Daniel O’Donnell Tour 2011

The Return Of The King?

Twenty seven years in show business and with his new CD at number seven in the album charts Daniel O’Donnell held the faithful and the uninitiated spellbound on the third date of his 2011 tour which starred at The Sage Gateshead in a bravura display of talent, sentiment and star power.

Hall 2 was packed with excited concert goers for their hero’s first performance at the region’s premier concert hall.

No one was disappointed!

In a show jam packed with musical diversity, country, gospel, pop and rock n roll, comedy and dancing (Irish of course) the three hour extravaganza flashed past in a whirlwind of excitement and fun.

This man is a star and his audience loves him for it.

In an interesting quip he asked us to admire his tie .”It cost  a fortune, but I’m not bothered ,you lot are paying for it “.

The audience roared with approval.

That’s a Liberace touch and Daniel and the audience love it.

The show was very professionally staged with top notch and long standing musicians and backing singers. There was great interplay between them that indicated great warmth which played well with the audience.

This is a feel good show by feel good people for people who want to feel good.

We did !

All the songs that he has made his own were there ,’Danny Boy’,’Isle of Innisfree’ and  ‘Jambalaya’  featured as well as ‘Peace In the Valley’.This man knows his music and puts his stamp upon them .

Daniel regularly asked for the houselights to come up so he could see his audience and invite interaction.

They did and the atmosphere built.

At one point the show stopped so Daniel could read out (with his glasses on) letters from fans

Who else does that?,

It was very touching particularly when the audience clapped to mark an eightieth or ninetieth birthday.

Daniel sprinkles the stardust far and wide and it generated a genuine warmth between audience and star.

Mary Dunn shone in a series of glamorous outfits and sang to friends in her choice of songs as the applause marked.

It all worked like a finely tuned timepiece and delivered in spades in entertainment.

I went to this show a sceptic and left a fan.

So will anyone who catches the rest of this excellent tour.

Word on the grapevine suggests musicals are next in store for this Donegal man.

Where he leads his audience will follow.

For a full list of tour date venues log on to www.danielodonnell.org….and treat yourself to a great night’s entertainment.