Lights Out Events is delighted to announce three exceptional live music events coming to Oswestry, featuring some of the most distinctive voices in contemporary folk, storytelling and acoustic music.
Following a growing reputation for bringing high-quality, intimate performances to the area, Lights Out Events will welcome acclaimed musicians The Apple Sellers, Belinda O’Hooley, and the much-loved return of Harp & a Monkey across a programme celebrating powerful songs, remarkable musicianship and unforgettable stories.
The Apple Sellers
Sunday 12th July – Oswestry Cricket Club
First up, Lights Out Events welcomes The Apple Sellers, a contemporary folk duo from Manchester whose captivating performances blend modern classical influences with traditional folk and spiritual music.
The duo features acclaimed musician and storyteller Martin Purdy, frontman of the award-winning folk trio Harp & a Monkey, alongside gifted multi-instrumentalist Ian Mayer (#halfblindbassist) from Manchester’s prestigious Chetham’s School of Music.
Having first met — and continuing to meet — in a community orchard, the pair discovered a shared belief in the power of musical storytelling. Their unique sound combines piano, double bass, harmonium, shruti box drones and rich harmony vocals to create atmospheric performances that have earned standing ovations at both folk festivals and classical music events.
Described as: “Folk music deconstructed, reimagined and reassembled with a soupçon of Indian secular drone, a pinch of Górecki, Reich, Glass minimalism and a passing nod to La Monte Young… Original, rewarding, entertaining — catch if you can.”
The Apple Sellers promise an evening of beautiful, thought-provoking and original music.
More information: theapplesellers.com
Belinda O’Hooley
Thursday 24th September – The Hermon Chapel, Oswestry
In September, Lights Out Events brings the extraordinary talents of Belinda O’Hooley to the intimate surroundings of The Hermon Chapel.
A renowned pianist, singer and composer, Belinda is perhaps best known as one half of the celebrated duo O’Hooley & Tidow, who achieved international recognition for writing and performing the theme music for the hit television drama Gentleman Jack — a success which also led to Belinda appearing in the acclaimed BBC series Happy Valley.
Previously a member of Rachel Unthank and the Winterset (now The Unthanks), Belinda last performed at The Hermon Chapel with Heidi Tidow in 2018, receiving a wonderfully warm response from the Oswestry audience.
Drawing inspiration from her west of Ireland heritage, Belinda’s solo work showcases her distinctive, minimalist and deeply expressive piano style. As the first woman in her family to reclaim a musical tradition previously passed only through men, she has created a unique voice that honours the past while creating something entirely her own.
Known also for her inventive and sometimes flamboyant accompaniment of artists including Rufus Wainwright and Nic Jones, Belinda’s performance promises to be a moving and memorable evening.
More information: ohooleyandtidow.com
Harp & a Monkey – War Stories
Wednesday 11th November (Armistice Day) – Oswestry Cricket Club
By popular demand, Martin Purdy returns to Oswestry once again in November as Harp & a Monkey bring their acclaimed project War Stories to Oswestry Cricket Club for a very special Armistice Day performance.
The trio previously performed War Stories during the Wilfred Owen Festival in 2018 to mark the centenary commemorations of the First World War, and returned again last September with their acclaimed show Tall Tales and Truths, delivering a memorable evening of folk music and storytelling.
Released in 2016, the album War Stories formed part of a project supported by Arts Council England and The Western Front Association to commemorate the First World War centenary. Combining newly written material with reimagined traditional songs, the work challenges familiar stereotypes of the conflict and shares deeply human stories from wartime experiences.
The album received outstanding reviews, with The Observer describing it as: “Bold and brilliant.”
This special Armistice Day performance promises to be entertaining, evocative and thought-provoking — a fitting evening of music, memory and storytelling.
More information: harpandamonkey.com
Tickets Available Now
Tickets for all three Lights Out Events performances are available now from:
www.ticketsource.com/lightsoutevents
