The Cambridge Folk Festival is one of the undoubted highlights of the city’s summer calendar, for residents, visitors and council staff members alike. It takes place, as ever, at Cherry Hinton Hall, from 25-28 July.

The first of this year’s headline acts were recently announced and among the highlights from a typically eclectic line-up are Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, folk-punk troubadours Levellers, Tex-Mex favourites The Mavericks and a band regularly described as the ‘best live act in the country’ – Bellowhead.

Other acts announced include Capercaillie, Martin Simpson, Lucy Rose, Mud Morganfield Band, Le Vent du Nord, Sam Lee and 11-piece Australian Bollywood band The Bombay Royale.

For the full line-up so far and details of tickets (including discounts for city residents) visit www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk.

After a well-deserved year off to leave the limelight to the Olympics and Paralympics, it has been announced that the Cambridge Buskers and Street Performers Festival is returning this summer for its fifth edition.

The three-day event, which sees much of the city effectively transformed into a massive stage for live performance, has just been confirmed for the weekend of Friday 28-Sunday 30 June.

The aim of the event is to celebrate local Cambridge talent, give amateur performers the chance to appear alongside professional acts and draw attention to the city’s Buskers Code of Practice. As in previous years there will also be a chance for the public to vote for their favourite performer.

Look out for the festival on the streets of the city centre at the end of June, as well as in Christ’s Pieces, Hope Street Yard, and in other spots along Mill Road – or you could just follow the sound of music and applause…

For more information contact Heather Bevan-Hunt: email heather.bevanhunt@cambridge.gov.uk.

A press release from City Council (spot the seasonal pun!):

Good Friday’s collections will take place as normal on Friday 29th March.

All bin collections for Cambridge City during the week 1st-5th April will take place one day late, with Friday’s collection taking place on Saturday.

You can check exactly what date collections your bin collections will take place at www.cambridge.gov.uk/binday

You can recycle all plastic, cardboard and foil packaging from Easter eggs in your blue bin. If you have egg-stra recycling that won’t fit in your blue bin, you can take some to your local recycling point – find your closest one at www.cambridge.gov.uk/recyclingpoints

All Cambridgeshire recycling centres are open over the bank holidays, operating Sunday opening times. These are the places to go if you have extra rubbish, DIY waste or bulky items like cardboard or appliances. Find your nearest recycling centre at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/environment

We have been advised that the contractor are currently reinstating the excavation in Jesus Lane and will be in a position once the materials have set to open the road again this evening ready for business as usual first thing Good Friday morning.

Unfortunately there is another sewer collapse in Bridge Street situated O/S Catherine Jones which lies between its junction with Jesus Lane and St John’s Street the works for which will commence after Easter on 8 April. It is estimated that Bridge Street will have to be closed for 2 weeks to facilitate the works.

We will keep you updated.