BIIRD and Spodo Komodo At Thekla Bristol
Posted on: 2026-05-28
Our rating:
A fantastic night of Irish inspired, bassy funk music
To kick things off, Spodo Komodo played a short, surprising set, their second ever gig. Somehow, they meld Irish flutes and pipes with 70s-infused funk, driven by a thumping bass track and ebullient guitar from ‘Chewie Lewie’. Spodo (Tiernan Courrell) introduced the band as his two friends and joked that their merch was just ‘some stickers with a QR code’. It shouldn’t work, yet really it does and the singalong ‘Get Rich or Die Trying’ won everyone over. Not just fun, these guys can really play and hopefully they’ll be back, next time with t-shirts.
Next, Biird swarmed on stage to the sound of a tolling bell, then exploded into life with abandon. All ribbons, lace, corsets and boots, full of energy in spite – or perhaps because – of the incredible heat. The core band of eight squeezed on stage (just about), plus couple of Irish dancers and an extra singer who popped up from time to time, plus multiple instruments in constant rotation. These women mean business.
Founder Lisa Canny spent a decade putting together ‘the Spice Girls of trad’ to change women’s image in traditional music. Looks like she’s succeeded. In 2024, they played their first gig in Trafalgar Square in front of 10,000 people, since when they’ve sold out UK venues and grown a global following.
Biird are all about performance and they put on a great show tonight. They combined traditional Irish instrumentals and songs - their cover of ‘A Blacksmith Courted Me’ being a standout - with some original and contemporary material. Each member brought their virtuosity to create a singular, joyous noise.
Canny’s a charismatic front woman, singing and wielding her harp and banjo. At one point, she commanded everyone to dance – a mad jiggy whirl which must have created waves on the harbourside. Special mention too to drummer Hannah Hiemstra, who held the whole thing together. Her solo towards the end of the gig really showed what she can do.
MÚLÚ (Miadhachlughain O'Donnell) provided the night’s stop-heart moment. To near silence, accompanying herself on harmonium, her ineffable voice sounded ancient and extraordinary. Remember the first time you heard Macy Gray, Nick Drake, Karen Dalton? She was rewarded by a standing ovation from a crowd already on its feet – including the rest of the band.
After an impromptu pub gig in Wexford last year with the man they call ‘Ginger Jesus’ (Ed Sheeran), he took them on tour around the world and funded studio time for their first album, out later in the year. Can’t help thinking they’ve a bright and very colourful future.
Article by:
An Essex girl when it wasn’t fashionable, Alison was a singer in her teens and is still rarely seen without headphones and a smile. She moved to Bristol in the 80s, when Venue magazine was a life guide for everyone who cared about music and the night scene. Somehow, she persuaded them to let her write music and theatre reviews, something she did for several years. In real life, she runs a small charity and sings in Little Black Box choir.
