Sandy Kelly to bring her intimate concert of music and stories to Kilcar

Sandy Kelly’s Leaving It All Behind Tour 2024 includes a very special concert at Aislann Cill Chartha on Friday, March 1.

This is a great opportunity for fans of the singer to enjoy an intimate evening of music and stories in a special Donegal venue.

The late Johnny Cash said of the singer: “It was my pleasure to sing with my favourite female artist, Sandy Kelly. In America, she has been Ireland’s greatest ambassador. She won the hearts of everyone who saw her. I am honoured to be included as one of the guest artists on her album.”

The Leaving It All Behind Tour features special guests, from Nashville, Glen Campbell’s daughter Ashley Campbell, Thor Jensen and Niall McCabe will appear on all dates nationwide. 

Following a long hiatus from the recording studio, in October 2023, Sandy released her first studio album in 30 years, in tandem with her self-penned life story, ‘In My Own Words’, published by O’Brien Press.

Now in Spring 2024, Sandy is embarking on this nationwide tour. 

A spokesperson said: “With Sandy’s live band, this promises to be a special intimate evening of new and old songs, stories and featuring the very best emerging country and folk talent.” 

Tickets €30 + sc available from www.Aislann.ie or in person and by phone at 074 9738376. 

The album Leaving It All Behind was recorded at what was Johnny Cash’s personal studio, Cash Cabin in Nashville and produced by five-time Grammy Award-winning producer John Carter Cash (Johnny Cash, June Carter, Loretta Lynn) alongside Sandy’s son, Willie Kelly (Rackhouse Pilfer) and an A-list Nashville session band. Mastered by Pete Lyman (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, Tanya Tucker, John Prine) at Infrasonic Sound, Nashville.

The collection of 12 tracks traverses the lines of classic country and contemporary folk, including recut acoustic versions of Sandy’s duets with Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, Woodcarver and Against The Wind respectively and the latter featuring Marty Stuart as a guest musician, as well as the duet Old Love with Mike Hanrahan of Stockton’s Wing. 

Leaving It All Behind is a legacy album that confirms Sandy’s position at the apex of the European country music ladder.

Guests

Ashley Campbell, daughter of country legend Glen Campbell began her career playing banjo and keyboard in her father’s band on several world tours and has found success as a solo artist in the country/Americana music scene; most notably with her debut single Remembering which she wrote for her father and is featured on the Grammy award winning and Oscar nominated album for the documentary Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me. 

Her original music has taken her all over the world, from the main-stage at London’s O2 Arena to opening for Kris Kristofferson, The Bellamy Brothers as well as playing at Carnegie Hall with songwriting legend Jimmy Webb.

Ashley most recently released an album with her partner in life and music, virtuoso guitarist Thor Jensen, as one half of the powerful duo, Campbell Jensen. The album ‘Turtle Cottage’ was released in November 2023 to wide critical acclaim. Thor also tours with New York based musical collective, Post Modern Jukebox. With Ashley coming from the world of country and Americana and Thor having a diverse background from rock to gypsy jazz, they create a fresh sound as a duo. 

Like the wild Atlantic landscape of his home Clare Island, Niall McCabe’s songs feel timeless and natural yet bely the dense shaping of a dynamic creative force. His natural distinct voice is earning him a growing loyal fanbase, discovering his music as he travels extensively, with his recent album tour schedule bringing him across Ireland, UK, Europe and North America.

As well as becoming an accomplished finger-style guitar player, Niall has been lending his unique voice to Irish trad-fusion band Beoga, touring Ireland, Europe and the USA while also playing support for Ed Sheeran, Foy Vance and in 2023 opening for Chris Isaak on his UK Tour and Sharron Shannon at New York City Winery. 

McCabe’s eagerly anticipated Rituals album was released in February 2023 and featured as RTE Album of the Week, while the song Rituals topped the RTE Radio airplay charts for five consecutive weeks. 

Tour Dates:

March 1 -  Aislann, KilcarMarch 2  - Glór, Ennis
March 7 - Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo
March 8 - Ruby Room at Royal Theatre, Castlebar
March 9 - The Source Arts Centre, Thurles
March 11 - National Concert Hall, Dublin
March 14 - Marketplace Theatre, Armagh
March 16 - Hall at Island Arts, Lisburn
March 21 - Ballroom at INEC, Killarney
March 22 - The Everyman Theatre, Cork
March 28 - An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny