Blackwillow Starling At White Lilac
About this Event
Award-Winning Pagan Folk, Celtic Song & Acoustic Magic
Milwaukee-based duo Nora and Michael “Tinker” Tierney weave British, Celtic and American folk traditions into songs of nature, spirit, old stories and the turning seasons. Their richly textured acoustic sound joins female-and-male harmonies with guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, whistle, shruti box and percussion. Nora brings a classically trained voice and a deep connection to the wonder of the natural world, while Michael brings strong Celtic roots, imaginative arrangements and decades of national and international performance experience.
Since releasing their debut album in 2024, Blackwillow Starling have risen quickly through both the contemporary folk and Pagan music worlds. They were voted 2025 Pagan Band of the Year by the International Pagan Music Association and have appeared at Pagan Spirit Gathering, the International Pagan Music Awards, FARM Folk Conference, Florida Pagan Gathering, Chrysalis Moon, WinterStar, Paganicon and Starwood Festival. They are also regular musical presenters for Circle Sanctuary’s Full Moon broadcasts.
Their self-titled debut was ranked #13 among the year’s folk albums by WCSB Cleveland’s What the Folk Is This? Songs including “Sun King,” “Between Times Pt. 1” and “Wild Mountain Thyme” reached The Cauldron Top 10, while “The Answerer Sword” held the Pagan radio chart’s #1 position for two weeks. Their music has since traveled through folk and Pagan radio in North America, Europe and the United Kingdom, including DruidCast with Damh the Bard, The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, CeltCast and International Pagan Radio.
The duo now arrives with Thornaeppel, their expansive second album, released in May 2026. Its thirteen songs move between luminous original compositions and traditional material, carrying listeners through woodland, moonlight, fire, harvest and the darker passages of the year.
“Strong, passionate, evocative. Each one is a jewel of a song—haunting, inspiring, filled with the wistful longing that seems to permeate so much of modern Pagan culture.”
— H. Byron Ballard, author of A Feral Church
“Every track is exquisitely recorded, beautifully written and arranged… This is, simply put, a great album.”
— Brian Henke, musician
Blackwillow Starling is a natural fit for the intimacy of White Lilac: two voices, old-world instruments and songs meant to be heard from only a few feet away. Come for the haunting harmonies and Celtic textures. Stay for the warmth, humor, storytelling and feeling that something ancient has briefly found its way into the room.
Whether you follow Pagan music, love traditional Celtic and British folk, or simply appreciate beautiful voices and finely written acoustic songs, this will be a singular evening of spirit, story and song.
All ages are welcome.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 18.83
