The Sand Band
The Sand Band are a British alternative folk band from Liverpool consisting of songwriter/producer and guitarist David McDonnell and bass guitarist/Organ Ben Curtis. After playing together for a number of years, McDonnell and Marmion formed The Sand Band in 2009. The band performed at the Liverpool Sound City festival in 2010. Their first album "All Through The Night" was released in January 2011 to a positive critical reaction, being described by "Mojo" in January 2012 as "one of the albums of last year". McDonnell was originally part of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds band  but left for personal reasons he also toured with the likes of: Richard Ashcroft, The Coral and The Zutons Ben Curtis also plays bass for The Moons alongside Andy Crofts and Ben Gordelier from Paul Weller's live band. Former drummer Jay Sharrock played in Miles Kane's band. Download single "Set Me Free" was released in March 2011 and featured two B-sides "Way Back When" and "All Is Forgiven". In early 2012 the band released the mini album "Love Will Save Us I Hope", with proceeds going to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The band have collaborated with John  Head of Shack and Bill Ryder-Jones of The Coral. As of June 2013 the band were nearing completion of their second full-length album, "Leave Some Light Behind".