Declan Bennett (aka sumladfromcov) is a 26-year-old, hard-hitting, dynamic acoustic singer-songwriter whose unashamed and honest tales of love and sexuality and emotionally charged lyrics have won him a diverse and devoted fan base around the UK and beyond...

No stranger to fame (with mainstream chart success by the age of 20 as part of a pop/rock outfit, and a lead role in an award-winning West End show by 21 and most recently a lead role in the nine-month national US tour of rock opera RENT), Declan is now taking his own, personal, at times dark and intimate songs to all corners of the country.

From the moment he began introducing his solo repertoire at unplugged nights around London a few years ago under the pseudonym sumladfromcov, he began to get repeated requests for recorded material from a rapidly expanding fan base.

Having already experienced the frustration that writing for a major label could entail, he decided to go it alone, and, in 2005, brought out his debut album, The Painters Ball, on his own label Covboy Records under the name Sumladfromcov, distributed by Proper, available from record shops throughout the UK and worldwide from online stores like www.amazon.co.uk and from iTunes

Declan has been played numerous respected acoustic venues and festivals around the UK (as well as turning up in a few unexpected places too, including a live set for the cool festival club favourite Silent Disco at Wychwood Festival).

He has supported at sell-out gigs for artists as diverse as Boy George (who he supported on the whole of his Autumn 2008 UK tour), Seth Lakeman and Nizlopi, and headlined his own packed gigs in the UK and all over the USA.

Declan's EP '10 Nelson Road' is available as a download only release from iTunes. His second full album, recorded in London and New York and entitled An Innocent Evening of Drinking was released in April 2008.

Also check out his official site at www.declanbennett.co.uk and his myspace page at www.myspace.com/declanbennett and his facebook music profile

What they've said about Declan and his music...

THE INDEPENDENT
"Compelling"

UNCUT **** (four-star review of An Innocent Evening of Drinking)
'Bennett has crafted some unusual variations on the acoustic singer-songwriter template... frequently gripping lyrics' Adam Sweeting

ROCK N REEL**** (four-star review of An Innocent Evening of Drinking)
Bennett brings a refreshingly open mind and telling eye for detail to his stories of love, life and sexuality, delivering a powerful emotional punch without ever resorting to the usual singer-songwriter trap of over-introspection.

GT **** (four-star review of An Innocent Evening of Drinking)
'Declan's soulful vocals glide through the chatty, reflective lyrics...'

'He has a voice full of emotion and yearning, his lyrics and melodies have a pop edge without being lazy or radio-desperate'
Boy George writing about Declan Bennett in 'Time Out London'

'I'm absolutely convinced that Declan Bennett is going to be massive. I have his album on constant repeat'
'Little Britain's' Matt Lucas

'Declan is the real thing. He sings from the heart, and I defy anyone not to be touched by his songs'
Award-winning songwriter Linda Thompson

TIME OUT LONDON
'Funky, soulful and mature acoustic pop ... searingly honest, yet sweepingly romantic songs of love and sexuality'

ATTITUDE
'Dark and soulful, occasionally downright sinister. Deeply mature stuff'

BBC.CO.UK
'Acoustic soul and lyrical attack is embedded in the heart of his music'

THE ORPHEUS (Virgin instore magazine)
'A definite thumbs-up. A masterful but tasteful exposition on erotic longing and emotional turmoil'

GAY TIMES
'As far from the world of boyband pop as the earth is from Pluto... a startlingly fresh debut'