I've been hearing a lot about Ruth Notman so I was very excited when her debut album, Threads, arrived this week. It was not what I expected at all. It surpassed anything I was expecting to hear and I'm pretty sure I listened to the first few tracks with my mouth open in amazement.

The album is called "Threads" and it's an incredible album. Ruth has been performing on the live circuit since she was 13 and she reached the finals of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards in 2006.

She makes a great entrance on this album with a favourite Nic Jones track of mine "Billy Don't you weep for me", so I was instantly spoilt. If that wasn't enough she follows with a beautiful Dougie MacLean track "Caledonia". She has one of those voices that will either bring a great big silly grin to your face as she has a wonderful upbeat style or a sentimental tear to your eye... I was surprised by "Heather Down the Moor", I'm so used to the heart-aching version by Spiers and Boden that Ruth's sprightly version caught me very pleasantly by surprise. It kicks in to a great dance rythmn that would go down a treat at any Ceilidh. It's simply brilliant. She also has Saul Rose on Melodeon who is instantly recogniseable along with Hannah Edmonds on Cello, Roger Wilson on Fiddle and Bella Hardy providing Vocal harmony to name but a few. Ruth also plays Piano, guitar and harp.

Alas folks it doesn't end there...she also covers Fause Fause and that great Richard Thompson track - Farewell Farewell as well as penning some fine songs herself. She tops it all with her own "What's goin on?" which is a real gem.

Ruth really works her magic here and if this is the standard she performs by then we can expect to hear a lot more. I would wager she will be up there with the likes of Kate Rusby very soon making big and well deserved sell-out performances. British Folk has another jewel in its crown.