Forever proud to call herself a folk singer, Kate Rusby’s vocals never fail to connect the heart of a song to that of her audience. The crossover appeal Kate enjoys is unprecedented for a folk singer and has been achieved without resort to compromise. With three Doctorates to her name for services to Music & Literature from Sheffield Hallam University, Huddersfield University and most recently Leeds Beckett in July 2023, Kate continues to fill theatres and illustrate why she has recently been hailed ‘Folk Royalty’. The winner of a prestigious BASCA Gold Badge Award in 2014 and a recipient of Freeman of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, it is little wonder Kate, ‘The Barnsley Nightingale’ is still so hugely respected. Her 2020 cover album Hand Me Down was her highest-charting album to date at #12 in the UK Official Albums Charts.
As early as 1999, aged just 26, Kate was named as one of the Top Ten Folk Voices of the Century. Six-times BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Winner and a warm, Yorkshire sense of humour to boot, Kate has achieved an unprecedented cross-over appeal. From being a 1999 Mercury Prize Winner – almost unheard of for a folk singer both then and now – to her latest albums ‘Life In A Paper Boat’, ‘Philosophers Poets and Kings’, ‘Holly Head,’ ‘Hand Me Down’, ’30 : Happy Returns’ and most recently her 7th Christmas release ‘Light Years’, Kate has stayed true to her folk roots whilst stepping into a more contemporary production gaining her many new fans.
Kate’s proud, Yorkshire roots contribute to her wonderful and warm stage presence whilst also providing the rich vein of South Yorkshire carols which together, with the passion she has for Christmas, adds the magic to her annual and hugely popular Christmas tour hailed as ‘The Start of Christmas’ for many people. Her Christmas tours have become something of a tradition for the droves who come out to see her at some of the UK's top venues like York Barbican, Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall and many more.
2022 was a special year for Kate as it marked 30 years touring as a professional folk singer with a back catalogue of over 20 albums and collaborations. 2023 was an even more monumental year, reaching her 50th year on this planet and in addition, releasing her aforementioned 7th Christmas album titled Light Years.
To the year gone by, to the year ahead, to 32 years of Rusby recordings and 50 years of Kate. Preferably wine. Kate likes wine.
