I don't really do folk music as a standalone style, but I do love a lot of music that incorporates folk and folk influences from various parts of the world.
I'm not generally a fan, but there is something about this artist. I stumbled across her when I was listening to pit bands (an English tradition, coal mines would form brass bands and perform and compete with others, see the Pete Postlethwaite film Brassed Off), as I have to listen to instrumentals when working as words distract me. So brass bands are a regular thing, and whilst listening to a playlist I stumbled across a collaboration between the Grimethorpe Colliery Band (who performed on Brassed Off) and the aforementioned Kate Rusby, Underneath the Stars, and it was just beautiful. So I searched her and saw she sung a cover famous Celtic song that I've always loved (I come from Irish stock on my Mum's side), Wild Mountain Thyme (sometimes called Blooming Heather or Will Ye Go Lassie), and I loved her version of that as well, and I now have a go to of half a dozen songs of hers when I am in the mood.
Around here (Northeastern Pennsylvania and New York State) there was certainly an Irish, Welsh and English immigrant impact in the 1800's. If you look at the headstones in the old cemeteries, they came to coal mine, logging and digging canals. But Eastern and Sothern European culture, which came much later, are more noticeable in the food and music my my immediate area. There is a "Sons of Italy" group just down the street, and a Ukrainian Catholic Church nearby. Polish influences are still pretty evident within a few hours drive. Polka and Polish food are still a thing, especially with the older set.
