned…….
"With a voice as ethereal and angelic as Tom from Keane, and ballads as introspective and
captivatingly beautiful as Damien Rice, Dan caught my attention-and held it. He even
brought in an air of self-deprecating comedy, which always goes down well with a British
audience." BBC NORTH YORKSHIRE
"a really fresh, original sound.....Top stuff." THE ALIEN ONLINE
"A consummate and versatile performer, he was able to tear at the heartstrings one minute
with tales of lost love, but had us in hysterics the next." THE EVENING HERALD PLYMOUTH
"Dan Donnelly, one of the most original sounding vocalists in the Tri State area, whose
clever and original tunes have long gathered rave reviews from many a scribe, is one of
those treasured artists whose lyrics tell a story." HOME AND AWAY NYC
For more information go to SONOVAGUN .
To buy YEARNING A LIVING on iTunes click here
