With great music, great surroundings and great people, Boardmasters festival, is always a staple in the Cornwall music calendar. This year was no different with record crowds expected and a stellar line up of Deadmau5, Chase & Status and James Bay headlining, Music-News, was there to see what went down.
Wednesday and Thursday was all about the beach. Set right on the Cornish coast, Boardmasters, provides *probably* the best views of any UK festival with the rolling Atlantic waves filling the horizon. The early bird festival goers flocked the nearby home of UK surfing, Fistral Beach, and the surrounding Newquay area. Boardmasters is almost a pilgrimage for those who love the waves, the sun and the beach with this year selling out in record numbers. The surfer’s village right on the shore played host to surfing, skateboarding and BMX competitions as acts such as Sunset Sons and Ady Suleiman played at its Beach Sessions as the sun went down.
Friday kicked off the music side of the festival in fine fashion. Set atop the cliffs of Watergate Bay the music on offer showcased the best in rock, indie, reggae, dance and more across the 10 stages. Main stage highlights included longhaired Stockport rockers, Blossoms, who announced mid-set that their self-titled debut album had reached number one. Frontman, Tom Ogden, seemed blown away by the news whilst chatting to Music-News after the show. Chilled jazz-pop guitarist, Lianne La Havas, treated the crowds in the glorious sunshine- covering exquisitely the Aretha Franklin classic, Say A Little Prayer.
Catfish And The Bottlemen proved yet again why they are one of the hottest bands in the UK with another stellar festival set. The North Wales rockers brought one of the biggest and best crowds of the weekend with flares, mosh pits and inflatable alligators filling the site. Enigmatic frontman, Van McCann, commanded himself over the crowd as they played tracks from their two albums- debut track, Soundtrack, from 2nd effort, The Ride, being the highlight. UK drum and bass kingpins, Chase & Status, headlined the mainstage turning the crowd into an incandescent hub of movement to tire out the day.
Elsewhere, Relentless, continued their love affair with the festival with another year. The energy drink company helped curated The Point stage- a now staple area of the festival for the best in established and emerging talent in the dance music world. Eats Everything headlined the Cliffside stage on the Friday with talent from Bodhi, Toucan and Jonas Rathman fitting the bill throughout the day as eager punters arrived.
A faint mist shrouded the Saturday morning as campers emerged from their tents. Summer indie-poppers, Eliza & The Bear, shook the cobwebs loose as the sun came out on the mainstage. Touring the UK nearly all year since their debut self-titled album came out the “Friends” rockers amassed one of the cheeriest sets of the weekend.
Unfortunately, second stage headliner, Craig David, was unable to make his festival slot however electronic music star, Eton Messy, and MC legend, Kano, stepped up to the plate to still please the punters. Elsewhere throughout the day chilled acoustic starlet, Gabriella Aplin, greeted the sunset spot on The Land Of Saints tent to a beautiful effect.
The Point stage continued to flourish on the Saturday. Relentless have been partners with Boardmasters for now seven years and endeavoured to make this year one to remember. Big light sequences, a unique stage set up, a picture perfect view, dance platforms and an enhanced effort in production made the weekend certainly one to enjoy. It's 360 degree musical experience was complimented still by the immense views over Watergate Bay and the seemingly endless Atlantic.Saturday played host and continue to show off the best dance music the festival had to offer as hotshots Heidi and Dusky helped close out the day.
Indie-rock legends, Kaiser Chiefs, support headlined the mainstage a few weeks after announcing a new album for an autumn release. Ricky Wilson, commanded the crowd like a seasoned rockstar- proving why they are still one of the best live festival acts around. Playing tracks from 2005’s smash hit, Employment, but also new track, Parachute, it was smiles all round. Predictably, I Predict A Riot, was a raucous affair and, Modern Way, Everyday I Love You Less & Less and Oh My God treated the packed crowd. EDM head honcho, Deadmau5, brought his unmissable spectacle to, Boardmasters, to headline the Saturday. Easily one of the most anticipated sets of the weekend it didn’t disappoint. With lasers and smoke filling the stage and the capacity crowd filling out the site with no one standing still. Gleefully shouting “it smells like fish and chips” the now cult favourite didn’t speak much to the crowd instead let his unique brand of dance music do the talking. Dedicating, Raise Your Weapon, to his late friend the entire set proved why he has become of the of world’s biggest DJs as he drained the Saturday crowd.
