Andy White and the Band of Gold

Andy White (born 28 May 1962) is a Northern Irish singer/songwriter, poet and author, born in Belfast. He started writing poetry and music early, penning a poem called "Riots" aged nine. He attended Methodist College Belfast. He studied English Literature at Robinson College, Cambridge University, graduating in 1984
He released his first EP Religious Persuasion in 1985 on Stiff Records, and his first album Rave on Andy White in 1986. Since then he has released eleven solo albums plus numerous compilations and live albums, and collaborated with many other artists including Peter Gabriel, Sinéad O'Connor and English producer John Leckie. White won Ireland's Hot Press Songwriter of the Year Award in 1993.
In 1995 he released an album (Altitude) with Tim Finn (of Split Enz) and Liam Ó Maonlaí (of Hothouse Flowers); the trio recorded as ALT.
His most recent studio albums are How Things Are (2014) and a double CD collection 21st Century Troubadour (2012), based around the book of the same name.
In 1999 a book of lyrics and poems (The Music Of What Happens) was published by Belfast-based Lagan Press. In 2009 his first work of prose (21st Century Troubadour) was published, also by Lagan, with a second volume of poetry (Stolen Moments) (Another Lost Shark Press, Brisbane) following in 2011.
After his first two albums with Decca/MCA, a long relationship with roots label Cooking Vinyl, and a live performance album for Real World Records/WOMAD, White currently records for ALT Recordings licensed through UK label Floating World in Europe, and independently elsewhere.
White tours often. He has performed live at Glastonbury Festival and many international rock festivals including WOMAD UK (where he hosted the gala finale in 2005), performing at and MCing the main stage at the Fleadh in London, WOMAD festivals in South Africa, USA, Italy, Cacares, Madrid, Singapore and Womadelaide, international folk festivals including Cambridge (UK); Calgary, Winnipeg, Vancouver (Canada); Port Fairy and Woodford (Australia).
White is best known for songs (such as Religious Persuasion, James Joyce's Grave, Street Scenes From My Heart, Italian Girls on Mopeds), and noted for the political and literary content of his work.