Review: Tommy Sands

Subject: Review: Tommy Sands
From:
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 09:31 PM

Tommy Sands has been touring with his son Fionan and daughter Moya. Friday, October 3rd, they played the final show of their Canadian East Coast tour in Halifax, at St Matthew's United Church.

There were not a lot of people, though Bev Lamb, host of CKDU's Touchstone Folk Music programme publicised it. The audience were about 40 people, most of whom knew who he was. A few people had even been at the 1975 event when the Sands Family came to Halifax.

This evening was a treat for both new and old. Saw a number of familiar faces. Bev, of course, he was there since he helped to get the people here.

Let The Circle Be Wide was the song which started the evening. He has never recorded it, and says it's going to be on a new recording he's working on! Thank goodness. It's about time!!! It's a perfect song to open a concert, or gathering a group of musicians for a jam session.

He also during the 2 hour show, with short intermission, 2.5 hrs all told, ran through some of the songs he wrote or was instrumental in making famous. Songs such as, Dunne Song, There Were Roses, Music of Healing. Some of them are old favourites and others fairly new.

He also told a few old stories, of life growing up and recent history. He even read out of his book a story about when he was in school in north Ireland. Amazing way he has with a story. You can "see" the images he conjures up with his method of telling the tale.

Also he brought his daughter and son with him. His son didn't sing, but played the small banjo-mandolin and a mandolin as well. His daughter was busy. Moya played at different times, fiddle, whistles, bodhran and had some shakers with her as well. Besides the instruments, she is an accomplished Irish dancer and a singer with a fantastic voice. She solo'd on a song her father wrote about a young lady who had contracted Leukemia from the atomic bombing in Japan about the 1000 paper cranes. Hopefully that song will be on the next recording from Tommy with her singing it.

Many of the songs had a theme of peace or co-operation as that is one of Tommy Sands' greatest hopes, that we'll get peace around the world and no one has to know first-hand the terrors of war.

At the end, for the encore, he reprised Let the Circle be Wide, with all of them singing. Together the family is still as musical as ever! May the Sands Family Tradition continue forever!!!

Subject: RE: Review: Tommy Sands
From: mg
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 12:52 AM

I was one of the lucky ones who saw them in Halifax..was there for a conference and went several nights..they were so good, especially the sister, Anne. mg

Subject: RE: Review: Tommy Sands
From: ardmacha2
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 07:00 AM

Tommy and his brother Ben used to live round the corner from me in Lurgan.That was many years ago before the became famous.Two great artists who have written many fine songs .Its great to see that their offsprings are carrying on the tradition.Here Tommy on local radio almost every week

Subject: RE: Review: Tommy Sands
From: nutty
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 01:46 PM

Colum Sands runs a weekly folk music programme on Radio Ulster.

You can listen live or via his website

Colum Sands

Subject: RE: Review: Tommy Sands
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 07:10 PM

I had the privledge of hearing Tommy and part of his family sing about a year ago in Dallas at a local pub. I had the honor of sitting with him at his table for dinner and craic - what a wonderful man he is. George is correct in that much of what Tommy does these days is sing and write of peace and co-operation - all good stuff; he reminds me a bit of Pete Seeger. I've added a few
Tommy Sands tune to my songbag since we met and one of my favorites is the tune, "Down By The Lagan Side." Give it a listen and see if you don't like it, too. Cheers,........mwh

Subject: RE: Review: Tommy Sands
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 02:35 PM

I'm still aglow from the 2-days plus that Tommy, Moya and Fionan spent in Juneau this week.

As noted above, he does wonderful concerts - this was his fourth trip here - and it has gotten only better since Moya and now Fionan have joined him.

Juneau is actively involved in supporting artists and this was no exception. There were not quite 250 people - an isolated single seat available here and there - in attendance at the concert and the trio had them in the proverbial palm.

The next evening we had a music party for them in a private home; there were about 20 of us there. At a certain point Tommy brought out his handheld recorder and recorded a number of songs that were going on. Buddy Tabor, Juneau's premier (imo) songwriting artist, was there and Tommy recorded all three of the songs he sang.

Oh, and earlier that day (Friday) he had a book-signing session at a local used-book store which also was well attended. I don't know how many books and CDs he sold but it was a respectable number.

They were booked in Haines (the next town up the line, 4 1/2 hours by ferry) for last night. Yesterday I called some friends who now live in Haines to give them a headsup and they already had their concert tickets. From there, I believe they are going to Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory.

Subject: RE: Review: Tommy Sands
From: GUEST,David Ingerson
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 06:44 PM

I had the privilege of hearing Tommy a year and a half ago at the Catskills Irish Arts Week. He gave a "lecture"--mostly very moving stories and songs, performed in a concert, acted as the "fear an tig" [pron.: far an tea, with the ar in far like the first a in Aaron] or the man of the house at a fine singing session, and chatted freely with everyone around.

What an inspiring person!

I heard "Let the Circle Be Wide" for the first time that week and I now sing it frequently in song circles.

I hope his audiences will be full.

By the way, his memoirs, The Songman, is also wonderfully inspiring and very informative about the situation in the north of Ireland.

Cheers,

David

Subject: RE: Review: Tommy Sands
From: bruceCMR
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 07:55 PM

Ben Sands dropped into the Celtic Music Radio studio on Friday last week, and prerecorded an interview with Ciaran Dorris. Not sure when it's due to be broadcast, but it may well be on Ciaran's show next Sunday evening. I'll check.

Bruce
www.celticmusicradio.net

Subject: RE: Review: Tommy Sands
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 09:12 PM

When I got home this afternoon I had a message on my machine from my friend in Haines. He was enthusing about last night's concert in Haines and that afterward he was invited to a private home for more music with Tommy and the offsprung and a number of other people. He loved it- and is going to call me again so can talk about it some more.

What a legacy Tommy Sands is building for himself. Awesome.

Subject: RE: Review: Tommy Sands
From: GUEST,KT, visiting NY
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 11:14 PM

A fabulous concert, and a delightful family, indeed. Can't say enough, but am deeply moved and inspired by the music and kind, generous spirits of these wonderful folks. They touch people deeply and unite humankind with their gift of music. It's a blessing to share time with them.

KT

Subject: RE: Review: Tommy Sands
From: breezy
Date: 20 Oct 08 - 07:48 AM

The morning after Tommy sang to us in St Albans Uk he joined me in the street and played outdoors.

A very modest and humble man with a charm rarely found these days

I felt privileged to have met him

may his calmness prevail and be shared amongst many

Subject: RE: Review: Tommy Sands
From: Den
Date: 20 Oct 08 - 12:07 PM

Great guy, I don't know how I missed his show in Halifax. I'm now officially kicking myself.

Subject: RE: Review: Tommy Sands
From: bruceCMR
Date: 20 Oct 08 - 03:10 PM

Our interview with Ben Sands is due to be transmitted on www.celticmusicradio.net from 5pm-7pm Uk time on Sunday 9 November.