The Sands Family: News

The new album "Keep On Singing" has just emerged from the furnace and will be officially launched at the beginning of May in Ireland. The launch will coincide with three Family Concerts in Letterkenny, Bangor and Armagh - more details later.
Meanwhile the album is available to buy online with PayPal - see "Buy" page.

For the past number of months we have been working steadily and enthusiastically on a new studio album. And now, finally, it is nearing completion.
All recording, mixing and cover art-work has been concluded and the album is ready for "the oven".
We expect to have "Keep On Singing" for sale by early May.

The passing of Tommy Makem on 1st August was a sad milestone on the road of Irish and world folk music. It would take a lot of space to document the life and achievements of the legendary Keady man who, with The Clancy Brothers, completely revolutionised how Irish people in particular viewed their rich heritage of song, poem and story and in so doing launched what became known as the “Folk Revival” on this side of the Atlantic. A marvellous interpreter of traditional songs, he was also a prolific songwriter, adding many classics such as “Four Green Fields”, “The Winds are Singing Freedom”, “Gentle Annie” etc etc to the tradition. His influence on folk singers and writers like ourselves is quite incalculable. In life irrepressible and in death irreplaceable, this true folk hero will be remembered for as long as songs are sung.

The 21st Annual Folk and Arts Festival in Rostrevor, County Down took place from July 21 to 29 and was again a roaring success. One of many highlights was the reunion of "Sweeney's Men", performing together for the first time in 40 years. Johnny Moynihan and Andy Irvine were joined by"super-sub" Paul Brady who was a last minute replacement for the third founder member, Joe Dolan. Other memorable performances came from "Flook", Steve Cooney, Laoise Kelly, Liam O'Maonlaí, Frankie Gavin's "Hibernian Rhapsody", Mickey McConnell ("Only our Rivers, "Supermarket Wine")and the legendary McPeake Family of Belfast. The Sands Family concert on the closing night was again a wonderful occasion with children and grandchildren joining us on stage for the encore. As always there were plenty of great performers playing in the afternoons, inside and outside - a feast of music and entertainment for a week and a day!

Well, a new website and a new year and a few new songs in the making - for a start!
Hope you all enjoyed the Christmas and the turn of the year.
Very best wishes for 2007!