10 Years of O’Hooley & Tidow – Brighouse Arts Festival 2020

Much loved Yorkshire folk duo Belinda O’Hooley and Heidi Tidow have suddenly been propelled into newfound fame for penning the theme tune for Sally Wainwright’s hit BBC1/HBO drama ‘Gentleman Jack’, earning them global admiration, appearances on TV, and Radio 4 Woman’s Hour.

Matthew Harrison-Lord, Brighouse Arts Festival Director, said “I cannot believe we have managed to book O’Hooley & Tidow for their 10 year celebration concert as they gain international fame from the Gentleman Jack series. Once again, we have managed to bring huge acts to Brighouse – a town that normally gets forgotten about when it comes to the big artists and acts”

Belinda and Heidi’s boundless songwriting has been described by The Guardian as ‘exceptional’ and The Independent as ‘defiant, robust, northern, poetical, political folk music for the times we live in.’ From an emotionally charged song about an elephant orphanage in Nairobi, to a joyous celebration of the Leeds cycling champion Beryl Burton, they explore, consider and connect subjects and stories in a distinctive, inventive and memorable way.

John Buxton, Arts for Brighouse Charity Trustee, said “We know and love their work as local Calderdale artists, it’s great to see them catapult into fame because of Anne Lister and Shibden Hall’s history. Brighouse’s direct connection is that Anne Walker is buried at Lightcliffe, part of Brighouse and Lower Calderdale”

Having the originality and skill to invite comparison with the most celebrated harmony duos, from early Simon and Garfunkel to the iconic Kate and Anna McGarrigle, 6 Music’s Tom Robinson says ‘They sing together in the way families do. Normally, you only get that closeness in the voices with family bands like TheCoppers or The Watersons.’

10 Years of O’Hooley & Tidow, Friday 2nd October 2020, 7:30pm, St Martins Parish Church, Brighouse, Calderdale, West Yorkshire. £20.

REVIEWS:

‘I have just listened to your track, ‘Beryl’, with tears in my eyes! It’s beautiful and brilliant.’ Maxine Peake

A MOJO MAGAZINE TOP 10 FOLK ALBUM

Nominated four times for BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards ‘Best Duo’.

‘England’s answer to the McGarrigles.’ * * * * * The Guardian

‘Brave, beautiful and full of love.’ Martin Simpson

‘Insightful, determinedly left-field angles on the human experience.’

* * * * MOJO Folk Album of the Month

‘Have Belinda and Heidi done it again? Certainly.’

* * * * * R2

‘Dense, complex, beautifully performed.’