Latest news with #girlband
The Sun
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Huge Girls Aloud star reveals she's working on new girlband talent show after reunion
GIRLS Aloud star Kimberley Walsh hinted she's returning to our TV screens in the hunt to find the next best girlband. The pop star, who reunited for a special comeback tour last year in memory of late bandmate Sarah Harding, said she was blown away by the incredible fan reaction and believes the UK needs a new girl group. 7 7 Much loved singer Kimberley, 43, has now revealed that she' s keen for a new talent show to grace our screens, seven years after X Factor ended. Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Kimberley said: "I was chatting to a commissioner the other day and we were chatting about formats. "There is actually a guy that I knew from years and years ago that worked on our Pop Stars: The Rivals programme and we were saying that maybe it's time to create another show that would create a really amazing girl band." Kimberley, who found fame on Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, said she believes there is space for a new singing competition. "I feel like the reaction to us coming back was quite something and none of us really expected it to be quite so huge, which clearly shows people still love girl bands and there's a space for more," she said. "There's just not really any new bands coming out or we're not really seeing them in the mainstream anymore which is a shame I really nice for young boys and girls to have girl bands to aspire to." The Love Machine hitmaker said she'd love to be a panel member - but won't be channeling Simon Cowell 's energy. She shared: "I think I'd really enjoy something like that because it's mentoring and I've got a lot of knowledge over the years to give but equally there's a lot of responsibility there and I think I'd be really soft, I wouldn't want to say no to anybody. "I'd have to be the nurturing mother hen, I can't be doing any of the other roles." Last year Kimberley and bandmates Cheryl, 42, Nicola Roberts, 39, Nadine Coyle, 40, reunited for the first time in 11 years - for a special concert for Sarah Harding, after she passed away following a cancer battle in 2021. 'The reunion tour was amazing, I feel like we had that incredible moment and it was a way for us to obviously honour Sarah. That was our main focus and we massively achieved that I think," Kimberley said. "People really did feel they were able to celebrate her and that was really special for us. Who knows [if we will reunite], it's really hard to say right now it's not where we're at. "If you had asked me 10 years ago if we'd be doing a tour, last year I'd probably have said no - so you never know, do you. 'I definitely [feel like me and the girls are closer than ever now], we spent all that time last year together, back to like the old days, back to our kind of sisterhood and it's actually been so lovely to reconnect fully. "It was a really special time.' Meanwhile DIY enthusiast Kimberley has tapped into the demand and launched her latest paint colour in collaboration with home improvement retailer, Wickes - Blush Rose – available now for £14 per 2.5L pot. The pop beauty, who has previously taken part in some of the biggest TV reality shows - including Strictly Come Dancing, said she would jump at the chance to do one show in particular. She told us: "I've done a lot of the big shows that I would personally enjoy doing, just because for me, if I'm going to do a show like that it's got to be something that I'm really interested in and really into because it takes a lot of time and dedication. Strictly was amazing. "Nadine [Coyle] was amazing in the jungle - I did not in a million years think she'd be able to cope with it like that, she's terrified of her own shadow but she did so well. "I think for me the hardest thing is being away from the kids, I've got three kids, I think they'd find it really really tough. For me, it's not something I'd ever consider just because of the isolation element of it, being away, it's not the one." Kimberley then teased: "There are always new shows coming up, I think my ultimate is if they did an All Stars Strictly, I'd be like 'sign me up straight away' because I just loved it so much. Maybe they should do that." She took part on the dance show in 2012 and was partnered with Pasha Kovalev, where she finished as one of the runners-up, alongside Denise Van Outen, while Louis Smith won the competition. Elsewhere, Kimberley said she may even be eyeing up a DIY show like Stacey Solomon 's BBC show Sort Your Life Out. Taking all things DIY, Kimberley said: "My biggest renovation is my own home, it's a relatively big house to do yourself, I took on the challenge when we moved in 14 years ago and I was having a little break from Girls Aloud at the time. "I just bought the house and had nothing else to do and said 'i'm just going to do it myself'. "It was no mean feat, it was a big challenge to take on, big spaces. I think now that I've done so much of it, nothings really daunting to me now. I just find it actually really therapeutic to decorate and it's almost like my form of mindfulness to just switch off and have a DIY day or decorating day. "I get a real kick out of transforming a space and I just get it