This is The Unthanks third trip to Australia, but the first to Perth. Hopefully it won’t be the last, as the warm welcome and screams for encores they received from the sellout crowd at the Becks Music Box was testament to the powerful, extraordinary music they created. Here as part of the Perth International Arts Festival, The Unthanks Celtic folk sound is pure of heart and full of soul and it was a magical evening under the stars. Hailing from Northumberland in the UK, singers Rachel and Becky were brought up around folk song, having parents as singers. Their songs are a mixture of folk, reinterpretations of classics and original material, all with a classic Celtic lilt.
For this tour (Perth was the last stop of a three week, seven gig tour), Rachel and Becky Unthank (they assured us that is their real name) were joined by Adrian McNally (Rachel’s husband) on Piano, Chris Price on Guitar and Ukelele, and Niopha Keegan on Fiddle and Accordion. The five of them are a cohesive whole, working beautifully together. There was even some traditional English clog dancing from Rachel and Becky which received rapturous applause.
Performing songs from their upcoming album Here’s the Tender Coming, as well as their previous album The Bairns and old favourites, they wowed the audience with their harmonization, haunting melodies and friendly banter. The majority of the songs were ballad style, full of beautiful and tragic tales about miners, ships coming into port, or loves lost.
One such song The Testimony of Patience Kershaw (originally by Frank Higgins) was a haunting tale of a 17 year old girl working in the mines in 1842. The words are taken from the real testimony of Patience by the Ashley Mines Committee who fought to get better conditions for miners and women. The song had the audience mesmerized from start to finish, with the end verse saying;
“I praise your good intentions, Sir; I love your kind and gentle heart
But now its 1842, and you and I, we're miles apart.
A hundred years and more will pass before we're standing side by side
But please accept my grateful thanks. God bless you Sir, at least you tried.”
Other songs included the upbeat finale Blackbird, Lucky Gilchrist, an interpretation of Robert Wyatt’s Sea Song, the “sing along” Til the Tide Comes In and Here’s the Tender Coming, the title track of their forthcoming album. The three musicians were a beautiful accompaniment to the sisters, especially the exceptional fiddle work from Keegan.
The Unthanks sound is pure and melodic, and transported the audience away to another world, one of rolling green hills and icy cold winters. The songs are soulful and heartfelt, beautifully harmonized and rich in story. Poetic.
2011 Perth International Arts Festival
The Unthanks
Venue: Beck's Music Box
Date: Sun 13 Feb 2011
Tickets: $40.50 – $37
Bookings: bocsticketing.com.au