Blackwillow Starling

Blackwillow Starling are a Milwaukee-based acoustic duo who perform Pagan, folk, and Celtic music. Both Nora and Michael Tinker Tierney have decades of experience in national and international playing and performance.

Since the release of their debut, self-titled album in June of 2024, Blackwillow Starling have appeared at Pagan Spirit Gathering and the International Pagan Music Award ceremony. Their 2025 performance schedule includes WinterStar in February, Paganicon in March, Pagan Spirit Gathering in June, and Starwood in July. More festivals and venue dates to be announced.

Their music can be streamed on every major service and has been featured on Pagan/Wiccan media and folk outlets such as International Pagan Radio, The Cauldron, Songs of the Pagan Tribe, CeltCast, Wyldwood Radio, DruidCast with Damh the Bard, Irish and Celtic Music Podcast, Sidvalley Radio Folk Show, Tarottunes, and Pagan Artist Spotlight Podcast. They have also been featured presenters on Full Moon Circle broadcasts with Circle Sanctuary.
 

Blackwillow Starling released their debut album in June, 2024. The “What the Folk is This?” radio program rated the disc as #13 for folk album of the year. Multiple songs from the release have cracked both the International Pagan Radio top 20 and The Cauldron top 10 with their song "The Answerer Sword" holding the #1 spot for 2 weeks. "Sun King", “Between Times pt 1”, and their version of "Wild Mountain Thyme" have also placed in The Cauldron top 10 chart. The International Pagan Music Awards have bestowed a nomination for Pagan band of the year for 2025.

 

Nora, a classically schooled vocalist, sings about the elements of the natural world and wonder of spirit. She works with Celtic-based rhythmic patterns and folk stylings in Blackwillow Starling. She finds pure joy in the art of song. Michael “Tinker” Tierney has strong familial Celtic ties, regularly tours and performs live with multiple projects, and enjoys cleverness and outside the box creativity in writing and performing.

Blackwillow Starling are amassing new material for recording consideration in late 2025. They enjoymaking connections with people through spirt and song.