Connect with us

News

Truly amazing and uplifting last day at Cambridge Folk Festival

Published

on

Cambridge Folk Festival at Cherry Hinton Park Cambridge, Sunday

Judy Collins was the big news of Sunday at Cambridge Folk Festival.

Aged 84, she still has a crystal-clear voice, full of music. She can hold a note so long that the audience was fighting for breath.

She sang Both Sides Now, the song she is known and loved for, written by Joni Mitchelland another by Jacques Brel, but mainly songs from her own 1967 album Wildflowers. She told the crowd: “You are looking at American idol of 1956.”

Kiefer Sutherland,
Folk Festival, Cambridge
Sunday 30 July 2023.
Picture by Terry Harris.

She was 17 then. By 1967, aged 28, she had released six albums and met and inspired both Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. She knew them before they were famous.

Advertisements
canopyuk.com in-article

“He called me and said he had some new songs. He came to my house. I recorded a number of his songs… I told him to sing his own songs.”

Wildflowers is a collection of her own compositions and three by Leonard Cohen. “He kept sending me songs. He was very present. Then he said why don’t you write your own songs.”

Fishermans Friends,
Folk Festival, Cambridge
Sunday 30 July 2023.
Picture by Terry Harris.

Fishermans Friends,
Folk Festival, Cambridge
Sunday 30 July 2023.
Picture by Terry Harris.

Fishermans Friends,
Folk Festival, Cambridge
Sunday 30 July 2023.
Picture by Terry Harris.

Fishermans Friends,
Folk Festival, Cambridge
Sunday 30 July 2023.
Picture by Terry Harris.

Fishermans Friends,
Folk Festival, Cambridge
Sunday 30 July 2023.
Picture by Terry Harris.

She knew Pete Seeger; she knew Woody Guthrie. “I was the only girl in town who didn’t write songs. I met a girl who wrote songs, Joni Mitchell. No one knew her. I had a call one night at 3am – who rings you at 3am?” It was a friend of hers. She said, are you alright? “He put her on the phone. She sang Both Sides Now. I said I’ll be right over.”

Collins was full of stories. She had told another friend to give up smoking. “He didn’t want to give up smoking, but I told him to go to the doctor and ask for help.

Brollies out as the rain starts,
Folk Festival, Cambridge
Sunday 30 July 2023.
Picture by Terry Harris.

Brollies out as the rain starts,
Folk Festival, Cambridge
Sunday 30 July 2023.
Picture by Terry Harris.

Brollies out as the rain starts,
Folk Festival, Cambridge
Sunday 30 July 2023.
Picture by Terry Harris.

Brollies out as the rain starts,
Folk Festival, Cambridge
Sunday 30 July 2023.
Picture by Terry Harris.

Brollies out as the rain starts,
Folk Festival, Cambridge
Sunday 30 July 2023.
Picture by Terry Harris.

He went to the doctor and said he didn’t want to give up smoking, but Judy had told him he had to come. The doctor said if he continued smoking it would take an hour off his life – and God would give that hour to Keith Richards.”

She had another Stones tale: “Mick Jagger was looking in a mirror. He looked at Keith. He said Keith do you see these lines? Keith said Ah ha. Mick said they are laughter lines. Keith replied: Nothing is that funny.”

OI VA VOI,
Folk Festival, Cambridge
Sunday 30 July 2023.
Picture by Terry Harris.

Accompanied for her set by the superb Unity String Quartet and her musical director pianist Russell Walden, she closed her act by inviting her audience to join in with Amazing Grace.

Sunday in Stage One had begun gently with an hour of sublime calm from the lyrical voice of the Canadian First Nation singer-songwriter, William Prince – just one man on a guitar singing about life and love. His songwriting has been described as a masterclass in skilful simplicity. The compere told the audience: “It felt like therapy. I could hear you listening.”

OI VA VOI,
Folk Festival, Cambridge
Sunday 30 July 2023.
Picture by Terry Harris.

OI VA VOI,
Folk Festival, Cambridge
Sunday 30 July 2023.
Picture by Terry Harris.

We were woken up after that of course by The Fishermen’s Friends, the first ever traditional folk act to appear in the top ten of the UK Albums Chart. Stage One was packed solid for them as they blasted out their wit and tunes. “Get up Jack John sit down/He’ll go ashore to buy some girl a gown.”

