RECORDED LAST DECEMBER IN HARROGATE THEATRE, A NEW CONCERT FILM CAPTURES THE FESTIVE FUN OF KATE RUSBY’S NOW TRADITIONAL ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TOUR.
Released on October 28th by Pure Records, the LIVE AT CHRISTMAS DVD showcases Kate’s exquisite voice and her dextrous band making merry through seasonal songs from South Yorkshire, accompanied by a spirited brass section.
As explored by the Sheffield-born singer for a BBC Radio 2 documentary – 2009’s KEEPING TRADITION ALIVE – her home county has a strong history of carol singing, with winter Sunday lunchtimes seeing joyous carollers cram into pubs to join in with unashamedly celebratory singing – often standing room only!
At its heart, it represents a constantly evolving oral tradition, songs passed down from generation to generation, with roots dating back over two hundred years. Kate’s previously released pair of dedicated Christmas albums featured local variations and interpretations of familiar carols mostly unheard outside the area.
The LIVE AT CHRISTMAS setlist features a selection from both. SWEET BELLS, the title track from Kate’s original Christmas album in 2008, features alongside other songs from it, namely: HAIL CHIME ON; HERE WE COME A-WASSAILING; POOR OLD HORSE; HARK, HARK WHAT NEWS?; and THE HOLLY AND THE IVY. From most recent festive CD WHILE MORTALS SLEEP (2011) the inclusions are: FIRST TREE IN THE GREENWOOD; JOY TO THE WORLD; HOME; KRIS KRINGLE; LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM; SEVEN GOOD JOYS; CRANBROOK; and THE WREN. In addition, WALK THE ROAD from studio album MAKE THE LIGHT (2010) is also present.
Extras on LIVE AT CHRISTMAS include an exclusive interview and a specially completed animated video for LITTLE JACK FROST (from 2005 album THE GIRL WHO COULDN’T FLY). The song was written in 2004 as the theme for THE TALE OF JACK FROST, a Zoo Films production of the children’s book written and illustrated by David Melling, first broadcast on CBBC.

KATE RUSBY LIVE AT CHRISTMAS is available to pre-order direct from Pure Records (here), alongside the previously released CDs of seasonal songs: SWEET BELLS (here); and WHILE MORTALS SLEEP (here). Other Christmas goodies can be found here.

Courtesy of Kate and her team, we have a fresh-from-under-the-tree copy of the LIVE AT CHRISTMAS DVD to give away. To win it, email themouthmagazine@rocketmail.com (marking the subject line KRX) and tell us the name of the Cornwall-based artist who painted the distinctive covers for Kate’s two Christmas albums. 

Kate’s 2013 run of traditional Christmas shows follows the conclusion of her current Autumn Tour. For details and tickets links for remaining dates during October and November, see our previous news story (here) – though please note that the competition to win tickets for the Autumn tour has now closed.

CHRISTMAS TOUR – DECEMBER 2013

Thurs 5th December   BRIGHTON   Dome   tickets
Fri 6th December   WARWICK   Arts Centre   tickets
Sat 7th December   WOLVERHAMPTON   Civic Hall   tickets
Sun 8th December   LONDON   Union Chapel, Islington   SOLD OUT
Tues 10th December   LIVERPOOL   Philharmonic   tickets
Weds 11th December   SHEFFIELD   City Hall   tickets
Thurs 12th December   LEEDS   Town Hall   tickets
Sun 15th December   NOTTINGHAM   Playhouse   tickets
Tues 17th December   MANCHESTER   Bridgewater Hall   tickets
Weds 18th December   CAMBRIDGE   Corn Exchange   tickets
Thurs 19th December   GATESHEAD   The Sage   tickets
Fri 20th December   MALVERN   Theatre   tickets
Sat 21st December   HUDDERSFIELD   Town Hall   tickets