in my head that I want to revamp somewhere and there's no stopping me. I do absolutely love it - if you could find the right format that's not existing, for me I'd want to do something that's empowering people to stuff themselves a bit more, rather than me coming in and being like 'look, this is how I can change your space', just showing people the really small changes like repainting a room in a different colour can actually change how you feel in that space. "It would be fun to do a DIY show, they are addictive, people always want to see the finished version. "I've always loved DIY, I used to make interior mood board, I'm still more likely to spend money on the house than myself, that's my passion, that's my first love. "If I wasn't a singer, I always thought if I didn't make it as a singer, I'd be an interior designer, that's what I thought in my head, but now I get to merge both." The Something New singer has teamed up with Wickes to create her latest pain colour. The world has gone mad for all things pink this summer, with #pinkdecor sporting over 32k videos on TikTok as homeowners and renters alike play with pink in their homes. Kimberley said: 'I've always had a soft spot for dusty, vintage pinks - they're already a big part of my own home and so choosing this shade for my Wickes collection felt completely natural. "It's a colour that lifts the mood instantly, bringing little sparks of joy and a burst of energy to any space." 7 7 7 7
Times
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Ashley Roberts: how life in the Pussycat Dolls almost broke me
Scattered across Ashley Roberts's body are a series of intricate, finely drawn tattoos. Dandelion seeds run up one arm, as if blown there by the breeze. But nowhere among them can I see the symbol of the Pussycat Dolls — a heart with 'PCD' inside. Being a member of the group defined Roberts's life for a decade. They came to be considered one of the world's most successful girl bands, but by the end left her in pieces. Led by frontwoman and main singer Nicole Scherzinger, the Dolls conquered the world between 2001 and 2010. They sold 40 million singles and 15 million albums. Their stage act, depending on your perspective, epitomised booty-shaking female empowerment or the oversexualisation of women through explicit dance routines and lyrics. When the group reunited for a performance on The X Factor: Celebrity in 2019, in the lead-up to an announced 36-date comeback world tour in 2020 (it never materialised due to Covid), there were complaints to Ofcom. The Dolls danced and writhed on stage as if they'd never left it, Roberts in leather hotpants with a bare bottom. 'We wanted to come back with a bang,' she says. 'We knew we represented being sassy and being 'out there' but, I mean, my little butt cheeks… Oh my gosh.' She was 37 by then, but she danced as if she were still the 19-year-old who had left Phoenix, Arizona, for Los Angeles. She had begun dancing at three, singing at eight. Her father, Pat Roberts, was in the world of rock'n'roll as a percussionist in the Mamas & the Papas. She had seen Janet Jackson on stage with her mother, Peggy Lorraine, and thought, 'I want to do that.' Today Roberts, at 43, looks relaxed, happy and wholesome. She is wearing a cute lilac shorts and crop-top gym set. Her skin is lightly tanned, her hair highlighted. She is now a breakfast presenter on Heart radio, with Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston, and she has her own Noughties show on Saturdays. We are meeting because Roberts has written a book, Breathwork: Techniques for Better Mental, Emotional and Physical Health, which seems to have taken her by surprise. It is about the power of learning how to breathe properly and how to self-soothe. She's aware of how woo-woo it sounds, voicing what most of us think: 'Who the hell has time to stop and do breathing exercises?' Apparently, 45 per cent of us — and about 67 per cent of men — would prefer to give themselves an electric shock than sit for 15 minutes a day quietly with their own thoughts. 'I get it,' she says. But there can be no better example than Roberts of a life transformed by its practice. Interwoven with the exercises is the story of what happened to Roberts before, during and after becoming a Pussycat Doll. She has had — until discovering breathwork — an almost lifelong dependence on the benzodiazepine Xanax. It started during high school but even as a small child she self-soothed with NyQuil (like Night Nurse in the UK), before moving on to the antidepressant Lexapro, then finding Xanax. 'I was so young and I didn't have the knowledge I have now. I think A led to B led to C. Xanax is addictive. For me, for decades I was just leaning on what I could get to help me crash out. My brain just wouldn't shut off and my anxiety was too intense. It was, 'I want to sleep; I need to sleep,' and I was willing to take whatever would help me.' Cut to life as a global pop star, which began when she joined the Pussycat Dolls in 2003 when she was 22. She was discovered in LA, as a dancer, by the group's founder, Robin Antin. By 2005, their album PCD was multiplatinum, with global hits such as Don't Cha and Buttons selling many millions. 