The Belgian Blue – Elderflower

An Irishman, an American and three Austrians meet in Vienna when locked in a broken- down tram together and decide to start a band: what sounds like the beginning of an indie drama is the true story of how “The Belgian Blue” came to be.

Their new single “Elderflower” is due out on August 21st and blends Folk-Rock and Americana with contemporary influences.  The song was inspired by a day of garden work, hands buried deep amongst rotting pine needles, weeds and branches. Clearing their overgrown backyard sparked conversations about roots, childhood memories and what it means to leave home – traces of the band’s own autobiography, for they can truly tell a story of distant homelands left behind to search new fertile ground on an unfamiliar territory. 

Singer Pádraig MacMahon reflects on what we inherit from home, what we choose to keep and what we must let go of.  Pedal steel guitar and percussion give the song an intimate feel that is gentle, yet yearning. The glowing sound and meandering lyrics of “Elderflower” are reminiscent of songs by the band’s key influences, such as Songs: Ohia, Neil Young or The Swell Season.