Two-day folk festival proposed to save event

One of the country's oldest folk festivals has confirmed it will return next year after this year's hiatus, but the event is set to only last two days.

Cambridge City councillors will consider the scaled-down schedule as part of proposals for Cambridge Folk Festival to try to make it more sustainable and financially resilient.

The proposed event at Cherry Hinton Hall would have two medium-sized stages, as well as more basic camping, to "significantly reduce the infrastructure costs".

The festival lost £320,000 in 2024, council officers said.

Cambridge City Council has been reviewing the future of the event, which would have celebrated its 60th anniversary this year.

Instead it has organised free and ticketed Folk in the City events at the same venue this summer.

Cambridge Folk Festival began in 1965 and in the past has seen performances from international stars such as Van Morrison, Billy Bragg and Sinead O'Connor.

The local authority said Cherry Hinton Hall would remain the anchor venue.

It hoped the new format would "protect" the festival while making it "more inclusive and affordable" to more people across different parts of Cambridge.

Rising stars both locally and nationally would still be supported.

The council officers' review indicated it would have to find £500,000 to support the festival in its current form, at a time it is already having to find annual savings of £11.5m.

Labour's Antoinette Nestor, cabinet member for culture, economy and skills, said "protecting its legacy" was essential, adding: "We need to address the changes in audience behaviour – such as the decline in people wanting to pay for weekend camping tickets – and ensure the festival returns in a financially-resilient way".

But Lib Dem leader Tim Bick was less happy, and said Labour had not encouraged enough views on the matter.

He said in a statement: "The in-depth review that they've published doesn't inspire confidence.

"It highlights a big weakness in the way the festival has been marketed and a leadership short on vision."

He said the line-up, a calendar clash with Latitude festival and inflation had impacted sales this year.

Councillors will consider the new proposals on 15 July.

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