From Buddy Holly and Bessie Smith, to traditional and contemporary songs and ballads, the acoustic sounds of Toein' in the Dark cross a broad spectrum of musical tastes and styles. With a philosophy of "if we like it, we'll play it", Andrew, Carmel, Bob and Jen have an infectious enthusiasm for their music, presenting enjoyable, stimulating and lively musical entertainment. Their use of guitar, fiddle, accordion, piano, whistle, recorder, mandolin and banjo, combined with strong vocals and harmonies, gives them an unusual, distinctive and dynamic style which lends itself to a diverse range of material.

Over the years the South Yorkshire based band have gained a wide experience playing at a variety of venues ranging from folk clubs, festivals, shows, pubs and private functions to their acclaimed performance at the Buxton Opera House with The Bachelors and more recently at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Their CD, 'Such A Long Way Back Home', has also featured on BBC TV.

Throughout the 80's, before becoming an item, the members of Toein' were treading the same boards at the same venues, the Rotherham Labour Club being a constant before its demise. Often they appeared on the same bill, supporting the same worthy causes, the miners' and steelworkers' strikes being just two, either as individuals, duos or in bands such as the Red G'Zunders, Kinnegad Slashers, Moanin' Minnies and the New Andy Hoult Band. Ray and Mark Hearne were also regular performers during those vibrant times for the club. So in the early 90's when Mark was short of an Irish band to join him for a gig at the Rockingham Arms, Wentworth, he hastily combined and rehearsed two consenting duos from the Labour Club scene, Malcolm & Jenny Fox and Andy Hoult & Bob Meakin. Mark went on to pursue a solo career and the new band got its first booking!

2005 was an amazing year for all of us, culminating in our two performances on the Arts for Life Stage at the Edinburgh Festival in August. Set against the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle and overlooked by the famous Princes Street bustling with a cosmopolitan mix of festival visitors, the huge stage and screen was a focus for an international line-up of performers. We were very privileged to take part in this great event.

Why Toein' in the Dark, the band are often asked? Well, they were happy to play on without a name for a while, until a bizarre conversation about caravans and a prominent Tory politician and his alleged toe fetish took place around a campfire in a Lincolnshire field! The band members, friends and families had gathered with their assorted tents and caravans for a weekend in the fresh air. One member of the group, surprised that Malc and Jen had just arrived late in the evening enquired "How did you manage to get here at this late hour?" "Well, we drove here" replied Malc dryly. "What! Towing in the dark?" was the concerned reply. "That'll do" Malc said and with the subtle spelling change and numerous attempts to photograph forty toes for their early posters, the band name was christened.

Sadly, Malcolm had been suffering from a serious heart condition for several years, but despite this he enjoyed performing with the band and continued to play right up until his death in November 1998. Carmel O'Toole was welcomed into the band the following year and Toein' in the Dark has continued to grow and develop in style, performance and confidence, culminating in the release of their first CD in the Spring of 2002.

From the outset, Toein' in the Dark has always been keen to demonstrate a commitment and support for humanitarian and socialist causes including Amnesty International, Trade Unions, disadvantaged groups and their local community. They reflect this in their choice of some of their songs.

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