Guest Curator Nick Mulvey reveals his chosen acts

We're thirlled to reveal who this year’s Guest Curator Nick Mulvey has chosen as his artists to join the bill at Cherry Hinton Hall this August. Local lad Mulvey is honoured to have been asked to take over the role from last year’s guest curator, Rhiannon Giddens: “Growing up in Cambridge, I was very flattered to be asked and it seemed like a really fun thing to do, something I have never done before. I haven’t approached this in a conceptual way, with an overarching idea, I have just booked acts and artists I love. I have known about the festival my whole life, having grown up in Cambridge, but the first time I’d actually been along was 2012 when I really was in the beginning of my solo career a musician. It was 2012 when I played The Den, and would have been one of those times when I was given a platform to play my songs, in the early days before I had a record deal and things had started going, so I could start building my audience on the festival circuit.”

 

Nick Mulvey has assembled a diverse group of artists to perform, many showcasing his love of world music. First up, hailing from the Algerian Tuareg desert, the rock quartet of Imarhan will bring some terrific North African party vibes.

 

The sublime, critically acclaimed and multi award-winning collaboration between two adventurous virtuoso musicians - Welsh harpist Catrin Finch and Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita - delivers a stunning exhibition of world-class musicianship. Drawing deep on their own diverse traditions and transforming them with remarkable synergy, Catrin and Seckou have built a formidable reputation for their extraordinary performances.

 

Bristol-based English folk and lo-fi multi-instrumentalist Rachael Dadd has performed at the biggest festivals in the UK and has recently headlined throughout the UK, Europe and Japan. Rachael is an art graduate who exhibits her own work in the form of her album sleeves whilst expanding on themes within her beautiful, intelligent and thoughtful songs.

 

Chartwell Dutiro is a musician, singer, songwriter, composer, author and teacher hailing from rural Zimbabwe. Playing his signature instrument, the mbira (an ancient African instrument consisting of 22 metal keys mounted on a wooden board), Chartwell is a superb instrumentalist and soulful singer, full of storytelling and humour.

 

Fofoulah have their roots in West African sabra drumming fused with an eclectic mix of hiphop, pop, jazz, electro, dub and even elements of prog! This group of musicians will be ones not to miss.

 

Making their debuts at Cambridge Folk Festival are Imarhan, Chartwell Dutiro and Fofoulah with the remainder making triumphant returns to the site. As part of a long-standing commitment to nurture new talent, Cambridge Folk Festival features up-and-coming Showcase Artists in the Club Tent. Every year, one of these outstanding talents is picked to return the following year for a slot on Stage 2. This year’s showcase artists are Maz O’Connor, Lieutenant Leek, Bryony Griffith, PicaPica and Becky Langan. Chosen from last year’s line-up to return is AK Patterson on Stage 2.

 

To take a look at the line up so far click HERE