The Unthanks plus Hannah Read and Michael Starkey

Dunbar Music Festival 2022

Using the traditional music of the North East of England as a starting point, the influence of Miles Davis, Steve Reich, Sufjan Stevens, Robert Wyatt, Antony & The Johnsons, King Crimson and Tom Waits can be heard in the band’s 14 records to date, earning them a Mercury Music Prize nomination and international acclaim along the way.

They have one Mojo Magazine Folk Album of the Year twice, they were the only British folk representation in The Guardian’s and Uncut’s Best Albums of the Decade (worldwide, all genres), and count amongst their admirers, artists and storytellers including Elvis Costello, Maxine Peake, Rosanne Cash, Martin Freeman, Robert Wyatt, Martin Hayes, Nick Hornby and Dawn French.

They can be heard throughout Mackenzie Crook’s beautiful adaptation of Worzel Gummidge, having written six scarecrow soundtracks for the BBC hit show.

The Unthanks returned to live touring this summer, showcasing forthcoming new album, Sorrows Away, and we’re thrilled to have them headline the 2022 Dunbar Music Festival.