Faith i Branco

Faith i Branco

Over in Stage Three, the venue formerly known as The Club Tent, the evening saw Faith i Branco, the Balkan band playing Balkan Gypsy Roma influenced music at breath-taking speed – 500 miles an hour – with Faith Ristic on accordion, Branko Ristic on violin, Matt Baker on guitar and Brian Heddeman on drums. Superbly adept musicianship.

Imelda May. Magnificent, magical, Queen of the stage, she came forward, she moved around to get closer to the audience. Her powerful voice was deeply moving. PHOTO: Trevor Lee

Imelda May. Magnificent, magical, Queen of the stage, she came forward, she moved around to get closer to the audience. Her powerful voice was deeply moving. PHOTO: Trevor Lee

Imelda May. Magnificent, magical, Queen of the stage, she came forward, she moved around to get closer to the audience. Her powerful voice was deeply moving. PHOTO: Trevor Lee

Imelda May. Magnificent, magical, Queen of the stage, she came forward, she moved around to get closer to the audience. Her powerful voice was deeply moving. PHOTO: Trevor Lee

Imelda May. Magnificent, magical, Queen of the stage, she came forward, she moved around to get closer to the audience. Her powerful voice was deeply moving. PHOTO: Trevor Lee

Imelda May. Magnificent, magical, Queen of the stage, she came forward, she moved around to get closer to the audience. Her powerful voice was deeply moving. PHOTO: Trevor Lee

Some fun followed them on Stage Three with Granny’s Attic, an award-winning folk trio who sing and dance in unison comically and sometimes lie on the floor when playing. Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne is on melodeon, Anglo concertina, and vocals.

Granny's Attic

Granny’s Attic

George Sansome sings, and plays guitar and Lewis Wood sings and plays violin. This is English folk- hand-written. They met at secondary school in Worcester. Sometimes they are a cappella. Sometimes they are playing furiously. Stage Three (aka The Club Tent) is the small, secret delight of the festival.

It’s relaxed, usually not so crowded, there is room to sit on the floor in the front or stand at the back. It has its own bar.

But then came the grand finale on Stage One – Imelda May. Magnificent, magical, Queen of the stage, she came forward, she moved around to get closer to the audience. Her powerful voice was deeply moving.

Her band was compelling. No one in the crowd of thousands kept still – not even in the VIP tent at the side where people were jumping up and down.

William Prince,
Folk Festival, Cambridge
Sunday 30 July 2023.
Picture by Terry Harris.

She paid tribute to the late English guitarist Jeff Beck, once of The Yardbirds. He died in January aged 78. She said: “I miss him dreadfully.” She left the stage after first appearing in her black dress with a top with flowing sleeves and came back wearing a simple black t-shirt saying Sinead O’Connor. “Sinead was my friend.

She was always there for me in times of need. Let us (here) be a church in honour of those who changed the world.”

After nearly an hour of galvanising anthems, she let the audience join in with the chorus of Nothing Compares and the festival crowd sang reverently and tunefully nothing compares, nothing compares… as she held the mic to them.

Meanwhile, she had stirred the blood with the numbers Black Tears, Just One Kiss her own song, Big Bad Handsome Man, and Sixth SenseA Different Kind of Love, and Johnny Got a Gun. Some were velvet smooth, some were impossible to keep still to.

Then there was Teenage Kicks which had everybody yelling the chorus, followed by Tainted Love. By then, a woman on crutches was leaning on one and waving the other in the air.

They are already planning next year’s festival. I hope I am there.

 

Can you help us?

While you’re here, we are asking, for the first time, for readers to support us financially by taking out a modest subscription.

£2, or £3 or even £5 will help us achieve our goals. It will mean the second year of CambsNews will be livelier, healthier, and much better placed to cover the important issues affecting our everyday lives.

Your subscription simply means we can provide and expand our news FREE to all readers (Read More)

Will you help us? Simply click the link below to make a donation.

Facebook

Read More

News12 hours ago

We need YOUR support to take CambsNews to the next level – here’s how YOU can help

We are asking, for the first time, for readers to support us financially by taking out a modest subscription.

