Perhaps one of the outstanding features of the music found in Cambridge is the city’s folk tradition. The yearly Cambridge Folk Festival is the eye catching tip of the iceberg, regularly selling out well in advance and featuring artists such as Joan Baez, Steve Earle, Toots and the Maytals and Kate Rusby this year alone. ‘Folk’ is interpreted loosely and artists from across the genres and continents are given the opportunity to shine. Since the mid 1960s this event has maintained its distinct, friendly character in the face of the recent rush towards commercial outdoor summer festivals.

 

Throughout the year though the folk scene does not lie dormant, and the Cambridge Folk Club has been active since 1959, putting on acts at The Golden Hind just outside of the town centre. This term don’t miss the American singer, banjo player and ‘song collector’ Sara Grey amongst others. The Mayflower Society also puts on the occasional gig. See the link below for further listings.

 

There are also a wide variety of university s ocieties which involve themselves in the wider folk tradition, and Ceilidhs, a wide variety of English and continental traditional dances and music groups are worth seeking out. ‘The Round’, the university’s country dance society since 1928 is a good place to start.

 

Tom Hamilton

See also

 

http://www.cambridgefolkclub.org/

http://www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk/

http://www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/

http://www.mayflowerfolkclub.org.uk/