Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Toyah Willcox, the high priestess of punk, on her 40-year career

Toyah Willcox has forged a reputation as a talented actress, singer/songwriter, producer, storyteller, television presenter and author during a career that spans four decades.

Toyah has teamed up with Hazel O’Connor for a new show due in Yorkshire later this year.

Arguably one of the most prolific artists of her generation, her creativity remains undimmed. And now, in homage to post-punk and new wave music, the star has teamed up with Hazel O’Connor for a new show, aptly named Electric Ladies Of the Eighties, due in Yorkshire later this year, all things being well by then.

So where did the idea for the show come from? “This is something Hazel and I have been planning for 40 years. Ironically, we’d both been too busy doing other things so this is the first time we’ve ever actually toured together in this way, so we’re both very excited,” says Willcox.

“Hazel will be performing Breaking Glass and I’ll do Quadrophenia so there’s a lot of material that the audience will be very familiar with. We’ll be inviting everyone to join in and sing along with their favourite songs. It’s going to be one of those shows that is warm, welcoming with lots of great music and a real feel good factor.”

• Continue reading at The Yorkshire Post. See the full Electric Ladies Of The 80s tour dates.

Here are the rescheduled Electric Ladies Of The 80s tour dates – now taking place in September – due to all theatres and venues in the UK closing until further notice.

03 September: Edinburgh Queen’s Hall
04 September: Yarm The PAA
08 September: Southend Palace
09 September: Basingstoke The Anvil
10 September: Manchester RNCM
13 September: Swindon Wyvern Theatre
14 September: Milton Keynes Stables
15 September: Wimborne Tivoli Theatre
17 September: Holmfirth Picturedrome
22 September: Birmingham Town Hall
23 September: Guildford G Live
27 September: London Islington Assembly Hall
28 September: Buxton Opera House
29 September: Hull City Hall
30 September: Gateshead Sage

All tickets purchased for the original dates remain valid. Ticket holders have been asked NOT to contact venues or SEE Tickets. They will make contact with ticketholders in due course to explain the way forward.

Refunds are available if needed, but all theatres and venues around the country are asking the same – for the sake of supporting venues/theatres and their long term survival and financial security, they ask that ticketholders hold on to their tickets and not request a refund if possible, but understand if that’s not financially feasible.

• See Toyah’s video message on the Electric Ladies Of The 80s tour at Instagram.

There’s just a month until the Electric Ladies Of The 80s tour, with Toyah and Hazel O’Connor joint-headlining 15 gigs, begins at The Anvil, Basingstoke.

At the time of writing, four of the dates – Swindon Wyvern Theatre, Milton Keynes The Stables, Wimborne Tivoli Theatre, and Southend Palace Theatre have Sold Out. With three others – Birmingham Town Hall, Gateshead Sage, Edinburgh The Queen’s Hall – only having a last few tickets remaining.

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 and her 2019 chart success, In The Court of the Crimson Queen. 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 and recently released her acclaimed new album Hallelujah Moments.

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, Eight Day, It’s A Mystery, Will You, I Want To Be Free, D-Days and many more.

Toyah and Hazel O’Connor are interviewed in the latest issue of The Beat magazine, ahead of their upcoming joint Electric Ladies Of The 80s UK Tour.

Moving On From The Era: Toyah and Hazel – electric ladies of the 80s

On the eve of their first UK tour together for many years, we caught up with two true survivors of the punk era – Toyah Willcox and Hazel O’Connor.

• The Beat is available in selected newsagents or by suscription at their website. (Thanks to Min)

Iconic singing superstars Toyah Willcox and Hazel O’Connor bring tour to Islington

Iconic singing superstars Toyah Willcox and Hazel O’Connor will ramp up the retro when their pulsating new nationwide tour Electric Ladies of the 80s hits the capital next month.

The musical legends, who were at the forefront of post-punk and new wave, will evoke the era of neon brights and vintage beats as they each perform their own hit-packed set – and team up for some duets and surprises.

Between them, Toyah and Hazel have a combined back catalogue of 60 albums, plus several TV and film roles. Promising an uplifting show full of synth-spiked classics and more modern numbers, the 14-date tour will arrive in London on April 23rd.

The pair will be joined on stage at Islington Assembly Hall by a full electric band, with the set featuring much-loved tracks like Thunder In The Mountains, Eighth Day, It’s A Mystery, Will You, I Want To Be Free and D-Days.

