Words by Joanna Long
Let’s start with the heat. Thursday 23rd July was roasting, the kind of evening where just existing outdoors felt like a commitment, and yet Middlesbrough Town Hall was packed to the rafters, standing area and all, and absolutely no one looked like they’d rather be anywhere else. This was the first ever BBC Proms performance in Middlesbrough, and the city showed up for it exactly as expected; loudly, warmly, and with absolute respect for all of the musicians on the stage.
Elizabeth Alker, presenter and BBC Radio 3 stalwart, had her work cut out keeping us in check, and to her credit, she handled our cheering and excitement with good humour and the kind of professional composure that only comes from years of experience.
Up in the balcony, the sound was extraordinary. The Royal Northern Sinfonia under conductor Ellie Slorach filled that stunning room, and from up there you could hear every breath of it. An orchestra in full flight in a space like Middlesbrough Town Hall is quite something, and the Sinfonia clearly relished the variety of the evening’s programme as much as we did, you could clearly see and feel their enjoyment.
The Unthanks, the northeast’s own folk duo, anchored the night, with Adrian McNally on harmonium, and opening with voices that soared from the start. The harmonies were crystal clear, the timing precise, the whole thing carrying that particular quality that The Unthanks have always had; music that feels rooted in a specific place and time, sung by people who know exactly what they’re carrying. ‘Magpie’ was the opener, and the first moment the full orchestra joined in behind them, the room shifted entirely. The second song’s orchestral break, with drums, cymbals, and strings arriving together, gave me genuine goosebumps. ‘Flutter’ brought strings and piano, with a fourth song bringing clog dancing with orchestral command, voices joining in staccato when they did arrive, making for a wonderful contrast. The Unthanks took a moment to acknowledge the full-circle nature of the evening, some of the Sinfonia musicians having played on their very first recordings, a beautifully warm acknowledgement.
Jodie Nicholson, singer-songwriter from Hurworth and BBC Introducing alumni, stepped up for what was her first live performance with an orchestra. Backed by strings and playing piano herself, she performed ‘Move With My Body’ with confidence and presence. Jodie’s music is intimate folk-pop with real emotional intelligence, and hearing it given the full orchestral treatment was something rather special.
The Unthanks returned with ‘Madam’, before English Teacher made their entrance, Lily opening on the piano. They are always humble on stage, and their rendition of ‘Albatross’ was genuinely beautiful, one of the quieter highlights of the night, which in the context of everything else around it says rather a lot.
Nobody wanted the interval, we literally had to be told. We were just sitting there, fully hooked and waiting for more, which is about the best review of a first half I could possibly give.
The second half opened with a stunning orchestral piece, leading with the violin, a kind of palate cleanser before the programme built again. The Unthanks came back with an old song written by a blind fiddle player, its mid-section based on an accordion tune composed by a friend of the band, and the sense of history in the room and respect for sonic roots was made very present. Unfortunately, billed special guest Connor O’Brien of Villagers, wasn’t able to be there on the night. However, a warm and genuine speech wishing him and his family well, with The Unthanks delivering a rendition of ‘I Want What I Don’t Need’ honoured both the song and the moment completely.
English Teacher’s second set gave the Sinfonia a proper workout, ‘Broken Biscuits’ doing exactly what I was hoping for, the orchestra leaning into the noise and the energy with what looked like real joy. And then The Unthanks closed everything down with ‘My Lover He Loves Me’, Lizzie Jones on trumpet, alongside violin, drums and brass building to something with a real jazz swing to it. Clog dancing from The Unthanks also arrived in the final stretch, which was an absolute joy, and rightly rewarded with a standing ovation and whistles for more. The encore was a repeat of that final track, and to describe it as rousing doesn’t quite cover it. The applause that followed was the kind that comes from a crowd that has been genuinely moved and who are genuinely grateful.
The whole performance will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds on 5th August, so if you weren’t there on Thursday night, you can bask in the joy that we felt on the night at the BBC Proms in Middlesbrough.
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