Rachel Unthank & The Winter Set

The first and last time I saw Rachel Unthank live was performing a showcase session with her sister Becky in the Club Tent a couple of years back. The duo were well received for their north eastern styled folk.
Since then Becky has concentrated on her studies, though she is part of her sister’s band, The Winterset. Rachel Unthank and The Winterset’s debut album “Cruel Sister” drew a delightful comparison with an all too rare Julio Arca jinking run down the left. The album it’s self is from the leftfield. It draws on the rich heritage of the north east and was widely praised on it’s release, eventually pulling in the title of Mojo Folk Album of the Year 2005.
This is one I’m looking forward to. It’s been a while since Makem and Geordie songs have taken pride of place on one of the mainstages. I think you might be going right back to the Whisky Priests before you can find a band that concentrated on songs from the North East as opposed to tunes.
You can get the gist at http://www.myspace.com/rachelunthank