DECMBER 2009
The Unthanks - End of Year News and TV Performance Tonight!
BBC 4 Christmas Session 9pm, 17th Dec. BBC4
The Unthanks end an amazing year with a television performance on BBC4 tonight,
as part of The Christmas Session, featuring The Unthanks, Bellowhead, Lisa
Knapp and Thea Gilmore. The Unthanks perform a specially arranged version
of In The Bleak Midwinter, Tar Barrel In Dale (the New Year song written
by dad George Unthank, currently available on single with Lucky Gilchrist),
and Betsy Bel. : The Christmas Session (also repeated on Christmas Eve and
Christmas Day, and available on HD)
There is also a live performance of Sad February, recorded exclusively
for the BBC4 Sessions website, plus backstage interview, available here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/7e54bb8a-d5c6-4dab-9bb8-a40b418e3532
An Album of the Decade
The Bairns by Rachel Unthank & The Winterset featured in the Best Albums
of The Decade chart in both The Observer and Uncut Magazine. It was the
only British folk album to appear in either decade chart.
More Awards and Nominations
Here's The Tender Coming has won Mojo Magazine Folk Album of the Year, it's
number 26 in Uncut's Albums of the Year (all genres) and number 5 in fRoots
Albums of the Year. The Unthanks have been nominated in the BBC Folk Awards
for Best Group, Best Album and Best Song (Patience Kershaw).
January Show at the Roadhouse
Rachel and Becky Unthank perform at The Roadhouse in London on January 25th
with a host of talent led by composer and conducter Charles Hazlewood. Entitled
The Beggars Opera: Reborn and part of the genre defying leftfield festival
Reverb, it will a reimagining of the folk tunes and songs from John Gay's
satirisation of musical establishment of 18th Century. The line up includes
Rachel, Becky, Charles Hazlewood, Adrian Utley (Portishead), Charlie Jones
(Goldfrapp), members of Charles's period instrument orchestra Army of Generals.
http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/productions/charles-hazlewood-s-4107
Adrian McNally Contributes to New Book
The Unthanks manager, pianist, arranger and producer Adrian McNally is one
of the contributors to a new book exploring Britain's relationship with
Europe, called Fog In Channel..? The collection of views and essays includes
contributions from Tony Benn, Charles Kennedy, Simon Woodroffe, Judge Jules.
Adrian's contribution, entitled Big Fish Little Fish, features amongst them.
Fog In Channel..? is published by and available from www.shoehornbooks.com
Shepherds Bush Empire Review
The Guardian review of our Shepherds Bush Empire gig, 30th Nov:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/dec/02/the-unthanks-review
Thank you!
A big thanks from us to everyone who made our 42 date tour the most special
and fun that we've ever been on. Happy Christmas and see you in the new
year!