A Summer of Music: Cornwall 365’s Top Picks

With over 40 music festivals happening in Cornwall this year, the summer should be a wild and heady celebration of music in spectacular locations. From the Newquay cliff-top mega-fest that is Boardmasters to the New Rose Punk Festival at Trereife Park, Penzance and Leopallooza – ‘the greatest house party in a field’ near Bude to Looe Music Festival on the beach, 90 bands, 5 stages over 3 days, there will be a festival in a field or on a beach near you!

Whatever you type of music you’re looking for you can find it in Cornwall and alongside the headliners there will be showcases of Cornwall’s emerging talent. And what talent we have here! You might catch singer-songwriters in a pub or café and then see them on the Net Lift Stage at Boardmasters, an intimate new stage that will showcase latest in new Cornish talent, small in size but big in soul. This year’s line-up has being curated in partnership with BBC Music introducing Cornwall who support unsigned, undiscovered and under the radar musicians. Looe Music Festival hosts a BBC introducing stage and a mass of Cornish talent.

We’ve chosen just a few of our Top Picks for this summer – skimming the surface of all the lovely stuff that is happening across Cornwall! If this has whet your appetite, you can visit the Cornwall Music Network website for more events.

July

Electric Beach Festival, Fistral Beach, Newquay, 8th – 9th July

Electric Beach Festival returns to the golden sands of Fistral Beach, Newquay on Friday 8th – Saturday 9th July 2016. A two-day event fusing international artists with rising stars, this intimate festival is geared up to be one of the hottest beach parties in this year’s calendar. Line up includes De La Soul, Levellers, Zion Train and Dr Meaker.

Manic Street Preachers, Eden Project, 9th July

For the first time, Manic Street Preachers come to play the legendary Eden Sessions, a decade since they last played the county. They will be playing material from their 12-album back catalogue, which includes tracks such as A Design For Life, Motorcycle Emptiness, Your Love Alone Is Not Enough, If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next, among countless others.

Tropical Pressure Festival, Porthtowan, 15th – 17th July

Celebrating the rich cultures of Africa, Latin America & the Caribbean on the cliffs of Cornwall.

Line-up includes Sidestepper, Mo’Kalamity, Deadtime Philharmonic  and The Kaya Collective. All vegetarian food, music and dance workshops and late night sessions to keep things going until the early hours!

Leopallooza, Bude, 29th – 31st July

100+ local, national and international acts will be appearing across 7 stages over 3 days & nights in the intimate surrounds of our little Cornish valley. Line up includes: Band of Skulls, Crystal Fighters, Kodaline, and Izzy Bizu.

August

Boardmasters, Newquay, 10 – 14th August

Ever-popular surf and music festival on the beautiful Cornish coast. Line up includes heavy hitters Deadmau5, Chase and Status, Catfish and the Bottlemen and James Bay, as well as some great home grown Cornish acts; look out for Honey, John Buckley, Abbie Piper and Lost Dawn to name a few.

Holifair Family Festival, Gweek, 12th – 14th August

Family friendly community festival with over 30 bands, talks, cabaret, etc. Line up includes Beans on Toast, Echo Town, 3 Daft Monkeys and more, including some fabulous Cornish acts.

Knee Deep Festival, Nr Liskeard, 26th – 27th  August

An intimate, not-for-profit Music & Arts festival with a diverse, progressive and far-reaching line-up, including The Black Tambourines,  Bullions, Flamingods and more, with further acts to be announced.

New Rose Punk Festival, Trereife Park nr Penzance, 26th – 28th August

Two days of pure punk mayhem in the Cornish countryside, with a line up featuring Culture Shock, Sham 69, The Members, English Dogs, The Straps, Potential Victims, Brassick, 9 Bullets, Dischord, Arch Rivals, Headstone Horrors and Honey already confirmed – with more to be announced.

September

Little Orchard Cider & Music Festival, Healey’s Cider Farm, Penhallow, 9th – 11th September

A charming little Cornish party with some big live bands and a BBC Introducing Stage. The Little Orchard is back for it’s fourth year in 2016. Expect world class bands, silent discos, hot tubs, glamping, camping, circus skills, pop up sea shantys, BBC introducing stage, tractor rides, cider tastings, feast nights and new for 2016, The Little Orchard food village, with a huge variety of local and more exotic festival foods from across the UK.

Siobhán Owen, Calstock Arts, 11th September

A classically trained singer from the age of nine, Siobhán started performing Celtic songs aged twelve and added harp to the mix three years later. She has won international awards for both her Classical and Celtic singing. Now based in Australia, Siobhán returns to the UK in Autumn 2016 as part of a European tour promoting her latest album Entwined, featuring original contemporary pieces entwined with traditional Celtic songs. Book tickets through the CRBO website.

Budapest Cafe Orchestra, St Ives Guildhall, 22nd September

Electrifying and entertaining, The Budapest Café Orchestra play traditional folk and gypsy music from across the Balkans and Russia – high energy Klezmer to beautiful ballads. Evoking vivid images of Budapest café life and gypsy campfires – it’s good enough to make you book a holiday along the Danube! Book tickets through the CRBO website.

Henry’s Little Big Gig, The Lizard, 23rd – 26th September

Fantastic live music and ale festival showcasing lots of local talent. Line up includes The Rin Tins, Tankus the Henge and Chainska Brassika.

Looe Music Festival, 23rd – 25th September

LMF is back for 2016 with its big main beach stage looking out to sea. Dance holes in the sand, discover music around every street corner and party with the friendliest crowds you could wish for. Line up includes Seth Lakeman, Bryan Ferry, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Wilko Johnson and many more!