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Latest news:
 

Think that Folk Music is all beards, jumpers and 'fingers-in-the-ear'? Then think again!  For an alternative view on the folk world why not enjoy the artwork of David Owen from The Ink Corporation.  David's artwork will be adorning the fences of the Festival's arenas this year with such gems as the one below.

For more information on The Ink Corporation click here.
 

Previous news:

FOLK FESTIVAL LINE-UP CONFIRMED

k.d. lang   Joan Armatrading   Levellers   The Imagined Village   Billy Bragg   John Hia

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Judy Collins   Allen Toussaint   Seth Lakeman   Eric Bibb   Eliza Carthy   Martha Wainwright
The Waifs   Altan   Peatbog Faeries   Tim O’Brien   Karine Polwart   Michael McGoldrick Band
Laura Marling   Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba   Tunng   Kíla   Devon Sproule   Chris Wood   Cherryholmes   Brian McNeill   Mauvais Sort   Lisa Knapp   Hot 8 Brass Band   Beoga
Grupo Fantasma   Frank Turner   Whapweasel   Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson   Elizabeth Cook
The Chair   3 Daft Monkeys   Noah & The Whale   Jeana Leslie & Siobhan Miller   6 Day Riot Kidsamonium   Findlay Napier & The Bar Room Mountaineers   Megson   The Shivers


An eclectic and exciting bill, featuring the best in contemporary folk and roots music, has been announced by Europe’s most acclaimed Folk Festival. The Festival's reputation for quality music in intimate surroundings means tickets are set to sell out quickly.  Early booking is strongly advised.

Many unique performances will include: an exclusive UK outdoor Festival appearance by multiple Grammy Award winning Canadian songwriter and stunning singer k.d. lang; sublime singer, songwriter and guitarist Joan Armatrading, who recently became the first UK female artist to be nominated for a Grammy in the blues category; proudly celebrating their 20th anniversary and set to release a new album, Letters from the Underground, festival favourites the Levellers; multi-cultural collective The Imagined Village, including Martin Carthy, Eliza Carthy, Billy Bragg, Sheila Chandra, Johnny Kalsi, Simon Emmerson and Chris Wood, with stunning interpretations of English traditional compositions; the great English performer, songwriter and activist Billy Bragg making one of only two festival appearances this summer in England; US country-blues musician and acclaimed songwriter John Hiatt, appearing solo; a rare UK Festival appearance from legendary American singer and social activist Judy Collins; a rare UK Festival appearance from one of the most influential figures in New Orleans music, pianist, writer and producer Allen Toussaint; Mercury Music Prize nominated, English folk singer-songwriter Seth Lakeman, performing songs from his new album Poor Man's Heaven; leading American blues troubadour Eric Bibb, appearing with his band; one of the figureheads of the English folk revival, singer, writer and multi-instrumentalist Eliza Carthy; gritty Canadian-American folk pop singer Martha Wainwright; an exclusive UK Festival appearance from previous Cambridge hits, Australia’s The Waifs; premier traditional Irish folk band from Donegal, Altan; uplifting celtic dance band Peatbog Faeries from the Isle of Skye; Grammy Award winning US folk artist, bluegrass singer and multi-instrumentalist Tim O’Brien, appearing with John McCusker & Arty McGlynn.

Special appearances continue with: acclaimed Scottish singer songwriter Karine Polwart, blending folk, roots and indie influences; vibrant Irish traditional music and instrumental virtuosity from the Michael McGoldrick Band; fast rising and highly praised English folk-pop singer-songwriter Laura Marling, who at just 18 shows great musical maturity and all the signs of being one to watch in 2008; thrilling Malian desert blues from Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba, winner of the Album of the Year at the Awards for World Music; experimental folktronica band Tunng, agreeing to their only appearance at a folk festival this summer; a unique blend of Irish traditional, global and dance music influences from Kíla; Virginia-based singer-songwriter Devon Sproule, combining elements of folk, country, blues and jazz; uncompromising and timeless traditional English folk musician Chris Wood; an exclusive UK outdoor Festival appearance from Nashville-based, dynamic family bluegrass band Cherryholmes; Scottish folk composer and multi-instrumentalist Brian McNeill, leading the Festival Session; Quebecois band Mauvais Sort, presenting innovative contemporary arrangements of traditional songs; 2007’s MOJO Folk Album of the Year winner Lisa Knapp; New Orleans' finest, Hot 8 Brass Band, merging hip-hop, jazz and funk; one of Irelands most exciting new acts Beoga, bridging a gap between tradition and modern fusion; one of the finest latin funk bands to come out of the US in a decade, 11 piece Grupo Fantasma, known for their exhuberant live shows and supporting Prince; the wonderful bittersweet acoustic bite of former punk front-man Frank Turner; award winning English dance band Whapweasel to host a ceilidh.

