The Glasshouse

The Unthanks, Tyneside’s much-loved folk group and Artistic Partners at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, are marking their 20th anniversary with a tour in collaboration with Royal Northern Sinfonia, home orchestra of The Glasshouse, and their Associate Conductor Ellie Slorach.

The Unthanks at 20: An anniversary special with Royal Northern Sinfonia will travel the length of the UK, beginning at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester on Wednesday 28 January, then heading to Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow on Thursday 29 January, The Glasshouse, Gateshead on Friday 30 January and closing at London’s Barbican on Saturday 31 January.

To mark 20 years as a band, The Unthanks will unite with Royal Northern Sinfonia. The anniversary tour also celebrates ten years since their BBC Folk Album of the Year, Mount The Air, with a set that draws on favourites from across their 15 albums.

This collaboration takes the orchestral threads in The Unthanks’ music and lifts them to a new scale. With arrangements by their pianist and composer Adrian McNally, The Unthanks like to stay close to their songs, shaping and expanding them without losing the truth at their heart.

They’ve already brought their music to life with the BBC Concert Orchestra at The Proms, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band and Charles Hazlewood’s Army of Generals. Joining forces with Gateshead’s world-class chamber orchestra is a fitting way to celebrate two decades of fearless creativity – a journey that’s won them fans including Michael Sheen, Maxine Peake, Martin Freeman, Elvis Costello, Martin Hayes, Mackenzie Crook, Dawn French and Philip Selway.

Royal Northern Sinfonia are no strangers to collaboration, having worked with artists as varied as JADE, Jordan Rakei and Self Esteem at the BBC Proms at The Glasshouse. Touring is central to their mission, giving audiences across the country the chance to experience the beauty and power of an orchestra up close.

The Glasshouse is currently celebrating its 20th birthday, marking its most creatively ambitious era yet. It’s home to a growing group of Artistic Partners: Corinne Bailey Rae, Maria Włoszczowska, The Unthanks, John Wilson’s Sinfonia of London and GemArts. Each is supported to curate and create new work rooted in the North East, reflecting The Glasshouse’s commitment to being a home for artists – a place to experiment, develop fresh ideas and connect directly with audiences.

Recently, The Unthanks launched their eclectic new event series, The Friday Night Club. Curated and hosted by the band, the first of these quarterly gatherings featured a vibrant mix of voices and disciplines that reflected the spirit of the venue itself.

Adrian McNally from The Unthanks, said,

“While perhaps it’s more common for artists to leave the arranging to the experts when venturing into orchestral spheres, we like to get stuck in, retain close care of the songs and seize the chance to develop our artistic range. We can’t wait to celebrate 20 years as a band by sharing how these songs are still growing through these inspiring, collaborative shows.

“It will be a thrill to perform Mount The Air, The King Of Rome and all our other most loved tunes with Royal Northern Sinfonia and we look forward to working closely with conductor Ellie Slorach.”

Wendy Smith, Creative Director of The Glasshouse, said,

“This collaboration with The Unthanks is a brilliant example of how Royal Northern Sinfonia works with artists to shape fresh ideas and take them on the road. Performing at prestigious venues like the Barbican, Bridgewater Hall and Royal Concert Hall shows how artist-led programming from The Glasshouse can resonate nationally.”

/END

Orla Noble, Premier Comms, orla.noble@premiercomms.com
07808 282795

Beverley Knight: beverley.knight@theglasshouseicm.org
0191 443 4583

IMAGES

Royal Northern Sinfonia credit Tynesight Media

Ellie Slorach credit Tynesight Media

LISTINGS

The Unthanks at 20: An anniversary special with Royal Northern Sinfonia | The Glasshouse

The Unthanks at 20: An anniversary special with Royal Northern Sinfonia 

Wednesday 28 January
Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
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Thursday 29 January
Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
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Friday 30 January
The Glasshouse, Gateshead
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Saturday 31 January
Barbican, London
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About The Unthanks

Nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and the only British folk representation in The Guardian’s and Uncut’s best albums of last decade (worldwide, all genres), The Unthanks have an army of notable fans, including Martin Freeman, Elvis Costello, Colin Firth, Robert Wyatt, Rosanne Cash, Dawn French, Al Murray, Ade Edmondson, Matt Lucas, Stephen Mangan, Paul Morley, Martin Hayes, Ryan Adams, Ben Folds, Ewan McGregor and Nick Hornby.

