It seemed like only days had passed since the last time we were stood in a field in Cornwall watching bands and artists perform for the lucky people who had paid to come along and be entertained for the weekend, that was Rattlerfest at the end of April, which, despite the fact that Spring was still in full swing, as quite warm. Fast forward to the Queen’s platinum jubilee weekend and here we were again, in Cornwall but this time at a different site, Scorrier House to be precise and things had definitely improved weather wise, would it last, only time would tell!
As I waited for my accreditation to be sorted and passes to be issued, I bumped into a duo called True Foxes who I had interviewed in the weeks leading up to the festival, they looked perplexed, I spoke to them and they said that they were due to take to the main stage in exactly 12 minutes time to perform, naturally I let them push past me in the line and 20 mins later as I wandered the site, I could see the ladies up on the stage doing their thing.
I took a walk around the site and was amazed to see how much they had managed to fit inside a moderately small space, there were at least 5 live music performance spaces, a disco, crazy golf, a vintage fun fair and food vendors galore, honestly, I was spoiled for choice when it came to food time so I did what any inquisitive journal would have done, sampled as many as I could in the 2 days I was onsite….
The weather on the Friday was stunning, there was not a cloud in the sky and grabbing shots of vendors, people and the general happenings taking place outside of the performance areas was easy, everyone had a smile on their face and not a care in the world.
Saturday was a slightly different story, after a few hours of persistent rain overnight, the ground was wet and soggy and this wasn’t helped by the forecast saying that more of the wet stuff was on its way…did this dampen our spirits? No it didn’t, if anything, it made me more determined to catch as many of the indoor acts as possible so I could stay dry and warm! But hey ho, the show must go on and come rain and shine, it did just that!
Sadly, I had to leave early on the Sunday morning as we were off to the Torbay airshow (which never happened owing to low cloud and rain) so I missed the acts on the bill but from what I heard, they did a great job of keeping the audience entertained throughout the day.
Rather than try and cram all of the things I saw into a few paragraphs, I wrote a little on each of them and have listed them below for you to read….
True Foxes, I met them at the accreditation tent as they should have been sound checking (I let them push in front of me) they were onstage 15 mins later, a lush blend of acoustic classics and self penned numbers that helped people to kick back and enjoy the Cornish sunshine (it was HOT)….
The Kites in Madame Wong’s put on an incredible mix of blues rock that really got the party started, they looked the part, they sounded incredible and they drew a very healthy crowd despite it being quite early in the day.
The Breaks on the main stage, 4 piece act kicking out some well executed indie pop, great tight performance that have ignited a spark in me and I’ll definitely be seeking these guys out when I get the chance.
Silent Garden in Madame Wong’s lovely acoustic led act with atmospheric electric guitar in the background.
I took a walk to the Secret Gin Garden where Tom Quirke and Molly Hocking were performing, I stayed for the first 2 numbers, the first of which was a beautiful song performed in French, I didn’t understand any of it but it sounded great and really showcased Molly’s groundbreaking voice, she went on to perform an exquisite cover of Amy Winehouse’e ‘Back to Black’ which had the audience whooping with joy come the end.
Break Beat Bandits, all 47 of them (I exaggerate but not by many!) Great band, noisy, loads of drums, amazing covers of some dance classics including ‘Praise You’ by Fatboy slim and ‘Let Me Entertain You’ by Robbie Williams which saw hundreds up and dancing around like nobody was watching! They hail from Devon and Dorset and I was keen to ask where they find to rehearse, luckily, there are a couple of music teachers in amongst the lineup so have access to school music rooms to make as much noise as they like!
