AFTER weeks of rain, summer finally arrived at the other greatest show on earth this weekend, with thousands enjoying this year’s Cambridge Folk Festival.
Sunday afternoon’s hailstorm did nothing to dampen everyone’s spirits at the end of four days of otherwise fantastic weather and the very best in folk. Legends including Clannad, June Tabor & Oysterband, and Nanci Griffith thrilled audiences with their performances, while a new generation of cutting edge young artists, including Charlene Soraia, King Charles and Jake Bugg made their mark on the Festival’s massively popular emerging talent stages. The Festival has showcased many rising artists over the years at the very start of their careers, including Newton Faulkner, Laura Marling, Mumford & Sons, Seth Lakeman, Noah & The Whale and this year was no different with acts like The Staves, Lucy Ward, Benjamin Francis Leftwich and Rachel Sermanni.
One of the country’s best loved and most outspoken songwriters, Billy Bragg played a unique set on the Festival’s opening night on Thursday, celebrating the 100th birthday of legendary political folk and blues singer Woody Guthrie. Other weekend highlights among so many included: a stirring and haunting performance from the Unthank sisters, their exquisite blend of traditional and modern folk complemented by a stunning performance from Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band; a rousing Saturday night closing set from The Proclaimers; a surprise appearance from Green Wing and Episodes actor, Stephen Mangan presenting a guitar workshop with Martin Simpson and on Sunday blistering performances from one of the greatest forces in African music Angelique Kidjo and Festival favourite Seth Lakeman plus an emotionally charged return to the stage after 30 years for legendary folk artist, Nic Jones.
With the exception of Friday day tickets (Olympic Opening Ceremony night) all tickets for the Festival completely sold out. The Festival was broadcast live on Sky Arts across the weekend.
Festival Marketing Manager Neil Jones said: ‘2012 has been a fantastic year for the UK and appropriately also a fabulous year for the Cambridge Folk Festival. In a sumnmer that has seen atrocious weather for many UK Festivals we were blessed with mainly beautiful conditions and we are delighted to have sold out all Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Weekend Tickets. Tickets are now on sale for 2013.'
Tickets for the 2013 Cambridge Folk Festival are availble from midday on Monday 30 July via www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk
Sunday afternoon’s hailstorm did nothing to dampen everyone’s spirits at the end of four days of otherwise fantastic weather and the very best in folk. Legends including Clannad, June Tabor & Oysterband, and Nanci Griffith thrilled audiences with their performances, while a new generation of cutting edge young artists, including Charlene Soraia, King Charles and Jake Bugg made their mark on the Festival’s massively popular emerging talent stages. The Festival has showcased many rising artists over the years at the very start of their careers, including Newton Faulkner, Laura Marling, Mumford & Sons, Seth Lakeman, Noah & The Whale and this year was no different with acts like The Staves, Lucy Ward, Benjamin Francis Leftwich and Rachel Sermanni.
One of the country’s best loved and most outspoken songwriters, Billy Bragg played a unique set on the Festival’s opening night on Thursday, celebrating the 100th birthday of legendary political folk and blues singer Woody Guthrie. Other weekend highlights among so many included: a stirring and haunting performance from the Unthank sisters, their exquisite blend of traditional and modern folk complemented by a stunning performance from Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band; a rousing Saturday night closing set from The Proclaimers; a surprise appearance from Green Wing and Episodes actor, Stephen Mangan presenting a guitar workshop with Martin Simpson and on Sunday blistering performances from one of the greatest forces in African music Angelique Kidjo and Festival favourite Seth Lakeman plus an emotionally charged return to the stage after 30 years for legendary folk artist, Nic Jones.
With the exception of Friday day tickets (Olympic Opening Ceremony night) all tickets for the Festival completely sold out. The Festival was broadcast live on Sky Arts across the weekend.
Festival Marketing Manager Neil Jones said: ‘2012 has been a fantastic year for the UK and appropriately also a fabulous year for the Cambridge Folk Festival. In a sumnmer that has seen atrocious weather for many UK Festivals we were blessed with mainly beautiful conditions and we are delighted to have sold out all Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Weekend Tickets. Tickets are now on sale for 2013.'
Tickets for the 2013 Cambridge Folk Festival are availble from midday on Monday 30 July via www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk