“IT’S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE WHIRLWIND”: BACKSTAGE AT TRNSMT WITH BIIRD

INTERVIEW | BIRD by Ella Dowell

I sat down with eight of Ireland’s “Spice Girls of trad” on day 3 of TRNSMT festival, ahead of their headline spot on the BBC Introducing stage. Formed by seven-time All-Ireland harp and banjo champion Lisa Canny, Biird have soared to the spotlight in a “whirlwind” of accomplishment since their creation in 2024. In a lively conversation, we touched on the Irish scene, arts funding, and their dazzling success since taking flight.

The girls were snug in the interview tent when I sauntered down, five of them on the couch, three of them on the floor; I gave my two microphones a worried glance. I was welcomed with a cheer and a flurry of handshakes; it was clear that we were all giddy with excitement. All eight of them were delightfully upbeat and high-spirited from the get-go, and as the sun beat down on our wee tent it was grins all round!

Biird are a powerhouse supergroup, blending modern fashion and traditional Irish music in a bid to “change the perception of trad worldwide”. The 11-piece performed their debut gig on St Patrick’s Day 2024- at Trafalgar Square in London to a crowd of 10,000 people. Since then, they have been whisked around the globe with their blazing act supporting renowned artists like Ed Sheeran and CMAT, while also playing a myriad of headline shows and festivals: “It’s been an absolute whirlwind. Like we are talking about things that happened two years ago that feel like they were last week. It has been so, so intense in the best way. And we’ve had a lot of fun. We’ve had too much fun. It’s been great,” beamed Lisa.

We spoke about how many Irish bands were playing at TRNSMT, before talking about the creative landscape in Ireland, and what makes it special: “because we’re class”, Lisa quipped. “It’s the Celtic tie for sure; it’s always been amazing- Irish musicians, Irish bands. And it’s coming to such an amazing point at the minute because people are starting to pick up on how amazing Irish music is, and not just traditional music! Artists of all different genres,” said flautist and vocalist Miadhachlughain O’Donnell.

I asked about Culture Ireland and their incredible arts funding framework; they all agreed that “every year it gets better,” radiating appreciation. “We’re really taken care of and valued as artists and songwriters and musicians in Ireland. And that breeds great artists. So, it starts from there,” said Lisa. We chatted about how Irish culture is having a big moment. Lisa explained that “Revivals happen every forty, fifty years, so it was time for one. But I think a lot of people have paved the way for it as well, including Kneecap and Lankum. Trad music has always been bubbling, as hot as it is; I think it’s just that the industry is starting to catch up.”

This was their first time playing a Scottish Festival, but they had been in Glasgow two weeks prior for a headline show at King Tut’s. I asked them if they were staying to see anyone else at TRNSMT; “We’ll stay to see Lewis [Capaldi], we’ll definitely stay for Lewis. Our friend Lewis. Our close and personal friend Lewis. First name.” They all laughed. They gleamed that they were very excited for their performance on the BBC Introducing stage, and that it was great to be back in Glasgow on such a “wonder day with scorching sun.”

When I first asked about what is coming next for the 11-piece, I was met with a witty “Your guess is as good as ours,” from fiddler Ciara Ní Mhurchú. “America!” exclaimed Lisa, “We’re going to break America. We’re going to break them down,” she chuckled. They also shared that they will be supporting Westlife on their 25^th anniversary tour this September- exciting times.

As we concluded the interview, there was a sudden uproarious cheer as an old friend of the band swanned into the tent, a security guard they knew from their time touring with Ed Sheeran; their faces all lit up in sync, it was lovely. Biird is a band of big-hearted, hardworking angels, and speaking with them was a true highlight of my weekend. They made me feel so welcome during our short time backstage, and their energy was magnetic. Their sets are a carnival of culture and finesse that are not to be missed, so if you don’t know, get to!