Cambridge Season of Folk unveiled as council announces special free family summer music concert at Cherry Hinton Hall

The spirit of folk is set to flourish in Cambridge this summer, despite the cancellation of the Cambridge Folk Festival, as Cambridge City Council announces Folk in the City.

This city-wide celebration of music and community will provide a platform to celebrate all things folk and roots throughout the year, from gigs, free concerts and family events to a folk dedicated summer school for young musicians.

The council will be working to support the city’s local folk scene, fostering connections, championing artists and grassroots initiatives, and spotlighting these events.

One of the highlights is a special family weekend of free folk music-inspired entertainment at Cherry Hinton Hall in August:

 Saturday, 2 August – an open-air concert at Cherry Hinton Hall (1pm to 8pm), bringing together a mix of local and national artists and shining a spotlight on folk’s rich traditions and positive future. The afternoon will also include a children’s concert and family activities including an evening ceilidh.

 Sunday, 3 August – a special Music in the Parks concert will round off the weekend, offering a relaxed afternoon of live folk performances back at Cherry Hinton Hall (3pm to 5pm).

Sam Scharf, director of communities at Cambridge City Council, said: “We’re delighted to announce Folk in the City, truly a city-wide initiative with the spirit of Cambridge Folk Festival at its heart.

“The headline Corn Exchange gigs, wonderful free open-air concerts to be enjoyed by all at Cherry Hinton Hall, plus folk and roots-flavoured music events at partner venues during 2025, along with our Folk Summer School – so valuable for young musicians making their way – will all underline the importance of music culture in our city.

“This programme celebrates the Cambridge Folk Festival and why it remains so important to the city, whilst the festival itself has a fallow year.”

In special appearances at Cambridge Corn Exchange, two headline Folk in the City gigs have been confirmed, featuring Jake Bugg in July and Suzanne Vega in October – presented in association with Cambridge Folk Festival.

The programme will also spotlight a series of exciting folk and roots-inspired concerts from partners Cambridge Junction and Green Mind Promotions.

In addition, following its successful launch in 2024, Cambridge Folk Festival will continue its specialist youth music Folk Summer School in July 2025.

The workshops will be focused on aspects of folk music, from playing in an ensemble to building a career in the folk music scene, and is open to all types of instrumentalists.

The programme offers young musicians the opportunity to develop their skills under the guidance of experienced tutors.

Participants will also have the chance to perform as part of the special showcase event at Cherry Hinton Hall on Saturday, 2 August.

Prue Ward, creative learning and wellbeing producer with Cambridgeshire Music, said of last year’s Folk Summer School: “What a magical week of music making with young musicians from all backgrounds and abilities, coming together to form the most incredible ensemble, playing and writing pieces from old to new and ending the course performing at the folk festival.

“Just the most engaging and inspirational group of young people working together, making memories and achieving unforgettable things.

“I am so proud to be a part of this project again this summer and cannot wait to see how it develops in the years to come.”

More details on all these events will be announced in the coming months. For the latest updates, visit cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk.