Interview: Folk singer Kate Rusby
Folk music might be a bit of a forgotten cousin in the British music scene but one of its brightest stars is heading this way for a show next month.
Singer Kate Rusby plays the Indigo2 on December 6 as part of her Christmas tour and for the Yorkshire-based artist it's a welcome return to live performance.
It will be the 35-year-old's first visit to the smaller of The O2's main music venues and she's looking forward to it, especially as she's not been out much since giving birth to Daisy in September.
She said: "I've been a bit busy with being pregnant and all that so I haven't seen many gigs at all for a while. I'm really looking forward to it, though. It sounds like a great place and it'll be lovely to be back in London again.
"I love doing the Christmas tour cos I get to do some of my fave carols. It will be great to catch with everyone too."
Although she hasn't been to the Indigo2 yet Kate has sung in Canary Wharf's much-missed Cabot Hall, which was the main venue for concerts and events until it was demolished for the Cabot Place West extension two years ago. She has fond memories of the venue.
She said: "I absolutely adored it, such a lovely room to sing in, what a shame it is now shops. Although, being a girl, I am partial to a shop or two, it's a real shame it wasn't left as a music venue. I played there three times and loved 'em all."
Kate has been at the forefront of the British folk scene since her debut album, Hourglass, in 1997. Her follow-up, Sleepless, was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize two years later and she has since built up a loyal following.
She duetted with Boyzone's Ronan Keating on All Over Again, which reached number six in the charts in 2006, but there's still one singer she really wants to team up with.
She said: "Dolly Parton, she's a bit of a heroine of mine. Although this year we have both sung on the same track for Maura O'Connell, just not in the same place in the same, I kind of achieved that goal."
If she's stuck for a musical partner she can always turn to her life partner, Damian O'Kane
She said: "I'm not even biased about it, he's the best singer I've heard in ages."
With a new album and more touring already scheduled for 2010 Kate is back on the music scene with a vengeance, although she ruled out taking part in a folk week on X Factor.
She said: "No way. Those kids are much much braver than me."
Kate Rusby plays the Indigo2 on December 6. For tickets visit theo2.co.uk.
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Maura O'Connell is just the most amazing singer I've ever heard. I've just recently got into her music! Do yourselves a favour folks, check out her new album "Naked with Friends" just about one of THE best albums I've ever heard. WOW!
I have to agree with Bob about Maura O'Connell. If you want to introduce yourself to her music, I would pick helpless heart but agree Naked with Friends is also amazing. I'm just surprised she's not more famous!!