Christian Raphael Prize-winner Frankie Archer returns to Cambridge Folk Festival

Frankie Archer, hailed as “one of the most exciting new artists on the electrofolk music scene”, is returning to the Cambridge Folk Festival having first performed there – on The Den stage – in 2023.

Also last year, the Northumberland singer-songwriter won the coveted Christian Raphael Prize, an award run in association with the Folk Festival.

Previous winners include Mishra, Katherine Priddy, Nick Hart, and Angeline Morrison.

Speaking to the Cambridge Independent from Newcastle, the hardworking and very amiable musician says she’s “very thankful and grateful for all the opportunities and everything that’s happening”.

She adds that she’s “really looking forward” to playing the Cambridge Folk Festival again. “It was just so beautiful last time,” she notes.

“I was quite overwhelmed last time at winning the Christian Raphael Prize; I didn’t expect that – I was very humbled and very surprised, and it felt like a really wonderful thing that I’m very glad about.

“But it did feel like I had to live up to something, if you know what I mean. It’s a very important award so I felt like I really had to live up to it.

“So this time I’ll feel I think maybe a little bit more settled and it will be kind of like coming home in a way.”

Frankie, whose music uses a combination of manipulated samples, synths, drum tracks and ‘earthy’ Northumbrian fiddle and voice, released a new single, Lovely Joan, in April.

Since winning the Christian Raphael Prize, which aims to help outstanding new artists progress their career, Frankie has been featured on Later... with Jools Holland and has also been championed by the likes of BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6 Music.

Following the release of her debut EP Never So Red in November last year, Frankie has supported the likes of The Futureheads and The Last Dinner Party, and will be performing on the main stage (Stage 1) at the Folk Festival.

“It’s been massively, massively helpful,” she says of the Christian Raphael Prize, “it took a lot of pressure off, financially.”

Frankie, who attended the Cambridge Folk Festival as a fan at around the age of 16, calling it “lots of fun”, says that there’s a “very supportive atmosphere” at The Den stage.

“There’s a lot of warmth at The Den stage,” she continues, “and it feels like a place where artists can hopefully feel supported and feel comfortable to share their music – and feel appreciated.”

Frankie’s music is certainly one-of-a-kind, in its blend of styles. “The music that I’m making is definitely uniquely me,” she explains, “but at the same time each song is a little bit different.

“For example, Lovely Joan has got more of a rock, almost like a grunge-y aspect to it, so I think each song is like a little taste for a new set of people, hopefully, a new taste with each song.”

Frankie, who started out on her musical journey by taking violin lessons at school, sings in her own endearing northern accent, which I think sounds great.

“Yeah, I kind of can’t not!” she says, “it feels a bit forced if I don’t sing in my accent, so that’s just the way it comes out.”

Frankie says that she has a “very enduring love” for traditional music, and notes that she is also “very much into electronic music”.

“I took a little while to create lots of different music,” she explains, “and then settle on what’s definitely truly me, and it’s turned out to be this kind of electrofolk, electrotrad – however you’d like to describe it.”

Frankie Archer will be performing on the Sunday (28 July) at the Cambridge Folk Festival.

“I’m very much looking forward to giving people hopefully the best experience that I can give them,” she says.

For more on Frankie, go to frankiearchermusic.com. For more on the Folk Festival, go to cambridgelive.org.uk/folk-festival.