Not only CFF, but also Strawberry Fair (Cambridge’s own little one-day free Glastonbury). Even though entirely volunteer-run, the cost of insurance has more than doubled since Covid.
And my favourite, the 3-day council-funded free gig on a twon park, the Big Weekend, was cancelled last year and shows no signs of coming back.
Is the problem a lack of big names doing the festivals this year? At Cropredy the Thursday headliner (usually a big name legacy act) is Albert Lee. A wonderful player of course, but the level of act I would expect to see in the local arts centre or much further down the bill at a festival for 20000. At Folk by the Oak, which we usually go to, the headliner is Bear’s Den. No, me neither (a common reaction based on their announcement on FBTO’s Facebook page). What I have heard of them doesn’t convince me that I’ve missed anything, though they seem to have sold out the Royal Albert Hall this spring.
Part of the trouble with CFF is historical. When the council switched from selling tickets at the Corn Exchange box office in town (10,000 people in a queue for most of Sunday) to selling tickets online (about 20 years ago), they sub-contracted the online ticketing to a company who took the money, delivered the tickets, then went bust. The council were left with huge debts and they’ve been trying to catch up ever since.
There must also come a point where the council has to question the ongoing validity of the festival in its current form, particularly if, as last year, it makes a loss.
We both work in the city. My wife is in a public sector organisation with young graduates, most with two degrees. I work in retail with young people in their late teens to early twenties. They are primarily from working class families in Arbury, or students at Anglia Ruskin. None of them are interested in the folk festival. Indeed, the only people we know who go are semi-retired and live in Peterborough. Perhaps not surprising given the acts that appear ( This year’s headliners were Robert Plant and a bunch of people like Jerry Douglas under a Transatlantic Sessions banner).
That’s not to say that younger people don’t go to the festival, but those that do don’t appear to be from the city. Residents might reasonably expect the council to be putting things on for them, not people from elsewhere, especially if the finances are precarious and the economic benefits debatable. In this context, pausing the event whilst seeking views on future direction would seem sensible.
Incidentally, whilst it might not be a great time to be a fan of some types of music in Cambridge, classical events still appear to be numerous and well attended. For example, on Thursday night we went to a small concert showcasing half a dozen newly commissioned avant-garde pieces followed by Ligeti’s String Quartet No 2. A ‘challenging’ listen to say the least, but there were a couple of hundred people there ( it was full), half of them under 35. This isn’t uncommon.
Well, quite. If the council have to cut funding, I’d rather they cut bankrolling the CFF and kept the Big Weekend on Parker’s Piece, which really was a family-friendly open-door (and open-air) event. Unfortunately, they’ve dropped both.
And there’s no Strawberry Fair this year, either, because of escalating insurance costs.
I’ve recently been to twice as many gigs at West Road Concert Hall than I have at the Portland Arms or the Blue Moon. That place really is a hidden treasure.
Yes, I certainly get the impression that more local people ( including those in the local catchment that will doubtless be part of any new Cambridge unitary authority) valued the Big Weekend, for example, far more. And whilst the CFF would have provided something of a boost to the local economy, I am not sure it’s that pivotal in the context of a place that gets 8 million visitors a year.
Of course, there will be businesses that benefit. The question for the council is whether its getting the maximum return on investment and spreading the economic benefit beyond the immediate vicinity of the Cherry Hinton campsites. This will become of even greater importance assuming the city council is replaced by a unitary and has to start worrying about, and paying for, social care, SENDs and so on.
I saw that – FBTO. Isn’t Kate Rusby second? I’m sure I’ve seen her there before. It’s a good day though I feel like I’ve only just dried out from a couple of years ago – the one with the Waterboys. Miserable.
Correct on both counts. We’ve certainly seen Kate there at least once, and the Waterboys year was damp. Even if it was blustery showers rather than a constant downpour we were glad to head back to the Premier Inn in Welwyn rather than a tent.
Bear’s Den are a perfect fit for a folk festival, I always surprised they have never got to Cambridge, Shrewsbury or similar. Their songs punch plangent melody with a mix of styles, but with a specific of brass and guitar/banjo, where trumpet and tenor horn add a Vaughan Williamsy pastoralism:
Wickham is odd. Been a couple of times. Always a strong folk and roots presence, but also a preponderance of aged heritage “favourites”: Gilbert O’Sulivan, Suzi Quattro. This year Leo Sayer, for instance. And, however much he is likely a game old trouper, it all can feel a bit end of the pier.
