Music

IT IS a ground-breaking tour between a top brass band and a Mercury nominated folk band.

Brighouse and Rastrick Band, the champion band of both Yorkshire and Great Britain have joined forces with innovative and critically acclaimed folk band The Unthanks.

Together they have played concerts in Durham Cathedral and London’s Barbican.

Now the brass players are taking a summer break but will be reunited with the Tyneside folk band in mid September for a performance at The Lowry Centre in Manchester on September 13.

Five further concerts are scheduled, at Leeds Town Hall (September 15), St George’s in Bristol (September 17), then in Northampton and Derby.

At the two opening concerts on the tour, The Unthanks sang material from their past and current repertoire with arrangements created for performance with the band by Brighouse and Rastrick’s musical director, Sandy Smith.

Material was also especially written and arranged for the project by Adrian McNally.

Brighouse and Rastrick also played a number of solo items.

The Unthanks are renowned for their storytelling skills and their ability to tell the poignant tales of love and loss, violence and tenderness, drinking and dancing all rooted in their north eastern heritage.

Paul Beaumont, president of Brighouse and Rastrick Band said: “The band are proud to work with The Unthanks whom we admire for their originality and musical skills.

“Together we will bring something completely different and wonderful to the audience.

“I know that the combined talents of The Unthanks and B&R will be enjoyed and savoured well beyond when the last date of this tour has gone by”

Rachel Unthank said: “It was a privilege to be involved with the Durham Brass Festival, one of the region's great traditions, and to be playing with musicians of the calibre of Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band in the awe inspiring Durham Cathedral.

“Brass band music has the power to evoke the whole spectrum of emotions, from power and celebration to humility and heartache.

“It was a wonderful opportunity for us to combine our music with this glorious soundscape."

B&R have now broken up to allow the musicians to enjoy holidays with their families but will be back on tour in September.