Cambridge Folk Festival

last updated: Thu 14th Sep 2023

Cambridge Folk Festival, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014, is one of the premier music events in Europe and one of the longest running and most famous folk festivals in the world. Held each year since 1965 in the beautiful setting of Cherry Hinton Hall, it attracts around fourteen thousand people, many of whom return year after year.

The Festival is renowned for its unique atmosphere and an eclectic mix of music and a wide definition of what might be considered folk. The best traditional folk artists from the UK and Ireland rub shoulders with cutting edge contemporary acts, the finest American country, blues and roots artists, acclaimed singer songwriters, famous names and world music stars. Bluegrass, gospel, cajun & zydeco, klezmer and ceilidhs are also regular features. The line-up has reflected the many changes in the music scene from the 60s to the present and is always a hotbed mix of the old and the new. The list of performers who have appeared reads like a who’s who and the Festival continues to be a launching pad for many well-known artists.