DANIEL O’Donnell is looking forward to getting back on the road later this year.
Like many musicians, the country music legend has completed a year without touring but now he’s hopeful for the light at the end of the tunnel.
Recently, his management company announced dates again with a tour of the UK in October before he moves to the US and Branson, Missouri, in early November.
Speaking to the Donegal News this week, Daniel admitted that the pandemic has been tough on all artists.
“I’m luckier than a lot of singers, especially the younger ones who are just getting started. I’m at the stage of my career where I’m alright financially and when this is over people will still know who I am.
“I just wonder will people have the confidence to attend live concerts when things are all back up and running. I hope they will. My feeling is that if we’re all vaccinated and we’re not going to start living what’s the point in the vaccination in the first place,” he asked.
Daniel, who is currently self-isolating with his wife Majella at their home in Tenerife, also revealed he has plans to tour Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania early next year.
“I’m booked for the Gertrude Byrne All Star Irish Charter Cruise out of Fort Lauderdale in February with preliminary plans in place for Australia and New Zealand in February and March.
“The promoters tell me that it’s full steam ahead but we’re not naïve; we know we might have to reschedule. It’s just great to have something on the books,” he said.
Daniel, who spent last year’s lockdown at home in Donegal, has been live streaming shows since the pandemic began. He has also been performing outdoors for residents of the various nursing homes he visits across the county.
The singer is due back in Donegal next week at which point he’ll register for the vaccine.
“There’s nowhere quite like Donegal. I’m looking forward to playing a bit of golf at Cruit and we’ll see what else the summer brings,” he said.
“The first lockdown was fine. We had great weather at home and I don’t think it affected people half a bad as the most recent lockdown which has been very difficult for so many people. It’s been a tough time,” he added.
Daniel also hopes to film a new series of Opry le Daniel in Derry’s Millennium Forum this summer but he has no plans to make another appearance on Dermot Bannon’s Room to Improve.
“I’m more than happy with the house we have now. It’s grand. There will be no more changes,” he laughed.
What about Daniel and Majella’s B&B Road Trip, a show which has won an Irish Television and Film Academy award?
“They wanted us to do another one before all of this (pandemic) but I said that I didn’t want to be on television all the time. That said, we might as well have done it as they ended up showing re-runs of older ones. You just never know what the future holds,” he said.
Daniel expects to register for the vaccine next week and he’s looking forward to getting back on the road.
fans
“Fans are eager to experience live music again. We have to make plans and then, fingers crossed, we can only hope that they’ll be able to go ahead,” he said.
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