BIIRD had never played together when they stepped on stage in Trafalgar Square to face 10,000 people on St Patrick's Day 2024. Eleven Irish traditional musicians stood side-by-side in elaborate costumes, some meeting for the first time only hours before the performance. Two years later, the all-female supergroup has sold out venues across the UK and Ireland, toured stadiums with Ed Sheeran, and built a global following - all without releasing a debut record.
Their rise has been rapid, driven almost entirely by the strength of their live performances and word of mouth. For singer and flautist Miadhachlughain O'Donnell, from County Down, the scale of what the group are now doing would have seemed unimaginable during that first performance. It was mental, to be honest, she said. It was done in the blink of an eye… I don't think we had another gig for a couple of months, I didn't really know where it was going to go from there.
Founder Lisa Canny has long envisioned a collective she describes as the Spice Girls of trad, focusing on changing the image around women in traditional and folk music. She believes there is a need to modernize female representation in a genre filled with outdated stereotypes. Canny, a seven-time All-Ireland harp and banjo champion, gathers unique talents from the traditional music world, some of whom already knew one another.
Through their energetic performances, BIIRD seamlessly blends traditional Irish elements like lilting, fiddles, flutes, and harps, with contemporary pop sensibilities. Their approach has not gone unnoticed, garnering unprecedented interest and engagement from audiences, particularly younger women inspired to explore music.
As they prepare to release a debut album featuring original compositions, the future of BIIRD seems bright. They continue to challenge norms in Irish music while cultivating a sense of community and encouragement for the next generation of female musicians, with aspirations that the spirit of BIIRD will inspire future acts long after their time.
Their rise has been rapid, driven almost entirely by the strength of their live performances and word of mouth. For singer and flautist Miadhachlughain O'Donnell, from County Down, the scale of what the group are now doing would have seemed unimaginable during that first performance. It was mental, to be honest, she said. It was done in the blink of an eye… I don't think we had another gig for a couple of months, I didn't really know where it was going to go from there.
Founder Lisa Canny has long envisioned a collective she describes as the Spice Girls of trad, focusing on changing the image around women in traditional and folk music. She believes there is a need to modernize female representation in a genre filled with outdated stereotypes. Canny, a seven-time All-Ireland harp and banjo champion, gathers unique talents from the traditional music world, some of whom already knew one another.
Through their energetic performances, BIIRD seamlessly blends traditional Irish elements like lilting, fiddles, flutes, and harps, with contemporary pop sensibilities. Their approach has not gone unnoticed, garnering unprecedented interest and engagement from audiences, particularly younger women inspired to explore music.
As they prepare to release a debut album featuring original compositions, the future of BIIRD seems bright. They continue to challenge norms in Irish music while cultivating a sense of community and encouragement for the next generation of female musicians, with aspirations that the spirit of BIIRD will inspire future acts long after their time.
