Cambridge Folk Festival 2017: A perfect break from the hustle and bustle of city life

There’s nothing folkier than sitting around a table, sharing stories and jokes and taking turns to sing or play an instrument. It’s a way to spend an evening that is lost on this busy city, and a traditional way of life we have a lot to learn from.

Even in a modern technological age where people seem to have forgotten the true value of community spirit, Cambridge Folk Festival stays true to its grassroots and embodies just that, and at the same time has managed to stay relevant for more than 50 years.

This summer’s event attracted some of the biggest names emerging from the genre’s ever-diversifying scene, and gave a stage to a hand-picked selection of unknown but promising acts who are up and coming.

Although not what you’d expect to see at such a niche festival, far removed from the traditional shire-style sounds of folk, south Londoner Jake Isaac set a precedent for the future of the event. With a high-energy set, the youngster got the crowd moving more than even some of the headliners could.

The precocious talent is proof the event’s organisers are reaching out to a younger crowd with an appetite for more than just accordions and fiddles. It needs more of this to keep the wheels turning on what is one of the most prevailing folk events in the world today.

Festival veteran Frank Turner topped the bill on Saturday night, with a well polished set of songs both old and new from his repertoire of old-fashioned sing-alongs. Hits from as his 2008 album Love Ire & Song proved popular with all generations that made up his crowd.

Jake Bugg, a young country, blues and indie crossbread singer who rose to fame with a chart-topping debut album in 2012, headlined the main stage on Sunday. While the Lightning Bolt bluesman’s energy was questionable throughout, the crowd were quietly captivated.

The long, star-studded list of incredibly talented musicians who played revellers through their weekend in the grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall only scratches the surfaces of what the event offers to festival-goers.

Poets, comedians, guitarists, singers and storytellers who came to the event as revellers all came out to play after dark - drawing crowds as they shared their talents with those who stopped to listen on their way back to their tents.

It’s a perfect break for anyone caught up in the hustle and bustle of the capital, and offers a breath of fresh air and a chance to better understand what folk is all about.