Fearless, feisty Cork fiddler, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Clare Sands has been crafting new macaronic works in English and Irish and sharing them throughout 2021. These four songs are inspired by the four provinces of Ireland over four seasons.
Following on from her critically acclaimed first two releases of this series – roar of the Atlantic ‘Carry My Song’ with Susan O’Neill, and transcendent ode to spring ‘Abair Liom Do Rúin’ with Steve Cooney & Tommy Sands (BBC NI & RTÉ Radio One play-listed), Sands has embarked on a musical expedition to Connaught on the West Coast of Ireland, continuing to push the boundaries of Irish music in an inviting, and invigorating way.
Clare Sands and long-time friend, composer, and musician Brídín have joined forces to create a rockin’ raucous anthem to raise the spirits. They embarked on a journey following Sligo Greats (Yeats, Queen Maeve, Michael Coleman & Kevin Burke) along the shores of Enniscrone – inviting the ‘merry to sing, and the marry to dance.’ Over one week, the two forces of nature composed and recorded ‘Iontach Bheith Beo’ (Good to be Alive) whilst simultaneously converting a giant Boeing 747 plane for Brídín’s EP launch.
The result is a driving, pulsating, celebration of life, for those that have gone before us, and those yet to come…
Rain ponchos in tow, a mesmerising video created by emerging visual artists and twin sisters Liadain Ní Bhraonáin and Kasia Kaminska, will premiere next week, Wednesday 25th August on Folk Radio UK. It is an ode to the ‘Irish Summer’ and all that it entails. Filmed on Enniscrone beach on a typical summers day in Ireland – rain, sun, sleet, sun, wild Atlantic winds, sun.
The energetic performance explores Ireland’s rich soundscapes and landscapes through rise and fall, roots and their sprawl, navigating through uncharted territories where Irish and English languages, Traditional, Folk, and Contemporary musics meet.
‘Iontach Bheith Beo’ (Good to be Alive) by Clare Sands, featuring Brídín, is out now (Friday 20th August 2021)
The fourth and final collaboration in the series will be with Liam O’Maonlaí and due for release in October.
This project is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClareSandsCeol
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claresandsceol/
