The Unthanks Diversions series of albums has found them exploring Molly Drake, the Shipyard, Robert Wyatt And Antony & The Johnsons and brass music with the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band. For Diversions Vol. 5 they turn full circle with Adrian McNally (pianist, producer and arranger), and Chris Price (guitars and bass) temporarily stepping back for an album of unaccompanied singing.
The Unthanks sisters Rachel and Becky return to their roots of unaccompanied singing alongside Niopha Keegan, something the Tyneside sisters had been doing long before the creation of Rachel Unthank & The Winterset. This may come as no surprise to some, it was hinted at in our interview with Adrian McNally – where should a band turn once they have explored every diversion that has caught their interest along the road? Well, back to the beginning of course. “For Rachel and Becky” he elaborated, “that is singing unaccompanied. It makes it feel really worth all the effort, to have got to the point where we’ve come full circle and have an audience interested in unaccompanied song”.
They fully explore their rich and unique vocal combinations, with brand new pieces and arrangements including a cover of Newcastle’s Richard Dawson‘s We Picked Apples In A Graveyard Freshly Mowed which seems a very appropriate choice considering his love for what he calls “ritual community music”. While Magpie is one of only three tracks on Live & Unaccompanied that has appeared on an Unthanks record before, for the rest of the tracks, The Unthanks would prefer us to regard the versions here on Diversions Vol 5, as the definitive recordings, captured live across a five-week tour in Spring 2019. Selected from 31 shows, the performances on this record were variously taken from shows in Newcastle, Dublin, London, Brighton, Durham, Bellaghy and Belfast.
This is not a live album in the sense of having concert versions of songs that appear on studio records. If a studio is a creative tool in itself with which to paint all manner of 3D settings for sound and stories to exist in, we might, in contrast, prefer to see the directness and simplicity of unaccompanied singing, as a performance art, and one of storytelling, which requires an audience to tell to. That is the basis on which The Unthanks regard the live setting of these performances, to be the truest place to capture these songs on record.
The Special Film Edition of Diversions Vol 5 includes As We Go, an atmospheric and beautifully shot account of life on the road, through the eyes of filmmaker Ainslie Henderson. The film features concert highlights, behind the scenes footage, family life and special performances in found spaces, in and outdoor, during the tour.
A BAFTA award-winning animator and filmmaker, Henderson happens to be Becky Unthank’s partner and father to their son. As We Go captures a unique moment in the lives of both Becky Unthank and Niohpa Keegan, who six months before the tour, each had a first child. On tour to look after baby as well as make the film (alongside Niopha’s partner who was also on tour looking after their baby), Henderson’s unique position within the touring party allows him to capture the realities of touring life for new mothers. He also paints a touching portrayal of fathers looking after young sons while their mothers travel, sing and work.
As We Go is only available on DVD as part of this special edition of Diversions Vol 5 – Live And Unaccompanied.
Diversions Vol 5 – Live And Unaccompanied – album tracklist:
01 One by One – Connie Converse / 02 Magpie – Dave Dodds, published by Folktracks / 03 I’m Weary of Lying Alone – Trad / Arr The Unthanks / 04 Geordie Wedding Set – Trad / Arr The Unthanks (We’ll Aal Be Wed In Our Auld Claiths / Hi Canny Man) / 05 The Griesly Bride – Manifold/Campbell / 06 Bees (Honeybee – Connie Converse / The Bee Boy Song – Rudyard Kipling / Peter Bellamy) / 07 Guard Yer Man Weel – Johnny Handle/The Unthanks / 08 Poor Mum – Molly Drake / 09 Where’ve Yer Bin Dick – Lee Nicholson / 10 We Picked Apples In A Graveyard Freshly Mowed – Richard Dawson, published by Domino Publishing 12 Company Ltd / 11 Bread and Roses – James Oppenheim / Mimi Farina, published by Farina Music / 12 Caught In A Storm – Graeme Miles / 13 Farewell Shanty – Trad / Arr The Unthanks/Vincent
As We Go -The film includes the following pieces:
Lullabies, Where’ve Yer Bin Dick, We Picked Apples In A Graveyard Freshly Mowed, Love Like a River (Tim Dalling), Sandgate Dandling Song, Magpie, One By One, Geordie Wedding Set.
DVD Extras:
Caught In A Storm, Meeting Point (Tim Dalling), Magpie, We Picked Apples In A Graveyard Freshly Mowed.
Pre-Order Diversions Vol 5
Shows and Festivals
There are a couple of short tours in Ireland and Scotland, plus a smattering of festival shows! Some Ireland and Scotland shows are sold out already so please hurry to avoid disappointment.
Ireland Dates
UNACCOMPANIED with Rachel, Becky and Niopha.
APRIL
22 Limerick, University Concert Hall
23 Newbridge, Riverbank Arts Centre
24 Dun Laoghaire SOLD OUT
25 Sligo, Hawkswell Theatre
26 Letterkenny, An Griann
27 Bangor SOLD OUT
All the following dates are five-piece shows
MAY
02 Alnwick, Alnwick Playhouse
03 Alnwick, Alnwick Playhouse
Scotland Dates
04 Glasgow SOLD OUT
05 Dundee, Caird Hall
06 Aberdeen, Aberdeen Music Hall
07 Inverness, Eden Hall
08 Stirling Albert Halls
09 Galashiels, MacArts
10 Dumfries SOLD OUT
Summer festivals
JULY
04 Derbyshire, Timber Festival