Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Toyah Willcox and Hazel O’Connor will perform in Birmingham next year.

The duo will join forces for the Electric Ladies of the 80s tour, coming to the city’s Town Hall.

Born in Kings Heath, Birmingham, 61-year-old Toyah has amassed 10 hit singles and eight hit albums including the gold selling Anthem and her 2019 chart success, In The Court of the Crimson Queen.

The singer/songwriter is best known for songs such as I Want to Be Free, Thunder in the Mountains, Ieya, Danced, Rebel Run, Victims of the Riddle, The Vow and more.

Also an acclaimed actress, Toyah has performed on film and stages the world over including a role in The Who film, Quadrophenia.

Hazel O’Connor has released a number of hits, including Will You?, Eighth Day, D-Days, Give Me and Inch, Hanging Around, Big Brother and more.

The 64-year-old starred in British film Breaking Glass, for which she won the Variety Club Award and it’s accompanying soundtrack which saw her nominated for a BAFTA.

• Continue reading at the Express & Star.

A seed was sown many moons ago, as early as the mid-1990s and finally……. Toyah & Hazel O’ Connor unite for a special tour in 2020.

Post Punk and New Wave artists Toyah and Hazel O’Connor join forces to bring you their exciting new tour, Electric Ladies of the 80s.

Toyah is one of the most recognisable faces in UK pop culture, clocking up an impressive 10 hit singles and 8 hit albums including the gold selling Anthem. Also an acclaimed actress, Toyah his performed on film and stages the world over including a role in the legendary Who film, Quadrophenia.

Hazel O’Connor set the benchmark high with her starring role in the legendary British film Breaking Glass for which she won the Variety Club Award and it’s accompanying soundtrack which saw her nominated for a BAFTA. Ever the prolific artist, Hazel continues to make new music and tour the world with her strong ethical message.

Performing alongside their full electric band, each artist will perform their own set alongside some duets and surprises.

This hit packed retro fest will include such classics as Thunder In The Mountains, Eighth Day, It’s A Mystery, Will You, I Want To Be Free, D-Days and many more.

• Continue reading at toyahwillcox.com. Book tickets here or by clicking below.

Toyah played a mind-boggling FOUR gigs over the weekend – Wellowfest 2017, Let’s Rock London, Party in the Park Dunstable and Party in the Park Cookley – Below is a press report on Wellowfest and check out Toyah’s Twitter for direct updates from the incredibly busy lady herself!

Wellowfest: Big names and local acts mix for village festival

More than 40 bands and singers will perform over three days at the annual Wellowfest music festival this weekend. They include headliners Hazel O’Connor, Toyah Willcox and The Blockheads.

It takes place at Chapel Farm, Wellow, from tomorrow (Friday) until Sunday. The festival, launched in 2014, covers a wide range of genres, including pop, punk, country and 1980s classics.

The organisers said: “In its fourth year of running, Wellowfest maintains its roots as a family-friendly festival with a chilled out and relaxing vibe. Kick back and enjoy the best of the English countryside while listening to an eclectic mix of sounds.”

• Continue reading at the Newark Advertiser.

Hazel O’Connor recalls the famous Rainbow Theatre gig with The Stranglers from 1980 in a new interview at The Birmingham Press.

You’re touring with Hugh Cornwell now; he’s seen as a distinguished elder statesman of the music business which is a long way removed from the time you played a gig for him when he was in prison for drug possession.

“That was a night. The Stranglers were due to play the Rainbow but with Hugh in prison a few of us replaced him as singer, or rather tried to, because Hugh’s irreplaceable. Myself an Toyah did couple of songs, that was when I did Hanging Around for the first time. We were singing backing vocals on Peaches with Ian Dury singing. Toyah was dancing round the stage as she always does while Ian was scrabbling around on the floor trying to pick his hat up which she’d knocked off. Robert Smith was playing guitar as well, in his pre-make up days. I wish someone could find footage of it.

“It wasn’t so good for Hugh though – he was in prison for something he might not have been charged for now. The authorities were making an example of someone famous.”

• Continue reading at The Birmingham Press.

Both Toyah and Hazel O’Connor are playing at the New Quay Music Festival today.

Wales Online include the festival in their 20 terrific things to do in the wet weather this weekend.

It’s forecast to rain, but there ar.e still plenty of things happening that don’t require a brolly, from Sooty to edible art

11. New Quay Music Festival

The pretty seaside town hosts the three-day festival this weekend, with musical activities getting underway this evening. Held in the centre of New Quay, headline acts include Toyah and Hazel O’Connor.

Tickets are £10 for Friday, £20 for Saturday and Sunday or £40 for all three days – you can purchase yours online or via 01545 561143.

Two of Toyah’s contemporaries are currently touring the UK; Hazel O’Connor and Lene Lovich, and this is the latter’s first tour here with a full band for around 20 years.

Lene is playing UK dates until May, with the first taking place in Leicester last weekend, and is also included in the Rebellion Festival line-up in August. There are also other European dates.

Hazel is on the road with the Breaking Glass Barefoot Tour, as well as a couple of other non-tour dates, through until June. Hazel will also be playing the Rebellion Festival.

‘Breaking Glass Barefoot’ is also the name of Hazel’s new autobiography, and Toyah receives a mention in the book.

• Visit the Official Lene Lovich website and the Official Hazel O’Connor website for more info on the tours. (Thanks to Stephen Bennett Troake)

Five more amazing, and rare, photos, featuring three icons: Toyah, Hazel O’Connor and Ian Dury. These are from the April 1980 gig by The Stranglers at The Rainbow Theatre, London. View our other related posts here. View the full versions of the photos below at Dreamscape’s Gallery. I’d like to dedicate these great photos to Alec Kelly! (Thanks again to Andi)

Another great shot from The Stranglers’ 1980 gig. Toyah and Hazel O’Connor along with, the legendary, Ian Dury. What a great moment! Even more of these photos will be added to Dreamscape’s Gallery soon. (Thanks again to Andi)

More photos of Toyah onstage at The Rainbow in April 1980. She was one of a number of guest vocalists who appeared with the band at the gig while Hugh Cornwell was in prison. Others included Hazel O’Connor, Robert Smith, Ian Dury, Wilko Johnson and Richard Jobson. View larger versions at Dreamscape’s 1980 Gallery. (Thanks to Andi for these rare photos)

A very rare photo of Toyah and Hazel O’Connor onstage with The Stranglers at The Rainbow, London in April 1980.  More of these great photos soon. (Huge thanks to Andi)

Three from the 80s: The ‘Anthem Tour’, 1981; Toyah and Hazel O’Connor at The British Rock & Pop Awards, 1982; and Toyah, Maril Wilson and Kim Wilde at the launch of ‘Just Seventeen’ magazine, 1983. Please click on each to zoom. (Thanks to Andi)