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The Number 13

This month Foz takes a look at the bill for the 13th Cambridge Rock Festival. Next month’s celebration of classic rock marks a new chapter in the event’s history.

The number 13 is often associated with bad luck, but in the case of the Cambridge Rock Festival it’s brought good fortune. They say you make your own luck and that is certainly the case for festival director Dave Roberts who has worked very hard indeed to keep the event alive over the past decade or so. He must feel all that determination has now paid off given that he has found an extremely wealthy backer.

You’ll no doubt recall that back in 2012 Haverhill man Adrian Bayford won £148 million pounds in the EuroMillions lottery.

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Adrian, an avid music fan, used some of his windfall to buy Horseheath Lodge in the village of Linton. It stands in 90 acres of rolling parkland and this year part of the site becomes the new home of the Cambridge Rock Festival.

Dave Roberts must think all his Christmases have come at once. His new sponsorship deal with Mr Bayford’s Black Barn Records has allowed him to continue with his annual celebration of some of the best rock acts in the land.

As ever, it’s an impressive bill combining well known national acts with some of the very best that our region has to offer. The hugely under-rated FM will be headlining the Friday night. During my days presenting The Headbangers’ Ball on commercial radio I recall playing their stuff and couldn’t understand why they weren’t a bigger name on the UK rock scene. Also on the Friday evening are Tygers Of Pan Tang and the excellent blues-rock singer and guitarist Chantel McGregor.

My good friends Eddie and the Hot Rods headline Saturday night when you can also catch John Otway. Mr Otway is one of rock’s true eccentrics and recently released an album made in Montserrat.  The following evening the legendary Atomic Rooster round off the festival. It’s also good to see Deborah Bonham on the Sunday bill. Deborah has just finished a very successful UK tour with guitarist Doug Boyle. They opened for Paul Rodgers who was backed by Deborah’s excellent band.

Two of Norfolk’s finest rock bands are also performing over the first weekend of August –Buster James and Bad Touch. There’s also lots of cracking blues acts including Laurence Jones, Ben Poole, The Mentulls and Roadhouse.

So the scene is set for another great CRF. It’s running from 3rd to 6th of August and for more details check out www.cambridgerockfestival.co.uk.      

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