Kate Rusby

Sell-out crowd excited by vibrant Kate Rusby performance with her new band

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IF you have ever dipped your toe into the water of the folk music scene, you are sure to have heard of Kate Rusby.

She blends between charming, traditional folk and fresh, vibrant new-folk with ease, writes Jonathan Alexander-Frye.

Moreover, she is engaging, amusing and exceptionally accurate as a live performer.

It has been seven years since Kate Rusby last played in Sidmouth and this year her concert was one of four evening sell-outs, and chosen as civic night, with members of Sidmouth Town Council present among the usual punters.

Once the capacity crowd was seated, it applauded, with great joy, the opening duo, Hannah James and Sam Sweeney, a traditional folk duo.

It was with equal gusto and excitement that the crowd then welcomed Kate Rusby and her band to the stage.

She was performing with her new band - Damien O’Kane, Ed Boyd, Julian Sutton and Duncan Lyle.

The crowd were treated to many familiar and well known songs along with songs from Kate’s new album Make The Light.

It quickly became clear that Damien O’Kane was Kate’s husband.

She kindly let him play a traditional Northern Irish song called Summer Hill from his solo album and also enjoyed taking a step back to watch her band perform folk instrumental reels and jigs.

It was truly an evening to remember and one, as a member of the audience, you didn’t want to end.

In a musical environment that has welcomed folk newcomers such as Mumford & Sons and Noah & The Whale firmly into the fold, it is worth mentioning that Kate Rusby has been touring and recording relentlessly over the last 10 years and, in my opinion, has laid the foundations for such new talent to succeed.