Madame Wong’s drew me in as a band was just striking up, I recognised the singer as Mog Jones (I met her at Boardmasters when I was interviewing Daisy Clark last year), her new outfit sees her as Viva Valentine, a wonderful alter ego backed by a phenomenal band. They were kicking out some great sounding vibes that saw all 6 band members killing it on stage. I loved the chemistry between the bass player and rhythm guitarist and the lead guitarist looked cool as a cucumber as they launched into a killer cover of The Ramones’ ‘Rockaway Beach’ with his festival shades on. If you’re looking for a local band to latch onto and follow, these are it, go check them out on the socials….
Up next were Totnes based heroes Hearing Aid Beige and from what I heard of them ahead of the festival, I am glad to say that live, they delivered and then some…. Blissed out, dreamy and relaxing music as just the tonic after a hectic start to Friday, the crowd sat, listening attentively whilst the 4 piece weaved their spell over all in attendance.
Rum Buffalo are a London based act, from memory, I think there were 8 of them onstage, maybe 9, regardless, they sounded epic with a 4 piece brass section which really delivered and sounded SO good! I chatted to the drummer and keyboard player ahead of the show and they invited me onstage during their performance to get some shots into the crowd which I think turned out pretty well considering the early evening sun had started to set on the main stage.
It was off to Madame Wong’s next to catch a super talented trio going by the name The Big Sets Trio, I recognised the bass player who calls himself Dr Funk and plays like a demon, slapping, popping and showboating his way through classic numbers. The guitarist was a dark horse as the songs they performed saw him playing second fiddle to Dr Funk but as I was about to leave the tent, he took centre stage and kicked out a superb solo during a rendition of Hendrix’s ‘Stone Free’ which set the place on fire and drew me back in to grab some snaps of him in action.
Tom McGuire and the Brassholes did their thing on the main stage and I was amused to see them dressed all in white, clearly the keyboard player didn’t have anything to hand so rocked up in a karate suit (minus the belt) and saw him leaping about the stage whilst the band kicked out some funky jams for the crowd to get immersed in. Great band, tight as a gnats chuff with a superb brass section which took the main stage to another level in musicianship.
I popped in on Lady Violet Hugh in Madame Wong’s shortly afterwards, from what I gathered, she was a lady of money and wealth and liked a drop of gin, well, an entire bottle if you want to be precise. Her songs were quite rude and raised a smile amongst the audience that had gathered to whoop and cheer at her innuendo laced lyrics. Following lady Violet was a drag act from Plymouth, this was a stand in for Elektra Fence and for the life of me, I cannot recall their name. They took to the stage and instantly got the crowd onside with some classic 80’s and 90’s singalongs which had the room in raptures. Say what you will about drag acts, this one stood out a country mile, they were witty, friendly and engaged the entire audience and boy could they sing….
The Talulah Blue Show was a cabaret performance involving many artists including a contortionist and a nubile young lady performing a teasing display of cheeky burlesque complete with a bunch of peacock feathers. The contortionist wowed the audience with some other-worldly moves, how on earth she could even get her body into those positions amazed me and left me feeling like I should definitely start stretching a bit more as I get older. Chatting to Talaluah Blue in the KOREV area after her show, she assured me that tomorrow night’s performance would involve much more ‘flesh’, enough said, I’ve already secured a spot in the photo pit to capture the action!
I caught up with Eno Williams from Ibibio Sound Machine ahead of their main stage performance, we had a good chat about their forthcoming gig at Wembley Stadium supporting the mighty Coldplay (not really my bag but mighty all the same), the bands musical influences and overseas festivals. to read the entire interview, head to musomuso.com/introducing.
I was meant to be chatting to DJ Yoda ahead of his performance but timings said otherwise so that was shelved, I did however catch him in Madame Wong’s later on in the evening so had a quick chat to him there about sharing Totnes as our hometown and his DJ style which includes the use of classic samples, scratching and looping to create his trademark sound.
