Ben Sands

Artist Information

Biography

BIOGRAPHY

Ben Sands lives in Newry, County Down, close to the mountains and the sea and not far from the small farm where he and his six siblings grew up in the 1950s and 1960s.
He sings songs - mostly his own. He writes songs - about life and love and the ways of the world. Some are whimsical, some are sad and some are very humorous indeed. In between he tells stories, some of which are true!
He plays quite a few instruments as well - guitar, banjo, mandolin, whistles, keyboards, and fiddle - he has even been known to wrestle a tune from the uilleann pipes.
Ben has been touring and recording with his sister Anne and brothers Tommy and Colum since the late 1960s.
“The Sands Family” (www.sandsfamilyfolk.com) have recently released their 16th album - "Keep on Singing" ; made countless television appearances; performed extensively in Ireland, UK, Europe, Canada and USA (including Carnegie Hall); shared microphones with such “folk luminaries” as Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Tom Paxton, Harry Belafonte and Arlo Guthrie ….....
These days the members of the “Family” still greatly enjoy getting together for special tours and festival appearances but are more likely to be found scattered far and wide, pursuing very successful solo careers. Like brothers Tommy and Colum, Ben has taken to the song writing with a natural ease and his songs are finding their way into many repertoires and recording studios.
To date, Ben has released four solo albums, most recently the highly acclaimed “Take My Love WIth You”, (Spring Records, 2010). The title track was written for and sung to Ben's daughter Kellie on her wedding day.

Homepage: www.bensands.com
E-mail: ben@bensands.com



Biographie

Ben Sands lebt in Newry, County Down, nahe dem Gebirge und der See; und nicht weit von der kleinen Farm auf der er mit sechs Geschwistern in den fünfziger und sechziger Jahren aufgewachsen ist. Was er singt ist meistens eigene Komposition, was er schreibt erzaehlt von Leben und Liebe, und den Eigenarten der Welt. Einige seiner songs sind verwunderlich, andere traurig, manche dafuer aber sehr humorvoll. Zwischendurch erzaehlt er Geschichten, von denen manche sogar wahr sind! Auch ist er ein multi-instrumental –Talent und beherrscht Gitarre, Banjo, Mandoline, Keyboard, Geige, und Tin Whistle - Ben ist sogar dafuer bekannt, den ulleann pipes einen Ton zu entringen.
Mit seiner Schwester Anne und den Brüdern Tommy und Colum tourt und produziert er schon seit den Spätsechzigern.
Die "Sands Family" (www.sandsfamilyfolk.com) hat kuerzlich Ihr 16tes Album – "Keep on Singing" herausgebracht, und blickt auf unzaehlige Fernsehauftritte, Liveauftritte in Irland, im UK, in Europa, in Kanada, und den USA (inklusive der Carnegie Hall) zurueck. Sie hat sich die Mikrofone mit Musikgroessen wie Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Tom Paxton, Harry Belafonte, und Arlo Guthrie geteilt…
Heutzutage geniessen die Mitglieder der "Familie" Ihr Zusammenkommen immer noch sehr, im Speziellen fuer Touren und Festivalauftritte. Man findet Sie jedoch eher weit zerstreut, beschaeftigt mit Ihren eigenen erfolgreichen Solo- Karrieren. Wie die Brueder Tommy und Colum hat Ben das song writing mit natuerlicher Leichtigkeit begriffen. Seine Lieder haben ihre Wege in viele Repertoires und Aufnahmestudios gefunden. Um genau zu sein hat er vier Solo- Alben herausgebracht, darunter das erst kuerzlich hoch gepriesene "Take My Love With You" (Spring Records, 2010).

Homepage: www.bensands.com

E-Mail: ben@bensands.com

Instrumentation

Ben Sands plays acoustic guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, tenor banjo and whistles. Also tours occasionally with one or two other musicians/singers who add e.g. second guitar, uilleann pipes, whistles, fiddle, bodhran and backing vocals.

Discography

Take My Love With You, CD, 2010 (Spring Records)
Better Already, CD, 2003 (Spring Records)
Roots and Branches, CD, 1998 (Spring Records)
Take Your Time, CD, 1993 (Spring Records)

.... and 20 albums with "The Sands Family"

Links

• Facebook
• Last.fm
• Twitter
• Home Page
• MySpace

Audio

• We all need a Hug (Radio Edit)
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• Take My Love With You (Kellie's Song)
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• Better Already
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• Goodbye John Joe
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• I'm Glad it Was You
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• Daisies for Dara/Katie's in Clover
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• Wish I Had a Penny
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• The Fairy Thorn
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• Good to be Home
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• Coffee and Cheesecake
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Lyrics

• Better Already
• Goodbye John Joe
• I'm Glad it was You
• Daisies for Dara/Katie's in Clover
• Hug (We All Need a Hug)
• Coffee and Cheesecake

Video

The Cheesecake Song

Photo Gallery

Press

• BEN SANDS, “Better Already” – Spring 1050 [+ Show ]
  

  The Irish produce great singing families. Ben Sands comes from a proud lineage that includes Tommy ...The Irish produce great singing families. Ben Sands comes from a proud lineage that includes Tommy and Colum. While the Clancys sang together most of the time, the Sands focus more on their solo careers. Ben holds his own with this recording; an enjoyable journey through 11 originals, including a couple of instrumentals. The essence of the songs here is optimistic with a sunny outlook. He invitingly opens with “Among friends Again” and closes with “Hugs”. In between are songs affirming life even when spirits flag. The accompaniment is richly Irish, with Sands accompanying himself on mandolin and guitar, and assisted by some fine accompanists on mandolin, Dobro, accordion, keyboards, fiddle, whistle, uilleann pipes, bodhran, double bass and some very light drums and percussion. Most songs have just two or three instruments perfectly complementing Sands’ appealing voice. The musicians supply an instrumentally laughing backdrop for the humourous tongue-in-cheek “Fair Exchange” about a farmer who trades places with a tinker. Perhaps the title “Better Already” is an understatement. This CD is best from the start, making you want to sit down, put your feet up and listen to some charming music.
  
  Rich Warren
  

Setlist

Usually 2 sets each of 45 minutes, mainly own compositions with some traditional songs and instrumentals and well chosen covers.

Basic Requirements

Calendar