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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