'I remember being on stage in New York with the crowd singing back the lyrics and thinking, 'Oh, this is really happening.' It was a fast, extreme rocket ship. There were no discussions around, 'How is your mental health?' It was a different era. Now, artists are coming forward to talk about their struggles and concerts are rejigged. I remember once we were in three countries in one day. Eventually, my body just got to the point of shutdown. I was really, really sick.' Roberts's account — which, incidentally, she tells apportioning no specific blame to the male-dominated music industry — is nonetheless a revealing insight. You can't help but be struck by how hard the band worked. The breaking point came almost five years after that platinum album. The toll on her body was too much: a reliance on Xanax; years of bad eating; bad sleeping; intense adrenaline with nowhere for it to go after a show; a life on the road with no home comforts as well as managing what is now openly acknowledged to have been the band's complex dynamic, with Scherzinger, as the main singer, wielding more power than the rest. Eventually, Roberts was admitted to hospital. The Pussycat Dolls were in London. Even at this point, she remembers worrying only about her place in the band. She initially resisted medical advice to have an emergency MRI — thinking, there's no time — but it was suspected that she'd had a brain aneurysm. It was, in fact, extreme stress, exhaustion and burnout. 'I remember saying [in the hospital], 'I need to get on a flight to Germany. I've got a show to do. You gotta give me something.' That was the mentality. I was having extreme headaches, being sick. They found viral arthritis in my knee. I couldn't do anything really. But that was my drive. And then when I finally got out of the Dolls [in 2010], I had eczema all over my legs, shingles across my face and a stomach ulcer. An acupuncturist told me then, 'If you don't scream, your body's gonna scream for you.' It was a manifestation of 'go, go, go' for years or 'grind, grind, grind', an accumulation of being on the road at a time when nobody really spoke up about anything. There was also this feeling that we could be replaced in some way. But also there was my own drive, growing up as a dance competitor. So it was a combination of the two.' In the book Roberts refers to 'trauma experiences'. Eight years after the Dolls disbanded, and after she had lost her father, Pat, to suicide following his own lifelong battle with mental illness, she resorted to eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy, a type of psychotherapy used to heal trauma after distressing life events. She was not the only Doll who had therapy. How bad was it? Roberts is diplomatic, saying, 'There was just so much going on, so many different levels.' In explosive tweets, one former temporary band member — Kaya Jones — launched an attack on the treatment of the group by music execs and Antin, who refuted the charges. Roberts's story echoes the trajectory of other talented young women in the music industry (Amy Winehouse being one) — women who pursue their dreams, who love what they do, but do so at risk to their wellbeing because of the 'system'. Britney Spears was an early supporter of the group and look what happened to her during her career. Stars such as Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Charli XCX have changed that and not a moment too soon. In the book, Roberts is funny and self-deprecating. In person, now the picture of good health, she is similarly low-key and modest. I get the impression she genuinely wants other people to be able to calm themselves down without medication. 'It's probably a bit of having grown up, but I really feel like practising breathing has allowed me to understand how my body feels around certain people. 'My foundation is stronger. I'm not saying I'm some kind of guru, or that I've got a certificate saying I've got everything figured out. If anything, it's the opposite. But I do feel better.' It got her off Xanax, it changed her relationship with herself — which was always the primary goal — and it changed her relationship with men. Her partners post-the Dolls were 'macho' men who made her feel safe on a surface level, but were essentially repeating unhealthy patterns. 'For whatever reason,' she writes, 'probably something to do with being so lost without my dance and what I went through with losing my dad, I got caught up in a series of relationships that weren't healthy. The one thread that ran through was that I was finding myself attracted to these ultra-masculine types who would then treat me in an unduly controlling way. 'It was traditional gender roles, a lot of possessiveness, and this very strange contradiction of feeling so safe with these big dudes who had the physical power to protect me, but at the same time not safe at all because of the way they spoke to me and treated me. It was more that I was on edge, constantly feeling guilty and worried I was about to do something wrong. There was a sense of surveillance and constant judgment.' Two years ago she met her present partner, George Rollinson, an artist and tattooist. He is 25 to her 43. 'I was having my hot girl summer. I was 41, I was finally feeling fabulous, the best I've felt in my life, comfortable in my body, just being free and enjoying myself. In the beginning, we were just having fun and I was thinking. 