“I learned loads of traditional tunes from both my parents, it was my favourite thing to sit and play with mum or dad, it was a real bonding thing I think,” reminisces folk singer songwriter Kate Rusby. “It was never forced on us though, so I never felt the need to rebel and turn away from folk music.”
Kate Rusby has embarked on a huge tour around the UK and Ireland, and will be performing in Cardiff. Can the audience expect a sneak preview of her new album Life in a Paper Boat? “Totally! We will be playing about nine tracks from the new album on the tour so they will definitely hear some of it at the gig. It’s always such an exciting thing to play new songs live and hear the audience reaction. I am super excited too to be playing the Millennium Centre, I was there for the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards last year and absolutely fell in love with the venue. It’s the perfect room for a singer.”
[wpdevart_youtube]PuSBF4O9m1o[/wpdevart_youtube]
We then start talking about her new album Life In A Paper Boat: “The title came from one of the songs on there, called Life In A Paper Boat. It’s a song I wrote after watching the news one day, on it was an image of a woman who had just stepped off one of the many refugee boats, after risking life and limb… and child to reach a better life. She was holding up her tiny daughter to keep her dry, on her own and vulnerable, but so strong and brave to risked it all for her daughter to have a safe, healthy life. I’m not usually one for writing songs about the news but it really struck a chord with me, probably because I am a mother too and would also go to any lengths to keep my girls safe. Anyway, the song appeared, I don’t have any answers, but I do have a song and a hope that the lady and her tiny little girl are fine in this world somewhere. The title seemed fitting for the whole album as it sends itself to lots of different images, and the feel of it just seemed to suit so much of the album.”
MANON WILLIAMS
Kate Rusby, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, Thurs 6 Oct. Tickets: £25. Info: 029 2063 6464 / www.wmc.org.uk