Alannah Thornburgh shares her debut solo album Shapeshifter

(Alannah Thornburgh – credit Karen Cox)

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 12^th February) Alannah shares her debut solo album, Shapeshifter. To celebrate the album release, Alannah will perform special album launch shows at Levis’ Cornerhouse Ballydehob (11^th April), Maureen’s Cork City (12^th April), and Prim’s Bookshop Kinsale (27^th 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 26^th. 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:

4^th April – The Linenhall Arts Centre, Co. Mayo

11^th April – Levis’ Cornerhouse, Ballydehob, West Cork

12^th April – Maureen’s, Cork City

17^th April – The Cobblestone, Dublin

27^th April – Prim’s Bookshop, Kinsale, Co. Cork

9^th May – The Duncairn, Belfast

10^th May – Fennelly’s, Kilkenny

For full show information, and tickets, visit: https://www.alannahthornburgh.com/shows

TRACKLIST:

Storytime
Glór na Sí
Away with the Fairies (*released as a single + video)
Mick na mBréag
Hare Song
Chasing the Hare (*released as a single + video)
Oíche na Gaoithe Móire
Shapeshifter
An Fear Gorta
Peadar’s Lament

ALBUM CREDITS:

All tracks composed by Alannah Thornburgh, except for track 5 ‘Hare Song’ (lyrics written by Laura Quirke and music composed by Alannah Thornburgh).

Recorded by Stephen Doherty in Currinara Studios, Foxford, Co. Mayo
Mixed by Cian Hamilton in Middle Ridge Studios, California
Mastered by Harvey Birrell

Musicians:

Alannah Thornburgh: Harp (all tracks), fiddle (track 1 & 10)
Laura Quirke: Vocals (track 5)
Joshua Burnside: Additional vocals (track 5)
Conor Cunningham: Clarinet (track 4, 5 & 6)
Lorcan Byrne: Percussion (track 1, 3 & 5)
Stephen Doherty: Bodhrán (track 2, 6 & 7)
Rob Thornburgh: Saxophone (track 3 & 10)
Aoife Kelly: Violin (track 8)
Cian Hamilton: Electric bass (track 1 & 3) and production