Ibibio Sound Machine took to the stage at 22:15 sharp and lit up the main stage with their incredible stage performance. Full of colour, afrobeat and funk music was very much the order of the day as Eno led the band through their crowd pleasing set. They drew upon their 4 album back catalogue to create a set which was both engaging and exciting, there really was not a dull moment throughout the entire performance. If you’re not a fan of this incredible band, go and check them out on Spotify and I guarantee that you’ll be a keen follower shortly afterwards. As I said earlier they are supporting Coldplay at Wembley Stadium soon, keep your eyes on their socials for more information as it lands.
As Friday drew to a close, I had a final walk around site, popped in the KOREV area to see the ‘youths’ having a dance and caught a bit of DJ Yoda’s exciting DJ set in Madame Wong’s but it was time for me to retire, rest my feet and prepare for Saturday’s fun and frolics…..
Opening the main stage were a bunch of hi-viz wearing artists going by the name Big Beat, I recognised them as they were the noisy blighters who had setup their rig in the camping field at 9am and were busy banging around and chanting, I guess there are worse ways of being woken up….. They took to the stage at midday and performed a great show, consisting of tribal beats, singing and general rhythm related shenanigans. The arena soon started to fill as people came to their senses and after a couple of ciders, they were up jumping around once again.
Nathan Ball meanwhile was doing his thing inside Madame Wong’s big top, his sublime, ethereal sound was having a great effect on the partygoers who appreciated a bit of calm ahead of what would be a vibrant and upbeat day full of bands and artists covering multiple genres. He used a drum machine to provide the beats and sat with his electric guitar, knocking out some lush, soundscapey goodness that was a joy to behold.
Femmes de la Mer, an all female vocal act from Cornwall upped the ante with a sea shanty (or 10) on the main stage, they explained that all sea shanties were about whaling, prostitutes and chopping things up, which is nice! They performed a French shanty (in French) and asked for feedback from any French members of the audience, I don’t recall any hands going up so I guess they’ll have to wait for some tips on pronunciation should it be required!
Liskeard legends Colour TV took to the stage inside Madame Wong’s big top and knocked the ball clean out of the park, for me, these guys are the highlight of the festival so far and were the only band that I stuck around to watch their entire set. Their latest track ‘Pavlova’ went down a storm as did other offerings from their recently released EP ‘Is That You’ (available now on 12” shiny vinyl, CD and digital download). If you need a local band to follow and fall in love with, look no further folks!
Wednesday’s Child are a London based female duo but consisted of 5 members on the main stage, they kicked out a heady blend of jazz and psychedelic rock which was enticing and interesting in equal measures. The singer could have been the love child of Siouxsie Sioux and Kate Bush and are definitely an act to keep an eye on in the future.
Will Eason was kicking out some proper Neo soul tinged funky Jams in Madame Wong’s, his band came complete with a bongo player who added an extra layer of depth to the fine musical fodder on offer. Their music was obviously having a positive effect on the weather as the rain held off and has continued to do so ever since they injected a bit of Summer into The Great Estate arena!
The Andy Quick Band were a welcome surprise on the main stage, they were last minute stand ins for a band called Electric Pyramid who couldn’t play, I thought for a moment it was a new project for Any Quick but it wasn’t. They played a tremendous set, full of festival pleasing funky jams, backed up by killer saxophone and a rhythm section tighter than a ducks arse (I never understood that phrase!) I was set to chat to Andy after the show but he had to dash off to another show shortly after so we put that on ice and will no doubt catch up again in the near future.
I Chatted to Loup Garoux ahead of their performance and learned some interesting things about Ed Harcourt’s behaviour in France a few years back (you’ll have to read our interview feature to learn what went on….), it was great to see Cass Browne once again (ex Gorillaz drummer), it’s been 5 years since I last chatted to him ahead of the reunion show for Senseless Things in London so it was nice to catch up and moan about the delays with European vinyl pressing plants and the good old days of rock n’ roll!
