Last week we looked at local food festivals – this week it’s all about the music! The North Cornwall area is home to some brilliant summer music festivals, covering everything from chart pop, traditional folk to World Jazz. Whether you want the full commercial festival experience, or home-grown live music in local pubs, there is a Cornish summer music festival for you. Here are our top picks for 2016 in chronological order:
BAAMFest, Bude Castle, Bude
Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd July 2016
BAAMFest (Bude Arts And Music Festival) is a small friendly event that offers two nights of great live music and one night of comedy acts. Set in the Castle Grounds, there will be a craft fair, food market, workshops and walking entertainment. A charming friendly family festival!
http://www.budeartsandmusic.org/baamfest/
Leopallooza, Week St. Mary, Bude
Friday 29th Jul 2016 – Sunday 31st Jul 2016
One of the South-West’s most popular independent festivals, Leopallooza is now celebrating its 10th anniversary. Over 100 acts are spread over 7 stages in this wooded valley near Bude, and any profits are ploughed back into the festival to make it bigger and better. It offers free parking, free camping, kids’ entertainment, circus workshops, BMX displays as well as great food outlets, bars and a cocktail lounge.
http://www.leopallooza.com/music/
Boardmasters, Newquay
Wednesday 10th August – Sunday 14th August 2016
This huge commercial festival is deservedly popular and forms arguably the biggest single festival in the South-West, situated over various venues around Newquay including the beaches. Surfing, BMX and skate demonstrations, plus live entertainment. This rare celebration of skate and surf culture includes music from some of the biggest names in the charts: the 2016 line-up includes Chase & Status, Deadmau5, James Bay, The Kaiser Chiefs and Primal Scream, so tickets sell out well in advance. Book early!
Cornwall Folk Festival, Wadebridge
Friday 26th Aug 2016 – Monday 29th Aug 2016
Cornwall Folk Festival takes place over the bank holiday weekend and offers 3 and a half days of fabulous live folk music in various venues around Wadebridge. Well established after nearly half a century, this year the festival offers some big names from the folk scene including Ralph McTell and Martin Simpson. There’s also a range of musicians from other countries, and up-and-coming folkies from the South-West too. Add to the mix ceilidh dancing, workshops, a craft fair, street entertainment, and great local food and drink (sponsored this year by Healey’s Cider), you end up with a cracking weekend of fun!
http://www.cornwallfolkfestival.com/
Bude Jazz Festival, Various venues in Bude
Tuesday 30th Aug – Friday 2nd Sep 2016
The week after the bank holiday weekend will see the 29th Bude Jazz festival. Over 75 gigs will be taking place over the 4 days in multiple venues, with traditional and New Orleans Jazz, big band jazz, swing and jive and much more. The street parades are a real treat, and the jazz picnic is always popular.
Looe Music Festival, Looe
Friday 23rd Sep – Sunday 25th Sep 2016
The last of the summer festivals, Looe Music Festival is a cracker! With a brilliant beach stage and events happening throughout the town, the festival is a relatively new venture, and yet they still manage to secure brilliant names – 2016 promises Bryan Ferry, the Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Wilko Johnson, Seth Lakeman, The Fisherman’s Friends, and countless other big acts. There is no camping organised by the festival, so the event appeals to people happy to organise a rather more comfortable festival experience.
Have we missed your favourite summer music festival near North Cornwall?
Add it to the comments below!
Tamar Valley Cottages is situated 1.5 miles away from the excellent Propagation House recording studios. Musicians such as The Levellers and The Fisherman’s Friends have recorded at their facilities, along with bands who have chosen to stay in our boutique cottages, and Seth Lakeman recorded his most recent album ‘Word of Mouth’ in our village church.
