BIRDY, La Grange Park, IL
With an eclectic repertoire that draws from both traditional and contemporary influences, Birdy has quickly established itself on the Chicago music scene and beyond, and is a regular performer at coffee houses, restaurants and pubs, folk venues, community centers, neighborhood parties, festivals, and farmers markets.
The BIRDY idea was literally 'sparked' in the '90's while Bianca Bevard and Sharon Speziale were singing around a bonfire at a camping weekend. Instantly recognizing a soaring harmony blend, the two began performing together regularly. In-demand percussionist Meg Thomas, who provides a wonderful driving and creative dimension to BIRDY's established sound, joined the group in 2007. More recently, veteran bassist Roy McNaughton joined the group, with bass lines that are both artistically fluid and warmly down to earth.
A typical BIRDY concert includes BIRDY originals, covers of favorite singer/songwriters both near and far, traditional folk tunes with a twist, songs of love (lost, acquired or desired), and a few other styles thrown in for good measure. Influenced by Nanci Griffith, Joni Mitchell, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, The Wailin' Jennys, Deb Talan/The Weepies, Martha Scanlan, Truckstop Souvenir, Alison Krauss, New Orleans, Flamenco, Appalachian and traditional folk music, and the list goes on....
BIRDY resonates with the richness of these influences, entertaining with songs that evoke many different sounds, thoughts, and feelings. The group identifies with the haunting sound of wind blowing through the trees, golden autumn days, the hope of spring, and music born from street, gospel and truth. BIRDY's new CD MAGIC DAYS was released in August 2012, and their first CD Journey Home, in October 2009.
Chicago-based BIRDY’s founding members, Bianca Wesolowski Bevard and Sharon Brunot Speziale, met at church in the early 1990’s when a youth retreat found them sitting on a beach one spring evening in Saugatuck, Michigan. Sharon took out her guitar, singing began, and beautiful harmonies came a-tumblin' out. After traveling different paths for about 10 years, the two reconnected in late 2007 at Bevard’s suggestion, and formed BIRDY. Since then, they've performed at private events, books stores, pubs, coffee shops, libraries, community centers, ice cream socials, outdoor markets and festivals, and folk music venues.
In 2009, BIRDY welcomed Chicago-based percussionist Meg Thomas who brings a wonderful driving dimension to BIRDY's already established sound. The three birds have an awfully good time together…more laughing is done than rehearsing, but we're guessing that's what makes it all work. BIRDY performs a variety of music in beautiful two-part harmony with guitar and percussion. When you attend one of their shows, you can expect to hear Birdy originals, traditional folk tunes, Celtic selections, contemporary music in a stripped down earthy BIRDY style, a random Beatles tune, and a few other things thrown in for good measure. Some of their influences include Nanci Griffith, Joni Mitchell, home town folk favorite Mark Dvorak, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, The Wailin' Jennys, lullabies, the Appalachian Mountains, the tradition of folk music, and, of course, music they sang at church while they were growin' up. In October 2009, the trio released their debut CD, Journey Home.
