 |
Welcome to Folk and Roots
A guide to the folk and acoustic scene, with information about UK folk gigs, folk concerts, folk festivals and hundreds of links! |
"Cambridge Folk Festival - one of the premier music events in Europe and one of the longest running and most famous folk festivals in the world.", Cambridge held its 44th Festival this year and Folk and Roots were there (or quite possibly still are dependant on when you are reading this), read our reports and enjoy the pictures.
Thursday 31st July
Friday 1st August
Saturday 2nd August
Cambridge Folk Festival - Thursday 31st July 2008
 Well, true to form, got to Cambridge, pitched the tent, and was just congratulating myself on my speed and success when the heavens opened. But rain never stopped the Cambridge spirit.
Off on the bus to get my pass and watch Frank Turner. Such a surprise to hear someone who sounds like he should be on XFM- or is it? That's what Cambridge is all about. Frank looks a bit like a young Springsteen and sounds like a young Bragg. Lyrically brilliant, with an easy relaxed manner with the audience, I know Frank's cd will be on my 'to buy' list on Sunday.
Went round to the Club tent to see a bit of Megson - much more traditional, the audience sitting down to appreciate the slow ballads, guitar and whistle work of Stu Hanna and Debbie Palmer. After a short break for potato wedges I squeezed back in to the Club tent for the Shivers - a band, rather than an activity! Hot, sweaty, wearing patterned shirts and singing Donna Summer's 'I feel love'- I wish I'd got there earlier.
Anyway, the Shivers were followed by Findlay Napier and the Bar Room Mountaineers. Cool name and cool sound too. A four piece from Scotland (fiddle, keyboards, guitar/vocals and percussion) playing a mix of traditional Scottish tunes and songs written both by Findlay and Nick Turner. Paul Jennings, the guy on percussion, played one of those boxes that you sit on (what are they called?) - sounded really good.
Then a short trip back to Stage 2 in the pouring rain to stand outside at the back and listen to Tunng. I liked this lot - really ambient trancy stuff that would sound really cool in a club- it worked fairly well in the rain in a mac outside the marquee! Jangly percussion, great beats, and huge support from the audience.
 Last act of the night was Laura Marling- this is the girl all the talk has been about. All the photographers were out in force for this teenaged wood nymph who was dressed in an oversized white shirt, her band arranged horseshoe shaped around her. I like that. Shows equalness I think, and meant that the drummer could do beautiful harmonies with the keyboard guy across the semi circle from him. Laura has a beautiful voice, sounding in places a bit like Dolores O' Riordan, and changing style from song to song. Impressive to see that this fragile looking girl with her white blonde cap of hair can belt songs out with passion, strength and maturity. It makes me feel old to write this, but for her age she has a self assurance about her, not a false modesty- more an 'old beyond her years' thing.
Sadly the stages finished early - but roll on tomorrow when all the stages are open!
Friday 1st August
Saturday 2nd August
|