Live at Kilkenny Tradfest 2026 at Billy Byrnes at 9pm. Clare Sands is a sixth generation fiddle player and bilingual singer from Cork, Ireland. Drawing deeply from the music of her ancestors, she weaves Traditional Irish roots with Contemporary sounds and influences. Her songs are deeply connected to place, and where folklore, language, and activism meet melody. Known for her raw and infectious energy, she embodies a fearless warrior-like spirit, that inspires and unites audiences around the world.
Her eponymous album secured a place among the Irish Times’ Top 5 Folk Albums of 2022, and earned Sands a Best Folk Singer nomination at the Irish Folk Awards. Other notable projects include the ‘hypnotic and tribal’ (BBC Radio 2) Tírdhreacha agus Fuaimdhreacha (Landscapes & Soundscapes) EP, written and recorded across the four seasons in the four provinces of Ireland and Gormacha, a musical odyssey that treads a path between the Irish language, folklore and our natural world. Sands’ passion for collaboration has led her to work with some of Ireland’s finest folk and traditional musicians, including Hothouse Flowers, Steve Cooney, Susan O’Neill, Niamh Regan, Brian Finnegan and more.
Her innovative musical creations are matched by electrifying live performances – Clare brings her audiences on an exhilarating journey full of hope, singing, celebration, and heart. Recent festival appearances include Glastonbury & Cambridge Folk Festival (UK), Fête De la Musique (FR), Festival Cervantino (MEX) and Port Fairy Folk Festival (AUS).
With a new album being released in Autumn 2026, Clare is showing no signs of slowing down. She stands as a testament to the enduring power of music to unite and inspire – a troubadour for the modern age, whose melodies resonate across generations and cultures alike.