Sunday came as the final day and the illustrious Cornish sun was still shining. Surprise mainstage openers, Sunset Sons, treated the early crowd. The south of France based rockers brought tracks from their debut, Very Rarely Say Die, to soundtrack the Sunday morning.
Festival-goers continued to enjoy the entertainment on offer at the classic onsite pub, The Keg & Pasty. Those in-search of more relaxing and folky music headed to,The View stage, with hay bales and giant daisies adorning the Cliffside stage.
The Point Stage continued to please as Glasgow DJ, Jackmaster, exhausted the remaining energy of the dance lovers with an electric set. Throughout the day emotive dance duo, Maribou State, Detroit Swindle and Doorly impressed as the sun continued to shine over the stage with the festival drawing to a close.
To finish the weekend UK chart-topping and hat wearing star, James Bay, gleefully ended the Sunday. His multi-platinum debut, The Chaos And The Calm, has brought James Bay unending success- this show was not only his debut big festival headline show but also the last on his album tour. With big tracks, Let It Go, and, Hold Back The River, hitting it big and proving he is ready to make the big step up to next level fame. Album two is eagerly waiting but for now the festival enjoyed and celebrated one of the UK’s best recent breakthroughs.
Boardmasters 2016 was a gigantic success with a record 50,000+ crowd taking to the Cornish coast and picture perfect weather nearly all weekend it’s a weekend no one will forget in a hurry.
Wednesday and Thursday was all about the beach. Set right on the Cornish coast, Boardmasters, provides *probably* the best views of any UK festival with the rolling Atlantic waves filling the horizon. The early bird festival goers flocked the nearby home of UK surfing, Fistral Beach, and the surrounding Newquay area. Boardmasters is almost a pilgrimage for those who love the waves, the sun and the beach with this year selling out in record numbers. The surfer’s village right on the shore played host to surfing, skateboarding and BMX competitions as acts such as Sunset Sons and Ady Suleiman played at its Beach Sessions as the sun went down.
Friday kicked off the music side of the festival in fine fashion. Set atop the cliffs of Watergate Bay the music on offer showcased the best in rock, indie, reggae, dance and more across the 10 stages. Main stage highlights included longhaired Stockport rockers, Blossoms, who announced mid-set that their self-titled debut album had reached number one. Frontman, Tom Ogden, seemed blown away by the news whilst chatting to Music-News after the show. Chilled jazz-pop guitarist, Lianne La Havas, treated the crowds in the glorious sunshine- covering exquisitely the Aretha Franklin classic, Say A Little Prayer.
Catfish And The Bottlemen proved yet again why they are one of the hottest bands in the UK with another stellar festival set. The North Wales rockers brought one of the biggest and best crowds of the weekend with flares, mosh pits and inflatable alligators filling the site. Enigmatic frontman, Van McCann, commanded himself over the crowd as they played tracks from their two albums- debut track, Soundtrack, from 2nd effort, The Ride, being the highlight. UK drum and bass kingpins, Chase & Status, headlined the mainstage turning the crowd into an incandescent hub of movement to tire out the day.
Elsewhere, Relentless, continued their love affair with the festival with another year. The energy drink company helped curated The Point stage- a now staple area of the festival for the best in established and emerging talent in the dance music world. Eats Everything headlined the Cliffside stage on the Friday with talent from Bodhi, Toucan and Jonas Rathman fitting the bill throughout the day as eager punters arrived.
A faint mist shrouded the Saturday morning as campers emerged from their tents. Summer indie-poppers, Eliza & The Bear, shook the cobwebs loose as the sun came out on the mainstage. Touring the UK nearly all year since their debut self-titled album came out the “Friends” rockers amassed one of the cheeriest sets of the weekend.
Unfortunately, second stage headliner, Craig David, was unable to make his festival slot however electronic music star, Eton Messy, and MC legend, