Ahead of the Great Estate Festival which takes place at Scorrier House in Cornwall over the Jubilee Bank Holiday Queen’s extra long Coronation thingy weekend, we chatted to an incredibly talented musician called THOMAS FORD. We covered loads of topics including musical influences, his humble beginnings into the world of music and his dream festival lineup, for all of this and more, read on….

Please tell me a bit about you....

It’s just me on my own, playing rough, old fashioned electric blues. Bottleneck guitar, harmonica, stomp-box, vocals.

When did you start your musical journey? 

I’ve been playing blues harmonica since I was a little kid, guitar since my teens but it wasn’t until my early twenties that I really found the sound I wanted to make.

You're based in Plymouth, do you have to travel in order to enjoy live music?

There are some very good musicians around in the local area, so I wouldn't have to travel far. Saying that, with a full time job and 2 young kids the opportunities to go and see a band are few and far between.

Who would you say are your musical influences?

John Lee Hooker, and a whole host of acoustic and early electric blues guitar players. Vince Lee is an old friend who pretty much taught me to play so I’ve picked up a load of stuff from him.

Do you know what day/time/stage you're playing at the Great Estate Festival?

I’ll be playing at 9pm on the Woodland Stage on Saturday 4th June.

What can the audience expect from your live show?

It’ll be up-tempo and rough around the edges, for sure. I just try and play music people can jump around to if they want.

The bill is looking pretty good for this year, who else would you recommend the festival goers make a beeline for over the weekend?

Haunt the Woods are a staggeringly good band, I would go and see those guys.

There seem to be more Cornish festivals popping up all over the county these days, what is it about them that keeps people coming back year after year?

It’s a fine part of the country - I grew up in North Cornwall. Cornish folk know how to have a good time.

The festivals I have played at over the years have been really relaxed, the atmosphere is usually great, not too much corporate involvement, good local booze and food, better weather than most places. It’s a winning formula.

Tell me a funny story about a festival/show that you've attended in the past.

I took my (then) two year daughter Coco to a festival I played a few years ago in Somerset. She couldn’t cope with me being on stage and having to watch from down below, so when my wife wasn’t looking she scrambled up the front of the stage, over the monitors and sat down at my feet to watch. She stole the show really.

Give me 3 bands or artists that you would like to headline at your own festival (you can choose ANY band/artist dead or alive)

I’d book John Lee Hooker to do a solo set, a duo set, and a full band show.

Please tell me about any new music that you have in the pipeline and when can we expect to hear it? (or even if recently released!)

Nothing new planned at the moment - still trying to ease myself back into things post-covid. Life is pretty chaotic with work and a young family - if usually takes 45 minutes to find all my stuff for a gig because the kids have it all out. They play the harmonicas and get butter in them, it’s gross. So, writing and recording new material is going to have to wait a while. 

Lastly, tell me your top three festival survival tips? 

1. All things in moderation

2. Book Monday off

3. And Tuesday

We’d like to thank Thomas for taking the time to chat to use, we wish him every success in the future and for his show at The Great Estate Festival where you’ll find him on the Woodland Stage on Saturday 4th June from 9pm, BE THERE! If you need tickets, CLICK HERE and cross your fingers there are some left.

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