The Unthanks is a family affair for Tyneside sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank, with Rachel married to pianist, producer, arranger and composer, Adrian McNally. Using the traditional music of the North East of England as a starting point and predominant song source, the influence of Steve Reich, Miles Davis, Sufjan Stevens, Robert Wyatt, Antony & The Johnsons, King Crimson and Tom Waits can be heard in the band’s seven albums to date.

Since releasing three project albums in one year back in 2012, The Unthanks have been hiding away in Northumberland, quietly working away on an ambitious follow-up to 2011’s Last. Who knows how rich, imaginative and groundbreaking their new album will be, released to coincide with this tour, and to be brought to life on stage with a talented 10-piece band.

It’s anyone’s guess. Those project albums – the orchestral ambition of a brass band collaboration, a reimagining of the work of Robert Wyatt and Antony Hegarty, and a soundtrack to a film about the shipbuilding industry – give little clue, while work since then with Orbital, Sting, Adrian Utley (Portishead), Martin Green (Lau), Martin Hayes, The Voice Squad, Charles Hazlewood, The Moulettes and German composer Werner Cee,, is so disparate that making predictions is impossible.

Definable only by their restless, peerless eccentricity, The Unthanks see folk music less as a style of music and more as a oral history that offers perspective on our own time. Their unique approach to storytelling straddles the complex relationship between modernism and learning from the past. Staunch traditionalism and sonic adventure may seem like polar opposites, yet they are easy bedfellows in the gentle hands of The Unthanks.

About Royal Northern Sinfonia

Internationally renowned, calling Gateshead home.

37 musicians at the top of their game. Electrifying music, old and new. All the talent, determination and creativity of the North East on a worldwide stage. From their home at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Royal Northern Sinfonia share the joy and wonder of orchestral music with thousands of people across the North of England – and beyond – every year.

From symphonies to string quartets, film soundtracks to choral masses, and original performances with awesome artists from Sheku Kanneh-Mason to Self Esteem, the orchestra’s members have got one of the most varied jobs there is. They’re always looking for fresh new sounds from up-and-coming composers, inviting local communities to share a stage, and doing everything they can to inspire and prepare the musicians of tomorrow to one day take their place.

They’re also working hard to smash the barriers that can stop brilliant people getting into classical music. They’ve teamed up with national partners to support women conductors to develop their careers, to help global majority musicians get vital experience in the orchestra world, and to celebrate disabled and non-disabled musicians breaking new ground together in RNS Moves. And they bring new musical opportunities to the region, headlining the first-ever BBC Proms weekend outside London.

Because they whole-heartedly believe orchestral music is for anyone – big cities and tiny villages, brand-new babies and life-long listeners, die-hard fans and curious minds – they travel far and wide to make sure there’s top-notch classical music on offer for anyone ready to say, “I’ll give that a go”. You’ll find them in churches, castles, and community venues across the North, as well as spearheading concert seasons in Carlisle, Kendal, Middlesbrough, and Sunderland.

With 65 years of success to build on, they’ve signed a dynamic young artistic leadership -Principal Conductor Dinis Sousa, Artistic Partner Maria Włoszczowska and Principal Guest Conductor Nil Venditti – to lead the way into a bold, bright future.

Wherever the orchestra play and whoever they share a stage with, every performance is a chance to see, hear and feel the music.

About Ellie Slorach

Conductor Ellie Slorach is the Founder and Artistic Director of Kantos Chamber Choir and Engagement Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. She specializes in large scale multi-media and educational projects across all genres including orchestras, operatic, choral, and dance performances.

Based in Manchester, she continues a strong presence in the North of England as she begins the 2024/25 season with performances with the Orchestra of Opera North in September in and around Leeds. In October, she revisits the BBC Philharmonic for two separate projects including the launch concert for this year’s BBC 10 Pieces. Throughout December, she returns to the Royal Northern Sinfonia in Gateshead for a run of Christmas concerts with a selection of programmes. She will also be conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra three times during the 24-25 season.

