Irish songsmith Wallis Bird to visit Cornwall

One of seven children, and more recently based in Germany, Irish singer-songwriter Wallis Bird has confirmed show small shows in Cornwall in June.

Self-taught on guitar, remarkable in itself considering that when she was only 18 months old when all the fingers on her left hand were severed by a lawnmower, and named rather unglamorously after a mine, not Wallis Simpson as one might imagine, Bird has been songwriting since the tender age of 7.

Now 24 and having recently relocated to London from Manheim in Germany, where she has cut her musical teeth, with the aid of two 'proper' musicians, Christian Vinne (drums) and his brother Michael (bass). "It was totally mindblowing" says Wallis of her 18 months in Germany. "I found myself getting more focused, and realised what I wanted: to write songs and have a band. I'd been dilly-dallying my whole life."

Her uniquie chord fingerings and playing style can be at least partly attributed to the accident with the lawnmower, which forced Wallis to play on a right-handed guitar, flipped upside down. To watch her strum and bash on the guitar now you would never guess at the injuries she sustained all those years ago.

Listing influences like Ani di Franco, Ella Fitzgerald and Fiona Apple, there are hints of the songwriting passion of Joni Mitchell and the lightness of Edie Brickell's vocals, all in all Wallis Bird is a rare treat. "If you can live your life, being happy, doing what you do, fair play. That's what I believe in."

Wallis Bird will be playing at the following venues in June:

• Wed 11 June - Boujis, Truro
• Thurs 12 June - Taphouse, St Agnes

To hear some of Wallis Bird's tracks check out www.wallisbird.com