Folk festival venue to host free summer concerts

A city which axed its annual folk festival this year is to host a weekend of free live music at the same venue.

Cambridge Folk Festival had been due to celebrate its 60th anniversary this July, but made a loss in 2024, and is due to return to Cherry Hinton Hall next summer.

Organisers Cambridge City Council said Folk in the City would include open-air concerts at the hall in August and was a "platform to celebrate all things folk and roots throughout the year".

Sam Scharf, director of communities at the Labour-run council, said it was a "truly city-wide initiative with the spirit of Cambridge Folk Festival at its heart".

The annual celebration of all things folk had its first weekend of live music at Cherry Hinton Hall in 1965 and over the years saw performances from Van Morrison, Billy Bragg and Sinead O'Connor.

Labour councillor for the area Robert Dryden, who had been to every festival, previously said its cancellation in 2025 was a "big disappointment".

The Folk in the City line-up includes ticketed folk and roots-inspired gigs at venues across the city from this month, including Jake Bugg and Suzanne Vega at the Corn Exchange.

A folk summer school, launched by the festival last year, will hold workshops for young musicians in July.

On 2 August, Cherry Hinton Hall will stage family activities and a concert of local and national artists, including an ensemble formed at the summer school.

A Music in the Parks event of "relaxed live folk" will take place the following day.

The council said further details and events would be announced in the coming months.

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