Cropredy really, nearly went under after last year, and has been deliberately stripped right back, both in headliners and capacity. Luckily for the old codgers, ticket sales have been brisk and guaranteed this year going ahead.
Despite the gloom at the better known end of the folk fest circuit, the smaller punch packers seem to continue with little fuss: Gateway to Southwell, Ely, New Forest, there is also a welter of far reaching and more eclectic festivals that attract old punks, crusties, folkies and space rockers, yer Bearded Theory, Beautiful Days, Lindisfarne, Kendal and similar.
I hope Cambridge will return as it has offered amongst my best festival attendances over my 3 visits.
I stopped going every year once it started clashing with Sidmouth (same story for Cropredy). But there was always something I missed, not least the huge crowd from Liverpool with whom I always used to go. I always got introductions to acts at Cambridge that I wouldn’t have got anywhere else. It didn’t clash with Sidmouth last year, so I went and had a fine time.
So, yes, I am sorry at this news, but more sorry for the worry that there will be more casualties.
Festivals don’t appeal to me so I’ve been interested in going to any of them, so I might well be wrong but it does seem like there been a huge increase in the number of them over the last ten years or so.
One for East Anglia Afterworders to look for is Red Rooster festival at Euston Hall near to Thetford. 2025 will be its 11th year (I’ve only missed one), lots of Blues, Country and obscure Punk Blues. Always discovered some great performances from people I’ve not heard of before. Great food offerings too (lots of bbq etc) and still relatively cheap for a weekend. I’ll be there in June!
Added to Black Deer – not a good year it seens
And WOMAD and Africa Oye. Very very tough times for festivals right now
Not only CFF, but also Strawberry Fair (Cambridge’s own little one-day free Glastonbury). Even though entirely volunteer-run, the cost of insurance has more than doubled since Covid.
And my favourite, the 3-day council-funded free gig on a twon park, the Big Weekend, was cancelled last year and shows no signs of coming back.
Not a great time to be a music fan in Cambridge.
Is the problem a lack of big names doing the festivals this year? At Cropredy the Thursday headliner (usually a big name legacy act) is Albert Lee. A wonderful player of course, but the level of act I would expect to see in the local arts centre or much further down the bill at a festival for 20000. At Folk by the Oak, which we usually go to, the headliner is Bear’s Den. No, me neither (a common reaction based on their announcement on FBTO’s Facebook page). What I have heard of them doesn’t convince me that I’ve missed anything, though they seem to have sold out the Royal Albert Hall this spring.
Part of the trouble with CFF is historical. When the council switched from selling tickets at the Corn Exchange box office in town (10,000 people in a queue for most of Sunday) to selling tickets online (about 20 years ago), they sub-contracted the online ticketing to a company who took the money, delivered the tickets, then went bust. The council were left with huge debts and they’ve been trying to catch up ever since.
There must also come a point where the council has to question the ongoing validity of the festival in its current form, particularly if, as last year, it makes a loss.
We both work in the city. My wife is in a public sector organisation with young graduates, most with two degrees. I work in retail with young people in their late teens to early twenties. They are primarily from working class families in Arbury, or students at Anglia Ruskin. None of them are interested in the folk festival. Indeed, the only people we know who go are semi-retired and live in Peterborough. Perhaps not surprising given the acts that appear ( This year’s headliners were Robert Plant and a bunch of people like Jerry Douglas under a Transatlantic Sessions banner).
That’s not to say that younger people don’t go to the festival, but those that do don’t appear to be from the city. Residents might reasonably expect the council to be putting things on for them, not people from elsewhere, especially if the finances are precarious and the economic benefits debatable. In this context, pausing the event whilst seeking views on future direction would seem sensible.
Incidentally, whilst it might not be a great time to be a fan of some types of music in Cambridge, classical events still appear to be numerous and well attended. For example, on Thursday night we went to a small concert showcasing half a dozen newly commissioned avant-garde pieces followed by Ligeti’s String Quartet No 2. A ‘challenging’ listen to say the least, but there were a couple of hundred people there ( it was full), half of them under 35. This isn’t uncommon.
