DHP Pres.
Dominie Hooper
Live at The Grace, London
Dominie Hooper is a British songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Having spent years as a collaborator and session musician, working with the likes of Yola, Alabaster Deplume, and Band of Burns, 2021 sees the launch of Dominie Hooper’s ambitious new full-band solo project. With an aesthetic drawing on English folk, classical music, alt-rock, and avant-garde pop, the music defies easy categorisation, already being described as “deliciously off the wall” by Terry O’Brien of Playpen Music.
Mikey Kenney, Phil Self (Cocos Lovers, Will Varley), and Corrie Dick (Dinosaur) complete Hooper’s brand new ensemble with an electrifying on-stage connection, promising to make an undeniable impact on the world of contemporary folk and beyond.
“We arrived two days into the festival on Friday, in time to witness the angelic tones of Dominie Hooper. The seasoned collaborator and session musician has only just begun stepping out with her own material, and the breadth of her talent is immediately apparent. The original songs, performed perfectly, tread the line of other genres like dream-pop and more alternative styles of folk, whilst keeping the universal folky appeal. Even if “folk” isn’t your bag, Hooper has much to offer and could happily sit on a bill of indie bands as a pure folk bill.” – James Thornhill, Under The Radar Magazine
Originally from Dartmoor, Devon, Hooper is now based in London, and is a founding member of international folk ensemble Band of Burns, having fronted the band at such venues as The Union Chapel London, St George’s Hall Bristol, Barrowland Ballroom Glasgow, Band On The Wall Manchester, Celtic Connections Festival, and live on Radio 3. Aside from live and recorded music, Hooper has explored crossovers between music and theatrical performance. She trained in physical theatre, and has worked extensively with composer of a cappella song-theatre Verity Standen, helping to create startlingly immersive and avant garde choral works. At the start of 2020 Dominie was awarded a £10K DYCP grant from Arts Council England to develop her skills as a creative composer, taking time to work with mentors and develop new sounds. She has composed for theatre and dance, as well as The Sunday Boys low voice choir. She has just completed a year on the English Folk Expo’s Artist Mentoring Programme alongside Katherine Priddy.
