The Belgian Blue

The Belgian Blue is an indie folk/rock band based between Dublin, Ireland and Vienna, Austria. Drawing on folk-rock and Americana influences, The Belgian Blue is known for combining pointedly intimate, impressionistic lyricism with raw, high-energy live performances.

Lead singer Pádraig Mac Mahon moved from his home in Baltinglass, Wicklow to Vienna during the Covid pandemic, and met his bandmates while busking on Vienna's streets and after being locked into a broken down tram with the band's drummer, respectively. The project quickly expanded into a five-piece outfit.

Since their formation, The Belgian Blue have built a strong word-of-mouth following through sold-out headline shows and festival appearances, including in Arena Vienna, Chelsea Vienna, Porgy & Bess Bluebird Festival and Melodica Festival, tours in Ireland, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic and Switzerland, as well as support slots for Swell Season and guest appearances with Glen Hansard in The Royal Albert Hall's "Streets Of London" and Wiener Konzerthaus.

Their debut EP Summersweeps (2025), recorded with Austrian producer Jakob Herber, was written during a period of travel and isolation in the rural northwestern United States and weaves together contemporary folk songwriting, field recordings and experimental production. The band has since released the single Pastures of Heaven, and has performed alongside artists such as Glen Hansard, Imelda May, The Ocelots and Jessica Pratt.