Tommy Sands

Ukrainian Community Centre, 14 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5AB

Edinburgh FC last hosted Tommy Sands during the Carrying Stream Festival in November 2017 when he provided us with a lovely evening of his songs, music and humour. More of the same this time around - no doubt at all of that!

Tommy, County Down's singer, songwriter and social activist, has achieved something akin to legendary status in his own lifetime. From the pioneering tours with the highly influential Sands Family, playing New York's iconic Carnegie Hall to Moscow's Olympic Stadium, he has become one of Ireland's most powerful songwriters and enchanting performers. He enjoys celebrity status in many parts of the world, tempered by artistic integrity and the sorrow of personal tragedy in his war torn homeland.

Walking the road between two cultures, he dreams of an Island at peace with itself. Indeed, his songs speak to all that Ireland is, from its troubled past to its indomitable spirit and a vision of "a land of dreaming." And his work around the globe speaks to our common heritage, using music to bridge cultural differences. In this way he shares a vision with songwriters instigating social change such as Phil Ochs, Joan Baez, and close friend the late Pete Seeger and with the internationalists like the late Hamish Henderson.

Tommy's performances include concerts and educational programmes at arts centres, folk clubs ands chools. The music moves from traditional Irish to contemporary folk, and Tommy's lyrics evoke images of Ireland and make edgier commentaries on social consciousness.

WEBSITE http://www.tommysands.com/

VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCK3AG60oe0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94RgWPUCdBM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y-jDgJ_BCs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz7uj9LT78I