Black Gate Presents

Clare Sands

An Taibhdhearc
Galway
9pm, Saturday, November 26th

€21.50

Doors at 8:15pm

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Channelling the music of her ancestors, sixth generation fearless fiddler, bilingual singer, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Clare Sands is a unique force in Irish music. Creating boundary breaking Fearless Folk music inspired by her travels around Ireland and the world, Sands sings for the young and the old, brave and the bold. By day, the award-winning young artist has an ever evolving and extraordinary eclectic musical career, whilst by night, Sands is a black belt holding several world medals representing Ireland in martial arts, with warrior lightning bolt energy, both on and off stage.

With deep family roots in Co.Wexford and Northern Ireland, Sands took up the fiddle at the age of three, learning Irish traditional tunes from her father Seamus on a weekly basis., while her mother Susan introduced her to the Blues. After school, Clare went on to study Music & Italian in UCC, and a Masters in Composition & Creative Practice at the Irish World Academy, receiving first class honours. While at university, Clare developed her skills as a bilingual songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, playing 10 + instruments!

Since then, Sands has been wowing audiences around Ireland & further afield with her groundbreaking traditional style and infinite energy. These electrifying live performances see Clare on fiddle, guitar, percussion & vocals combined with live electronics to create soundscapes of story and song. Playing with the likes of Hothouse Flowers, her musical soul brothers, as well as Kíla, Imelda May, Mary Coughlan and more, Clare is never shy and always fearless to share the stage.

2021 saw Clare collaborate with Ireland’s finest Folk and Traditional musicians – Susan O’Neill, Steve Cooney & Tommy Sands, Brídín, & Liam Ó Maonlaí – for her unique project ‘Tírdhreacha agus Fuaimdhreacha.’

Described by Mark Radcliffe (The Folk Show, BBC2) as ‘Hypnotic, Tribal, and Full of Life’ – these songs are a taste of the invigorating sound to come.

2022 will see the release of Clare’s highly anticipated self-titled album. This new body of work explores tradition, the sea and the power of women through the dark and light, love and loss, rise and fall. The return of live performance and festivals will bring Clare to Celtic Connections, Folk Alliance International, the Irish Arts Center NYC, Glastonbury Festival and much more – this ‘force of natures’ time has truly come.

‘An empowering, exceptional talent, channelling the music of her ancestors while reimagining the sound of a new Ireland’

Lynette Faye, BBC Radio Ulster

‘Clare creates brave music that taps deep into the well of what we are about, of traditional music, and brings it right to the present day. A phenomenal musician’ –

Fiachna Ó Braonáin, RTE Radio 1

‘An impassioned voice and musical genius on stage. A unique force in Irish music’

Hotpress Magazine.

‘Fiddler extraordinaire –absolutely majestic!’

Pat Carty, Hotpress Magazine.

‘Her performances posses ‘a brilliant energy that’s both irresistible and refreshing as she traverses a path where Irish and English languages, traditional, folk, and contemporary music meet‘ – Folk Radio UK