Alison O'Donnell
Born in Dublin, Alison made her first single, 'Feeling High' for SNP's Simon Napier Bell and David Hemmings at the age of 15 with the cult folk-rock band, Mellow Candle. The band appeared in concert with the likes of Genesis, Thin Lizzy, Donovan, The Chieftains and Steeleye Span. They signed to Decca's Deram label in the early 70s and gigged their album 'Swaddling Songs' in Ireland and Britain. In the mid 90s their highly collectable vinyl album achieved critical acclaim and is now ranked as a folk rock classic.
Together with Dave Williams, Mellow Candle's guitarist, they formed traditional group Flibbertigibbet. In 1978 the band's album 'Whistling Jigs to the Moon' was released on the Stanyan label, and the group worked for several years in South Africa and Botswana. They also performed on national television and radio. Alison freelanced on recordings mostly for David Marks of 3rd Ear Music and session work for t.v. and radio advertising commercials. She also worked with singer-songwriters Roger Lucey and Colin Shamley both live and on their albums. During the early 80s, together with a troupe of eminent actors and musicians, she helped to stage and perform a series of popular satirical revues. She toured with the musical 'I'm getting my act together and taking it on the road', appeared with a number of jazz and rock bands, including the fledging Ella Mental and recorded an album for writer/producer (Daydreamer), Terry Dempsey's band Plastik Mak. Alison then went on to assist in the running of underground Hillbrow club venue Le Chaim, which featured anti-apartheid musicians, where she performed occasionally. In the mid 80s Alison joined contemporary jazz group Earthlings, co-writing the band's material.
In 1997 she moved to Brussels, working with jazz and folk musicians, on theatrical productions, and giving voice coaching. In 1998 she formed traditional group Éishtlinn with Flemish guitarist Philip Masure. The band played concerts in Belgium, Holland, France and Luxembourg and recorded the album 'eist linn' on the Kissing Spell label. A year before moving back to Dublin in 2001, she worked with Flemish singers in the group, Oeda, singing their original songs in Flemish and French.
In 2005 the BBC filmed her in a documentary about her grandmother entitled 'Mother of Pearl' for the Family Ties series, directed by BAFTA award-winning director and producer Claire Faragher. In 2006 she released a first album under her own name, 'Mise agus Ise', comprising original songs and tunes with multi-instrumentalist, Isabel Ní Chuireáin.
Alison has attended a weekly session at The Wishing Well in Blackrock for 25 years, and has been the host for ten years.
She has collaborated with Dave Colohan of Agitated Radio Pilot and Steven Collins of The Owl Service (EP and vinyl) entitled 'The Fabric of Folk', Static Caravan, and on tracks for several of their LPS and EPs. In 2008 indie prog/psych folk label, Fruits de Mer issued a vinyl double A-side single of cover versions of Nick Drake's 'Day is Done' and Nico's 'Frozen Warnings' by Alison and Head South By Weaving.
Alison became a member of the psych folk collective United Bible Studies in 2008. This collaboration has resulted in a slew of recording projects and albums as well as live performances. She also formed her own band, Bajik, which headlined at their maiden concert in Spain at the Datura Folk Festival.
Since 2010 and 2013 there have been a number of collaborative albums, and 4 solo albums on Floating World Records, Talking Elephant Records, and Mega Dodo. Contributions have also been made to the albums of musicians around the world working in jazz, folk, traditional, rock and metal genres.
She has participated in two listening parties for 'Swaddling Songs': Twitter Listening Party 2021 Tim Burgess/Pete Paphides and 2024 with Albert Twomey at the Rory Gallagher Library, Cork City Library. RTE Lyric FM Radio 12 April 2022 aired a documentary by Cathal Funge ‘Swaddling Songs at 50’.
Alison was a recipient of the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme in 2022 and has regularly contributed to print/online interviews and podcasts to promote the scheme. She also gives occasional mentoring advice to others and is a member of the Executive Committee of The Musician's Union Ireland.
