Folk @ CMT 2026: Where Folk Music Meets Industrial Heritage!
Get ready for a toe-tapping, family-friendly day out at Folk @ CMT 2026! On July 25th, from 11 am to 8 pm, the Cambridge Museum of Technology will come alive with the sounds of incredible local talent, thanks to the Black Fen Folk Club and the Cambridge Folk Club.
Imagine this: soul-stirring melodies echoing against the backdrop of a magnificent, iconic Victorian pumping station. David Savage of the Black Fen Folk Club says it best: "It's great to showcase all this great talent against this amazing backdrop!"
But it's not just about the music; it's about the atmosphere! Marion Treby of the Cambridge Folk Club knows that "Folk music and our industrial heritage are perfect partners, making the Cambridge Museum of Technology an ideal venue."
Why You Shouldn't Miss It:
• A Unique Setting: Immerse yourself in the industrial heritage of Cambridge in the atmospheric setting of the historic pumping station.
• Amazing Local Talent: 12 fantastic acts will grace the stage over 9 hours!
• Family Fun: Bring the whole family! Under 16s get in FREE (when accompanied by a paying adult), and tickets for those under 30 are just £12.
• Affordable Entertainment: Standard tickets are only £16 – incredible value for a full day of music and memories.
• Dog-Friendly: Well-behaved dogs are welcome!
• More Than Just Music: Enjoy high-quality food and drinks throughout the day.
Note 1: Tickets can also be purchased from the Museum Ticket Office
Note 2: The Pumping Station will not be open to visitors during this event
Note 3: There will be limited seating so please bring along picnic chairs or picnic blankets
£16 Adult Ticket
£12 Young Persons Ticket (16-30 yrs)
There will be limited seating so please bring along picnic chairs or picnic blankets
4pm to 8pm
Brooks Williams : Born in Statesboro, Georgia, and now living in Cambridge, guitarist, singer and songwriter Brooks is a leading light on the roots acoustic music scene. He moves effortlessly between country, blues and folk, has over 33 recordings and has appeared at countless venues and festivals for over three decades. Whether at Celtic Connections, Cropredy, Glastonbury, Shrewsbury, Costa del Folk, or further afield, there are very few stages he hasn't played. His collaborations with Aaron Catlow, Vera van Heeringen and Boo Hewerdine are legendary, and he is listed in the Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists.
Polly Paulusma : Polly Paulusma released her debut ‘Scissors In My Pocket’ on Björk’s label One Little Independent to widespread critical acclaim, supporting Bob Dylan and Coldplay as the album’s reputation grew. Since then she has released five more studio albums and sister-albums, a film soundtrack, founded the Wild Sound folk record label (now a folk imprint at OLI), and produced records for others. In 2020 she finished her PhD on literature and folk song which was published by Bloomsbury and which her fourth album ‘Invisible Music: folk songs that influenced Angela Carter’ (2021) renders in musical terms.
Monkey Shanti : South Asian folk-pop fusion band Monkey Shanti is a celebration of diversity, harmoniously blending regional folk and pop music from across South Asia with genres like indie, folk, pop and rock from the global north.
South of Polaris is the Flamenco-infused Alt Folk duo of Danii Reales (UK) and Saúl Díaz (Spain), whose music is as emotionally raw as it is sonically rich. Their sound blends intimate folk storytelling, the fire of flamenco, and the theatrical energy of rock, anchored by Danii’s unforgettable vocals and violin, and Saúl’s intricate Electro-Classical Guitar. Born from grief, their music became a form of healing, transforming intense emotion into honest, relatable songwriting. Their performances are both intimate and dynamic, offering audiences an experience that’s grounded whilst transcendent.
Robert Brown is a singer songwriter with obvious comparisons such as Nick Drake, Davy Graham and Jimmy Page, not only in his writing but with his remarkable finger style technique. Extensive travelling in Europe, North Africa and North America have enabled Robert to absorb the music and culture, and this emerges in subtle rootsy nuances within his work.
Mnatobi : Vocal and multi-instrumental group Mnatobi performs a variety of songs from around the world and across the centuries. Folk songs, world music, madrigals, medieval rounds, 70s pop songs - we’ve got the lot! We will sing any style of music, so long as it is melodic and lends itself to rich and colourful harmonies. .
11am to 3pm
Lizzie J Taylor & Hugh Boyde: Both very well known individually in Cambridge music circles, they have come together specially for this concert. Hugh, a music teacher, plays guitar and mandolin and sings, mixing up jazz and ragtime, blues and novelty numbers. Lizzie’s debut album ‘Living in the Lowlands’ (2014) received rave reviews both for the exquisitely written songs and the beautiful singing and harmonies
Chris Sendall : Chris is a regular at Open Stages in Cambridge and immediately impressed us with his wide and varied repertoire of both traditional and modern folk songs and we wanted to share him and his music with you. Enjoy!
John and Pauline Pearce : John and Pauline write and perform a blend of intelligent, humorous and emotional songs which are a joy to listen to. Taking listeners on a journey where they can sparkle with the Northern Lights, ring with the bells of old Dunwich town and sit with the card sharps of Great Yarmouth.
Kelly and Woolley : An acoustic duo from Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds, sing songs and playing tunes from a wide variety of styles but particularly Folk, Americana, Country and Cajun. Matt and Gary have played together for more than 14 years and perform regularly at festivals and venues across the East of England.
Bernie Kedge : Cambridge born and bred, Bernie is well known across the local folk scene and was very involved in the Mayflower Folk Club. Often accompanying himself on harmonica, he is a compelling performer of English folk songs, especially those involving the love of beer!
Cambridge and Walker : “A standout feature of David and Jenna’s music-making is the loving care with which they treat their material, and the tender, persuasive way they communicate the songs’ messages to their listeners – thus producing more than a fair share of neck-prickling moments.” The Living Tradition
