KATE RUSBY NEW ALBUM ‘20’ TO MARK 20 YEARS OF MUSIC MAKING

The Barnsley nightingale Kate Rusby will release a new album on October 22nd ’12 to celebrate 20 years of making music. Entitled ‘20’ the album features new recordings of Kate’s favourite songs from throughout her illustrious career. From the trad folk of ‘Jolly Plough Boys’ and ‘Annan Waters’ from her solo debut ‘Hourglass’ (’98) to the seasonal beauty of ‘Home’ from her 2011 Christmas album ‘While Mortals Sleep’ via ‘Unquiet Grave’, ‘Sho Heen’ and ‘Wild Goose’ from her Mercury nominated ’99 album ‘Sleepless’, the title tracks from ‘Underneath The Stars’ (2004) and ‘Awkward Annie’ (2007) and many more, Kate dips into every corner of her catalogue to create a set that is a wonderful introduction for the uninitiated and a fabulous reinterpretation of her ‘greatest hits’ for the committed fan. In addition Kate has written and recorded a beautiful new song for this album called ‘Sun Grazers’, on which she duets with Paul Weller, who has never sounded in finer voice. Other collaborators on the album include folk giants Richard Thompson, Nic Jones, Paul Brady and Dick Gaughan, Radiohead drummer Phil Selway, bluegrass upstarts Chris Thile and Sarah Jarosz, American folk & country singer Mary Chapin Carpenter, Eddi Reader and many more. ‘20’ will be released on the Rusby family’s Pure Records label via Island Records. For this release Island has resurrected the legendary ‘Island Pink’ label on which albums by Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, John Martyn, Sandy Denny, and Richard & Linda Thompson were released during the 70s. ‘20’ will be available on double CD and digital download. The full tracklisting is:
DISC 1
1. Awkward Annie (feat. Chris Thile)
2. Unquiet Grave (feat. Aoife O’Donovan)
3. Sun Grazers (feat. Paul Weller)
4. The Lark (feat. Nic Jones)
5. Planets (feat. Sarah Jarosz)
6. Wandering Soul (feat. Eddi Reader & Dick Gaughan)
7. Who Will Sing me Lullabies (feat. Richard Thompson & Philip Selway)
8. Jolly Plough Boys (feat. Dick Gaughan)
9. Sho Heen (feat. Eddi Reader, Phillip Selway & Jerry Douglas)
10.Bitter Boy (feat. Damien O’Kane)
DISC 2
1. I Courted a Sailor (feat. Jim Causley)
2. Mocking Bird (feat. Sara Watkins)
3. The Good Man (feat. Joe Rusby & Jerry Douglas)
4. Annan Waters (feat. Bob Fox)
5. All God’s Angels (feat. Paul Brady)
6. Elfin Knight (feat. Dave Burland)
7. Wild Goose (feat. Stephen Fretwell)
8. Home (feat. Mary Chapin Carpenter)
9. Underneath the Stars (feat. Grimethorpe Colliery Band)
10.Bring me a Boat (feat. Declan O’Rourke)
Words and music on all songs are by Kate Rusby except ‘Jolly Plough Boys’ and ‘Annan Waters’, which are traditional songs arranged by Kate, ‘The Good Man’ whose words are a combination of trad and Kate with the tune written by Kate, and ‘Bring Me A Boat’, which has lyrics by Kate and melody by Phil Cunningham. Kate Rusby was born into a musical family in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Her parents had a ceilidh band which Kate and her sister Emma joined at a very early age. Kate’s musical world is still very much a family affair – her parents, along with Emma and her brother Joe manage her, run her label, record her albums and book her tours, while her husband Damien O’Kane co-produces her records and plays guitar in her band. Kate’s first album release was a collaboration with another young singer – ‘Kate Rusby & Kathryn Roberts’ (’95). She has since released 9 solo albums: ‘Hourglass’ (’98), ‘Sleepless’ (’99), ‘Little Lights’ (2001), ‘Underneath The Stars’ (2004), ‘The Girl Who Couldn’t Fly’ (2005), ‘Awkward Annie’ (2007), ‘Sweet Bells’ (2008), ‘Make The Light’ (2010), and ‘While Mortals Sleep’ (2011). She was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in ’99 and has won Folk singer of the year (2000), Best album (2000), Best song twice (2002 for “Who Will Sing Me Lullabies” and 2006 for “No Names”) and Best Live Act (2006) at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Proof that the cottage industry approach can pay off in the 21st century, Kate has quietly sold over a million records on the family-run independent label Pure Records and regularly plays sell-out tours around the country. Kate’s 20th year anniversary celebrations continue this year with live shows all over the UK, and there will be some very special guests appearing with Kate and her band at the Sheffield and London shows in October. The full list of shows is:
SEPT
7 BARNSTABLE Queens Theatre
8 ST IVES September Festival
14 HALIFAX Victoria Theatre
19 LEICESTER De Montfort Hall
20 ST ALBANS Alban Arena
22 OXFORD Playhouse
23 NORWICH Theatre Royal
OCT
21 SHEFFIELD City Hall
23 LONDON Royal Festival Hall
24 GUILDFORD G-Live
26 NEW BRIGHTON Floral Pavilion
27 GATESHEAD Sage
NOV
9 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate
10 DERBY Assembly Rooms
16 BASINGSTOKE Anvil Arts
17 SOUTHSEA Kings Theatre
18 CRAWLEY The Hawth
20 SALFORD QUAYS The Lowry
DEC
1 HUDDERSFIELD Town Hall
2 CARDIFF St David’s Hall
7 MIDDLESBROUGH Town Hall
8 HARROGATE Royal Hall
9 CAMBRIDGE Corn Exchange
12 MALVERN Theatre
13 BRISTOL Colston Hall
14 YORK Barbican
16 NOTTINGHAM Playhouse
18 WARRINGTON Parr Hall
19 BIRMINGHAM Symphony Hall
Tickets are available from box offices and usual agents. Further info at www.katerusby.com
KATE RUSBY NEW ALBUM ‘20’ TO MARK 20 YEARS OF MUSIC MAKING *FEATURING COLLABORATIONS WITH THE CREAM OF ROCK, FOLK & BLUEGRASS ARTISTS INCLUDING PAUL WELLER, RICHARD THOMPSON, NIC JONES, DICK GAUGHAN, PHIL SELWAY, MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER, CHRIS THILE, EDDI READER AND MORE…
*RELEASE DATE 22nd OCT ‘12

"I Will Wait" for Mumford & Sons new single and second album Babel

Mumford & Sons release their new single, ‘I Will Wait’ on the 24th September 2012. It is the first single to be taken from their second album, Babel, released on the same day. The story of Mumford & Sons has been written and mapped out on the road. Since before the release of 2009’s debut album Sigh No More, the band has rarely been off tour, but the recording of Babel brought them off the road and back into the studio. Many of the songs on the new record found their dynamic through years of tested live performance. ‘Whispers In The Dark’, ‘Lover Of The Light’, ‘Below My Feet’, ‘Lovers’ Eyes’ and ‘Hopeless Wanderer’ might be familiar to fans that have seen the band perform live over the past eighteen months across the world. Babel was produced by Marcus Dravs, a man whom the band trusts to replicate and to understand the importance of live energy as much as they do. In a similar fashion to its predecessor, it is a record that marries the upbeat with the intimate, and the unrestrained with the raw. It is an album the band are justifiably proud of, and follows a series of studio sessions in Devon, Somerset, Northamptonshire, and London. First single “I Will Wait” is a jubilant introduction to the music on Babel. It is a song which has evolved alongside the band, and encapsulates the very essence of what they do so well. Following their successful Gentlemen of the Road Stopover shows earlier this Summer in the UK and Ireland, and while currently touring to sold-out crowds in the US, Mumford & Sons will continue to map their journey on the road throughout 2012 and beyond. Listen to the single here: 

Mumford & Sons Single: ‘I Will Wait’ - UK Release Date: 24th September 2012
UK Label: Gentlemen of the Road/Island Records www.mumfordandsons.com

Charity hopes wildlife gardening will blossom

A leading Devon-based charity is inviting local people to turn their gardens into mini-wildlife havens. Devon Wildlife Trust is now giving free advice to budding wildlife gardeners via a new on-line blog. The blog's first entry tells readers how to plan and plant a small annual wildflower bed. It takes a practical and realistic approach covering preparing the ground, getting seed, planting and aftercare. The blog has been written by Catherine Burgess who has created her own wildlife-friendly garden with her husband and two young children at Bovey Tracey. Catherine said: 'I have a real passion for helping to make gardens attractive, productive and also great for people and wildlife. I have been a keen gardener for many years but every day brings new opportunities. I hope readers will find the blog inspiring when there have been successes and take some of the ideas forward and improve on them when things haven't worked out so well!' Devon Wildlife Trust's Steve Hussey added: 'We're delighted to be able to share Catherine's expertise with a wide audience via the new blog. We know wildlife gardening is something that more and more people are turning to. We also know just how important it is to the wildlife that uses our gardens as their homes. Hedgehogs, bumblebees, frogs, butterflies, slow-worms, house sparrows along with countless other species are increasingly dependent on people's gardens to find a safe and secure place to live. Devon Wildlife Trust's new gardening blog is available via the Wildlife Gardening webpage at www.devonwildlifetrust.org/wildlife-gardening/ And for anyone not able to access the blog, Devon Wildlife Trust's magazine 'Wild Devon' carries a regular wildlife gardening column packed full of seasonal planting tips. The magazine is free to members of  The Trust. To join call DWT on 01392 279244.

Wildlife Gardening with Children - photo copyright Catherine Burgess

SOUTHWEST EXTREME NEWS - THE BRITISH NATIONAL 4X - BIKE EVENT THIS WEEKEND/

The British National 4X Bike event is heading to South West Extreme Bike Park in Abbotsham, Bideford (across the road from the BIG Sheep) on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th August for round 5 and 6 of the 7 round competition. 

 














WEEKEND TIMETABLE
Saturday 11th August - Schwalbe British 4X Series Round 5:

• 10.00am Open Practice
• 11.00am Gate Practice - Fun, Big Fun, Juvenile, Youth, Master, Veteran, Girls
• 11.30am Gate Practice - Junior, Senior & Pro Elite
• 12.00 Midday Track Closed Lunch.
• 12.30pm Racing starts - 3 Moto Format
• 1/8 Finals
• 1/4 Finals
• Semi Finals
• Finals
• 4.30pm Presentations

Sunday 12th August - Schwalbe British 4X Series Round 6:

• 09.00am Open Practice
• 10.00am Gate Practice - Fun, Big Fun, Juvenile, Youth, Master, Veteran, Girls
• 10.30am Gate Practice - Junior, Senior & Pro Elite
• 11.00 Midday Track Closed Lunch.
• 12.00pm Racing starts - 3 Moto Format
• 1/8 Finals
• 1/4 Finals
• Semi Finals
• Finals
• 4.30pm Presentations 

FREE ENTRY FOR SPECTATORS! NOT TO BE MISSED!
FIND OUT MORE: WWW.NAKEDRACING.COM - 01237 880028  
Read the North Devon Focus Blogspot Post for National 4x Championship 2010 
Explore Abbotsham with the North Devon Focus Picture Tour

Keeping up with Tradition. All the fun of the Woolsery Show

We had a great day at the Woolsery Show, here are just some of the pictures from the event which was held at Clovelly Court on the 30th July. Check out the slide-show below. You can also view the photos on North Devon Focus Flickr.

North Devon Focus Flickr
Explore Woolsery with the North Devon Focus Picture Tour
Putting on a Grand Show 2005
Parade of Champions 2005