THE UNTHANKS announce new album 'In Winter' and share lead single 'Dear Companions' | Out 29th November via RabbleRouser

THE UNTHANKS announce new album
In Winter and share lead single
'Dear Companions'

Listen to 'Dear Companions' HERE

In Winter arrives November 29th via RabbleRouser

UK & Ireland headline tour dates upcoming

Released today, 'Dear Companions' is the new single from The Unthanks, taken from forthcoming double album In Winter, which is set for release on November 29th via RabbleRouser. A parting song that instantly feels like it has always been with us, written by Becky Unthank to the old American folk tune of Nettleton, 'Dear Companions' crescendos towards its end with the voices of 60 devotees, recorded on one of the band’s infamous singing residentials.

“Saying goodbye can often be hard,” says Becky Unthank, who wrote the song at home in Northumberland with her partner, the BAFTA award winning animator Ainslie Henderson. “In its bittersweetness we struggle sometimes to find a satisfying way to part, which is why I’ve always loved the function of a parting song.”

'Dear Companions' is the closing track on the mammoth forthcoming double album, In Winter - a dream-like winter fantasia, embracing both the dark and the light in the most ritualistic of seasons. Moving in and out of focus, like a memory, it promises to be a bittersweet hymnal to the winter experience, and a future classic of the Christmas genre.

“This parting song is inspired by our singing weekends, which we dearly love and cherish” continues Becky. “We are overjoyed that we’ve managed to capture some singing weekenders at the end of this track. In the lyrics, there’s also a reference to our Unthank family camping get-togethers in the garden. Yes, my sister really does make lanterns and yes, my brother really does play the violin!”

Pre-order the forthcoming album In Winter HERE.

Vinyl and CD copies ordered directly on the band's website come with free album download and a signed Christmas card. 

Hear 'Dear Companions' on streaming services here and share via YouTube below.

The Unthanks will tour In Winter across Ireland and the UK. Full dates below. Tickets are available from the band's website.

The Unthanks 2024 headline tour dates
26 Nov - Galway Roisin Dubh
27 Nov - Empire, Belfast, NI
28 Nov - Liberty Hall Theatre, Dublin, IE
29 Nov - St Luke's, Cork, IE
01 Dec - City Halls, Glasgow, UK
03 Dec - The Glasshouse ICM, Gateshead, UK
04 Dec - Saint Annes Lowther Pavilion, Lytham, UK
05 Dec - City Hall, Hull, UK
06 Dec - White Rock Theatre, Hastings, UK
07 Dec - Assembly Hall, Worthing, UK
09 Dec - Town Hall, Birmingham, UK
10 Dec - Albert Hall, Nottingham, UK
11 Dec - Epic Studios, Norwich, UK
13 Dec - Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden, UK
14 Dec - Royal Hall, Harrogate, UK
15 Dec - New Century Hall, Manchester, UK
16 Dec - The Lighthouse, Poole, UK
17 Dec - Pavilion, Exmouth, UK
18 Dec - St Petroc's Church, Bodmin, UK
19 Dec - Beacon, Bristol, UK
20 Dec - Arts Centre, Pontardawe, UK
21 Dec - Cadogan Hall, London, UK (Evening Sold Out / Matinee On Sale)
22 Dec - The Haymarket, Basingstoke, UK



“The Unthanks are capable of such beauty that sometimes I can hardly bear to listen to them.” Martin Freeman

“There are few times when you discover a band and they stalk immediately to the heart of everything you love and hold dear.” Maxine Peake

“They run from the very root of folk music to the very tip of the branch.” Elvis Costello

“It’s quite a rare thing now. They’ve really got everything you could want from music. And I’m very fussy.” Robert Wyatt

“The Unthanks have covered a lot of ground in the past decade and watching them evolve over this period has been truly inspiring.” Phillip Selway (Radiohead)

“The honest and heartfelt way in which they deliver their music is a true inspiration to me.” Martin Hayes

“It hits you in your soul rather than your head. I love them.” Adrian Edmondson

“If there was such a thing still as having a favourite band like in the old days, I’d say they were my favourite band.” Paul Morley

The Unthanks - In Winter album track listing

1. In Winter’s Night
2. O Tannenbaum
3. Dark December
4. Gower Wassail
5. The Holly And The Ivy
6. O Come All Ye Faithful
7. Carol Of The Birds
8. Carol Of The Beasts
9. The Cherry Tree Carol
10. Bleary Winter
11. In The Bleak Midwinter
12. The Snow It Melts The Soonest
13. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
14. Coventry Carol
15. River River
16. Nurse Emmanuel
17. Tar Barrel In Dale
18. Greatham
19. Dear Companions

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