Well, quite. If the council have to cut funding, I’d rather they cut bankrolling the CFF and kept the Big Weekend on Parker’s Piece, which really was a family-friendly open-door (and open-air) event. Unfortunately, they’ve dropped both.
And there’s no Strawberry Fair this year, either, because of escalating insurance costs.
I’ve recently been to twice as many gigs at West Road Concert Hall than I have at the Portland Arms or the Blue Moon. That place really is a hidden treasure.
Yes, I certainly get the impression that more local people ( including those in the local catchment that will doubtless be part of any new Cambridge unitary authority) valued the Big Weekend, for example, far more. And whilst the CFF would have provided something of a boost to the local economy, I am not sure it’s that pivotal in the context of a place that gets 8 million visitors a year.
The sports club thrives from the showers income, as well as that nearby pub tha cooks those gorge breakfasts.
Of course, there will be businesses that benefit. The question for the council is whether its getting the maximum return on investment and spreading the economic benefit beyond the immediate vicinity of the Cherry Hinton campsites. This will become of even greater importance assuming the city council is replaced by a unitary and has to start worrying about, and paying for, social care, SENDs and so on.
I saw that – FBTO. Isn’t Kate Rusby second? I’m sure I’ve seen her there before. It’s a good day though I feel like I’ve only just dried out from a couple of years ago – the one with the Waterboys. Miserable.
Correct on both counts. We’ve certainly seen Kate there at least once, and the Waterboys year was damp. Even if it was blustery showers rather than a constant downpour we were glad to head back to the Premier Inn in Welwyn rather than a tent.
Bear’s Den are a perfect fit for a folk festival, I always surprised they have never got to Cambridge, Shrewsbury or similar. Their songs punch plangent melody with a mix of styles, but with a specific of brass and guitar/banjo, where trumpet and tenor horn add a Vaughan Williamsy pastoralism:
I’ve played a couple of their albums since the FBTO announcement but have filed them under ‘I’m glad they’re there for others to enjoy’.
We’ve been to Wickham a few times but the acts I’d want to see are usually spread quite thin across the days so we gave it a miss last year.
Wickham is odd. Been a couple of times. Always a strong folk and roots presence, but also a preponderance of aged heritage “favourites”: Gilbert O’Sulivan, Suzi Quattro. This year Leo Sayer, for instance. And, however much he is likely a game old trouper, it all can feel a bit end of the pier.
Not in the mood for dancing, Retro?
Presumably if Leo Sayer is playing then the show must go on. Just don’t say it’s over or ask why is everybody going home.
Never the same after he had to fire his sidemen and tread
the boards as a one-man band
He was just a boy, giving it all away.
With Albert and Trevor Horn headlining the first two days,it does mean that Simon Nichol becomes the youngest headliner this year.
Cropredy really, nearly went under after last year, and has been deliberately stripped right back, both in headliners and capacity. Luckily for the old codgers, ticket sales have been brisk and guaranteed this year going ahead.
Despite the gloom at the better known end of the folk fest circuit, the smaller punch packers seem to continue with little fuss: Gateway to Southwell, Ely, New Forest, there is also a welter of far reaching and more eclectic festivals that attract old punks, crusties, folkies and space rockers, yer Bearded Theory, Beautiful Days, Lindisfarne, Kendal and similar.
I hope Cambridge will return as it has offered amongst my best festival attendances over my 3 visits.
I stopped going every year once it started clashing with Sidmouth (same story for Cropredy). But there was always something I missed, not least the huge crowd from Liverpool with whom I always used to go. I always got introductions to acts at Cambridge that I wouldn’t have got anywhere else. It didn’t clash with Sidmouth last year, so I went and had a fine time.
So, yes, I am sorry at this news, but more sorry for the worry that there will be more casualties.
Festivals don’t appeal to me so I’ve been interested in going to any of them, so I might well be wrong but it does seem like there been a huge increase in the number of them over the last ten years or so.
One for East Anglia Afterworders to look for is Red Rooster festival at Euston Hall near to Thetford. 2025 will be its 11th year (I’ve only missed one), lots of Blues, Country and obscure Punk Blues. Always discovered some great performances from people I’ve not heard of before. Great food offerings too (lots of bbq etc) and still relatively cheap for a weekend. I’ll be there in June!
I’ve always fancied this but never been. Must give it a go as it’s right up my alley. A quick Google tells me it’s the last weekend of May.
https://www.redrooster.org.uk/