Kate Rusby

Announcing herself to the music press in 1999 with a Mercury Music Prize, Kate Rusby has forged an impressive 30-year career, breaking records and headlining everywhere from the Royal Albert Hall to Cambridge Folk Festival.

“Looking back, I firmly believe music chose me, not the other way round.” Kate Rusby

‘Everybody loves and respects Kate Rusby, not just for her lovely voice, but for the way she has moved folk forward while remaining true to tradition…’ Sunday Times

“ …. exquisite interpretations of traditional material from the pocket-sized folk singer with the heartbreakingly tremulous voice and bawdy, Yorkshire wit” Daily Telegraph

Kate Rusby, often hailed as the ‘First Lady of Folk’, celebrates an amazing 30 years as a professional musician in 2022 with the release of a brand new album 30 : Happy Returns (Pure Records) on May 6 and a 21-date tour, taking her the length and breadth of the UK, during April and May.

Her impressive 30-year career has seen Kate release 19 widely praised albums and net a Mercury Music Prize early on in 1999. More awards and accolades followed, including two honorary doctorates. She’s headlined major venues around the UK, from the Royal Albert Hall to Cambridge Folk Festival, and internationally, and also established her own successful record company, Pure Records, alongside her family.

Kate’s music has been used in various films and TV shows over the years, including Ricky Gervais’ Afterlife Series 3 (Netflix), Ruth Jones’ Stella (Sky 1), Heartlands starring Michael Sheen (Miramax) and throughout series 1 and 2 of Jennifer Saunders’ Jam And Jerusalem (BBC), to name but a few. She has attracted numerous celebrity fans along the way too, including Matt Lucas, Stephen Fry, Brian Cox, Ade Edmondson and Paul Weller.

Anniversary album 30 : Happy Returns features a stellar array of guest musicians who have all inspired Kate during her career: Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Richard Hawley, Darlingside, KT Tunstall, Sarah Jarosz, Sam Kelly, Dan Tyminski, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Damien O’Kane and on the physical version of the album, a bonus track with the Royal Northern Sinfonia. The songs are newly recorded versions of favourites from across Kate’s career.