Featuring members of *Gilmore & Roberts,**Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage and ***The Willows, it’s no surprise that A Winter Union‘s Sooner after Solstice showcases a band bursting with individual brilliance. Crucially though, A Winter Union produce a sound so much greater than the sum of their parts; this is a record full of the joy, passion and life – the magic captured between five friends in a room singing the music they love. The band give nods to both British and American folk traditions. ‘The Trees of Old England’ sees the quintet add a new wassail to the traditional repertoire and ‘Minstrels’ sets to music Wordsworth’s poem about the rigours of music making in the depths of the British winter. Meanwhile, Jethro Tull’s, ‘Ring Out, Solstice Bells’ opens the album with a transatlantic feel with mandolin and dobro riffs a-plenty; and the raucous ‘Rise Up Shepherd’ finds the band belting out gospel-tinged choruses to an earthy blues jam backing.
Whilst there is no shortage of Christmas party here, there are plenty of moments for reflection and poignancy: Jamie’s reworking of Graeme Miles’ ‘Snows Of Winter’ is a beautiful declaration of love amidst the freeze and Katriona’s ‘Raise A Candle’ offers a moment of reflection at a time of year which is so challenging for so many.
“We’ve long looked upon our December tour as a kind of month-long Christmas party”
UK DATES – DECEMBER 2023
1 Dec – OTLEY, the Court House
2 Dec – STRATFORD UPON AVON. Playhouse
5 Dec – NORWICH – Playhouse
6 Dec – BURTON UPON TRENT, Brewhouse Arts
7 Dec- BATH, Chapel Arts
8 Dec – WHITCHURCH, Talbot Centre
9 Dec – SHEFFIELD, the Greystones
10 Dec – SALTAIRE, the LIVE ROOM
12 Dec – BRISTOL, St George’s
13 Dec – LONDON, Kings Place
14 Dec – WINCHESTER, the Arc
15 Dec –CAMBRIDGE, Storey’s Field
16 Dec – BARTON UPON HUMBER, the ROPEWALK
17 Dec – NOTTINGHAM, the POPPY & PINT
18 Dec – GATESHEAD, the SAGE
For further information please visit:
gilmoreroberts.co.uk
hannahbenmusic.com
thewillowsband.co.uk
*Gilmore & Roberts released new album “Documenting Snapshots” earlier in 2023 to critical acclaim with their previous work earning them 3 BBC Folk Award nominations.
**Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage spent the early part of 2023 opening for folk-rock legends Fairport Convention following their Topic Records debut “Ink Of the Rosy Morning”
***The Willows rose to prominence when their transatlantic folk-rock was championed by the likes of legendary BBC DJs Mike Harding and Bob Harris. The band are busy working on their 4th studio album.