Blake Healy (right) and Zak Wales being arrested. The meat and fish also in the photo had been stolen by Zak Wales. Blake Healy (right) and Zak Wales being arrested. The meat and fish also in the photo had been stolen by Zak Wales.
Crime12 hours ago

Jailing two Cambridge shoplifters ‘will be welcome news to businesses’

'This pair show no regard for walking out of stores with baskets full of stolen items'

Susan Folkes, 68, of Black Horse Drove, Littleport, died after the red Ford Focus she was driving was involved in a crash with two tractors Susan Folkes, 68, of Black Horse Drove, Littleport, died after the red Ford Focus she was driving was involved in a crash with two tractors
News13 hours ago

‘Loyal and kind’ woman killed in crash on the A10 near Littleport

A 40-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving

Norwood Road, March, ‘ground breaking’ ceremony for a scheme poised to bring 50 new affordable homes to the heart of March, comprising of all affordable rent properties. Completion on the site, supported by grant funding from Homes England, is expected in November 2025. Norwood Road, March, ‘ground breaking’ ceremony for a scheme poised to bring 50 new affordable homes to the heart of March, comprising of all affordable rent properties. Completion on the site, supported by grant funding from Homes England, is expected in November 2025.
News13 hours ago

Accent’s accelerated charge to reduce housing waiting lists in Cambridgeshire

Accent speaks of its development ambitions for them across Fenland, Huntingdonshire, and Cambridgeshire

Cllr Asim Mahmood and Andrew Pakes Labour Parliamentary candidate, on a visit to the bus depot in Lincoln Road, Peterborough. Cllr Asim Mahmood and Andrew Pakes Labour Parliamentary candidate, on a visit to the bus depot in Lincoln Road, Peterborough.
News15 hours ago

£200,000 finally released to kick start ‘overwhelming’ need for new bus depot for Peterborough

'I am looking forward to working with the Combined Authority to help deliver many of our priorities'

Drug dealer George Bellamy, 24, of Broadway, Yaxley, had heroin, cocaine and £2,290 in cash when he was arrested: a further £3,170 in cash was found in a safe. Drug dealer George Bellamy, 24, of Broadway, Yaxley, had heroin, cocaine and £2,290 in cash when he was arrested: a further £3,170 in cash was found in a safe.
Crime16 hours ago

By George! Drug dealer told cough up £5,000 or face extra time in jail

'Not only has Bellamy got a significant prison sentence, but he must also pay back his ill-gotten gains'

Joy, as she was known to one and all, leaves her husband of 57 years, three children and six grandchildren. Joy, as she was known to one and all, leaves her husband of 57 years, three children and six grandchildren.
News17 hours ago

Family tribute to wife, mum and grandmother, 79, killed in A16 crash near Peterborough

'She wore many different hats during her life including working for the American air force at Mildenhall'

Historic day for Huntingdon as HRH The Princess Royal officially opened the new fire station and Cambs fire and rescue training centre Historic day for Huntingdon as HRH The Princess Royal officially opened the new fire station and Cambs fire and rescue training centre
News18 hours ago

GALLERY: Huntingdon fire station welcomes HRH The Princess Royal

Evlyn, 8, and Keevah, 11 – whose fathers work at the fire station – presented Her Royal Highness with a...

Ernie Almond, who has died aged 80 after a short illness. He spent many happy years as a radio presenter on BBC Three Counties Radio, as one half of the popular “Ern and Vern Show”. Ernie Almond, who has died aged 80 after a short illness. He spent many happy years as a radio presenter on BBC Three Counties Radio, as one half of the popular “Ern and Vern Show”.
News18 hours ago

Radio legend Ernie Almond: ‘A funny modest talented and selfless man with just a hint of mischief’

Ernie Almond joined the Black Cat Radio team from the moment of its FM launch in April 2017

Firefighters stage protest in Huntingdon over reduction in reduction to fire crews PHOTO: Mark Thomas Firefighters stage protest in Huntingdon over reduction in reduction to fire crews PHOTO: Mark Thomas
News1 day ago

HRH The Princess Royal finds one’s way interrupted by protesting firefighters

Cambridgeshire firefighters stage protest in Huntingdon