20

Marking twenty years of making music, Kate Rusby revisits her illustrious past on the appropriately titled 20, a beautiful collection of nineteen newly recorded versions of her favourite songs. 'Sun Grazers' - a self-penned, soulful duet with Paul Weller, previously unrecorded makes up the twenty.
Reminding us how influential Rusby has been in persuading a new audience to seriously engage with folk music, whilst also reflecting her stature within the wider musical community, Weller is just one of an array of luminaries joining in the celebrations. Thus, while Rusby's voice remains absolutely centre stage, 20 is also graced by contributions from Richard Thompson (on a tender reading of 'Who Will Sing Me Lullabies?), Eddi Reader, Paul Brady, Dick Gaughan, Dobro King Jerry Douglas, Radiohead drummer Phil Selway, Mary Chapin Carpenter, bluegrass aces Chris Thile and Sarah Jarosz and, most touchingly, Kate's beloved Nic Jones (The Lark) Rusby's songs have always stood shoulder to shoulder alongside her peerless interpretations of
tunes from the tradition (check out 20s 'The Wild Goose' featuring Stephen Fretwell), and while 20 is a mixture of both, the balance favours Rusby compositions. All have stood the test of time, while Kate's heartbreak vocals remain utterly spellbinding.