Fast approaching its sixtieth birthday, Cambridge Folk Festival was sounding better than ever with a line-up boasting US and African musical legends and artists hailing from Sweden to Colombia on its diverse bill.
Inevitably, there was a certain sadness in the arena following the announcement of the death of Cambridge veteran Sinead O’Connor with many of the acts paying tribute – though only Sunday headliner Imelda May had the balls to actually cover an O’Connor classic, giving a nuanced rendition of Nothing Compares 2 U.
Earlier, Benin superstar Angelique Kidjo was in a celebratory mood, covering Talking Heads and Miriam Makeba, Lady Blackbird brought all the drama to a set of jazz, blues and soul standards, while the charming Judy Collins revisited her 1967 Wildflowers album with moving renditions of Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and Jacques Brel songs and Rufus Wainwright aced the folk songbook with a fabulous band including his sister Lucy Wainwright Roche.
Fragrant reggae vocalist Hollie Cook brought sonic sunshine during showery weather, while Canadian First Nation singer/guitarist William Prince killed softly with his simple love songs and Angeline Morrison and the Sorrow Songs Band delivered a gentle and thoughtful set of folk songs chronicling black British history.
In contrast, The Proclaimers, The Longest Johns and Fisherman’s Friends roused the crowd with their lusty male voice harmonies and Niteworks helmed the Saturday night party with their folk/electronica hybrid. Arrested Development uplifted with their classic conscious hip-hop and Gangstagrass blended rap and country music in surprisingly seamless style.
Welsh triple harpist Cerys Hafana is a name to watch, while her countrywoman Catrin Finch collaborated with the Colombian joropo band Cimarron to create an audacious and entertaining set combining dexterity, drama and dancing. One of the stage comperes said it best: “it’s all folk music.”
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