Story of Winter Wonderband

Back in the mists of time (the very early 90’s) Cythara (Maclaine Colston and Jennifer Crook) burst onto the UK folk scene “with all the freshness and exuberance of youth” (Venue) appearing on BBC Pebble Mill at 1, Summer in the City and national radio, reaching the finals of the BBC Young Tradition Awards in 1993. They released two albums with KRL and performed the soundtrack for David Attenborough’s BBC series ‘The Private Life of Plants’. Tipped to become big names by the folk press they were featured on Mrs Casey’s 1995 ’Evolving Tradition’ CD alongside Saul Rose who was playing in Eliza Carthy’s ‘Kings of Calicutt’ at the time. 

Maclaine also joined The Kings of Calicutt, and then formed a duo with Saul. Maclaine and Saul’s 2007 duo album ‘Sand and Soil’ included guest vocals from Jennifer. By this time, Beth Porter was playing cello on Jennifer’s songs which included an album and a tour along with Maclaine, Rob Harbron and Josh Clark. Beth and Saul recorded and toured together in Eliza’s The Wayward Band, and in 2020 Jennifer asked Maclaine to record dulcimer on ‘Sea Glass’. The song, written for Miranda Sykes, was played on The Folk Show on BBC Radio 2 and appears on Roots 2 - The Best of Show of Hands. Meanwhile Beth was asked to join the Spell Songs ensemble.

Along with their more ‘folkie’ credentials, Saul starred in the West End in Warhorse, Jennifer toured with Snow Patrol, Mac played in Lord of The Rings with the Philharmonic Orchestra, and Beth recorded with Pete Townsend from The Who. It’s been a rich and varied musical journey. Somewhere along the way the idea for Winter Wonderband was born. The first tour was around December 2011 and most winters ever since. 

In January 2025 the band launched a successful Kickstarter campaign where over 100 supporters pledge to help fund the album manufacturing, both double CD and vinyl, to be available on December 1st.

“With spellbinding vocal harmonies backed by this beautiful combination of instruments, they sing of wintery tales and festive times to celebrate the music born out of our great British winter. It’s not all about Christmas, but it is about the time of year and how it brings us all together.”