Unthank:Smith, a collaboration between Rachel Unthank (The Unthanks) and Paul Smith (Maxïmo Park), has announced an intimate show at Belfast’s Empire Music Hall on 27th March 2023. Tickets will go on sale on 2nd December 2022.

The collaboration between the two Mercury Prize-nominated artists began when they met backstage at an Africa Express show in Middlesbrough Town Hall. Paul approached Rachel about singing together given his interest in folk music and their regional connections. Rachel’s knowledge of traditional song allowed them to quickly add material to the original songs Paul was writing, resulting in an album set to be released in early 2023.

Unthank:Smith’s live performances have included Lauren Laverne’s Great Northern Soundtrack at the 2018 Great Exhibition of the North, as well as a live session for Laverne’s BBC6 Music show. The album was co-produced by David Brewis of Field Music and features Faye MacCalman of emerging avant-jazz group Archipelago on clarinet and Alex Neilson, of Trembling Bells (cult) fame, on drums. The album’s songs range from traditional folk to original material, including ‘Seven Tears’, a rare Unthank original inspired by Norse mythology, and ‘Horumarye’ by Graeme Miles.