I called into Madame Wong’s to check out another band that were on my list to see, Southwest Hotel are a 4 piece indie rock band who delivered over and above during their set. Playing tracks from their recently released album ‘Shiver’ and their debut offering, they went down a storm with the audience and photographers alike. This band are regulars on the BBC Introducing show and I can see why, check out their latest record and other offerings on Bandcamp and if you’re feeling flush, why not hold fire until Friday and make a purchase!
Mother Vulture took to the stage at 5pm and blew away any leftover cobwebs remaining from people’s heads, they pretty much blew everything else away too including the kids on the front row! Their new track ‘Honey’ sounded superb on a big stage with the lights and speakers to match the audience reacted very well to their unique blend of party starting punk n’ roll which is guaranteed to raise the dead and get a coma patient’s toes tapping along to their incredible sound. Sadly, owing to being in the press tent chatting to Loup Garoux, I missed my opportunity to grab some snaps of them live so please excuse the absence of any in the gallery.
Loup Garoux played an awesome set, the quality of musicianship was off the scale, no surprises really as looking at the bands these guys have played in over the years has really set them up well to be able to take to the main stage and perform for an hour and still have the audience wanting more! Their debut album ‘Strangerlands’ was released in Oct 2021 and their set was chock full of offerings from it. To hear more of this great act, head to their Bandcamp page where you can stream and purchase tracks and more!
Cable Street Collective were a band I’d seen before at a festival in Devon a couple of years back and as soon as they started, I recognised their sound, a full on crowd pleasing act that included some incredible musicians that got the crowd dancing in next to no time at all. The band consisted of a full lineup including bass. Bongos and brass (the 3 B’s) and a killer vocalist who looked like she was having the time of her life!
As the sun set, the main stage got busier and come 10:15, it was pretty much fit to burst as the Saturday night headline act Manic Street Preachers took to the stage. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the Manics play at large stages and small and I will say that no matter where they’re performing, they always give 100% and tonight was no exception. Kicking off with my fave track from their early days, ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’ still sounds as fresh as it did the first time I heard it way back in 92 on their debut album ‘Generation Terrorists’. They went on to take the audience on a roller coaster tour through their 30 year history, playing some classics such as ‘If You Tolerate This’, ‘You Stole the Sun’ and even a cover of The Cult’s ‘She Sells Sanctuary’ which was a pleasant surprise!
Whilst the Manics were still performing, I popped into a rather packed Madame Wong’s to check out Oh My God It’s The Church, a 10 piece band who lit the place up whilst the majority of people were rocking out to Wales’ finest. The show kicked off with the band kicking up some great music, backed by a two piece brass section, the sound was immense. Then came the characters, The Reverend Michal Alabama Jackson and the Hail Mary’s and of course, the keyboard player who has been on the team since the year dot. ‘Ve seen them before on a couple of occasions and I will say that since they added the live band the show has improved tenfold, I think they were limited when they were playing along to backing tapes but with the bend behind them, they really are a force to be reckoned with. There was plenty of smut and innuendo throughout the performance, the Reverend dropped a few ‘F Bombs’ which pleased the kids in the audience no end but it was all in good taste…..
Looking back over the 2 days I spent onsite, I witnessed a lot of bands doing their thing, granted, there were many that I missed but I only had one pair of legs and could only be in one place at a time so I did what I could. Acts I missed and will definitely keep an eye out for at future festivals include Rocketman Live, DJ Chris Tofu, Hedluv & Passman, Brother Beast and a few more that slipped my mind.
I really enjoyed my time at The Great Estate Festival, it was family friendly, accessible, well catered with loads of vendors offering a variety of food, interesting sideshow attractions, quite literally something for everyone and I for one will definitely be returning in 2023 (if they’ll have me) to do it all over again! Tickets for the 2023 festival which takes place from 2 - 4 June have already gone on sale, for more info, click HERE
I’ll leave you with a gallery of people, vendors and other attractions that I took when I arrived on site on Friday, the sun was shining and everything was lovely….until next time!
Words and Pictures by musomuso.com