The Sand Band are a British alternative folk band from Liverpool consisting of guitarist / songwriter David McDonnell and bass guitarist Ben Curtis.
After working in a music shop together in 2002 and playing together for a number of years, David McDonnell and Scott Marmion formed The Sand Band in 2009. Previously McDonnell played live guitar on Richard AshcroftâÂÂs 2002 Human Conditions tour and The CoralâÂÂs 2005 The Invisible Invasion tour while Marmion played in Liverpool band Ella Guru. McDonnell played guitar on and helped record The CoralâÂÂs The Curse of Love album in 2005 and helped record their 2007 album Roots & Echoes. McDonnell and Marmion got together in 2009 to record All Through the Night at McDonnellâÂÂs Sefton Park flat in Liverpool. The band performed at Heavenly Records The Heavenly Social in London and signed to Martin KellyâÂÂs Heavenly Songs publishing. They played Liverpool Sound City festival in 2010. Their first album All Through The Night was released in January 2011 by Alan Wills on Deltasonic records to a positive critical reaction, being described by Mojo Magazine in January 2012 as "one of the best albums of the year". McDonnell was originally part of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds band but left for personal reasons. Ben Curtis also plays bass for The Moons. Former drummer Jay Sharrock played in Miles Kane's band.
Digital single âÂÂSet Me Freeâ was released in March 2011 on Deltasonic and featured two B-sides âÂÂWay Back Whenâ and âÂÂAll Is ForgivenâÂÂ. On 2 November 2012 âÂÂWhen We Kissâ and âÂÂMistressâ were released on 7â white vinyl to mark the launch of Dave Hewitson's new Eighties Vinyl Records label. All Through The Night also featured John Head of Shack and Ian Skelly of The Coral.
2021 brought a remote collaboration on âÂÂThe Sound of Love Returningâ with ex Minus The Bear guitarist Dave KnudsonâÂÂs and Sam Bell for KnudsonâÂÂs solo album âÂÂThe Only Thing You Have to Change is EverythingâÂÂ.
The 10th Anniversary Edition of All Through The Night on 180gm Vinyl was originally released for #loverecordstores day on 4 September 2021 on Heavenly Records and digitally via PIAS Group. Mojo MagazineâÂÂs September issue featured the re release in their Buried Treasure section. Hello Global vinyl delays pushed the release to June 2022. It is now available via Heavenly Records Bandcamp page.