Kicking Bird
Shannen Byrne (Vocals, Guitar, Ukelele)
Micheal Smith (Vocals, Guitar, Banjo, Harmonica)
Keith Saul (Drums, Glockenspiel, Cajon)
Sean Whelan (Bass)
Kicking Bird are a four piece band hailing from Dublin made up of male and female lead singers/guitarists, bass player and drummer, also bringing alluring rhythms to their songs with additional instruments from the harmonica, ukulele, banjo, glockenspiel and cajon which can only give you a small insight into how musically talented they are.
“A young blend of new wave alco's in perfect harmony! It's quite unnatural, but something to see. They have their sights set high so catch them while you have a chance before they stumble blindly towards world domination! Talent will always rise to the top. And they're on the way up.
Cool, interesting, very unique.. And a lil bit sexy too! Keep kickin'. “
- Mickey Joe Harte
Their music has an eclectic mix of sounds with a blend of native American, country, folk and a sprinkle of bluegrass. They have been compared to Johnny and June Carter, Fleetwood Mac, Fleet Foxes, Adele, Dolly, First Aid Kit and Bob Dylan. Their musical influences come from Hank Marvin, Ennio Morricone, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Paul Simon and The Doors amongst others.
“It’s great to see such genre-hopping on a relatively short piece of work (Kicking Bird's debut EP). There are all sorts of quiet and stomping music within, but at its heart it is all about the melody of the songs and some lovely harmonies. Influences abound – people like Emmylou Harris, Wilco, Iris de Ment and Neil Young – but what’s equally evident is how well Kicking Bird are forging their own identity.”
- Ken Cowley, GoldenPlec.com
Kicking Bird have played festivals and music venues all across Ireland, including Electric Picnic, Knockanstockan, Canalaphonic, Co-Hear, Roddy Bolands, Whelans, Monroe's, The Sugar Club,The Grand Social and Crane Lane Theatre, to name a small few.
They have also had the privilege of gracing the stage with the likes of Glen Hansard, Riptide Movement, Paddy Casey and Liam O Maonlai. They have supported the Strypes, Chuck Prophet, Mark Olson (The Jayhawks), Ryan Sheridan, played Saucy Sundays’ final show alongside The Hot Sprockets and have recently performed on the Ray D'Arcy show with their good friends Mongrel State, who described their vocals as "incredible".
To date they have released a self titled EP with the ever so skilled Gavin Glass at Orphan Studios which was a huge triumph. Kicking Bird are reliable, hard working, driven, special, original, hypnotizing and beautiful people. Constantly working, whether it's writing new songs, recording in the studio, playing gigs or drawing up new goals; they are always on the go.
“The Dublin alt country quartet’s self-titled EP opens its account strongly with the jaw-droppingly good ‘Nowhere To Die’. A bit spaghetti western, a bit mid-period Fleetwood Mac, the song has a barn-storming vocal and firmly states that they are songwriters with oodles of potential. The world-beating ‘Nowhere To Die’ makes the release more than worth the money.”
- Edwin McFee, Hotpress
