OXFORD folk musician Kate Garrett has died of cancer aged 37.

The Dorset-born musician spent much of her musical career in Oxford, first as a member of The Mystics in the 1990s, then as a solo singer and musician, and fronting The Kate Garrett Band.

As part of The Mystics, for which she sang and played keyboard and guitar, Ms Garrett released records on the Fontana, Rotator and Shifty Disco labels, touring the UK and USA and receiving airplay on MTV.

One of her key contributions to Oxford’s music scene was the Young Women’s Band Project based at the Ark T Centre in Cowley, which she founded and ran for eight years, running regular workshops, gigs and recording sessions.

Through the scheme, she helped support numerous young female musicians, including popular Oxford band Baby Gravy. The project produced three CDs.

She was a board member of cultural development agency Oxford Inspires since 2006, and ran singing workshops for adults in Dorset and Oxford with Abbie Lathe from 2007.

She was married to local cellist Barney Morse-Brown, whom she met in Oxford, and the couple collaborated together on various projects.

The couple formed a record label earlier this year called Garrett-Brown Music, and released King of the Birds in February at a record launch at Cumnor school hall.

She continued to write and perform despite her two-year battle with cancer, most recently performing at The Rotunda in Iffley Turn on May 2, before her death on May 22.

She had breast cancer, which had spread to her liver, and died at the Joseph Weld Hospice in Dorchester, Dorset, surrounded by family and friends after spending her last 12 days in the hospice.

Ms Garrett had been cared for at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, but wanted to move closer to her home county and her parent’s home near Bridport.

The editor of Oxford’s indie music magazine Nightshift, Ronan Munro, said: “Kate was a stunningly talented musician and singer as well as a lovely person.

“The Mystics remain one of my favourite Oxford bands of all time and her singing on their song Dead is among the greatest backing vocals in pop ever.

“But I think it’s her work in setting up the Oxford Young Women’s Band Project which will be her most fitting legacy.

“Because of Kate, a whole host of local girls were given the time, space and support to discover and develop their talent. People like Kate are the real unsung heroes of Oxford’s music scene.”

Following her cremation, Ms Garrett’s ashes were scattered on Hive Beach, Dorset, as part of a ceremony attended by close friends and family.