The Fragile

Biography

O'Hooley & Tidow are a British folk music duo from Yorkshire. Singer-songwriter Heidi Tidow (pronounced Tee-doe) performs and records with her civil partner, singer-songwriter and pianist Belinda O'Hooley, who was formerly a member of Rachel Unthank and the Winterset (now The Unthanks). Belinda O'Hooley and Heidi Tidow met in Huddersfield and started songwriting and performing together in 2009. Though both brought up in Yorkshire, they share a traditional Irish music background and have family...

O'Hooley & Tidow are a British folk music duo from Yorkshire. Singer-songwriter Heidi Tidow (pronounced Tee-doe) performs and records with her civil partner, singer-songwriter and pianist Belinda O'Hooley, who was formerly a member of Rachel Unthank and the Winterset (now The Unthanks).

Belinda O'Hooley and Heidi Tidow met in Huddersfield and started songwriting and performing together in 2009. Though both brought up in Yorkshire, they share a traditional Irish music background and have family in County Sligo and County Galway.

Between August and November 2009 at their home in Golcar, Huddersfield, Belinda O'Hooley and Heidi Tidow recorded an album, Silent June, which was released on 22 February 2010 to critical acclaim. It was one of MOJO magazine’s Top 10 Folk Albums of 2010 and won 'Best Debut' in the Spiral Awards, organised by Spiral Earth. O'Hooley & Tidow also won the FATEA Innovation Award 2010, an award for music which broadens the appeal of roots-based music.

Silent June was mixed and mastered by Neil Ferguson of Chumbawamba and also featured Anna Esslemont and Cormac Byrne (both from Uiscedwr), Jackie Oates and the Solo Players string quartet. Its title refers to the words of one of the songs on the album, "Que Sera", about the execution during World War I of the British nurse Edith Cavell. The album also includes a version of the song "Spancil Hill" and a new song "Too Old To Dream" incorporating a segment of "When I Grow Too Old to Dream", a popular song with music by Sigmund Romberg and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, published in 1934 and recorded by many artists, most notably Gracie Fields.

O'Hooley & Tidow released a single, "The Last Polar Bear", in November 2011. The song was taken from their second album, The Fragile, featuring Andy Cutting, Jackie Oates, Anna Esslemont and Cormac Byrne, which was released in February 2012. Northern Sky music magazine's reviewer described the song as "utterly beautiful", saying "This is how love songs should be written." Robin Denselow of The Guardian described the album as an "intriguing, ambitious set". The album also includes a song, "Gentleman Jack", about the early 19th century Yorkshire lesbian gentlewoman, Anne Lister and a cover version of Massive Attack's "Teardrop".

O'Hooley & Tidow also feature on Chumbawamba's album ABCDEFG (2010) and Lucy Ward's debut album Adelphi Has to Fly (2011).


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