A vibrant hub for folk & roots music in Cambridge with an event every Sunday. The club's open stages provide the opportunity for anyone to play acoustic music to an attentive audience... Singers, instrumentalists & dancers from all musical traditions and at all levels are welcome, and so are non-performing listeners.
Our programme of guest nights bring unique, inspirational, varied, roots music to the city. Advance booking here is highly recommended. Limited floor spots are available on these nights too.
Since the club's foundation (originally as the Portland Folk Club) it has built a reputation as a place for high quality performers, both on a local and national level. The Black Fen has welcomed award winning musicians from all over the globe and has also seen a number of its own regulars achieve critical acclaim for their music both at home and abroad. The club has curated stages and sessions for Cambridge Folk Festival and organised a number of Summer Folk Days in the city.
Previous guests include Peggy Seegar, Robin Gillan, Iona Fyfe, Naomi Randall & The Ruins, Tony Hall, The Wilderness Yet, Katie Doherty & The Navigators, Sarah Jane Scouten, Geoff Lakeman, Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, Gilmore & Roberts, Maclaine Colston & Saul Rose, Tom Paley, Alistair Anderson, Andy May Trio, Brothers Gillespie, Dovetail Trio, Jack Rutter, Thomas McCarthy, Hot Rock Pilgrims, The Often Herd, The Willows, Danny Pedler & Rosie Butler-Hall, Jaeja, Tim Mellor, Luke Jackson, Hannah Read & Michael Starkey, Hedera, Nick Hart, Kelly Oliver, Kit Hawes & Aaraon Catlow and Dipper-Malkin.
Our programme of guest nights bring unique, inspirational, varied, roots music to the city. Advance booking here is highly recommended. Limited floor spots are available on these nights too.
Since the club's foundation (originally as the Portland Folk Club) it has built a reputation as a place for high quality performers, both on a local and national level. The Black Fen has welcomed award winning musicians from all over the globe and has also seen a number of its own regulars achieve critical acclaim for their music both at home and abroad. The club has curated stages and sessions for Cambridge Folk Festival and organised a number of Summer Folk Days in the city.
Previous guests include Peggy Seegar, Robin Gillan, Iona Fyfe, Naomi Randall & The Ruins, Tony Hall, The Wilderness Yet, Katie Doherty & The Navigators, Sarah Jane Scouten, Geoff Lakeman, Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, Gilmore & Roberts, Maclaine Colston & Saul Rose, Tom Paley, Alistair Anderson, Andy May Trio, Brothers Gillespie, Dovetail Trio, Jack Rutter, Thomas McCarthy, Hot Rock Pilgrims, The Often Herd, The Willows, Danny Pedler & Rosie Butler-Hall, Jaeja, Tim Mellor, Luke Jackson, Hannah Read & Michael Starkey, Hedera, Nick Hart, Kelly Oliver, Kit Hawes & Aaraon Catlow and Dipper-Malkin.
Attending the Black Fen...
For guest nights and open stage nights...
The hall doors open at 7:15pm, although the NCI bar is open before this for drinks.
Music starts at 7:30pm
Open Stage nights...
If you'd like to be part of an Open Stage night there's no need to book in advance, just turn up and let the MC know whether you'd prefer to perform on just listen. The MC on the night will ultimately decide how many slots you're invited to perform over the course of the evening, and how long they can be. Naturally, this is heavily dependant on the number of other performers attending on that particular night - as a guide though, on a typical Open Stage you might be invited to sing/play between 3 and 5 songs/tunes over the course of the evening. We endeavour to ensure that everyone who would like to perform can do so at least once each Open Stage.
Guest nights...
Often sell out so advance booking is recommended. See our programme for ticket links.
The Black Fen remain committed to bringing inspirational live music to Cambridge at an affordable price but are similarly committed to supporting musicians themselves. Consequentially, many of our guest nights offer a "standard" advance ticket price of less than a tenner, and a "pay a little more" price for those who are able to and would like to see the artist take home a little more.
For guest nights and open stage nights...
The hall doors open at 7:15pm, although the NCI bar is open before this for drinks.
Music starts at 7:30pm
Open Stage nights...
If you'd like to be part of an Open Stage night there's no need to book in advance, just turn up and let the MC know whether you'd prefer to perform on just listen. The MC on the night will ultimately decide how many slots you're invited to perform over the course of the evening, and how long they can be. Naturally, this is heavily dependant on the number of other performers attending on that particular night - as a guide though, on a typical Open Stage you might be invited to sing/play between 3 and 5 songs/tunes over the course of the evening. We endeavour to ensure that everyone who would like to perform can do so at least once each Open Stage.
Guest nights...
Often sell out so advance booking is recommended. See our programme for ticket links.
The Black Fen remain committed to bringing inspirational live music to Cambridge at an affordable price but are similarly committed to supporting musicians themselves. Consequentially, many of our guest nights offer a "standard" advance ticket price of less than a tenner, and a "pay a little more" price for those who are able to and would like to see the artist take home a little more.
