There was such a very simple stage for this simple and beautiful music.
Bare and black, it held up to 15 musicans at once in this lovely gig from Ms Rusby, who is celebrating 20 years in the music business.
She is also celebrating her excellent album, 20, which features all kinds of guest stars from Paul Weller to Richard Thompson, and the plangent Sun Grazers, from that album, was the second number here. A wistful, melancholy gem, it did not miss Weller's (remarkable) contribution with Rusby, slight as she is, dominating the stage. After that, the night settled into a series of lushly arranged, beautifully played songs from 20 and Rusby's albums past.
Gamely battling a cold, Rusby's clear tones had more texture to them than usual, but on The Bitter Boy she conjured a remarkable performance, managing to bring herself to tears (and others in the hall).
Rusby remains a funny and wistful presence on stage, now abetted by her husband and ace guitarist Damien O'Kane.
Dick Gaughan, Eddi Reader, Jim Causley and Sarah Jarosz also contributed to an evening which hit a rich seam of orchestral folk pop and mined it beautifully.
HHHH
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