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
