It’s hard to believe Kate Rusby has been singing for as long as she has, she is now in her twentieth year of making music that has won the hearts of many. To mark the occasion she is to release a new album entitled ‘20‘ which will feature new recordings and re-interpretations from her back catalogue as well featuring a new song called ‘Sun Grazers’ on which she duets with Paul Weller. Other collaborators on the album include folk giants Richard Thompson, Nic Jones, Paul Brady and Dick Gaughan, Radiohead drummer Phil Selway, bluegrass upstarts Chris Thile and Sarah Jarosz, American folk & country singer Mary Chapin Carpenter, Eddi Reader and many more.
From the trad folk of ‘Jolly Plough Boys’ and ‘Annan Waters’ from her solo debut ‘Hourglass’ (’98) to the seasonal beauty of ‘Home’ from her 2011 Christmas album ‘While Mortals Sleep’ via ‘Unquiet Grave’, ‘Sho Heen’ and ‘Wild Goose’ from her Mercury nominated ’99 album ‘Sleepless’, the title tracks from ‘Underneath The Stars’ (2004) and ‘Awkward Annie’ (2007) and many more, Kate dips into every corner of her catalogue to create a set that is a wonderful introduction for the uninitiated and a fabulous reinterpretation of her ‘greatest hits’ for the committed fan.
‘20’ will be released on the Rusby family’s Pure Records label via Island Records. For this release Island has resurrected the legendary ‘Island Pink’ label on which albums by Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, John Martyn, Sandy Denny, and Richard & Linda Thompson were released during the 70s.
Born into a musical family in Barnsley, South Yorkshire Kate’s parents had a ceilidh band which she and her sister Emma joined at a very early age. Kate’s musical world is still very much a family affair – her parents, along with Emma and her brother Joe manage her, run her label, record her albums and book her tours, while her husband Damien O’Kane co-produces her records and plays guitar in her band (read our interview with Damien here).
‘20’ will released on 20th October and will be available on double CD and digital download.
Tracklisting:
DISC 1
1. Awkward Annie (feat. Chris Thile)
2. Unquiet Grave (feat. Aoife O’Donovan)
3. Sun Grazers (feat. Paul Weller)
4. The Lark (feat. Nic Jones)
5. Planets (feat. Sarah Jarosz)
6. Wandering Soul (feat. Eddi Reader & Dick Gaughan)
7. Who Will Sing me Lullabies (feat. Richard Thompson & Philip Selway)
8. Jolly Plough Boys (feat. Dick Gaughan)
9. Sho Heen (feat. Eddi Reader, Phillip Selway & Jerry Douglas)
10.Bitter Boy (feat. Damien O’Kane)
DISC 2
1. I Courted a Sailor (feat. Jim Causley)
2. Mocking Bird (feat. Sara Watkins)
3. The Good Man (feat. Joe Rusby & Jerry Douglas)
4. Annan Waters (feat. Bob Fox)
5. All God’s Angels (feat. Paul Brady)
6. Elfin Knight (feat. Dave Burland)
7. Wild Goose (feat. Stephen Fretwell)
8. Home (feat. Mary Chapin Carpenter)
9. Underneath the Stars (feat. Grimethorpe Colliery Band)
10.Bring me a Boat (feat. Declan O’Rourke)
Tour Dates
Kate’s 20th year anniversary celebrations continue this year with live shows all over the UK, and there will be some very special guests appearing with Kate and her band at the Sheffield and London shows in October. The full list of shows is:
Tour Dates
SEPT
14 HALIFAX,Victoria Theatre
19 LEICESTER, De Montfort Hall
20 ST ALBANS,Alban Arena
22 OXFORD, Playhouse
23 NORWICH, Theatre Royal
OCT
21 SHEFFIELD, City Hall
23 LONDON, Royal Festival Hall
24 GUILDFORD, G-Live
26 NEW BRIGHTON, Floral Pavilion
27 GATESHEAD, Sage
NOV
9 NORTHAMPTON, Royal & Derngate
10 DERBY, Assembly Rooms
16 BASINGSTOKE, Anvil Arts
17 SOUTHSEA, Kings Theatre
18 CRAWLEY, The Hawth
20 SALFORD QUAYS, The Lowry
DEC
1 HUDDERSFIELD,Town Hall
2 CARDIFF, St David’s Hall
7 MIDDLESBROUGH, Town Hall
8 HARROGATE, Royal Hall
9 CAMBRIDGE, Corn Exchange
12 MALVERN, Theatre
13 BRISTOL, Colston Hall
14 YORK, Barbican
16 NOTTINGHAM, Playhouse
18 WARRINGTON, Parr Hall
19 BIRMINGHAM, Symphony Hall
Photo credit: Lieve