More eagerly anticipated performances include: boundary-defying pipe music from Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson; the sassy swagger of American country vocalist Elizabeth Cook; high energy Orkney band The Chair, taking their first trip into the English festival circuit; dynamic Cornish, world-influenced and upbeat acoustic band 3 Daft Monkeys; infectious and hotly tipped, folk-tinged pop from Noah & The Whale; BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winners Jeana Leslie & Siobhan Miller; catchy melodies and instrumental sophistication from 6 Day Riot; Kidsamonium adapting their award winning jazz improvisation children's show especially for a folk audience; Findlay Napier & The Bar Room Mountaineers, a song-focused band taking Scottish traditional material and presenting it in an elegant new light; acoustic nu-folk and country flavoured duo Megson; Cambridge's own fine acoustic rock and roll band The Shivers.

All artists are subject to contract
 

Other news:

CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL 2008 YOUNG MUSICIAN COMPETITION

Aged 11-18?  Into Folk Music?  Want a chance to perform live in the Club Tent at the Cambridge Folk Festival on Sunday 3 August 2008?

We've a limited number of free tickets to the fantastic Cambridge Folk Festival, for people to participate in band workshops at The Hub youth music area and get the chance to perform with The Hub Band in the Club Tent on Sunday 8 August 2008 evening.

To enter you'll need to send in a maximum of 3 tracks, on CD together with information about yourself, including your age, by 22 May 2008 to:

Young Musician Competition
Cambridge Folk Festival
Cambridge City Council
The Guildhall, Cambridge, Cambs, CB2 3QJ

Winners will be selected according to the strength and suitability of their music and will be notified by 6 June 2008.

The competition is open to individuals or bands. Under 14’s will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult. Weekend passes for winners (including camping at Coldhams Common) will be sent out by the first week in July.

IMPORTANT: Competition tickets are extremely limited. If you wish to attend the Festival regardless of whether you win tickets or not, you should buy them in the normal manner when they go on sale, before they sell out.

For more info contact the Cambridge Folk Festival Office on 01223 457 555

 

Previous news:

Opportunity for a new major sponsor for the Cambridge Folk Festival

After a decade of successful sponsorship from BBC Radio 2, including four years as title sponsor, the opportunity has arisen for a new partner to become associated at the highest level, with the highly prestigious and internationally regarded Cambridge Folk Festival, from 2008 onwards.

We would like to thank BBC Radio 2 for their highly valued contribution to the Festival over the past years. BBC Radio 2 have already pledged their broadcast support for 2008 and we look forward to working with them in the future. 

Major sponsorship of the Cambridge Folk Festival would bring many benefits of association to any business. If you would like to discuss this, or other Cambridge Folk Festival sponsorship opportunities, further or would like more information about it please contact: 
Eddie Barcan on 01223 457 555 or eddie.barcan@cambridge.gov.uk

Cambridge City Council Arts & Entertainments are extremely grateful to all our sponsors and supporters whose contributions help enormously towards making the BBC Radio 2 Cambridge Folk Festival run as smoothly as ever. We would especially like to thank our title sponsor BBC Radio 2 whose support includes extensive radio and web coverage of the Festival.

We would also like to thank:

The Co-operative Group for their sponsorship of the Crèche

Cambridge Printing, the printing business of Cambridge University Press who sponsor and have redesigned the Festival website

Stagecoach Cambridge for their sponsorship and provision of the bus transport services to the Festival.

UNISON for their support to ensure the Festival's continued high standards of facilities for disabled people.

PRS Foundation who support the new music and artists in the Club Tent.

MOJO who are our print media partners and also run the artist signing tent at the Festival

BBC 4 who broadcast highlights of the Festival.

If you would like to discuss becoming a sponsor or supporter of part of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Festival please do not hesitate to contact:
Eddie Barcan, Cambridge City Council eddie.barcan@cambridge.gov.uk