The Democrat, Ireland, Wednesday March 1, 1995

By Kevin Lynch

 

The Female Kieran Goss

TRACY SANDS IS A STAR

WAITING TO BE FOUND

 

A member of one of the districts most famous musical families is currently in the United States seeking the all-important show business 'break.' Mayobridge girl Tracy Sands - a beautiful singer, a fine guitarist and a songwriter of note - has all the potential to become the female version of Kieran Goss: A cousin of the famous Colm and Tommy Sands, Tracy has just finished recording two tracks and she is anticipating good news on the recording front when she returns from America at the end March. She has recorded two songs, 'Don't be this way' and 'I'm still waiting' and she hopes at least one will be included on an album of Mayobridge artists' work due for release in April.  The aforementioned Kieran Goss and the Sands Family will also feature on this release. At the moment the 25-year old is in West Palm Beach, Florida to complete a three and a half week series of engagements. She flew out on Sunday with another Mayobridge woman Dolores Kane (nee O'Hare) and Derryman Paul Herron, of Big Electric Ceili Band fame. She will be sorely missed in Newry while she is away, as she is one of the band of musicians who play at the Thursday night sessions in Nan Rices Bar.  A solo from her always captivates Nan Rices' audience. We caught up with Tracy at the weekend before she left for America. How did the American trip come about? "It all started when I decided to bum along with Dolores and Paul when they had got the series of gigs in the Hotel/Restaurant in Florida."  "Then I ended up as part of the group" she explained. Recently she has been playing with the Derry based Scots/Irish folk group Calgach which is fronted by Roy Arbuckle an acclaimed singer/songwriter whose material has been recorded by Tommy Makem. Later in the year Tracy intends to return to Derry to play with Calgach and to pursue a "musical experiment" with Brian McGilloway, an accomplished and award winning bagpipe player. So what about the future and her hopes of making a career in the business? "I want to get a band behind me and start playing my own songs" "I like to think I have a different sound, a mellow sound. And my songs are not just about love.  One of the songs I recorded recently is about physical abuse in a relationship and others are about everyday matters that send us berserk" she said. And she has a sense of humor that would rival her idol Kieran Goss. Commenting that it is her birthday this week, I asked her what she wanted for a present. "I want a good guitar case and oh a guitar to put into it!" was the instant reply. Tracy Sands has already received rave reviews for her performances in the W.B. Yeates International Festival at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin in 1993, the Fiddlers Green Festival and the Shamrock and Thistle Festival in Derry in 1994. She is a multi talented young lady who has the ability to go a long way in her chosen career.