Wallis Bird (born 29 January, 1982 in Meath, Republic of Ireland) is an Irish musician. She lives and works in London.

WALLIS BIRD TICKETS BTS Tickets Rush Tickets Journey Tickets Shakira Tickets Bryson Tiller Tickets Earth, Wind and Fire Tickets

Biography

The first time Bird came into touch with music, she was six months old and received her first guitar from her father. Born left-handed, after losing 5 fingers in a lawnmower accident (and having four sewn back on again) on her left hand, she became used to playing a right-handed guitar upside-down, which contributes to her unconventional style of playing.

After school Bird moved to the Irish capital of Dublin to study songwriting at Ballyfermot Rock School. It was here that she met fellow band member Aoife O'Sullivan. During that time she kept on playing in small clubs or pubs as well as on major festivals. She moved to Germany in 2005. Prolonging her Germany trip she met other musicians and formed a new supporting band. After concerts in Berlin, London, Frankfurt and Mannheim she decided to stay in Mannheim, where she lived for a year and a half. In 2006 Bird moved to London, where she currently lives.

Music

Bird is often compared to famous singer-songwriters like Ani DiFranco, Fiona Apple or the young Janis Joplin. In her songs she fuses elements of traditional folk music, blues and funk with an energetic handmade rock sound. Her exceptional voice allows for an already huge repertoire from soft folk ballads to rousing power songs.

Accompanied by her band colleagues, the brothers Christian and Michael Vinne and Aoife O'Sullivan, she frequently tours throughout Europe. In April 2006 her debut EP "Branches Untangle" was independently released both Germany by her own label "Bird Records".

In October 2006 Bird signed a worldwide recording contract with "Island Records Group UK". The Moodsets EP was released for download and on vinyl on 30 July 2007 with her debut album Spoons following on 18 September 2007 in Germany. Her song "Counting to Sleep" was chosen by iTunes as their Single of the Week and the digital release of her album Spoons subsequently rocketed into the Top 10 UK Album Download Charts. In the UK, her single, "Blossoms in the Street" was released on 15 October 2007, with the physical release of Spoons following 22 October 2007.

In February 2008, Bird toured the UK as support act for soul star Gabrielle and later that year with Billy Bragg.

The Sun

In October 2008, Bird recorded a cover of Depeche Mode's 1981 hit "Just Can't Get Enough" for The Sun newspaper's All For 30p TV advert campaign. Following repeated requests from viewers, the song was digitally released in Europe as a double A-side single together with Bird's own song "The Sunshine Song".

Discography

Physical releases

Albums

• "Spoons", 2007
• "New Boots", 2009

EPs

• "Branches Untangle" (6 track EP), Bird Records, 2006
• "Moodsets EP", 2006

Singles

• "Blossoms in the Street", 15 October, 2007
• "Counting to Sleep", 10 March, 2008 : Comhaireamh chun Codladh (Irish language version)
• "Just Can't Get Enough", 22 October, 2008

Download-only releases

• "The Circle EP" (Germany only)

Awards

Meteor Music Award (Category: "Hope for 2009"), 2009

Concerts (selection)

• 2008: London, Berlin, Dublin, Manchester, Brighton, Glasgow. Liverpool, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Munich, Vienna, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Wexford, Karlsruhe, Cologne, Dresden, Nottingham, Portsmouth
• 2007: Mannheim, London, Dublin, Manchester, Brighton, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Cork, Galway, Bristol
• 2006: Mannheim, Dublin, London, Baden-Baden Newpop Festival, Cork, Oxford
• 2005: Berlin, Frankfurt, Mannheim, Budapest, Roermond, Dublin, London