In 2025, she will conduct the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for the first concert performances of Jonathan Dove’s new opera Uprising in Saffron Walden, Glasgow and Edinburgh in collaboration with Glyndebourne. Other orchestral returns include a tour with Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and a live music to film project. She has also received numerous re-invites to appear with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Manchester Camerata. In February 2025, Ellie will be returning to Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, where she held the position of Assistant Conductor in the 2021/22 season, for performances of music by Stéphane Orlando, collaborating with hip-hop and break-dancers from the dance company No Way Back.

Equally at home in the choral repertoire, Ellie will perform with Huddersfield Choral Society – where she holds the position of Associate Choral Director. In November she will be debuting with the Sansara Choir, with whom she will collaborate again in December and in May 2025 she will be leading the Dunedin Consort Choral Weekend. Finishing the season, she will return to Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in June. Debuts of the season include City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Sinfonia Smith Square, and the Estonian National Male Choir.

Highlights of previous season included her debut at the BBC Proms at The Glasshouse Gateshead with the Royal Northern Sinfonia as well as debuts with Matthew Bourne’s ballet production of Edward Scissorhands at Sadler’s Wells. Ellie also filmed a multi-media concert with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and she was selected to film with the BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Singers for the new season of the acclaimed BBC 10 Pieces. Previous seasons have also included productions with Northern Opera Group, including Händel’s Silla in 2022, and the world premiere production of Lliam Paterson’s Sherlock Holmes and The Sign of Four at the Leeds Opera Festival in 2024. She was Co-Musical Director for the Royal Opera House’s production of Lost & Found at St Pancras International Station in 2022, and in 2023, she was Assistant Conductor for Opera Holland Park’s production of Verdi’s Rigoletto.

In 2015, Ellie founded Kantos Chamber Choir – a trailblazing vocal ensemble is at the cutting edge of choral singing in the UK. She devises unique, innovative, sell-out performances in venues ranging from concert halls to nightclubs. This season, they will be recording the album In Your Dreams – a collection of pieces related to sleep. Kantos has an artistic partnership with Manchester Camerata. Ellie studied Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music and was awarded Associate Membership (ARNCM) in 2023. She previously studied Music at the University of Manchester.

About The Glasshouse International Centre for Music

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music is a home for live music lovers.

It’s a place where you can hear rock legends or pop icons on the same night as folk trios or string quartets. Where new musicians are nurtured and showcased on the same stages as platinum-selling performers. And where youth choirs and tambourine-shaking toddlers practise in the same spaces as its acclaimed orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Because as an international centre for music they’re focused on creating and celebrating outstanding music – whether that’s unearthing or growing talent from the region or bringing the world’s best artists to their stages. And as a charity they’re focused on making sure all of that is available to anyone – no matter where you’re from, how old you are, how much money you have, or what challenges you face.

Which is why every year more than 2 million people are able to join for top-notch gigs, concerts, and classes – in their venue at Gateshead Quays, out in communities across the North East, and through livestreamed performances and digital lessons.

Whether you’re making it up or taking it in, you’ll find music lives and grows there.

More about The Glasshouse International Centre for Music

• Since opening in 2004, The Glasshouse has hosted over 10,000 performances, welcoming nearly 5 million audience members. It would take more than 27 years to see every show if you attended one every day.
• Over two decades, the charity has delivered around 230,000 music lessons, reaching young people and adults 2.7 million times across its education programmes.
• As its resident orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia has toured globally, performing across four continents and livestreaming to audiences across five.
• The Glasshouse has supported the careers of thousands of artists like Ward Thomas who have worked their way from free stages to headline shows in its main hall, achieving national and global recognition.
• Since 2004, The Glasshouse has welcomed over 400,000 delegates for conferences and events, hosting organisations such as Greggs, NHS, and British Engines.
• Over the past two decades, The Glasshouse has generated £500 million in economic impact for the North East.
• The iconic building, designed by Foster + Partners, has 630 panes of glass and stands 40 metres tall. In its opening year, it was exhibited at the Venice Biennale and won the RIBA Inclusive Design Award in 2005.
• Celebrating 20 years – In December 2024, The Glasshouse marked its 20th birthday. Over the next year, the charity will reflect on two decades of achievements and look ahead to its third decade, with major initiatives like the Music Academy and Music Pass for newborns, making music accessible to all.