QUEEN of folk Kate Rusby will be getting into the festive spirit in her show ‘Christmas Kate’, coming to Blackpool Grand Theatre on Monday, December 7.

The evening will include Rusby classics as well as a showcase of South Yorkshire village carols.

We caught up with Kate ahead of the gig.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR SHOW.

I really enjoy doing the festive tour every year. I’ll be performing carols from my beloved South Yorkshire, and we have a brass quintet with us too. It’s great fun and that’s when it starts to feel like Christmas for me.

THIS YEAR YOU’VE DONE SOME WORK OUTSIDE FOLK MUSIC. DO YOU ENJOY THESE PROJECTS?

It’s always lovely when different things come along, and so far they have all been very enjoyable. I have been very lucky in that sense. I have been able to make the music I want to make, and every now and again I get asked to be part of really exciting things, like Jennifer Saunders’ TV show Jam And Jerusalem, or the film called Heartlands that I was involved in. I got asked to write a couple of songs for a children’s animation called Jack Frost, and of course to do the song with Ronan Keating and lots of other things beside.

WHAT’S BEEN YOUR CAREER HIGHLIGHT?

I’ve just achieved two of my goals in life, one was to play at the Albert Hall, which we just did as part of the Teenage Cancer Trust gigs, and the other was to sing with Dolly Parton.

IF YOU HADN’T BECOME A SINGER WHAT COULD YOU SEE YOURSELF DOING?

Fronting a rock band, being a rocket scientist, politician or whatever. If I wasn’t folk singer anymore, I would love to have a greengrocer's shop!

WHO ARE YOUR BIG INFLUENCES?

My parents. They were always playing and singing around the house and in the car, so me, my brother and sister were picking up songs from the word go.

l Kate Rusby – Christmas Kate, Blackpool Grand Theatre, Monday, December 7. Call box office on 01253 290190. Visit www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk