American singer and multi-instrumentalist Kate Lissauer is coming to Penzance next month.

Kate is a leading light in the American traditional music scene and will be playing Penzance Folk Club on March 4.

Kate was banjo before banjo was cool. An award-winning Appalachian fiddle and banjo player, she is also a fine singer in the old-time country style and brings her knowledge and love of mountain, bluegrass and folk music to life through her passionate instrumental and vocal delivery.

Kate’s performance includes ballads, blues and gospel songs, hard-driving fiddle tunes, and one of her trademarks – fiddle-backed songs.

Since moving to England, she has become a leader in the UK old-time country and bluegrass scene, and her performances at the Cornish Bluegrass Festival over the years have gained popular support.

The show will take place at the Bath Inn on Cornwall Terrace from 8pm.

It will provide west Cornwall with a rare treat: the old songs and tunes from the roots of US music and the early days of country string bands, sung by a Western Maryland woman.

Kate also composes her own music inspired by the sound and feel of old-time country. She has been described as “one of the finest old-time fiddle/banjo players and singers anywhere” and as “one of the best exponents of American Old-time music in the UK”.

Most of Kate’s music is inspired by the traditions of West Virginia and Kentucky. She runs Buffalo Gals Old-Time Country String Band which has been awarded ‘Old-Time Mountain CD of the Year’ from Iowa’s Rural Roots Music Commission.

She has been involved in several other recording projects, including her own: ‘Ain't No Grave’, and ‘Walk Chalk Chicken.’

Kate can also be heard on the Tradition Bearers series of CDs, fiddling and singing for both Sara Grey and Kieron Means.

Multi-talented and energetic Kate is also one of the few square dance callers available in the UK, serves as the Old-Time design consultant for Fairfield Banjos in Bath, and tours her ‘Sonic Silents’ film show - an homage to black and white Oscar-winning Hollywood movies featuring live performance of her original scores to silent films.

At the Bath Inn event Kate will be supported by noted percussive dancer Sibs Riesen.

Tickets are £8 (£7 for Folk Club members) and are available at www.crbo.co.uk, by calling CRBO on 01726 879500 or on the door.