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Aberdeen Evening Express
5.4.08 Kate Rusby in Concert, Aberdeen Music Hall
Little Kate Rusby made a large impression on Aberdeen with a voice that could charm fish from the sea. She looked stunning in a pink girl dress, as her velvet voice provided a bewitching contrast to her cheeky Yorkshire banter. Her smooth lilting tones breathed new life into dusty ballads as well as adding sparkle to some of her best known self-penned songs.
One of the most famous faces on the folk scene, the 33 year-old was joined by Scotland's well-kent Anna Massie who strummed along on an impressive range of instruments to the delicious selection of tunes. Kate's set ranged from the sublime soulfulness of ballads like no Names to the charmingly ridiculous title song from her latest album - Awkward Annie. Even when playing her most melancholic melodies she kept the crowd grounded by joking "It is the law that folk singers depress people at least 60% of the time."
But I'll buy a fish supper to the person who left depressed after that show.
Kirsty Taylor
Birmingham Symphony Hall 07
Symphony Hall,
Birmingham
Barnsley singer Kate Rusby has the purest voice in British music.
Since launching her career in 1995, she has acquired an ever-growing legion of fans.
This summer, she headlined the Shrewsbury Folk Festival, was a highlight at the Cambridge Folk Festival and launched her best-selling album to date, Awkward Annie.
On Friday night she built on her summer of success with a near sell-out show at Birmingham's delightful Symphony Hall.
It was a fitting venue for the so-called Barnsley Nightingale, whose clear, unadulterated vocals rang out in the acoustically-perfect venue.
Rusby is a singer and songwriter par excellence.
The former Mercury Prize nominee, who was born into a family of musicians, is also fortunate to be surrounded by some of the best folk musicians in the land.
Her four-piece backing band, including the virtuoso multi-instrumentalist John McCusker, didn't miss a beat as she ran through songs from her 12 year career, as well as a few standards.
Rusby well deserves her crossover success.
She's fast becoming a national treasure.
Andy Richardson
Poole Daily Echo 15/10/07
Conquering Kate won't be beaten
Kate Rusby ' Lighthouse
Battling a heavy cold, Kate called on sheer willpower and personality to make this a triumph.
Despite her croaky throat threatening to cause havoc this brilliant folk performer made the most of her stunningly beautiful voice. It showed why the engagingly down to earth Yorkshire lass has done so much to popularise traditional English folk music. Songs of love and loss, gallant deeds, soldiers, sailors and the English countryside are straight from the nation's folk tradition, some self-penned, others arrangements of timeless classics. Kate delivers them with a purist's heart and a joyously contemporary spirit.
The set mixed new recordings like High on a Hill, Planets and her traditional reading of Blooming Heather with songs from her ever-expanding catalogue.
Sipping herb tea between numbers, she entertained with cheerful banter about crazy airport bus drivers, knitting guitars and how she was convinced she was to play in Bournemouth not Poole.
Wymcobe Swan March 08
From the first this was going to be a little different to most folk gigs. Kate resplendent in her pink frock and strappy shoes has a very natural wit and breaches the division of the footlights effortlessly. It was more like sitting in your front room with some very talented musical friends, a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
The audience was largely in the second half of life, which seems to be the norm for 'folk'. Kate though clearly has a new appeal, my eleven year old daughter loves her Ray Davies / Kinks cover - "The Village Green Preservation Society", though sadly this was omitted from the evenings playlist.
High points for me were 'Awkward Annie', 'Planets' and Fairport Convention's 'Who knows where the time goes', I think Sandy Denny would have approved of Kate's rendition.
Kate is a little lady with a huge personality. Between songs she chats to her audience, befriends them, even teases them occasionally. For me folk music sits on the edge of my taste band, so its performers have to be good to keep me awake. Kate Rusby is more than your average folk musician, she is a natural performer and great fun.
If you were not at The Swan on Sunday, you missed her this time around, I for one am looking forward to the next time, perhaps I will see you there.
If you want to know more about Kate Rusby you can see her website below.
Review by Stephen Green, SOuth Bucks Net