foklie dave ,Kate Rusby is a big star,SO WHAT,That doesnt mean there isnt room for improvement in her singing.

That's Right Cap'n. I am not the person to offer it and neither (IMHO) are you.

She has been well promoted,

You prefer she was badly promoted? You prefer she was not promoted at all? I think all singers would like to be well promoted.

She has acquired good technique[breath control,and good intonation],but as far as I am concerned she sings with complete lack of understanding of the storyline.
if she has listened to any of the singers I mentioned it doesn't show.

Well since I first wrote, it is my understanding from information received that she DID listen to traditional music as I would have expected - but surprisingly she listened to a wide range other stuff too. Why should it show? Wouldn't people then accuse her of being a ...whoever....imitator had it showed?

the point is good technique can be learned[on a degree course or from a teacher],

Well the person who teaches voice (to the student on the degree course I spent an hour talking to yesterday )is Chris Coe and the student in question thinks she is wonderful as a teacher. I reckon most people would agree with that.


Kate spent years honing her craft and no doubt others will do so as well. It ain't that important Dick - I would contend that Martin Carthy and indeed the Watersons have very little stage craft. Tow of the biggest influences on UK folk music.

And do keep up Dick, John Foreman, Roy Harris and Derek Brimstone are all retired.