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Cambridge Folk Festival celebrates 50th year | Cambridge Folk Festival celebrates 50th year |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Friendly, eclectic and organised by a fireman, the first-ever Cambridge Folk Festival could easily have been the last. Half a century later, and the festival taking place this weekend is known around the world as a premier music event. | Friendly, eclectic and organised by a fireman, the first-ever Cambridge Folk Festival could easily have been the last. Half a century later, and the festival taking place this weekend is known around the world as a premier music event. |
Look down the list of performers at the first Cambridge Folk Festival and one name in particular leaps out. | Look down the list of performers at the first Cambridge Folk Festival and one name in particular leaps out. |
He was a last-minute booking, a relative unknown and paid just £15, the equivalent of £250 today. | He was a last-minute booking, a relative unknown and paid just £15, the equivalent of £250 today. |
The name? Paul Simon. He had just released I am a Rock. | The name? Paul Simon. He had just released I am a Rock. |
Cambridge Folk Festival, held at Cherry Hinton Hall, near Cambridge, continues to attract the big names. Though it would be lucky to attract Simon now for £15. | Cambridge Folk Festival, held at Cherry Hinton Hall, near Cambridge, continues to attract the big names. Though it would be lucky to attract Simon now for £15. |
Andrew Kendon, 72, attended the first festival and went on to perform at the event as part of the Cambridge Crofters. | Andrew Kendon, 72, attended the first festival and went on to perform at the event as part of the Cambridge Crofters. |
"It was a great first festival," he says. | "It was a great first festival," he says. |
"The marquees were just canvas with a lot of rope and wooden poles. I remember the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Maken, who arrived in an open-top Ford car. | |
"My favourite memories are not so much what was going on - on the main stage - as with the folk club area where people, like Arlo Guthrie [who later became famous for his song Alice's Restaurant], just turned up. And famous names who had just performed on the stage, very often came and sat in on sessions. | "My favourite memories are not so much what was going on - on the main stage - as with the folk club area where people, like Arlo Guthrie [who later became famous for his song Alice's Restaurant], just turned up. And famous names who had just performed on the stage, very often came and sat in on sessions. |
"The best thing about the festival, and always has been, is that it is a family festival, and the music off-stage on the campsite which you find when just wandering about." | "The best thing about the festival, and always has been, is that it is a family festival, and the music off-stage on the campsite which you find when just wandering about." |
Mr Kendon recalled how Paul Simon had been seen at the Cambridge Folk Club and organisers brought him to the festival after finding out he was playing a private party in nearby Shelford just before it. | Mr Kendon recalled how Paul Simon had been seen at the Cambridge Folk Club and organisers brought him to the festival after finding out he was playing a private party in nearby Shelford just before it. |
"Paul Simon was quite a small chap," he says. | "Paul Simon was quite a small chap," he says. |
"I thought his music was quite nice." | "I thought his music was quite nice." |
Being a late addition, Simon did not feature on the first festival poster but was included in the festival programme which said he was performing a 30-minute set. | Being a late addition, Simon did not feature on the first festival poster but was included in the festival programme which said he was performing a 30-minute set. |
The programme declared: "During his [Paul Simon's] years as a singer he has learned to understand the aspirations and ideals, the trials and disappointments to which city dwellers are exposed." | The programme declared: "During his [Paul Simon's] years as a singer he has learned to understand the aspirations and ideals, the trials and disappointments to which city dwellers are exposed." |
Those aspirations were shared by organisers of the festival, which this year features the likes of Van Morrison and Sinead O'Connor. | Those aspirations were shared by organisers of the festival, which this year features the likes of Van Morrison and Sinead O'Connor. |
But the story starts with a the visit to the Newport Jazz and Folk Festival in the early-1960s by the Cherry Hinton resident Jack Sharkey, now 85 years old. | But the story starts with a the visit to the Newport Jazz and Folk Festival in the early-1960s by the Cherry Hinton resident Jack Sharkey, now 85 years old. |
He recalls overhearing a conversation - as the first festival came to an end - in which two councillors from the ruling Conservative group said if the event did not make any money then it would be the last. | He recalls overhearing a conversation - as the first festival came to an end - in which two councillors from the ruling Conservative group said if the event did not make any money then it would be the last. |
It made about £100, about £1,600 in today's money. Not much, but enough. | It made about £100, about £1,600 in today's money. Not much, but enough. |
Its first director and organiser was firefighter and political activist Ken Woollard who continued to be a driving force behind the festival until his death continued in 1993. | Its first director and organiser was firefighter and political activist Ken Woollard who continued to be a driving force behind the festival until his death continued in 1993. |
Mrs Woollard, his widow, said: "What always amazes me is that nobody ever forgets Ken. It is a lasting legacy." | Mrs Woollard, his widow, said: "What always amazes me is that nobody ever forgets Ken. It is a lasting legacy." |
Cambridge Folk Festival through the years | Cambridge Folk Festival through the years |
• Comedians Jasper Carrott and Billy Connolly both appeared the festival while they were both primarily folk artists | |
• Singer songwriter Arlo Guthrie, who came to the first festival as a punter, headlined the festival in 1974 | • Singer songwriter Arlo Guthrie, who came to the first festival as a punter, headlined the festival in 1974 |
• Loudon Wainwright III is back this year. His children, Martha and Rufus, have each headlined the festival as solo performers | • Loudon Wainwright III is back this year. His children, Martha and Rufus, have each headlined the festival as solo performers |
• Another regular at the festival is famed folk singer and guitarist Martin Carthy, who taught Paul Simon to play Scarborough Fair. | • Another regular at the festival is famed folk singer and guitarist Martin Carthy, who taught Paul Simon to play Scarborough Fair. |
Source: Cambridge Folk Festival | Source: Cambridge Folk Festival |
As for Paul Simon, well he returned to the USA and achieved international stardom first with Simon and Garfunkel and then as a solo artist. | As for Paul Simon, well he returned to the USA and achieved international stardom first with Simon and Garfunkel and then as a solo artist. |
"Paul Simon cost Ken £15, you would not get him for that today," said Mrs Woollard. | "Paul Simon cost Ken £15, you would not get him for that today," said Mrs Woollard. |
Peggy Seeger, now 79, was a headliner in 1965 and has a new CD coming out in September. | Peggy Seeger, now 79, was a headliner in 1965 and has a new CD coming out in September. |
"I remember it very well," she says, reminiscing about that first festival. | "I remember it very well," she says, reminiscing about that first festival. |
"I was not really a festival person at the time. I remember you could hear the other stages and they had not solved the auditory problems with speakers and there was an echo. | "I was not really a festival person at the time. I remember you could hear the other stages and they had not solved the auditory problems with speakers and there was an echo. |
"I do remember enjoying thoroughly the atmosphere of the festival and I remember Ken Woollard as being very kind." | "I do remember enjoying thoroughly the atmosphere of the festival and I remember Ken Woollard as being very kind." |
She did not realise Paul Simon was at the festival. | She did not realise Paul Simon was at the festival. |
"I would have wanted to meet him," she said. | "I would have wanted to meet him," she said. |
"I want to meet him now. He's one of those people you can listen to over and over again," she said. | "I want to meet him now. He's one of those people you can listen to over and over again," she said. |
Folk music expert Dr Fay Hield, who teaches in Sheffield University's music department, said: "The festival has made a great contribution to bringing lots of small clubs together and creating a national scene, a more professionalised movement." | Folk music expert Dr Fay Hield, who teaches in Sheffield University's music department, said: "The festival has made a great contribution to bringing lots of small clubs together and creating a national scene, a more professionalised movement." |
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