Broadcast Partner
Thursday 3 August 2023
Frankie Archer, has been declared the winner of the Christian Raphael Prize 2023 in association with the Cambridge Folk Festival. Frankie is a musician who creates her own imaginative and bold mash of electro-alt-folk using fiddle, electronics and voice. Listening to her music, her Northumbrian fiddle roots are clear, also her deep love of electronic music and her immersion in soulful folk songs from the North East of England and around the world.
Winner of the Cambridge Folk Festival I Christian Raphael Prize 2023, singer-songwriter Frankie Archer from Northumberland is now the fifth recipient of one of the most significant competitions throughout the country for key emerging talent in this genre of music - Amy Papiransky is this year’s runner-up.
Radio 2 Folk Show host Mark Radcliffe has described her music as, ‘Gorgeous trad playing and creative vocal twists…a fascinating and intoxicating blend of the contemporary and the traditional.’
Announced on the last night of the renowned four-day Festival in Cambridge, this unique prize, launched at the Festival in 2018, contributes £300 per month over the following year to help the winner with their career. The winner is guaranteed a spot on Stage 3 at the following Festival, plus is able to benefit from PR advice from roots publicist Richard Wootton. The runner up receives £250.
Rebecca Stewart, Cambridge Folk Festival Manager said: ‘The festival is thrilled for Frankie, her performance was something special and we’re excited to see what happens next for her. The prize is important to us and we love that it has started to receive industry recognition. We couldn’t do it without the Raphael family whose support of the prize and festival means so much.’
Previous winners are Mishra, Katherine Priddy, Nick Hart and in 2022, Angeline Morrison, who has gone on to release her critically acclaimed album ‘The Sorrow Songs – Folk Songs of Black British Experience’ and appear on Jools Holland, as well as performing on Stage 1 at Cambridge Folk Festival 2023.
Christian’s mother, Vicki Raphael said: ‘It’s wonderful to see the partnership between Cambridge Folk Festival and the Christian Raphael Prize entering its fifth year, and clearly playing a vital part in enabling such talented artists to make the next important steps in their careers. Seeing the success of previous winners like Angeline and Katherine has been very rewarding, and a musical legacy so individual and fitting for Christian and his love of music.
‘We’re delighted that Frankie Archer is the recipient of this year’s prize. Her music is beautiful and so original in its particular blend of contemporary and traditional. We wish her every success and look forward to seeing what the year brings for her.’
Delighted at winning the prize, Frankie said: ‘Performing for the first time at Cambridge Folk Festival was very special, I'm still glowing from the wonderful connection with the audience. On top of that to have been nominated and to have won the Christian Raphael Prize, it's incredible news and I'm really grateful to Christian, his family and the rest of the panel who believe in me and my music. I've been working hard to share my music with people so this support is very welcome, and I'm sure it will lead to exciting things!
The shortlist for this year’s prize was drawn from a list put forward by bookers at the Festival’s renowned emerging talent stage, The Den and the judging panel were: Festival Manager, Rebecca Stewart; Festival supporters Christian Raphael and Vicki Raphael, Richard Wootton, Roots Music Publicist and Sponsorship Officer, Amie Hoyland.
