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Review: BIIRD, Thekla – ‘A breath of fresh Éire’
Inside the sticky underbelly of Thekla during the peak of a heatwave, dozens had braved the boat and flocked to see Irish trad sensation BIIRD.
Twelve years in the making but just two years old, BIIRD is a supergroup who’ve sold out countless venues without even releasing a record.
From their iconic outfits to the undeniable homegrown talent, their founder Lisa Canny has already succeeded in her mission to give folk and trad a rebrand.
To start the night, support Spodo Komodo “and friends” were clad in a “ten pound” shirt and tie uniform they chose back in Glasgow “before seeing the forecast”.
Glasgow-based hybrid folk project Spodo Komodo was created by Scotland-based Irish flute and whistle player Tiernan Courrell
Speeding through tracks like Love and Robbing a Bank, Backbeats and Paragraphs, Rhythm = Power and Get Rich or Die Trying, the lads put to use the pick’n’mix selection of instruments at their feet.
From baby pink electric guitars to cow bells, their blended set was unique and fresh, and a perfect prelude to the night ahead.
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The love for the emerald isle was evident from murmurs of the crowd – a couple who fly over every six weeks without fail, a man called Pete who spent youthful summers on a family farm there and later roamed the roads on a motorbike with his wife.
As a child who would only go to sleep once a battered Celtic Roots CD was spinning on the other side of my room, and the proud owner of an Irish passport, trad music has always had a hold on me.
However, seeing its potency in my chosen city, from gigs like this one to pop-up trad nights at pubs like the Orchard Inn, Highbury Vaults and many more is always such a treat.
From the balcony above we were perched on the edge of the nest, giving a whole new take on BIIRD watching.
Passionate Irish music fans packed out the boat on a sweltering night
Traditional Irish music is full of heart, storytelling and character, but can often be tarnished by the stereotypical ‘diddley-eye’ brush that befalls celtic stereotypes.
However, looking like a beautiful cross between a Berlin nightclub and a Renaissance Fair, BIIRD took the stage and were a total a breath of fresh Éire.
The eight women were a delicious clash with the trad-norms of bearded old men in a low-lit Irish pub – their lace skirts, bow clad bodices and pin curls were refreshing paired with the traditional array of accordians, fiddles and harps.
Ed Sheeran is a big fan of the band
The whole stage felt energetically aligned, with lights that ebbed between warm orange hues and perforating blue beams depending on the pace of the music, likened to a “spin class” by the woman behind me.
Admitting the nervousness they’d felt before this tour, front woman Lisa made it clear that “whoever you are and however you found us”, they were delighted at the crowd they’d drawn for a knees up on the second most iconic boat in Bristol.
After someone shouted that they’d found the band through Ed Sheeran, front woman Lisa Canny sang the praises of their very own “ginger Jesus”, who she affirmed was a true “patron of the arts” after he took them on tour and paid for them to record their debut album in his studio.
The multi-instrumental group were joined by some Irish dancers
There seems to be no rush to get that out though; between touring and admitting that you “can’t bottle this energy”, BIIRD will be best experienced live for the time being.
Between the harp duets, ethereal solo from Múlú, and song from Absolute Lilt – a trad duo from the band comprised of bandmates Lisa and Niamh – the variety in their set was unpredictable in the best way.
On the makeshift dancefloor below and cinched corridors above, “the best, wholesome craic” of step dancing chaos ensued as a crowd of old and young joined hands in a “big fat ceilidh”.
The crowd were joined in an impromptu group folk dance
Giving us a chance to cool down – if even possible by that point – Lisa lulled us all with Gold, a song written with “fellow birds” Kate Nash and Biig Piig.
The lilting lyrics showed a softer side to the band, the repetition of “come here to me” a soothing echo of my mum and other Irish women who use those words as a balm.
The night ended with a roll call of the crew and solos from the band – their Irish counties listed ahead of names and instruments of course – and one final Irish dance from a duo who’d emerged from the wings sporadically throughout the night.
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It’s clear BIIRD are only just taking flight. As we piled out into the welcome evening breeze, everyone around me was slick with sweat and absolutely beaming. Sure, how else would you want to leave a gig?
All images: Andrea Loftus
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