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Clare Sands is a sixth generation fiddler and bilingual singer from Cork, Ireland. Channeling the music of her ancestors, she weaves Traditional roots with Contemporary sounds and influences, embodying a fearless warrior-like spirit.
Her eponymous album secured a place among the Irish Times’ Top 5 Folk Albums of 2022, and earned Sands a Best Folk Singer nomination at the Irish Folk Awards. Other notable projects include the ‘hypnotic and tribal’ (BBC Radio 2) Tírdhreacha agus Fuaimdhreacha (Landscapes and Soundscapes) EP, comprising four songs written and recorded across the four seasons in the four provinces of Ireland and Gormacha, a musical odyssey that treads a path between the Irish language, folklore and our natural world. Sands’ passion for collaboration has led her to work with some of Ireland’s finest folk and traditional musicians, including Hothouse Flowers, Steve Cooney, Susan O’Neill, Niamh Regan, Brian Finnegan and more.
Her innovative musical creations are matched by electrifying live performances – recent festival appearances include Glastonbury & Cambridge Folk Festival (UK), Fête De la Musique (FR), Festival Cervantino (MEX) and Cygnet Folk Festival, Tasmania.
Showing no signs of slowing down, Sands continues to push the boundaries of her artistry and explore new musical frontiers. She brings audiences on a transcendent journey through time and tradition, where past and present converge in a symphony of sound and spirit. Clare Sands stands as a testament to the enduring power of music to unite and inspire – a troubadour for the modern age, whose melodies resonate across generations and cultures alike.
‘Her songs and music reflect and renew the past and present, both in English and Irish. Her own voice, sensibilities and cares make her music so powerful – the personal becoming the universal.’ – The Irish News
‘Sands excavates into Ireland’s ancient myths & landscapes whilst exploring the political exigencies of it’s here and now… A bold, beautiful album brimming with ideas.’ – Songlines Magazine
‘This fine debut revels in Sands innate & fearless curiosity, and her insistence on diving deep below the surface. A mighty first step to what promises to be a lifelong expedition.’ – Siobhán Long, The Irish Times
‘Armed with the combined powers of virtuosity, boldness, and a touch of madcap spontaneity, Clare Sands has continued to mark herself as one of Irish music’s most compellingly unique forces.’ – Lucy O’Toole, Hotpress Magazine
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