'Well, this is not going to go anywhere because you're too young.' But then I thought, 'You are the most emotionally intelligent, most transparent, most kind guy. I feel like I'm in the healthiest relationship ever. I've finally got there, you know?' Her early blueprint of male behaviour was her beloved father, but she says from an early age her nervous system was affected by his up and down moods. Some days he was a 'goofy big child'; at other times she worried about him surviving. Her parents separated when she was 14. At 16, her brother, Jayce, was diagnosed with a severe mental illness after years of misdiagnosis. 'We didn't necessarily think anything of it until he got a bit older and things started to shift a lot.' Jayce lives in a psychiatric institution in the US. 'When I visit my brother, I get a real awakening of the freedom we all have. I've sort of dedicated [the rest] of my life to making sure I live it, because my brother doesn't get to make that choice.' Pat Roberts died in 2018. 'He couldn't take it any more. He'd had enough. I'd watched him struggle my whole life and it's something you think you are prepared for, that [suicide] could be a possibility, but you never really prepare yourself.' Roberts had ruled out parenthood herself early on, even as a child. 'I was very clear that the cycle would end with me,' she says, referring to the Roberts family's apparent genetic predisposition to mental illness. And now? 'There's still a huge part of me that doesn't want to take that risk [of passing on mental illness]. I love travelling and I love furry animals and I'd probably be really happy having five dogs running around and jumping on my face.' There is something so joyful and optimistic about Ashley Roberts. Her social media is full of funny little skits. When the Dolls broke up for good she found a life coach, took acting lessons in LA, learnt improv and revisited cities and countries that she had only experienced via hotel rooms. She went to an ashram in California and dedicated a month of her life to doing something new (swimming with sharks, skydiving, riding a motorbike). In 2012 she appeared on I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! without really understanding what it was. 'Snakes and rats, that's not my vibe. But I was like, 'F*** it, I'll have stories to tell,' ' she explains. It turned out to be a great career move. 'It changed the trajectory of my life. I slept the best I've ever slept. To this day, I don't know why.' The British public loved her and she made it to the final. There were also rumours that Dec, before his marriage to his former manager, was smitten with her. She would go on to have a spell on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (2013-6), the duo picking up that Roberts didn't remotely take herself seriously. 'They're great boys,' she says. 'Amazing humans. I loved working with them.' The world of UK entertainment adopted her and, after a period of living partly in LA and London, she moved here full time. Strictly Come Dancing was mooted in 2017 but was delayed until 2018. Her father had intended to fly over to watch her, but missed seeing her dance. 'I felt like I could honour him,' Roberts says. She danced with her partner, Pasha Kovalev, on Remembrance Sunday weekend, and dedicated the routine to her father. The judges were reduced to tears. Even now, bereaved people come up to her in the street to thank her. A year after Strictly, while working at Heart, she was also in the West End musical Waitress. So why would she even have contemplated embarking on a 36-date world tour in a band that had destroyed her health? 'I'm a woman now,' she says. 'I feel more connected to my body. I was like, 'I'm gonna enjoy this.' And I always loved the feeling of being on stage with an audience.' Despite everything, there are no regrets. 'It all had to happen. It was outrageous, brilliant, exhausting, challenging, tough. It was everything.' The tattoos prove it, from 'KA' — kick ass — on a finger to 'love and transformation' on her left foot. 'Now I'm in a space where I have the tools. I know I am not alone having difficult things to cope with. I just want to share what I've learnt. Maybe it will help other people.' Breathwork: Techniques for Better Mental, Emotional and Physical Health by Ashley Roberts (Leap, £20) is published on July 17. To order a copy go to or call 020 3176 2935. Free UK standard P&P on online orders over £25. Special discount available for Times+ members Hair: Lewis Pallett at Eighteen Management using Authentic Beauty Concept. Make-up: Lan Nguyen-Grealis at Eighteen Management using Armani Beauty
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Mis-Teeq in talks to reunite ahead of band's 25th anniversary as Alesha Dixon confirms comeback plans
