Edinburgh Tradfest: Clare Sands

‘Sands excavates into Ireland's ancient myths & landscapes whilst exploring the political exigencies of it's here and now’ - Songlines Magazine

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) 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 four most extreme geographical points in Ireland – Mizen, Malin, Dunmore and Wicklow Head. Sands' passion for collaboration has led her to work with some of Ireland’s finest folk and traditional musicians, including Steve Cooney, Susan O’Neill, Aisling Urwin, Brian Finnegan and more.

Simultaneously pushing the boundaries of genre whilst embracing the universal language of music has brought Clare to festivals all around the world. Recent performances include Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival, Fête De la Musique (Paris), Festival Internacional Cervantino (MEX) and most recently Cygnet Folk Festival, Tasmania.

Showing no signs of slowing down, Sands continues to push the boundaries of her artistry and explore new musical frontiers. With each performance, she invites audiences to join her on a transcendent journey through time and tradition, where the 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.

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