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O'Hooley & Tidow

Venue: The Met
Town: Bury
Date: 13/03/14
Website: http://www.ohooleyandtidow.com

With The Met's bijou studio a total sell out and even a few extra chairs shoe horned in, there was quite some anticipation for the return of Belinda O'Hooley and Heidi Tidow (and that's Tee-Dow, possibly the most mis-pronounced name in folk alongside Bellowhead's John Spiers - rhymes with 'pliers') to a venue which saw them playing an previous sell out show at the the Homegrown/Folk Expo event here back in October. The current tour sees them put promoting the current album, 'The Hum', the title referring to the sound of the local industry by their Yorkshire home. It's an album which has been gaining top ratings from a whole host of sources and one of which they are undeniably proud.

An evening with O'Hooley & Tidow offers their audience quite some journey. Combining their typically dry Yorkshire wit with a set of songs which range from a no nonsense approach to writing songs inspired by anything from films, birds and beer to old folks homes - the subject of Belinda's previous job and one which bore absolutely no resemblance whatsoever to The Met's paying customers.

Singing both acapella with some striking harmonies and with Belinda's sensitive and sublime playing on piano and accordion - hoping some of previous owner Hannah James' magic would rub off for 'Pass It On' - they provide moments of humour and singalong music hall with 'Gentleman Jack' and a tribute to real ale in 'Summat's Brewin' which is about as close as they get to rock and roll. There are also moments of touching sadness and sentiment - 'Too Old To Dream' giving everyone a glimpse of their own mortality and their pair of 'mother' songs, 'Two Mothers' which seems to be becoming a bit of a signature piece and 'Peculiar Brood' which has its roots in the subject of suicide bombers. Both songs moving and poignantly delivered, the provided the delicate and emotive end of their musical spectrum.

In an evening of highlights, 'Shelter Me' was a particular stand out and served to highlight not just only the performance but also the magnificent sound once again in The Met - the touch of reverb on the vocals combined with the flurry of piano notes was an 'close your eyes and let it wash over you' moment.

Not a pair who like to blow their own trumpets, a little blast allowed Belinda (without sounding like a "big headed ginger haired old crow" - her words on their social network pages) to 'big up' their bookings for both Glastonbury and the 50th Cambridge Folk Festival. Their star is most certainly in the ascendency. There might have been no Folk Awards for the duo this year, Heidi's bell waving skills not being considered to be up alongside Sam Sweeney and Aidan O'Rourke for Best Instrumentalist, but don't bet against nominations next year for Best Duo and album for 'The Hum' come this time next year.

Mike Ainscoe