Miniature yet mighty York-shire lass Kate Rusby was as enchanting as her accent was broad

What a joy to listen to the Barnsley Nightingale sing on a balmy night in Bradford. One of, if not the finest folk singer/songwriter in Britain, this voice is one to be heard and not to be missed.

“I’m glad you could come seeing as it’s so hot. I thought you would be having a barbecue instead,” she chirped.

And then she revealed to the audience we were joining her and her new husband Damien O’Kane and band member on their honeymoon – they only tied the knot on Saturday.

Banter flowed easily: “The folk police say I’ve got to depress at least 60 per cent of you before you leave tonight” she said. “Not a chance,” said we as we let Kate carry us swiftly from ballad to ballad telling us tales of rival siblings, an old man who thought his wife had it easy until they swapped jobs and a failed bid to woo ‘Awkward Annie’.

It was the smooth, velvety sound that made you want to sink into a sofa and let it all go – sadly not possible on the hard chairs of St George’s that refreshment could only be achieved by synchronised glass-lifting.