Cornwall 365's Top Picks: A Summer of Music
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: http://www.cornwallmusic.co.uk/event/
June

Golowan Festival
Penzance
19th – 28th June
In Golowan’s 25th Year celebrating Midsummer, the whole of Penzance is the stage.
For dates, locations and line up, visit the Golowan Festival website.

Three Spires Singers & Orchestra and soloists
performing Brahms’ 2nd Symphony and German Requiem
Truro Cathedral
25th June
A rare opportunity to hear a full-scale symphony orchestra in this wonderful acoustic setting, together with one of the greatest choral pieces ever written.
Book through the Hall for Cornwall website here.

Newton Faulkner
Lusty Glaze Beach
29th June
Back at the beach with a brand new sound, Newton Faulkner is the second headline act to be announced in the line-up for the Lusty Glaze Sundowner Sessions.
Visit the Lusty Glaze website.
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.
Visit the Electric Beach Festival website.

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.
Visit the Eden Project website.

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!
Visit the Tropical Pressure Festival website.

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.
Visit the Leopallooza website.
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.
Visit the Boardmasters website.

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.
Visit the Holifair Family Festival website.

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.
Visit the Knee Deep Festival website.

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.
Visit the New Rose Punk Festival website.
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.
Visit the Little Orchard Cider & Music Festival website for more information and updates on music line ups.

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.
Visit Siobhán Owen’s 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.
Visit their website here.

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!
Visit the Looe Music Festival website.