Biography
Lynda and Jools Topp, identical twins whose instinctive closeness often leads them to complete one another's thoughts, stand apart from conventional images of country-and-western performers who lean into lesbian themes, political commentary, or theatrical comedy. The more robust Lynda possesses a striking yodel, while the leaner and quieter Jools brings a wry wit and energizes live shows by steering the musical flow with her guitar.
The sisters grew up milking cows on a dairy farm in New Zealand's North Island between the ages of five and fifteen, ultimately securing the formal qualifications required to finish their schooling. Their mother's singing and a guitar presented by their brother when they turned eleven sparked an early interest, giving the pair their initial public performance slot at an annual community gathering. They later relocated to Christchurch, the South Island's largest city, where they took on manual labor positions and delivered their debut concert before an audience of three hundred. A women's benefit event came next, along with comic sketches and short theatrical pieces that formed the core of their first national tour in 1979.
Joint appearances alongside Helen Caldicott across New Zealand and with Billy Bragg in England helped cultivate a wide-ranging and devoted audience. In 1987 they received the title of New Zealand's Entertainers of the Year, and a theatre production created on commission earned them the award for Best TV Performance that same year.
Their unaffected warmth and playful energy have steadily expanded their reach from small venues throughout New Zealand to larger crowds in Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. At the National Women's Music Festival an enthusiastic response to their yodeling prompted a packed after-hours coffeehouse set following their main-stage slot.
The sisters grew up milking cows on a dairy farm in New Zealand's North Island between the ages of five and fifteen, ultimately securing the formal qualifications required to finish their schooling. Their mother's singing and a guitar presented by their brother when they turned eleven sparked an early interest, giving the pair their initial public performance slot at an annual community gathering. They later relocated to Christchurch, the South Island's largest city, where they took on manual labor positions and delivered their debut concert before an audience of three hundred. A women's benefit event came next, along with comic sketches and short theatrical pieces that formed the core of their first national tour in 1979.
Joint appearances alongside Helen Caldicott across New Zealand and with Billy Bragg in England helped cultivate a wide-ranging and devoted audience. In 1987 they received the title of New Zealand's Entertainers of the Year, and a theatre production created on commission earned them the award for Best TV Performance that same year.
Their unaffected warmth and playful energy have steadily expanded their reach from small venues throughout New Zealand to larger crowds in Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. At the National Women's Music Festival an enthusiastic response to their yodeling prompted a packed after-hours coffeehouse set following their main-stage slot.
Albums
The Very Best Of
2026
No War In My Heart
2026
Honky Tonk Angel
2009
Flowergirls & Cowgirls
2005
Grass Highway
2001
Two Timing
1997
Singles
