Glasgow artist to play Cambridge Folk Festival as part of exciting Showcase Scotland Expo for 2024

Paul McKenna is set to join the world-class line-up at Cambridge Folk Festival. Partnering with Showcase Scotland Expo, the festival hosts the finest emerging artists from north of the border in an unparalleled initiative for English festivals from Thursday 25 - Sunday 28 July 2024.


Dozens auditioned for twelve coveted spots on the event’s three stages at Cherry Hinton Hall, resulting in a hugely talented and eclectic line-up of musicians.

Paul McKenna, from Glasgow, whose band the New York Times dubbed, “The best folk band to have come out of Scotland in the last twenty years” will appear solo, sharing a love of traditional music and contemporary, dynamic compositions with the Cambridge audiences, all underpinned by Paul’s stunning vocals throughout the performance.


Paul will join a stellar group of Scottish musicians, including Blue Rose Code’s Caledonian Soul Cavalcade who will close the world renowned festival’s Stage 1 on Sunday evening, in a fitting finale highlighting the huge impact of Scottish music. Joining the rest of the Scottish line-up will be critically acclaimed Ainsley Hamill, award-winning instrumental folk trio Assynt, all-female supergroup, Birdvox, Stirling five-piece Constant Follower, multiple Americana UK award-winner Dean Owens & The Sinners, West Coast folk group Eabhal, up-and-coming six-piece folk band Falasgair, renowned vocalist Hannah Rarity, Ayrshire-based trio The Langan Band, Edinburgh’s Alt-folk trio Paper Sparrows and the exquisitely gifted Gaelic singers from Sian.


Alongside the world-class music, there is so much more to enjoy over the festival weekend, including dedicated children’s activities; workshops on instrument making and song writing; a silent disco, storytelling, clog dancing, tai-chi, and an incredible selection of mouth-watering food trucks and bars from some of Cambridges finest food merchants. The festival is also proud to have been deemed "outstanding” at the Greener Festival Awards.


Lisa Whytock, Executive Producer of Showcase Scotland Expo, commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with Cambridge Folk Festival in 2024, showcasing an abundance of Scottish talent, from up and coming acts to well-established, household names, as part of the incredible event. We hope the audiences enjoy the Spotlight and revel in the fantastic music on offer.”


Head of Music at Creative Scotland, Alan Morrison said: “Cambridge Folk Festival is a major event on the European music calendar. The focus on Scotland in 2024 offers a unique opportunity to share our music with new audiences and showcase the high quality and wide diversity of our traditional and contemporary scenes. Creative Scotland’s support for Showcase Scotland Expo through National Lottery targeted funding has, over several years, helped a positive partnership with Cambridge to grow, and this summer we will see it blossom in full.”


Cambridge Folk Festival will take place at Cherry Hinton Hall from Thursday 25 - Sunday 28 July 2024.

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