Cambridge Folk Festival (1998)

Tracks 1-6 Recorded in 1982; Tracks 7-12 in 1986

Album Cover Info

The Cambridge Folk Festival has always been special to Lindisfarne. There are so few other events where you are sure to have lots of friends among the artists appearing and many more in the audience. Although Lindisfarne could never be classified as a 'folk group' [!!! R.Groll] per se, their eclectic inspirations include Muddy Waters, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Robert Johnson, Leadbelly and beyond, all of whom would have been welcomed with open arms by the Cambridge audience. Both much-loved institutions, Lindisfarne and the Cambridge Folk Festival make a splendid combination.

Lindisfarne have performed at the Cambridge Folk Festival three times, in 1982, 1986 and 1995. This album beatures selections from their first two visits, the first six tracks are from 1982 and the remainder from 1986. Both of these shows geatured the original five member line-up - Rod Clements on bass; Simon Cowe on vocals, guitar, keyboards and mandolin; Alan Hull on vocals, guitar and keyboards; Ray Jackson on vocals, harmonica and mandolin; Ray Laidlaw on drums, plus Marty Craggs on sax and vocals on the 1986 tracks. The material is predominantly by Alan Hull, ably supported by Rod Clements and Ray Jackson. The chart hits are all given the festival treatment and the set is completed with a selection of then-current material designed to encourage the audience to sing, dance, clap and generally behave in a manner conducive to having a bloddy good time. With so many great choruses, memorable hooks and dynamic ryhthms, it is almost impossible to ignore the infections bonhomie that Lindisfarne produce in concert!

It is interesting to note that although during the eighties Lindisfarne strayed the farthest from their trademark 'acoustic rock' style, the Cambridge Folk Festival audience accepted the band as genuine article despite the addition of synthesisirs and brass. They eagerly succumbed to the Lindisfarne magic as readily as audiences at festivals in locations as diverse as Glastonbury, Hong Kong, Minsk and Vienna.

It has been said that the secret of Lindisfarne's success lies in an abundance of classis songs combined with a genuine enthusiasm for performance and an ability to reproduce the atmosphere of an intimate club gig in any venue, regardless of size. That certainly has been the case on every occasion that Lindisfarne have appeared at Cambridge. The barrier between artist and audience is blurred and all concerned 'go for it' big time. Isn't that what folk festivals are supposed to be about ?

Alan Hull's untimely death in November 1995 robbed British music of one of its most original and underrated writers, but Lindisfarne continue to tour and record to satisfy both a revitalised public demand and also their own need to write and perform. No doubt we will see them at the Cambridge Folk festival again before long.