Featuring contributions from Laura Quirke (Lemoncello), Joshua Burnside, Lorcan Byrne (Basciville) + many more
Alannah Thornburgh is an award-winning instrumentalist and composer from the wild west of Ireland with a focus on traditional Irish harp. Alannah’s music explores her family heritage, reimagining melodies from the Irish harping and American folk & jazz traditions. This cross-genre interaction and juxtaposition of old melodies with contemporary harmonies and technique is interwoven throughout her music, described as being ‘unforced, fluid and utterly at home in her own sound’ (The Irish Times).
Today (Wednesday 12th February) Alannah shares her debut solo album, Shapeshifter. To celebrate the album release, Alannah will perform special album launch shows at Levis’ Cornerhouse Ballydehob (11th April), Maureen’s Cork City (12th April), and Prim’s Bookshop Kinsale (27th April).
Shapeshifter is a captivating collection of compositions deeply inspired by the rich traditions of fairy folklore and mythology from rural Ireland, particularly her native County Mayo. The project began when Alannah was commissioned to compose a piece for the Linenhall Arts Centre’s New Music in Mayo series, curated by traditional musician Emer Mayock.
“I was always fascinated by the fairy fort behind my Grandad’s house,” Alannah shares. “A conversation with him about the tale of ‘Mick na mBréag’ (Mick the Liar), who crossed the fairy folk, inspired the composition of a piece that ultimately became part of this album.” This sparked a journey of exploration into the world of fairy lore, which would culminate in Shapeshifter.
With the support of the Arts Council’s Next Generation Award, Alannah conducted interviews with nearly 50 historians, storytellers, and locals, collecting stories and experiences that inform her music. These conversations are woven throughout the album, adding an authentic and archival quality.
Musically, Shapeshifter draws heavily on traditional Irish and folk influences—sounds that shaped her upbringing. Some tracks embrace subtle jazz elements, reflecting her childhood experiences. Alannah’s father contributes saxophone to several pieces, creating a poignant full-circle moment in her musical journey. Inspired by Seamus Fogarty’s The Curious Hand, she also incorporated snippets from her research to enhance the album’s narrative depth.
“Let us go forth, the teller of tales, and seize whatever prey the heart long for, and have no fear. Everything exists, everything is true, and the earth is only a little dust under our feet.” says Alannah, quoting W.B. Yeats. “Creating this album taught me the importance of respecting the fairy folk, not fearing them.”
Alannah is nominated for two awards in the 2025 RTÉ Folk Awards – ‘Best Folk Instrumentalist’ and ‘Best Original Folk Track’ for her composition on the shapeshifting quality of the hare – ‘Chasing the Hare’, the awards take place at Vicar Street, Dublin, February 26th. Alannah also featured on an RTÉ 1 Documentary ‘A Note for Nature’ in collaboration with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, performing her interpretation of a Conor Walsh composition ‘One Swallow’. Her compositions have featured on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta podcast series ‘Scéalta’. Alannah is also a recipient of the Arts Council’s Next Generation Award 21/22.
Shapeshifter is available on CD and digital via Bandcamp: https://alannahthornburgh.bandcamp.com/album/shapeshifter
“This album is dedicated to my grandad Martin Nolan – a lover of the land and teller of a great tale.” – Alannah Thornburgh
ALBUM LAUNCH TOUR DATES:
4th April – The Linenhall Arts Centre, Co. Mayo
11th April – Levis’ Cornerhouse, Ballydehob, West Cork
12th April – Maureen’s, Cork City
17th April – The Cobblestone, Dublin
27th April – Prim’s Bookshop, Kinsale, Co. Cork
9th May – The Duncairn, Belfast
10th May – Fennelly’s, Kilkenny
For full show information, and tickets, visit: https://www.alannahthornburgh.com/shows