Cambridge Folk Festival’s The Den stage offers chance to see stars of tomorrow in intimate setting

The Den stage at the Cambridge Folk Festival offers the chance to see the stars of tomorrow in an intimate setting.

Future hitmakers Jake Bugg and Passenger first played The Den before headlining Stage 1 and in recent years, Christian Raphael Prize-winners Angeline Morrison and Katherine Priddy have followed suit.

Eighteen of the 30-plus artists playing The Den will be shortlisted for the Christian Raphael Prize, which seeks to award a talented musician or group the tools they need to take the next step towards becoming a successful professional.

The Den line-up this year includes BBC Spotlight artist Áine Deane, indie collective Amateur Theatre Group, vocalist and harp player Anna McLuckie, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Annie Baylis, jazz/folk project Around About Dusk, instrumental trio Auka, hotly-tipped Norwich band Brown Horse, Herefordshire songwriter Jakey Boy Hughes, and Ghanaian-English soul and jazz singer-songwriter Nectar Woode.

James Page, marketing and communications manager at the City Council, said: “Cambridge has forged its unique reputation with a programming philosophy that honours the past, at the same time as looking to the future.

“Folk music continues evolving as an incredibly exciting and multi-faceted genre and Cambridge stays ahead of that curve, bringing the brightest and best of today’s young folk musicians, alongside renowned and established stars.

“Now more than ever, grassroots are vital to the future of the music industry and require careful attention, which is what Cambridge aims to do, supporting and nurturing new artists and connecting them to wider audiences.

“The amazing, ever-increasing selection of artists coming through is a testament to the success of the Festival’s continued commitment and The Den emerging talent stage is absolutely key.

“As is Cambridge Folk Festival’s Christian Raphael Prize, now in its sixth year of helping up-and-coming folk acts progress their career to the next level.

“The last three winners have all featured on Later… with Jools Holland and in BBC Glasto coverage, their careers going from strength to strength.”

Alongside the music, there is much more to enjoy over the festival weekend, including children’s activities, workshops on instrument making and songwriting, a silent disco, storytelling, clog dancing, tai-chi, and a wide selection of food trucks and bars.

The festival announced a new partnership with Eddington-based aparthotel, Turing Locke, for The Den, with special rates for 25-28 July (the dates of the festival), including a free universal electric bus ticket for travel to and from Cambridge station, where Citi 2 shuttle buses run every 10 minutes to the festival site.

See the full line-up for The Den at cambridgelive.org.uk/folk-festival/folk-festival/line-up/den.