English folk singer Kate Rusby has been played on mainstream radio and established a loyal following among people who’d previously stated they didn’t like folk music. She’s reached the top of folk and roots charts and headlined major festivals throughout Europe.
Kate Rusby was born on December 4, 1973 in Sheffield, England and grew up in South Yorkshire. The dramatic storytelling of folk music songs has the same allure to her now as it did when she first heard her parents singing those songs to her when she was a yound child.
Spending her childhood at folk festivals and listening to Nic Jones on her Walkman when all her friends were listening to Bon Jovi, she inevitably turned to playing fiddle and singing harmonies in her parents ceilidh dance band when she was twelve. Another Barnsley folk music star Dave Burland inspired her to take up the guitar.
At fifteen, Kate got her first gig at Holmfirth Festival. She gradually developed her style to include the odd contemporary song (Iris Dement’ Our Town on Sleepless and Richard Thompson’s Withered And Died on Little Lights) and developing her own songwriting combining it together with the traditional material.
In August 2000, she toured with a folk superband that included John McCusker and Andy Cutting, and former Pentangle bass player Danny Thompson, former Fairground Attraction singer Eddi Reader, and bluegrass star Tim O’Brien.
The album 10, released in 2002, featured Kate’s favorite tracks after performing for ten years, all re-recorded with some live tracks and unique tracks not recorded elsewhere.
Underneath the Stars, released in 2003, was produced by multi-instrumentalist John McCusker. Rusby and McCusker were joined by Ian Carr, Andy Cutting, Ewen Vernal, Paul Burch, Simon Fowler (Ocean Colour Scene), Michael McGoldrick, James Mackintosh (Shooglenifty), and Eddi Reader.
Her 2004 DVD titled Live From Leeds is a concert film featuring Rusby and her all-star band (John McCusker, Andy Cutting, Michael McGoldrick, Ian Carr, and Ewen Vernal), in 5.1 Digital Surround audio, with numerous bonus features. Additional content include three extensive on-camera interviews, a video diary, rehearsal footage, and even home movies of Kate as a child.
In 2005 she released ‘The Girl who Couldn’t Fly, produced by John McCusker, with cover design artwork by Graham Coxon. This was Kate’s sixth solo album and blended traditional folk tunes with new originals. The bonus track, “Little Jack Frost”, was written for a BBC cartoon. Roddy Woomble from Idlewild, was a guest vocalist on an anguished ballad of breaking love, titled “No Names.”
Awkward Annie was released in 2007. The album was the first produced by Rusby herself, following her separation from husband and producer John McCusker.
In 2008 she released a Christmas album titled Sweet Bells. It is a collection of carols from in and around South Yorkshire. The album was repackaged in 2009 with a new cover that contains an image by Marie Mills.
The album ‘20’ released in 2012, celebrated Kare Rusby’s 20 years as a professional singer. It includes new recordings of Kate’s favorite songs from throughout her career. Guests included Paul Weller, Richard Thompson, Nic Jones, Paul Brady and Dick Gaughan, Radiohead drummer Phil Selway, bluegrass artists Chris Thile and Sarah Jarosz, American folk and country singer Mary Chapin Carpenter, Eddi Reader and others.
In October of 2016, Kate Rusby released her 14th studio album Life in a Paper Boat. The album was produced by her husband Damien O’Kane. Kate and Damien experimented with sounds and effects, particularly those that can be recreated on stage. The lineup included Damien O’Kane on acoustic and electric guitars; Duncan Lyall on double bass and moog synthesizer; Nick Cooke on diatonic accordion; Steven Byrnes on bouzouki and tenor guitar; Steven Iveson on electric guitar; and Josh Clark on percussion.
Life in a Paper Boat also features a string section with Donald Grant and Magnus Johnston on fiddle; Triona Milne on viola; and Laura Anstee on cello. Additional guests include Ron Block on banjo; Dan Tyminski on vocals; Michael McGoldrick on flute and whistles; and Anthony Davis on keyboards.
Discography:
Kate Rusby and Kathryn Roberts (1995)
Hourglass (Pure Records PRCD2,1997/USA: Compass Records)
Cowsong (Pure Records PRCD4, 1998)
Infinite Blue, with The Poozies (Pure Records, 1999)
Sleepless (Pure Records PRCD6, 1999/USA: Compass Records)
10 (2000)
Little Lights (Pure Records PRCD7, 2001/USA: Compass Records)
Heartlands (2003)
Underneath the Stars (2003)
The Girl Who Couldn’t Fly (2005)
Awkward Annie (2007)
Sweet Bells (2008)
Make the Light (2010)
While Mortals Sleep (2011)
20 (2012)
Ghost (2014)
Life in a Paper Boat (Pure Records, 2016)
Videos
Live from Leeds (Compass Records, 2004)
Books
* Kate Rusby Songbook (2001). ISMSM-900-20560-5. Forty songs from Kate’s repertoire, some traditional, some original. Includes melodies, chord letter symbols, song notes and photos.
* Kate Rusby Songbook 2 (209). It contains 46 songs from Underneath the Stars, The Girl who Couldn’t Fly, Awkward Annie and Sweet Bells.
website: www.katerusby.com
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
