Conor O’ Donnell was born into a musical family. Growing up side-stage at folk clubs around Ireland was his musical education. “I was so lucky to have been brought up listening to all the great Irish and American folk acts. Growing up was magic. I had no idea till later that staying up to 3am listening to live music when you are ten wasn’t the norm. Or being taken out of school to help carry a banjo to one of my Dad’s gigs”.
Later, Conor travelled to Portland, Oregon to soak up the influences of Bluegrass/ Outlaw Country and Americana. Playing live in Portland, gigging on a regular basis with bands like ‘The Old Yellers’ and ‘Grafton Street’. “Ive always loved folk and Americana music” says Conor. On his return to Ireland he formed ‘The Big Muddy’ with long time friend and guitarist, Tom Galvin. ‘The Big Muddy’ have played in the US and all over Ireland for the last 15 years.
Conor recorded his solo debut album with producers, Garvan Gallagher and Engineer/Producer Gavin Glass, at Orphan Records.
The Album ‘Come on in’ is a mixture of heart on the sleeve uptempo foot tappers, to ballads of gold mining and love gained. Conor is a regular player on the Irish music Club and Festival scene, either playing solo or with his band. Check here for gigs and tour dates.
I was so lucky to have been brought up listening to all the great Irish and American folk acts. Growing up was magic. I had no idea till later that staying up to 3am listening to live music when you are ten wasn’t the norm!
As a regular, working musician, Conor plays his own material along with the great songs of the masters like Waylon Jennings, Derroll Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Foghorn String Band, to name a few”. Conor has been a long time member of the folk/country rock band ‘The Big Muddy’ with Tom Galvin and Kevin Kennedy, with whom he has been lucky enough to have played and toured with for the last 20 years.
This Year will see work start on Album number 2, Lots of songs written so far and we will be Heading into Studio soon to start recording, ‘I have challenged Myself this year To Write an Irish Folk song’ says Conor
Conor’s band is Kieran Mc Evoy (Remedy Club) on guitars, Garvan Gallagher on bass, hammond, slide guitar and keyboard, Sean Devitt (Bagatelle) on drums and very special guests Leo O’ Kelly on Fiddle (Violin) ‘Come On In’ was recorded in Orphan Recording by engineer and co-producer Gavin Glass.