Christopher BarrettLiverpool’s Africa Oyé (pictured) and the Cambridge Folk Festival will not take place this year, on the back of last year’s editons having lost money.
Billed as ‘the UK’s largest free celebration of African music and culture’, the 40,000-capacity Africa Oyé Festival which traditionally takes place in Liverpool’s Sefton Park, will take a fallow year in 2025, with the intentkion bing it will return in 2026.
Africa Oyé’s artistic director Paul Duhaney cited rising costs of 30% as being unworkable, despite record attendance at last year’s event, which featured a lineup including Julian Marley, the Grammy Award-winning son of Bob, and Les Amazones d’Afrique. The free-to-attend event, whch has been running since 1992, is supported by Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council and The Granada Foundation.
Duhaney said, “With increased infrastructure and compliance costs, it is simply a case that without major investment to cover the costs of delivering a festival of this size safely, it would be irresponsible to go ahead with the event in 2025.”
He said the team was determined to bring the event back to Sefton Park next year: “The break will allow us to raise money through a series of fundraising concerts, allow us time to negotiate with major partners, sponsors, and funders, and work towards a safe and successful return to Sefton Park.”
The Cambridge Folk Festival’s organiser Cambridge City Council said it wants to explore new opportunities ahead of the event’s return next year. The 14,000-capacity event, founded in 1965, usually takes place over four days at Cherry Hinton Hall. Among the many acts to have performed there are Robert Plant, Joan Baez, Nick Cave, Suzanne Vega, James Taylor and Van Morrison. The 2025 edition would have marked the fesival’s 60th anniversary.
In a statement, organisers said, “This decision marks an important step in the evolution of the festival. It has such a special legacy, and we are committed to seeing it thrive for future generations as it has done over the past 60 years.
“We know how dear the Folk Festival is to so many, and the impact it has on all those working in the music industry. It is dear to us too and we are committed to using our resources this year to explore new opportunities ahead of returning in summer 2026 with a fantastic festival.
“Hearing from all of those who have supported the festival in the past will be a vital part of developing the festival for the future, as is hearing from those potential new audiences who haven’t attended before. We will be asking for feedback during 2025 and want to hear from as many people as possible.”