Laura Marling on stage

18 year old Laura Marling, hailing from Reading was last on stage 2 on Thursday night and met with a warm applause considering how wet it was outside the tent! She wowed the crowd with her intimate style of acoustic folk showing exactly why she is 12 to 1 on to win this year's Mercury Music Prize.

It's raining, it's pouring...

Well...the heaven's finally opened, and in style. The video below was taken near the mainstage at around 9.15pm. But, every cloud has a silver lining (no pun intended) and with the rain coming down every packed inside stage 2 (covered) to get ready for Laura Marling's headline set. Torrential rain. Bad times. Laura Marling. Good times!

Folk names sign up for podcast

Frank Turner and Seth Lakeman are among the people who have so far been interviewed for the Folk Festival podcast - don't forget to listen each day...just click the download button on the home page.

Megson duo Stu Hanna and Debbie Palmer drew the crowds when they began to busk outside the MOJO Signing Tent a few minutes ago.

The Signing Tent isn't just for signing you know, occasionally the artists bring their instruments and jam for the crowd. And what a nice surprise it is, too.

Cherryholmes rocked Stage 2

Nashville bluegrass band Cherryholmes brought colour, style and some amazing sounds to Stage 2 as the heavens threatened to open once again outside the tent. Both a visual and aural spectacle the Grammy nominated family band will also play a set again on Friday on Stage 1, so if you'r reading this at the actual Festival and didnt manage to catch them, then don't miss out the second time round!

Cambridge Festival Goers on the fiddle!

One of the charms of the festival is the punters bring their own instruments and start some impromptu busking. Take a look...

The Shivers

Cambridge locals The Shivers performing in the club tent

Frank at the MOJO signing tent

Frank at the MOJO signing tent after his set with quite a queue of fans...

Frank Turner starts the proceedings.

Former punk man turned folk troubadour Frank Turner kicked off stage 2 with a storming set of heartfelt, passionate songs. Rattling through tracks from new album Love, Ire & Song as well as old favourites he was received by an enthusiastic crowd. The Festival is officially go...

...and the heaven's opened!

5.30pm on the Thursday and the first real downpour - only lasted a few minutes, but the weather is looking pretty unpredictable. The blog team are now practising hourly Rain Dances to ensure that the sun comes out to enjoy some folk.

On the run!

It's funny who you run into at the festival...

Food, glorious food!

There's plenty to choose from by way of food at the Festival this year. So, whatever you're into, there's bound to be something to tickle your taste buds.


Here's just a few examples of what you might find...

It's an arty party!

The Festival this year has some really great artwork dotted around the arena and campsites. Here's just a selection of a few...

Refill Not Landfill

With environmental issues high on the agenda of the festival, here is the first look at the at the souvenir plastic pint glasses.

A warm welcome to Cambridge.

Welcome to the 2008 Cambridge Folk Festival - if you are reading this at the Festival, we hope you are enjoying yourselves. If you are reading this having just been to the Festival, we hope you enjoyed yourselves. If you weren't at the Festival and are reading this, well....we hope you enjoyed your weekend whatever you were doing!

Morning Campers

er...well, OK it's afternoon. The campers arrive and start securing their places for the weekend ahead.

The Festival has two campsites - one next to the arena (Cherry Hinton Grounds) and one just down the road (Coldhams Common). A shuttle bus ferries people from the outer campsite to the site.

Here we go...

Just gone 12 and the Festival has just opened the gates to the arena. The campers have been arriving all morning and pitching tents galore. The weather is looking...well, OK. A few sprinkles of rain but we are all holding our breath.

6 hours til the music starts with the superb Frank Turner.

One day to go...

The finishing touches are currently being added and the site is starting to take shape. Here's some of the smiling faces that'll be greeting you when you arrive tomorrow...

Hiatt out...Hawley in...

We are pleased to announce that critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and guitarist, Richard Hawley has been added to this year's line-up. He replaces John Hiatt who cancelled his full European tour on Friday 25 July due to illness in his family. For more info on Richard Hawley click here.

5 Days to go!!

With now only 5 days to go here is a word about how things are going at the site from Ken Rankin, the Folk Festival Production Officer...

And as I blog the Main Stage, Stage 2, Beer Tent and the other marquee's are being built...

Which act are you tipping to rule the Festival?

Will The Levellers rule the day...maybe The Imagined Village will be the ones to watch...or how about k.d. Lang?

If you would like to see who Radio 2 presenters Mark Radcliffe and Mike Harding predict will be the ones to watch at the Festival then click on the link below.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/cambridgefolkfestival/2008/presenterschoice/

8 Days to go!!!

With 8 days to go the main stage tent is being put together. Ken Rankin, the Folk Festival Production Officer has a few words on how it is all going...

13 days to go!!!

I remember when all this was just fields you know...oh, hang on, it still is! Yes, with 2 weeks to go the site currently looks as above. But not for much longer, the Festival site is now about to be built. Check back here soon for more updates on its progress as inch ever closer to the event.

Radio 2 site launched

The Radio 2 Cambridge Folk Festival site has now been launched on the BBC's site. Check it out by clicking on the link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/cambridgefolkfestival/2008/

Additional tickets released for Cambridge Folk Festival

The following tickets for Cambridge Folk Festival will be released on Monday 7th July at 10am and will be available by phone on 01223 357851 and to personal callers at the Cambridge Corn Exchange Box Office.

All tickets will be available on a first-come first-served basis to both Cambridge City and non-City residents, though prices may vary depending on residence.

259 Full Festival
100 Cherry Hinton Camping (Full Festival ticket required)
240 Coldhams Common Camping (Full Festival ticket required)
36 Coldhams Common Caravan/Campervan (Full Festival ticket required)
200 Thursday
20 Friday
20 Sunday
Children's tickets will be available when purchasing adult tickets, subject to availability.

IMPORTANT: If you have purchased a ticket at a reduced price for Cambridge City residents, then you must bring proof of Cambridge City residence for each ticket when entering the Festival. Failure to produce adequate proof of residence on entry for each ticket will result in you being asked to return home to obtain adequate proof, or you will be required to pay the difference on entry, which will not be refunded.