Luke Holdsworth was born deaf and didn’t get to enjoy live music until his 20s. Now he is one of the UK’s most respected BSL interpreters at live concerts
Helicopters buzz overhead as anticipation builds in the crowd. Tens of thousands of Oasis diehards have descended on Cardiff’s Principality Stadium for a celebration they never thought possible, and Luke Holdsworth is right in the thick of it – but not as a lucky ticket-holder. Interpreting the spectacle in sign language, he’s bringing deaf fans into the heart of the experience, conveying the music, the vibe, even the Gallaghers’ trademark swagger.
“You get caught up in the atmosphere – it’s electric,” Holdsworth tells Positive News. “It was an incredible privilege to be part of history while at the same time providing access for deaf people, helping them enjoy the shows.”
Born profoundly deaf and raised by deaf parents, Holdsworth’s first language was British Sign Language (BSL), which uses hand shapes, gestures, facial expressions and body movements instead of spoken words. The language has its own unique grammar, vocabulary and sentence structures. For Holdsworth, 36, it was everyday life. Like many in the deaf community, he was given his own sign language name – ‘Shy’ – reflecting his timidity.
Sign language interpreters are becoming a common sight at gigs and festivals, but Holdsworth saw one for the first time just seven years ago. Watching Tracey Tyer – something of a legend in the close-knit world of performance interpretation – sign alongside dance legends Underworld at Latitude Festival, Holdsworth was blown away.
“I was like: ‘Damn!’” he remembers. “She embodied the music from the second it started and smashed it out of the park. Me and my friends were in awe. Years later, we still talk about it.”
Another standout moment came seeing Madonna at London’s O2 with full BSL access. “As a deaf person, you always have to explain, or ask for access, or have a defence ready,” he says. “I don’t like the word ‘normal’ but this was one time when I felt like I was just a young guy who saw Madonna. I had what my hearing friends had – an easy night out.”
Holdsworth was inspired to complete an interpreting course and, in 2023, found himself front and centre at London’s Pride celebrations, signing in Trafalgar Square and working alongside, of all people, Tracey Tyer. Since then, he has signed for Lewis Capaldi, Paloma Faith and Disclosure. In 2024, the call came to cover 14 dates on Oasis’ reunion tour.
You get caught up in the atmosphere – it’s electric
For Holdsworth, interpreting music is storytelling, not simply signing words. Using hearing aids gives him limited access to audio, and he’ll spend hours immersed in back catalogues, learning lyrics and unravelling the stories behind them.
Come show time, he conveys tempo, rhythm and melody, while stepping into the artist’s persona to bring songs to life. With Oasis, that meant playing on the brothers’ trademark Mancunian cockiness.
“I was working alongside a colleague, Samantha Vanterpool, and we were able to bring their attitude, even their swagger – it’s compulsory!” Holdsworth laughs.
He says the work is also about giving others something he lacked as a teenager. Holdsworth didn’t attend his first gig until his mid-20s because he assumed, as a deaf person, it wasn’t for him.
Holdsworth plays air guitar for crowds at one of Oasis’ comeback shows
“This is embarrassing, but that first concert was One Direction,” he says. “And there was no interpretation so I didn’t understand a thing. It’s hard to explain what having access means to a deaf person.”
This summer, thanks largely to his partnership with specialist agency Performance Interpreting, Holdsworth’s diary is packed. He has been signing at Wembley for Harry Styles, with more Lewis Capaldi and dates at Latitude to come – a full-circle moment.
Still, Holdsworth would like to see more venues booking interpreters as a matter of course. Under the Equality Act 2010, event organisers have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments, which can include providing BSL interpretation.
It allows deaf people to experience one of humanity’s most basic pleasures
“But deaf people don’t want to have to explain, or buy a ticket and hope. If you’re promoting an event, just put BSL interpreters on, and tell people. They’ll buy tickets. It’s a win-win.”
Ultimately, he hopes performance interpreters will mean a new generation of deaf music fans get to experience the thrill of live music while still in the first flush of youth, instead of waiting until their mid-20s. Signing is bigger than accessibility, he suggests. It allows deaf people to experience one of humanity’s most basic pleasures: losing themselves in a shared moment and feeling music’s power to unite.
“Being able to watch a show and being part of the crowd like everyone else – it’s not just about the music, it’s the vibe, the going out with friends, and having fun,” says Holdsworth. “You become one, you’re there as a community.”
Main image: Luke Holdsworth
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