Music: Jeff Hemmings

O’Hooley & Tidow

The duo of Belinda O’Hooley and Heidi Tidow have been steadily making their mark in the folk and wider musical worlds since they first met in 2009. A civil partnership and five albums later it’s all going brilliantly.

While 2014’s album ‘The Hum’ was effectively a collaboration between them and producer Gerry Diver, this year’s ‘Shadows’ is a much more stripped back affair, the core of which was recorded at the Museum of Modern Art in Machynlleth on a grand piano, interwoven with the duo’s vocal solos and harmonies. Guest musicians include Pete Flood (Bellowhead), Michele Stodart (Magic Numbers), Andy Seward, Jude Abbott and BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner, the viola player Rowan Rheingans.

Recorded at the Museum of Modern Art in Machynlleth on a grand piano, interwoven with the duo’s vocal solos and harmonies

‘Shadows’ is about the vast expanse of human emotion, honing on in particular those who live their lives in the dark, the shadows of the title, including refugees, migrants, political extremists, as well as celebrating people of distinction, such a cycling champion Beryl Burton, and Daisy Daking, a woman who taught shell-shocked and war weary troops how to dance the Morris in World War I!

Also on the album is Kathyrn William’s ‘Small, Big Love’, a song she wrote specifically for the duo, and performed by Williams on their wedding day.

Chiddingly Festival, Friday 23 September, 7pm, £14. www.chiddinglyfestival.co.uk