Welcome to Cambridge Folk Club
Intimate roots and acoustic music
Cambridge Folk Club presents Open Stage, Showcase and Guest Nights.
We are a live music club offering all styles of acoustic and folk music. We support local and national artists in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
We meet most Friday nights at The Golden Hind, 355 Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1SP unless otherwise stated. All our events are at 8.00pm.
For details of what's coming up, see the Programme at a glance page and the Detailed Programme page.
Buy your tickets on-line from this website or phone 01638 603986.
Please note that under 18s are not allowed in the Golden Hind after 9pm.
The Golden Hind serves food until 9pm. Please see their website https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/cambridgeshire/golden-hind for a menu.
IMPORTANT: If you park your car in the Golden Hind car park, please remember to register you car at the screen on the bar inside the pub.
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Friday 25th September 2026:
Acoustic Open Stage
with special guest
Dave Jenkins
At the Golden Hind, 355 Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1SP
8pm (Doors open 7:30pm)
Entry: £6(door), £5(advance), £4(members & performers).
Dave Jenkins: On his CD of self-penned songs, ‘Angel of the Fen’ (2020), with original lyrics about the local area, Dave was accompanied by Bert Santilly, Hugh Boyd and Tom Ling who also helped with the arrangements. Dave says, ‘People love to sing story songs’ and ‘There is no buzz like a folk audience singing the chorus of a song you have written.’ Come along to hear for yourself!
A number of 10-minute floor spots will be available on the night.
Friday 2nd October 2026:
Open Stage
with special guest
Rhys Wilson
At the Golden Hind, 355 Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1SP
8pm (Doors open 7:30pm)
Entry: £6(door), £5(advance), £4(members & performers).
Rhys Wilson: Established on the Cambridge music scene since the end of the 90s, playing keyboards for his own and other bands, Rhys has never stopped writing, performing and recording, and has 11 albums to his name. He has collaborated with singer/songwriter/guitarist John Meed on his albums ‘Pavilion Parade’ (2012), ‘The Dust of Time (2013), ‘Hills of Aaron’ (2105) and ‘Never Enough’ (2018). In 2020 Rhys joined the well-respected acoustic quartet Thursday’s Band. His current album, ‘Unfinished Story’, was released in May 2026.
A number of 10-minute floor spots will be available on the night.
Monday 5th October 2026:
Round-the-room session
TICKETS NOT REQUIRED
Round the Room Session starting at 8:00 pm
At the Golden Hind, 355 Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1SP
Another opportunity to come along and perform. Instruments welcome. There’s no need to book, just turn up.
Free admission but donations welcome. Please donate at least £1 as we now pay £1 per performer and audience member to Greene King for their Macmillan Cancer Support charity.
Friday 9th October 2026:
Showcase with
Lara Gisborne;
Cambridge & Walker;
Pointy Finger
At the Golden Hind, 355 Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1SP
8pm (Doors open 7:30pm)
Entry: £12(door), £11(advance), £10(members).
Lara Gisborne: Lara’s music has been described as warm and beautiful by audience members. The Bees ‘feels like it dances between dark and light throughout’ (Emily Barker). For this show, Lara will be showcasing some new songs that came out of talking to women about health, research and reproduction with accompaniment from Matt Kelly on viola, violin and mandolin, including a couple of songs performed recently at Cambridge Folk Festival.
Cambridge and Walker (David and Jenna), have been playing together since 2016- harmonious singing, backed up with guitar, guzouki, harmonium, melodeon, sansula and "shaky egg." Originally based in Cambridge, they have performed their brand of traditional and contemporary folk songs at folk clubs and festivals throughout East Anglia (and beyond). The songs they sing are invariably stories, and always rearranged to suit their voices, their harmonies and their instruments. They have released an EP and an album of their work. In 2020, they moved out to West Suffolk, and found that a new house and a large garden required them to shift their focus away from performing. however, after a little break, they are now back "on the road” and singing their songs.
Pointy Finger are: Penny Waterhouse (vocals and kazoo); Matt Kelly (vocals, violin, viola, mandolin, banjo); Mike Bell (vocals, guitar, mandolin, mandola, banjo) and Andy Benson (vocals, guitar, bass). Reputationally “quirky”, they offer up acoustic roots with flavours of Americana, Country and Folk. Never sure which instrument to play and never knowingly understood, their lively, intimate songs come from the heart, with bite, and with humour. Uncomfortable realities of life and death mix with simple pleasures and silliness. Just a bit Pointy.
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HART FEST
Faradena Afifi and Farah Egby, who often play at the Cambridge Folk Club, have formed The Other Farah to showcase artists through pop-up events and creative activities.
One of their pop-up events is HART FEST:-
A festival of Music, Wellbeing and Poetry at the White Hart in Newmarket:-
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Praise for the Folk Club
Lester Lloyd Reason of The Lights made the following comment after they had performed at the Folk Club on 28th March 2025:
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"Cambridge Folk Club is an example of what a folk club should look like, and the direction I hope the folk scene continues to go in. With a commitment both to the tradition, and to creating events that welcome everyone. Cambridge Folk Club is a warm, welcoming and safe atmosphere for artists and audiences and a true embodiment of what folk music should be. People coming together, sharing music, laughter and community through song. The team are welcoming, friendly and helpful, the sound is beautiful and the audiences are appreciative."
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Open Stage 2024 album
This album is now available on streaming platforms.
A play list is available on YouTube at:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yLo4_Tifwg&list=OLAK5uy_lfzk4z7Fz8WqDfPC66H3enzvB_YWqhFGY
For more details see the Open Stage 2024 Album page.
