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|  | "Europe's most celebrated event of its kind."
The Daily Telegraph, 2002
We're excited about the 39th Cambridge Folk Festival. Why? Well, we've been before and had a pretty good time. And by the looks of the lineup, this year is set to be a cracker too!
 | Enjoy a bit of Julian |
The acoustic set from Steve Earle promises pulsating passion, the mixed set from Julian Cope will encourage tears, the full band show from the Eliza Carthy Band will move you sideways and the ruddy sounds of Ron Sexsmith will blow your mind. And that's just for starters!  | Roddy Frame on the opening night. Photo by Tony Eva |
If you're a virgin festival-goer, then gird your loins. It's a world acclaimed festival that sells out quicker than mustard...with good reason. It offers the very best from the folk and world music scene and has an enviable lineup that reads like a who's-who.
So, if it's your first time, enjoy. Take a rug to chill on, take a mate and that's pretty much all you need. Everything else is on tap. A barrel load of beer, a feast of food, a gaggle of craft stalls, a crèche for the kids and even an internet cafe for the die-hard.
 | | Eliza Carthy is 'magnificent' according to The Guardian - find our for yourself! |
The facilities are excellent. Admittedly my friends confess to using old crisp packets as toilet paper some 15 years ago...but now we're talking soft 'n strong and very long (well, there may be the odd bit of tracing paper stuff left...it's fine, just remember to WASH YOUR HANDS!).
But seriously, the management team have got it spot on. Meticulous attention has been paid to make all the areas accessible for wheelchair and pram users. A shed-load of bark chipping is shipped in for those 'rain-makes-mud' moments. The signage is clear and the staff are friendly. They've got this festival thing licked!
 | Bob Hewerdine of The Bob Hewerdine Trio on the first night of the Festival. Photo by Tony Eva |
It's a great atmosphere, the crowd are well-friendly (perhaps just avoid walking along Snakey Path at the back on your way home!), there's the Jesus tent for those who want to be saved and the Satanist tent for those who don't! There's the duck pond for those who need a wander, there's a huge supermarket just up the road for those who need a smack of outside realism/retail therapy, there's the kid's tent for those who need to get rid of/ get creative with the little suckers (delete as applicable), there's a first aid tent for those who find it all a bit too much and there's swings and roundabouts for those who need a 'being-a-kid' throwback! Oh, yes...and there's the music...
"Gold In Them Hills (remix), is a gem."
Mojo on the track from the album 'Cobblestone Runway', by Ron Sexsmith
 | Anna Esslemont of Uiscedwr. Photo by Tony Eva |
So, who else is in the line up...ok, take a big breath...The Saw Doctors, Afro Celts, Roseanne Cash, Orchestra Baobab, Linda Thompson, La Bottine Souriante, Dervish, Roddy Frame, John McCusker, Phil Cunningham, Berrogüetto, Shooglenifty, John
Hammond, Danú, Yonder Mountain String Band, Martin Simpson, Flook, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Brian McNeill, Laura Cantrell, The Waifs, the Boo Hewerdine Trio with Graham Henderson and Neil MacColl, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, Gráda, Bob Fox & The Hush, John Spiers & Jon Boden, Oi-Va-Voi, The Angel Brothers & Satnam Singh, Back Of The Moon, Gillian Frame, Elephant Talk, The Pack, 422 and Ola, Uiscedwr, Whapweasel, and Sandra Kerr and The Music From Bagpuss...breathe now!
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