The UK festival scene is well upon us. A season of large mud pools, excessive sunburn (we can only dream), and people taking sneaky trips around the back of hedgerows in order to avoid the queues for the portaloos.

Yet many are questioning whether the UK festival is fast becoming a dying breed. Poor sales caused by high-ticket prices, rising band costs and an overly burdened market, have led to many festivals being cancelled or postponed for the year.

One mainstay that shall be going ahead is the Cambridge Folk Festival. Started in 1964 by political activist Ken Woollard, the event has attracted international artists as diverse as Paul Simon, James Taylor and Joe Strummer, and it still goes on strong today. Americana-UK spoke with the festival’s current organiser, Eddie Barcan, to discuss how the festival manages to remain so fresh and exciting, how it keeps going in these dark days of recession, and who would play at his ideal festival.