Donovan

Donovan - Tale of the Gael Tour
Friday 12th June 2026
The Guildhall,
Derry
Doors 6.45pm | Show starts 7.30pm
Special Guest:Tracey CullenMusic Capital in association withThe Headline Agency is proud to present Donovan in concert in 2026.From his first single Catch the Wind in 1965, Donovans music and poetic talents were embraced by Irish, Scottish and Welsh audiences, who immediately recognised his strong Gaelic roots, and were captivated by his mellifluous voice and distinctive guitar style.
Donovan is widely regarded as one of the most influential songwriters and recording artists of the modern era. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, he has been described as the artist who single-handedly initiated the Psychedelic Revolution with his landmark 1966 album Sunshine Superman.Recorded when Donovan was just 19 years old, Sunshine Superman predated and directly influenced era-defining works such as Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. His impact on popular music runs even deeper. During The Beatles time in India, Donovan became their guitar tutor, teaching John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison finger-style techniques and chord patterns that would later shape much of The White Album. As George Harrison famously said, Donovan is all over The White Album.Far beyond psychedelia, Donovan pioneered a singular fusion of folk, jazz, classical, Indian, Arabic, Gaelic and Caribbean music. He helped reintroduce poetry into popular culture and played a significant role in bringing meditation and Eastern philosophy into modern songwriting, influences that continue to resonate today.Now approaching his 80th year, Donovan continues to perform with the same warmth, insight and musical brilliance that defined a generation. This special evening at the iconic Guildhall, Derry promises an intimate journey through an extraordinary catalogue, presented by one of musics true originals.Donovan says:
I have reached the year 2026, my 80th summer around the sun.This year I wish to present my journey, which I callThe Tale of the Gael,personally and up close in small concerts across Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England.Donovan will draw from his vast and consistently beloved catalogue, including Catch the Wind, Colours, Sunshine Superman, Mellow Yellow, The Hurdy Gurdy Man, Jennifer Juniper, Season of the Witch, Wear Your Love Like Heaven and Atlantis. He will also revisit songs from his early cult albums, including classics such as Donna Donna, Universal Soldier, The Little Tin Soldier and more.
Come and be mesmerised.The Ivor Novello Awardat 19 years young for his first songCatch The Wind,Donovanis also the recipient of Doctor of Letters for Ecology, Hertfordshire University, An Officer of the Order of Arts & Letters of The French Republic, BMI Ikon Award, The Mojo Maverick Award, LifeTime BBC Folk Award, and many International Awards. 2014 sawDonovaninducted intoThe Songwriters Hall of Fame. At his induction into theRock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012it was statedDonovan singlehandedly initiated the Psychedelic Revolution with his album Sunshine Superman.
The CD and the Vinyl available at the Concerts, with all his other albums too.www.donovan.ie [//www.donovan.ie]Tracey Cullen
Tracey Cullen is a contemporary folk singer-songwriter from Donegal. She began writing songs as a teenager, picking up the guitar at fifteen she quickly developed a natural instinct for melody and storytelling. In her late teens she won the RT 2FM Yoplait Song Contest with her original song Take Me Away, performing live on RT television.She went on to sign with Acorn Music, the publishing company founded by Brendan Graham, co-writer of the hit song You Raise Me Up. She later released two EPs, A New Appreciation and 4 in the Morning, and over the years has shared stages with artists including David Gray, John Prine, Christy Hennessy, Eleanor McEvoy and Mary Coughlan. In her mid-twenties, after winning the US Green Card Lottery, Tracey moved to New York, where she continued writing and performing.Today, when Tracey performs, she does so with intention and authenticity. Her song writing and singing come through lived experience, expressed in intimate, acoustic-led arrangements with a voice that carries both strength and vulnerability.Check out all our upcoming events at www.musiccapital.org [//www.musiccapital.org]