Belinda O’Hooley heads out solo this February & March, taking her Inversions album on tour.

Even before At The Barrier was a twinkle in Mike & Dom’s eye, our review of Inversions was appearing elsewhere. It’s been that long. The planned tour that was delayed by children and COVID is now set to visit ten intimate venues around the country.
Belinda, as we of all people know only too well, is half of four-time BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Best Duo nominees O’Hooley & Tidow alongside her wife Heidi Tidow. Amongst other things, their profile is high with their song Gentleman Jack featuring as the closing theme song for Sally Wainwright’s BBC/HBO drama series Gentleman Jack.
Belinda is also known for her inventive, minimalist, sometimes flamboyant accompanying of folk luminaries including Rufus Wainwright, Nic Jones, Jackie Oates and the Mercury-nominated Rachel Unthank and The Winterset.
Inversions showcases Belinda’s abilities as a composer and pianist with many of the piano pieces inspired by the songs and tunes her father inherited from a long line of male musicians in the hills of the West coast of rural Ireland. With the passing of her father in 2017, Belinda; the first woman to be handed the tradition, has found the freedom to express the music of her ancestors in her very own, unconventional way, evolving and migrating into something you could describe as an inversion: a reversal of the norm.
Gently nurtured, produced and recorded by Heidi Tidow at MOMA Wales, the inspiration of the mountains, valleys and landscapes of Snowdonia provide the backdrop to a trio of compositions; each celebrating a deep love of the nature and wildlife of this breathtaking part of Wales.
We might miss the chance to join in with Heidi & Belinda on a rousing Summat’s Brewing or a call and response on Gentleman Jack, but instead, be lulled and caressed by an altogether different experience where we can appreciate the under-the-radar piano skills of Belinda O’Hooley.
FEBRUARY
26 BROSELEY Birchmeadow Centre
MARCH
04 GUILDFORD Music Institute
05 TAUNTON Brewhouse
06 BIRMINGHAM Kitchen Garden Cafe
09 LIVERPOOL Philharmonic
11 BURY Met
12 HUDDERSFIELD Slaithwaite Civic Hall
24 BARTON UPON HUMBER Ropery Hall
25 NEWCASTLE Cumberland Arms
26 SHEFFIELD Greystones
The O’Hooley & Tidow website can be found here
They are also on Facebook and tweet as @OHooleyandTidow
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