Speaking of the tour, Toyah says: “I’m wildly excited for this. We’ll be doing some of our own repertoires, original arrangements, and new material. Expect it to be a very upbeat show, very musical and nostalgic, and above all, great to watch.”

Despite first meeting in 1980 at an audition, Toyah and Hazel’s careers have never collided – until now. Delighted to be hitting the road together at last, Hazel says: “It’s taken us 40 years, but we finally have this opportunity. I always love watching Toyah perform; her music is part of the roadmap of my life. The show is sounding incredible in rehearsals, and we can’t wait to get going.”

• Continue reading at the London Post. Book tickets for the tour here. NB: A number of the dates have already Sold Out, with more just about to!

Toyah and Hazel O’Connor team up for Electric Ladies of the 80s tour heading for Derbyshire

Innovators of post punk and new wave during their Eighties heyday, Toyah and Hazel O’Connor are joining forces in a show heading for Derbyshire.

They will be performing at Buxton Opera House, April 24, as part of the Electric Ladies of the 80s tour.

Toyah and Hazel have a combined back catalogue of around 60 albums as well as a number of television and film credits between them. They initially met in 1980 while auditioning for the film Breaking Glass and their musical careers have run parallel without actually crossing paths, until now.

• Continue reading at the Derbyshire Times. Book tickets for the tour here.

Toyah and Hazel O’Connor to bring their Electric Ladies of the 80s tour to Dorset

Innovators of post punk and new wave during their eighties heyday, much-loved artists, Toyah, 61, and Hazel O’Connor, 64, are delighted to join forces to bring forth their new tour, Electric Ladies of the 80s.

It calls in at the Tivoli, Wimborne, on April 18.

Two of the most recognisable artists of the modern era, Toyah and Hazel have a combined back catalogue of around 60 albums as well as a number of television and film credits between them dating back to the late seventies.

Initially meeting when auditioning for Breaking Glass in 1980, alongside Kate Bush, the careers of the two musicians have ran somewhat parallel without actually crossing paths, until now.

Speaking of their finally hitting the road together Hazel giggled: “Toyah and I, we just work together, although it’s taken us forty years to do this. We finally get the opportunity to do it and it’s great; I always love watching her perform, she’s certainly the roadmap of my life and her music has always been a part of it.”

• Continue reading at the Bournemouth Echo. Book tickets for the tour here.

Toyah and Hazel’s upcoming joint headlining 2020 tour is selling out fast!

Christmas 2010, and The Hazel O’Connor Collective, which included Toyah as one of the main vocalists, released the charity single – written by Hazel O’Connor – Re-Joyce (In The Bleak Midwinter). Proceeds from the single went to Myton Hospice in Coventry where Hazel’s mum, Joyce, received care and treatment for cancer.

The track was also released on CD, and alongside the main single mix, some special solo versions were also released digitally, including Toyah’s. Re-Joyce (In The Bleak Midwinter) reached the Top 10 of the Amazon UK Music/Singles chart at Christmas 2010.

80s punk icons Toyah Willcox and Hazel O’Connor team up for Electric Ladies tour

The punk pair have been friends for 40 years and share a fan base – yet they’ve never found the time to link up… until now!

Two Eighties icons have finally teamed up to tour together for the first time.

Toyah Willcox and Hazel O’Connor have been friends for 40 years and share a fan base.

Yet they have never had time to link up…until now.

The punk pair will take their Electric Ladies Of The 80s tour on the road in April.

Toyah, 61, said: “I think it’s about 40 years in the making. We have always spoken to each other about doing it over the 40 years of knowing each other, and now it’s happening.”

Toyah hit the big time in 1976 with a role in the BBC play Glitter. Since then she has forged parallel careers as an actress and a singer.

As two of the leading ladies of the punk and new wave movements, Toyah and Hazel’s paths were intertwined right from the very start. And music lovers were often fans of both artists’ material.

• Continue reading at the Daily Star. Book tickets for the Electric Ladies Of The 80s UK tour by clicking below. (Photo © Daily Star/Steve Finn)

“The Toyah and Hazel O’Connor rehearsals are fab“. Click here to see the tweet and on the photo below for tour info and ticket links for Electric Ladies Of The 80s. (Photo © Toyah Willcox)

The advert for Hazel and Toyah’s Electric Ladies Of The 80s 2020 tour – Watch it here or by clicking below. Book tickets, for the tour that is inspiring a lot of excitement, here.

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)