A Winter Union formed in 2015 for a one-off Yuletide concert, but it was such a huge hit that this supergroup of sorts are now a prominent part of the seasonal festivities. They’re playing The Glasshouse just a few days before Christmas.

A Winter Union’s album ‘Sooner After Solstice – A Transatlantic Folk Christmas’ came out last year and in the run-up to Christmas (decorating my tree, wrapping my presents, hurling huge tumblers of Baileys down my neck) it was never off my turntable. It’s a release that’s the aural equivalent of mulled wine, and if you’ve got any cockles that need warming then it’ll more than do a job. The band are made up of some of the UK’s finest and include Jade Rhiannon (vocals, shruti box), Katriona Gilmore (vocals, mandolin, fiddle), Jamie Roberts (vocals, guitar), Hannah Sanders (vocals, guitar, dulcimer) and Ben Savage (vocals, dobro, guitar) and together they have been in huge demand since forming in 2015, playing the likes of the Great British Folk Festival. Their Glasshouse gig promises to be the perfect pre-Christmas knees-up as the five blast through a repertoire of brand new, specially written songs, fresh arrangements of traditional carols, and seasonal classics from both sides of the Atlantic. DP

A Winter Union, Tuesday 17 December, The Glasshouse, Gateshead, 8pm, £22.50, theglasshouseicm.org