This is what I posted on the R2 F&A boards ealier today in response to a non-folky hearing Kate Rusby for the first time.

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re: Kate Rusby - Peter Standing 365th post - 13 Nov 2004 12:12

Glad you are enjoying it. There are some other female singers you might enjoy too. Julie Murphy is reckoned to have one of the best voices at the moment, along with the exciting Nancy Kerr (with equally exciting partner James Fagan), Kathryn Roberts (with stunning guitarist Sean Lakeman) and Eliza Carthy. There are plenty of others too, but some of these are an acquired, but treasured, taste, June Tabor being a personal favourite.

Have fun exploring.
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Now I'm not a great fan of Kate, but is it wise or polite to be negative or rude, especially to someone who is new to folk music and is posting for the first time on a board full of hardened folkies? In fact, I can't think of many male singers who I would put in that class of Murphy, Kerr or Tabor, or many male musicians who are of the calibre of Kerr. She is a fine singer, an astonishing fiddle player and can do both whilst step dancing. Talented or what?