Ever-evolving Mayo-based folk band Billow Wood has taken the inspiration for its latest single from a Behy Beg woman, Maisie O’Donnell, who emigrated from Mayo to America in 1909. Maisie was destined to spend the rest of her life in the USA, but always maintained the connection with her home village, which is located just outside Ballina, the band’s hometown.
This gifted folk fusion group has been expanding its fanbase across Ireland, Europe and into the United States in recent years. While maintaining a blend of Irish trad and folk music at the core of its growing repertoire, Billow Wood can frequently drop in some surprises too.
‘Maisie’ tells an old story that has been repeated so often, reflecting the poignancy of the narrative in its emotive melodic shape.
The song has all of the classic components you might expect to hear in a Billow Wood song – shared vocals, tight harmonies, great use of instrumentation and a punchy outro.
The band is made up of Mark O’Donnell (vocals/guitar), Harry Lawlor (vocals/harp), Andy Dempsey (vocals/drums), Emily Donoghue (vocals/mandolin) and Aodán Cronin (accordion) and they have been writing at length over the past year, with plans to yield up further exciting material in 2025.
Maisie O’Donnell was the great-aunt of Billow Wood co-founder, Mark O’Donnell.
‘Maisie’, which was produced and mixed by Alex Browick of Grouse Lodge Recording Studio in County Westmeath, and mastered by Peter Montgomery, is available to download now on all streaming sites.
