Cambridge Folk Festival (30 July – 2 August 2015) have announced their first names for their 2015 lineup which promises a wide and eclectic range of performances from artists including: legendary folk singer and activist Joan Baez, in her only UK appearance for 2015; international chart-topper Passenger, progressing from his 2011 debut on emerging talent stage The Den in its inaugural year to headlining Stage 1; a special solo appearance from hugely popular folk/punk singer songwriter Frank Turner, to coincide with the release of his book; Joan Armatrading, accompanying herself on guitar and piano as part of her first ever worldwide solo tour.
There is a welcome return for acclaimed Australian roots band John Butler Trio; Mercury Prize nominated Nick Mulvey, R&B guitarist Wilko Johnson, with crack touring band of Blockheads’ bassist Norman Watt-Roy and drummer Dylan Howe.
There is also Northumberland’s The Unthanks, (our current Artists of the Month), Show of Hands, featuring Miranda Sykes; Norwegian alt-folk-country-rock mavericks Katzenjammer, famed for their genre-mixing, riotous shows; venerable Irish traditional band Altan, re-energised by their new Appalachian-influenced CD; thrilling folk big band Treacherous Orchestra (featured album); one of Ireland’s leading traditional bands Danú, celebrating their 20th anniversary; Scots acid croft pioneers Shooglenifty, fusing exquisite traditional sounding tunes to devilishly dirty rhythms in their silver anniversary year.
Three of Britain’s finest folk musicians and interpreters, each vituosos in their own right, Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting & Nancy Kerr; doyenne of American folk Peggy Seeger, who played first ever Festival; BBC Folk Singer of the Year 2014 Bella Hardy, showcasing an innovative new sound from her ‘With The Dawn’ album.
Seven-piece Amsterdam Klezmer Band, mixing klezmer, balkan, ska, jazz, gypsy and hiphop; fast-rising US alt-country band with a dazzling live reputation The Lone Bellow; highly respected American folk/blues singer songwriter and guitarist Chris Smither; Kentucky’s Angaleena Presley (also a member of Pistol Annies); BBC Folk Award nominees Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker, ingeniously combining original and traditional songs with stunning musicality and skill; joyous five-piece Keston Cobblers Club with their foot-stamping mod-folk music; sensational close harmony American folk and bluegrass trio The Stray Birds; one of the hottest young bands on the Scottish traditional music scene Rura and more (see below).
Lineup:
Joan Baez (Sat), Passenger (Sun), Frank Turner (Fri), Joan Armatrading (Sun) John Butler Trio (Sat), Nick Mulvey (Fri), Wilko Johnson (Fri) The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (Sun), The Unthanks (Sat) Show of Hands (Sat & Sun), Katzenjammer (Thurs),Altan (Fri) Treacherous Orchestra (Sat), Danú (Sun), Shooglenifty (Sat & Sun) Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting & Nancy Kerr (Sun), Peggy Seeger (Fri) Bella Hardy (Sun),Amsterdam Klezmer Band (Fri), The Lone Bellow (Sat & Sun) Chris Smither (Fri),Angaleena Presley (Fri), Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker (Thur & Fri) Jim Moray’s Silent Ceilidh (Sat), Keston Cobblers Club (Sun) The Stray Birds (Sat &Sun), Rura (Fri & Sat),Goitse (Sat & Sun) De Temps Antan (Days tbc), Lynched (Thurs)
More names to be announced
