Singer Kate Rusby to bring folk in at traditional music festival

ONE of the UK's best-known folk stars is set to headline Edinburgh's annual showcase of traditional music, it was revealed today, as organisers announced plans for a four-day street fair as part of the event.

Kate Rusby, who reached number six in the UK singles chart in 2006 after recording a collaboration with Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating, will headline Ceilidh Culture, the three-week-long festival that features a range of traditional arts including music, dance and storytelling.

The 36-year-old, a one-time nominee for the coveted Mercury Music Prize, who has also worked with Idlewild's Roddy Woomble and folk singer Seth Lakeman, will play at the recently-refurbished Usher Hall.

The event on 18 April will be the first time the Barnsley singer has appeared at the council-led festival, now in its eighth year.

For the first time, the festival, which runs from 26 March until 18 April, will feature a street fair on Castle Street.

Food and drink, crafts, fashion and music will all be on sale at the fair, which will run across the Easter bank holiday weekend.

The city's festivals and events champion Councillor Steve Cardownie said: "Ceilidh Culture is a real celebration of all that is wonderful about the traditional arts in Scotland.

"The festival brings together a dazzling line-up from more than 30 contributors, proudly showcasing homegrown talent alongside international acts."

As well as home-grown talent, among those taking part this year are acts from as far afield as the US, Paraguay, Germany, Sweden and Thailand.

Cllr Cardownie said it was important to have festivals across the year, with Ceilidh Culture proving attractive to many Easter holidaymakers.

He said: "It is not in competition with the other festivals so it means that those who enjoy Scottish music can enjoy it without other events like the Fringe competing for them.

"We always try to have year-round attractions so that, at any given time of the year, you can enjoy some kind of festival offering. Since its inception, Ceilidh Culture has been enjoying ever-increasing success."

Local singer Mairi Campbell, whose rendition of Auld Lang Syne featured on the soundtrack of hit TV show Sex And The City in 2008, is also on the bill for the festival, as well as folk singer/songwriter Caragh Nugent and acclaimed piper Louise Marshall Millington. The full line-up was due to be launched today at Whiski Bar on the Royal Mile, which is to host regularScots music nights.

Other venues include the HMV Picture House, The Waverley Bar, The Royal Oak, The Lot and The White Hart.