March 26th

Colum Sands has performed in over thirty countries around the world, confirming the universal appeal for the songs and stories with which he observes the minute and often humerous details of life.

A member of the internationally renowned Sands Family from County Down, Colum established his reputation as a songwriter with the release of his first solo album, Unapproved Road in 1981. Songs like Whatever you say, say nothing, and Almost every circumstance were soon in the repertoire of artists from Billy Connolly to Maddy Prior and June Tabor.

His second album The March Ditch inspired a special BBC television documentary and songs like The man with the cap and Looking the loan of a spade confirmed his unique ability to observe locally and appeal universally. On his travels around the world he soon discovered that many of his songs had arrived before him, carried by other singers in the folk process and on recordings by fellow performers like Andy Irvine, Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy, Roy Bailey, Mick Hanley, Gerard van Maasakkers, Rosemary Woods, Iain Mc Intosh and Enda Kenny. Countless other performers have been introduced to the air waves through Colum's work as a presenter of BBC Radio Ulster's Folk club programme. He has also broadcast a series of programmes for BBC Radio 2 and his work in radio and studio production earned him the Living Tradition Award for services to Folk and Traditional Music. Colum has recently begun a new radio programme in six parts for RTÉ called "Rootin around", a mix of folk/traditional music.

His first book, "Between the Earth and the Sky" has just been published and its pages, like Colum's stage performances, contain a combination of songs and stories which, to quote one critic, "...view the world with balanced, non tribalistic humanity, breaking down all kinds of barriers and leaving behind an optimism and appreciation of the power of the human spirit over adversity".

In March 2001 Colum joined Israeli storyteller Sharon Aviv for a tour of Israel and a concert in that country's first integrated school for Jews and Arabs. All part of a journey which in the past five years has brought Colum Sands and his songs from Warrenpoint to Warsaw, from Belfast to Berlin and from Sidmouth to San Francisco, an itinerary which goes a long way to explaining the title of his critically acclaimed third album, All my winding journeys. In 2002 Colum and Sharon made an album with the name: Talking to the wall. After coming back from a new tour through Israel with Sharon Aviv in springtime 2003 it was time for Colum to finish his fourth album called: The Note That Lingers On. Needless to say, he has picked up countless stories and songs on his journeys and he weaves these into his performances in an effortless style, prompting media comments like those which follow...

...Colum's gift is of breaking down cultural barriers through choice words and eloquent music…John O'Reagan, Rock 'n' Reel

...a marvellous tongue in cheek sense of humour, Colum Sands is a very talented songwriter with an ear for tuneful melodies and an ability with words which enables him to come up with some wonderful lyrics... Ivan Martin, Sunday World

...a wonderful evening of entertainment. A natural witty storyteller, Colum charmed the audience with his lively and evocative melodies, colloquial lyrics and gentle humorous tales of everyday life in the past and present. Not only that, but the man has a wonderful voice and is no mean guitar picker... Jim Brough, Folk on tap