Cambridge Folk Festival
The Cambridge Folk Festival at Cherry Hinton Hall: its history since 1965, what the site offers and when it takes place, with a link to the organiser.
What it is
The Cambridge Folk Festival is a music festival staged at Cherry Hinton Hall, in the Cherry Hinton district on the south-eastern side of the city. Its programme takes a wide view of what counts as folk, with headliners, buskers and roving performers on site and folk events in venues across the city.
History
The festival began in 1965. The first festival sold about 1,400 tickets, and a young Paul Simon was added to the bill at a late stage. The festival's first director was Ken Woollard, who ran it until his death in 1993. The 50th festival was held in 2014. Cambridge City Council ran the festival until 2015 and took it over again in 2019.
What to expect
Performers appear on several stages, including two marquee stages and a third stage that grew out of the Club Tent programmed by local folk clubs. A camp site on Coldham's Common has a floor singers' stage, and the festival also has a tent for young people and a Flower Garden marquee that hosts workshops.
When it happens
The festival takes place in summer over a long weekend. The Cambridge Folk Festival organisers publish dates, ticket types, camping and parking details.
Where it happens
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Cherry Hinton Hall
Landmark
A Grade II listed house of 1839 and its parkland, which has hosted the Cambridge Folk Festival.
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Coldham's Common
Landmark
A 49-hectare local nature reserve of old grassland on the eastern side of the city.