ALESHA Dixon has confirmed Mis-Teeq are "thinking" of a reunion - in comeback news sure to delight loyal fans. The singer, 46, who forged a solo career when the British R&B group split back in 2005, has given fans fresh hope of a second stint and admitted they are further than ever before when it comes to dialogue. 6 6 6 Scandalous hitmakers Mis-teeq were a huge part of the UK pop scene between 2001 and 2005. Now in a chat with Hits Radio's Fleur East, Will Best and James Barr, Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha has teased a fresh chapter for the super-cool girlband. James asked her if there were "any advances" on previous comeback chat, to which she replied: "There might be. "Well, next year is the 25th anniversary of Lickin' On Both Sides, our debut album." Fleur then chipped in and said: "It makes sense Alesha." The B With Me singer, who cut a cool figure in a shimmer dress and sunglasses, then continued: "So we are thinking, we're thinking. "Thinking doesn't mean we are doing, we're thinking. "Which is more than we've done." Fleur then said: "I'm clapping because I'm just excited about it." Fans were quick to react after the clip hit social media and one wrote on X: "Alesha Dixon has said Mis-Teeq are THINKING ABOUT A REUNION." Alesha Dixon BACK with dad of her two kids as they desperately fight to save relationship after split Another added: "At least a full vinyl release (at last!)" A third then wrote: "I'm gonna cry I've been hoping for this but it felt so unrealistic after the lawsuit, I'm glad they made up seemingly anyway." One simply put: "Yesssssss." FURTHER CLUES Who is Alesha Dixon's ex partner Azuka Ononye? ALESHA Dixon has split from her long-term partner and father to her kids, Azuka Ononye. Yet who is he? Azuka Ononye was born December 14, 1980 and is best known for his work as a dancer, creator director and choreographer. He has worked with the likes of Sade, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Duffy, Pixie Lott, Estelle, Ashanti and Cheryl to name a few. Azuka's advertising credits include major brands such as Guinness, Captain Morgan, Nokia, T-Mobile, Specsavers, Superdrug, ESPN, Sky, DFS and Argos and many more. Alesha and Azuka got married in 2017 after meeting on tour. The ceremony was a quiet and private. They were married 11 years after first crossing paths in 2006. Alesha's team hired Azuka as a dancer for her tour. Back in March, Alesha teased further detail on a band comeback. Alesha took to her Instagram Stories to re-post a clip showing the band, formed in 1999, making their debut on BBC series Top Of The Pops. The clip saw Londoner Alesha and bandmates Su-Elise Nash, 43, and Sabrina Washington, 46, shimming on stage as they belted out debut tune Why. Alesha gushed over the scenes, filmed in 2001, and added the words: "Cried when I just saw this. Top Of The Pops debut." She then tagged both Su-Elise and Sabrina in her upload, hinting she was on good terms after we exclusively revealed Alesha was sued by Sabrina back in 2020. Sabrina, who was Mis-Teeq's lead singer and wrote many of their hits, instigated legal proceedings against Alesha over royalties going back 15 years as well as legal proceedings against former label Universal. At the time, Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha is alleged to have 'wrongfully claimed' song-writing royalties for their first two singles Why and All I Want. The pair also fell out after management blocked Sabrina from appearing on Strictly Come Dancing — only for Alesha to shine on the BBC One show the following year. A pal previously said: 'It is war. Sabrina had to play second fiddle for years and Alesha received five per cent royalties for the girls' first two songs whereas Sabrina received nothing - they both should have got 2.5 per cent. 'Sabrina wasn't listed as a writer for the tracks but it was written in her contract that she would get pay parity. "She feels she is owed thousands." At the time, a spokesman for Alesha told MailOnline: "Alesha wrote the raps on both Why and All I Want and that is why she gets a split, the rest of the song was written by a production team…Sabrina has no reason to sue Alesha." BAND HISTORY Mis-Teeq started life as a four piece in 1999, yet Zena McNally left two years later. Recently, Zena Whitter - also known as Zena McNally - took radiant pics online for her over 25,000 Instagram followers who gushed over her ageless look. Mis-Teeq formed in 1999 when Alesha met singer Sabrina a few years earlier at their dance school, Dance Attic, in Fulham, London. At this time, Hammersmith-born singer Tina Bartlett joined Alesha and Sabrina to perform and write music as a trio called Face2Face. However, after a successful audition with another upcoming pop group, Tina would jump ship to became a member of 90s and 00s pop sensations S Club 7. This fuelled Alesha and Sabrina, who promptly replaced Tina with two new members, Zena and Dulwich songbird Su-Elise Nash who the duo spotted as she auditioned for another group. The final member added to the group would be Zena, who joined in 1999. The group signed to Telstar Records the following year and begin working with an array of producers to form their debut album. Mis-Teeq's debut single, Why?, was released in January 2001 and reached number 8 in the UK Singles chart that year. The noughties group went on to have six more consecutive top-10 singles and two top-ten albums across US, Europe, Asia and Australia, including their double platinum second album Eye Candy which was released in March 2003. In spite of this success, the girl power gang disbanded in 2005 while recording their never-released third album. All three members then turned their focus onto their respective solo careers. 6 6 6
The Sun
