Dublin’s Kicking Bird set to land in Monroe’s

Playing music that bring to mind Fleetwood Mac and Laura Marling, Dublin band Kicking Bird make a welcome return to Monroe’s next Thursday, April 9.

Kicking Bird have been busy since last year, when they played at Knockanstockan in Wicklow in July. The festival gives a platform to up-and-coming Irish bands, and has built up a loyal following. Lead singer Shannen Byrne says the band were “absolutely chuffed” to be part of it.

Kicking Bird was set up three years ago, after a previous project that Shannen and bassist Daniel Montgomery were involved in didn’t work out.

“I didn’t really feel the style of the first band I was in and I wanted something more acoustic, a more laidback kind of music,” Shannen says. “I asked Dan if he’d be up for doing bass again and he said ‘why not?’.”

Today, Kicking Bird are an ambitious young band who are keen to meet the challenges of the music business.

“Like everything, it has its highs and its slopes,” Shannen says. “But it’s what you do and how you react. A lot of people tend to give up and say ‘it’s too hard, move on’. But we all give each other a dig out. We all get on really well.”

■ Doors for their Monroes show are at 11pm, admission is €5.