Kate Rusby

Kate Rusby brings her intimate take on English folk to York Barbican in York on 10 December 2026. Raised in a family of musicians in South Yorkshire, she came up through festival stages and groups like The Poozies and Equation before stepping out solo with Hourglass in 1997. Since then her catalogue has set traditional ballads alongside her own songs, arranged for acoustic guitars, fiddle and discreet Celtic colours. Sleepless, released in 1999, earned a Mercury Prize nomination and helped define her way of telling stories with a light, acoustic touch.

On stage she moves between reworked traditionals and originals from Little Lights, Awkward Annie, Ghost, Life in a Paper Boat and 30: Happy Returns, keeping narrative at the centre. December dates often open a window onto her seasonal side too, with selections from Sweet Bells, While Mortals Sleep or Light Years appearing next to core repertoire.

Over the years she has collaborated with Kathryn Roberts, John McCusker, Damien O’Kane and others, staying close to an English folk scene that values heritage and contemporary rewriting. At York Barbican, the emphasis is on songs, clear storytelling and uncluttered arrangements.