The Unthanks, Live in Huddersfield

Brudenell Presents...
The Unthanks In Winter
15.12.2026 | £35.00 ADVANCE (stbf) | Doors 19:00
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Described as ‘the gold standard’ of all winter records alongside Frost and Fire by The
Watersons in a five star review from the Times, The Unthanks In Winter is 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, In Winter is a bittersweet hymnal to our
shared winter experience. It’s an extensive, completist time-capsule of the season,
featuring Christmas tunes known throughout the world from multiple cultures, mixed
with the traditional and the newly written, all passed with great care and love through
The Unthanks filter.
In Winter has been described as “an artful triumph” (Songlines), “a massive statement”
(Klof), “the definitive folk album for winter” (TradFolk), “the essence of winter in all its
emotional complexity” (Fatea), “an absolute gem and one of the finest albums the
Unthanks have given us yet” (Narc), “truly beautiful music, full of winter chill and familial
warmth“ (Buzz), “As breathtaking as freezing air” (The Telegraph), “a rare beast that
transcends the notion of a Christmas album” (Silent Radio), “the familiar made strange
(The Wire) and “a timeless celebration of winter. One of the few albums of its type to
transcend its limited purpose.” (Record Collector).
In their typical magpie style, The Unthanks collect and reimagine, at once unique and
familiar, inventive but natural and effortless. Hear a Tyneside band playing a German
Christmas song in the style of The Beach Boys; a Spanish carol performed by English
folkies through the filter of Tom Waits; a French carol given desert-blues menace, a
newly written tribute to the NHS to the tune of O Holy Night; a wintry opening piece
inspired by A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten; traditional wassails and old
stories coloured with folk noir and traces of Vincent Guaraldi’s Merry Christmas Charlie
Brown.
In Winter is a world in itself, capturing the warmth and nostalgia of the festive season,
the chill and darkness of the winter months, and the reflective ritualisms of the turn of
the year; the end and beginning of the circle of life.
“While the gold standard remains The Watersons’ 1965 classic Frost and Fire, this album
is beautiful, atmospheric and profound enough to take its place alongside it”
The Times ★★★★★
“A 75 minute opus. The Unthanks have made the definitive folk album for winter.” – Trad
Folk
“In Winter is an absolute gem, one of the finest albums the Unthanks have given us yet
and guaranteed to soundtrack Christmases for a long time to come.” - NARC ★★★★★
“A massive statement. Again and again, the band finds ways to defy expectations. In
Winter by The Unthanks is a rare offering that evokes the vast emotions of the cold
winter months.” - KLOF
“Wrap up warmly for an artful triumph” – Songlines ★★★★★
”The highlights are too many to list.. the arrangements are exquisitely beautiful and
measured. The whole is limpidly beautiful, moving and bears listening to repeatedly,
such is the simplicity and space in the sound. It is exactly what I expected from The
Unthanks but still full of their usual surprises. Always gorgeous and pure-sounding but
never taking a song head-on without excavating for its emotional heart.” - Vanguard
“In Winter is a truly beautiful collection of songs. A record that will no doubt make many
more appearances at this time in years to come, such is its magical power. They know
how to bring out the drama of a song – they are great singers, and great actors of what a
song needs to come alive” – The Arts Desk ★★★★
“I am begging you to check this out! Rather brilliant” - God Is In The TV ★★★★
“The Unthanks unleash a concept album to challenge the concepts of even the hardiest
grinch, all performed with their ineffable idiosyncracy. McNally’s arrangements are a
masterclass in controlled decorum. Find yourself an hour and a bit, and play it, alone
and to yourself, no skipping.” - At The Barrier
“Exquisitely crafted. In Winter is a deeply evocative, haunting album that captures the
essence of winter in all its emotional complexity.” - FATEA
”The Unthanks voices are as heavenly as ever. Add to that rather short list of ‘Christmas
albums you’ll play more than once in your life’” Uncut
“As always, their singing and choice of material is sublime. Adrian McNally's
arrangements are as high-calibre.. It's truly beautiful music, full of winter chill and familial
warmth” - Buzz ★★★★
“The familiar made strange. There's a sense of bringing people, places and time periods
together, which gives rise to an atmosphere of festive communion. Compelling” - The
Wire
“A fully immersive dive into the winter experience. Their rich instrumentation, careful
arrangements, and beautiful harmonies are just the warming sound needed as the
nights draw in” - For Folk’s Sake
“‘In Winter is a rare beast that transcends the notion of a Christmas album” - Silent Radio
“A timeless celebration of winter. One of the few albums of its type to transcend its
limited purpose.” - Record Collector ★★★★
“a ravishing seasonal album” – The Sun 9/10
“moves seamlessly from the specific and familial to the universal.” – The FT ★★★★
“Their voices contain the warmth of a fire and the bright cold of a starlit night” – The
Times ★★★★
“The further off-piste the group strayed, the better. Field recordings of bitter winds,
snow-crunching footsteps, street bustle and church bells added a layer of unease – the
implacable howl of winter – as did the group’s embrace of silence whenever it
appeared: between songs, between lines. Carol of the Beasts, meanwhile, delivered the
aforementioned attitude: a menacing wall of drones, saxophone and guitar, building
and shivering like a Lankum song, was as breathtaking as freezing air.” The
Telegraph ★★★★
“They have surpassed even their high standards” ★★★★★ R2 (Rock’n’Reel)