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Huge girlband formed by Simon Cowell set to reunite seven years after bitter split – but one member WON'T be back
A HUGE girlband formed by Simon Cowell is set to reunite after seven years - but one member won't be back. Simon, 65, helped to form the popular girl group during season two of The X Factor US. 5 5 5 Fifth Harmony came together after initially failing to progress in the competition as solo artists. After the show, they had a hugely successful career and won numerous awards, thanks to tracks such as Boss and Worth It. The band announced an indefinite hiatus back in 2018 - but could soon be making a big comeback. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the beloved group is in talks to reunite. However, this reunion would not include Camila Cabello, who exited Fifth Harmony back in 2016, much to fans' devastation. Taking to X, some Harmonizers have shared their disappointment over Camila's absence from the potential reunion. Another added: "WE DON'T WANT IT WITHOUT CAMILA." After Camila's departure, the remaining members - Ally Brooke, Dinah Jane, Lauren Jauregi and Normani - continued on as a four-piece for almost two years. Since taking their break, all members have since released solo singles. The band's parting of ways in 2018 came just a month after The Sun revealed the group were likely to split after US label Epic focused more on former bandmate Camila Cabello's success than theirs. Taking to Instagram at the time, Fifth Harmony broke the news to their fans. The group said: "Reflecting on the past six years since we started on X Factor, we've realised just how far we've come and we appreciate everything so much, more now than ever. Fifth Harmony star Camila Cabello opens up about quitting the US pop band and solo career "We've had one hell of a memorable journey together and can't begin to express our gratitude to y'all for coming along with us on this wild journey. "After six years going hard, non stop, we realise that in order to stay authentic to ourselves and to you, we need to take some time for now to go on a hiatus from Fifth Harmony in order to pursue solo endeavors." They continued: "We are all very excited and grateful to be able to take this time to learn and grow creatively and really find our footing as individuals. "In doing this we are allowing ourselves to gain new experiences, strengths and perspectives that we can bring back to our Fifth Harmony family."d Bruno Mars' four sisters already formed a group called The Lylas. Over the years, fans had been begging for a reunion - with previous rumblings back in 2023. 5
Irish Times
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Biird at Vicar Street review: Consummate musicians deliver radical trad for the TikTok generation
Biird Vicar Street, Dublin ★★★★☆ 'We represent the best of Ireland,' says Lisa Canny, harpist, banjo player and frontwoman of the 11-strong trad girl group Biird. At a sold-out Vicar Street on Saturday night, their easy confidence is intoxicating as this huge group of musicians dressed to the nines play some hair-raising trad. The girl group formed in September 2023, when they were invited to perform at one of Annie Macmanus's literary nights at London Irish Centre. A little over a year and a half later, having already played around the corner earlier in the day, at Guinness's Lovely Days Live festival, they're performing to more than 1,000 people with not so much as a single released. It's a sight to behold. 'What I loved about the girl-band thing growing up is that it was a group of girls who looked like they were having the time of their lives, doing the best things of girlhood well into their adulthood, dressing up and playing tunes,' Canny says. READ MORE The concept behind Biird is a combination of consummate musicians and clever marketing for the TikTok generation: it's cool, it's slick and it's young – as demonstrated by a highlight of the gig, the group's reimagining of Gypsy Woman, the house track by Crystal Waters. The la-da-dees of its chorus are not dissimilar to the nas of lilting. The band also deliver several sultry lilts in a set list punctuated with Irish-dancing accompaniments from performers as gorgeous and styled as the band. At one point Canny turns to the crowd and says that Biird visualise a new type of Irish music, with 'none of this paddywhackery and green rivers'. Certainly, between the international success of Lankum and the emergence of bands that are rethinking what it means to play the fiddle, such as The Scratch, they're part of the radical rebrand of trad. The only things lacking tonight are original songs. Biird play the three tunes that they've written themselves, but none of these has been released yet. If this is the kind of crowd the group can pull, and the energy they can create, based on nothing more than posters and word of mouth, what could they achieve with an album? This is a huge production from start to finish, and not only because of the 11 players on stage. Biird have proved the concept: make trad accessible to a new audience and it will come. The crowd at Vicar Street is young and stylish, a distinctly more urban and hipster listener. There's something admirably ballsy about Biird's unabashed ambition, a trait that is distinctly un-Irish, even if their music is as Irish as bread and butter.
