Maggie May Treanor is an Anglo-Irish alt-country artist with the vocal warmth of Emmylou Harris and the emotional precision of Jason Isbell — a songwriter who turns heartbreak into anthems of survival, a country girl who’s as comfortable on horseback as she is on stage.
Winner of Americana UK’s Twang Factor 2025 and a 2026 showcase artist at Your Roots Are Showing in ICC Belfast, she quickly caught the attention of the UK Country / Americana scene. Recent highlights include a sold-out headline show at London’s Betsey Trotwood with support from Steady Habits, and opening for Nashville’s hottest current act, The Band Loula, in Yorkshire.
She’s also collaborating with top-tier producers and musicians, including 2x country No.1 producer Dan Mizen and 3x Grammy winning Chris Wilkinson, who brings twelve years of working with the legendary Vance Powell in Nashville. Together they’re crafting a sound that’s both familiar and refreshingly original.
Rooted in the rolling hills of Yorkshire, Ireland and Spain, she brings an authentic approach to the genre. Raised on a working farm, she offers a truly spellbinding sound that weaves a line between classic country vocals and emotive modern storytelling.
A gifted lyricist, Maggie May crafts songs that dive deep into heartbreak while celebrating the resilience of the human spirit. Rich and captivating vocals affect healing and emotion in the audience as she uses her rare ability to turn vulnerability into anthems of survival.
Steeped in the musical heritage of Irish folk and American roots, her songwriting draws from a deep well of rural experience. Her English, Irish and Spanish roots infuse each song with a unique perspective, blending American musical traditions with the grit and authenticity of a classic folk storyteller.
In July 2026, Maggie released What We Called Love, a triumphant, radio-ready alt-country banger that takes its emotional cues from one of the most beloved TV romances of the 21st century: Tim Riggins and Tyra Collette of Friday Night Lights.
It’s a hyper-realised “what happened next”. The song imagines Tyra a few years on, sifting through the wreckage of that now legendary relationship. The hands that once threw a football so majestically, now letting the sand slip through. The porch swing he built as a romantic gesture, eaten by beetles.
Maggie explained: “It’s that moment years later when it hits you: what the hell was I thinking? It sounds bitter, but honestly it turns into something hopeful. You survived it and it’s actually kinda funny how much of a loser he was!”
The track lands its sharpest blow using the show’s most famous line: “Well you said that you were Texas forever / That your heart would never fail / Then you and your brother made some plans together / Now you’re eating dinner in a jail.” It’s a song about laser-precise memories and the slow-burn reckoning that comes when you finally see them clearly.
“What We Called Love” was produced by Chris Wilkinson. The result is bright, big-hearted and authentically live-sounding — the kind of country song you can imagine booming out over the tannoy at a Friday night home game.
The single features a dream-team line-up of the UK’s best Americana players:
Thomas Dibb on keys
Rich Jevons on slide and guitar
Joe Coombs on guitar
Joe Montague on drums
Philip Clegg on bass guitar
What We Called Love is the third single from Maggie’s forthcoming debut album, due for release in early 2027.
