The traditional music of Northumberland in north-east England is the loam the Unthanks grow in. Sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank have, working with various musicians through the years, created their own musical universe. You could call it ‘art folk,’ with traditional music meeting jazz, classical, postrock and much more. Sources of inspiration are Miles Davis, King Crimson, Steve Reich, Antony & The Johnsons and Tom Waits, to name but a few. You meet this on the Unthanks’ 14 releases and at their live concerts. Their debut album Cruel Sister from 2005 was a solid breakthrough, being crowned Folk Album of the Year by Mojo magazine. Since then there have been more awards and nominations. Their most recent album is Sorrows Away from 2022. Many of their colleagues have paid tribute to the Unthanks, and Elvis Costello said, “They run from the very root of folk music to the very tip of the branch.” In Tønder we’ll see the Unthanks and their 11-piece band. Their only Danish festival concert in 2023.