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And it is an emotional festival, for many people and for myself. I've often been stunned out of my professional photographer persona by moments of beauty. The time when Loudon Wainwright duetted with Christine Collister in a tribute to festival founder Ken Woollard, who had died the year before. They sang of "flying so high above us," an image of someone departed looking down on, in this case, the festival he created.
Or when Tom Robinson, after introducing his anthem "Glad To Be Gay" as usual ("You don't have to be gay to sing this...but it helps"), was clearly moved by 4,000 people bellowing the chorus back at him. Or when veteran left-wing politician Tony Benn appeared with Roy Bailey (described by the Minister for Culture as "one of folk music's finest performers and one of the world's best carriers of the people's message"). Tony spoke of how folk music was rooted in protest from the Levellers to the Chartists to the Suffragettes, reflecting eloquently and with passion about the importance of community and love for your fellow man and woman, interspersed with songs by Roy. It was just too much for me, a smiling photographer with a tear-streaked face.
So I love the festival, as do many thousands of people. This in some ways is a shame, as tickets sell out within days, faster each year. If there were some way that everyone who wanted to go could do so, then the organisers would take it. But they can't--not without making the festival bigger, which would entail moving it. Either change would cause the loss of so much of the essence of this festival, which still views folk music as music for and by the people, uncomplicated music expressing emotions directly, reaching the hearts and the minds of the listeners.
A unique relationship has been built during the festival's 39 years--and a large 40th anniversary celebration is already being planned for 2004. I'll be there, along with the family that I may only see once a year but who, in the music and memories, are with me every day. Just another music festival? I'm glad Cambridge never has been and hopefully never will be. • Karl Greenow
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