Located in the picturesque grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall, Cambridge Folk Festival is one of the longest-running folk festivals in the world. Here’s what to expect from this year’s star-studded line-up.
Image © Martin Bond
The highly anticipated Cambridge Folk Festival returns after a two-year hiatus, from 28 to 31 July. Described by Songlines magazine as ‘the jewel within the UK folk festival circuit’, it attracts some of the best acts around, with headliners including the prolific Suzanne Vega, Billy Bragg and Gipsy Kings. Passenger also returns, having risen to international chart-topping fame since his debut at the festival’s emerging talent stage in 2011. There will be appearances from Seasick Steve, known for his explosive live performances, plus American eight-piece soul band St Paul and the Broken Bones, the up-and-coming acoustic singer-songwriter Billie Marten – and O’Hooley & Tidow, who wrote the closing theme for hit drama Gentleman Jack, celebrating ten years performing together.
Cambridge Folk Festival is known for drawing people back year after year, with a vast selection of activities spread throughout the grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall – ranging from tai chi, yoga, storytelling and singing workshops, to talks on issues such as mental health, being a woman in music, and the environment. There’s plenty for children, too, with clog dancing, ceilidhs, face painting, crafting, a huge play park and paddling pool to keep the whole family entertained.
Day tickets are available at cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk, with the option to extend to a festival ‘sleepover’ by purchasing camping tickets for either Cherry Hinton Hall or Coldham’s Common.
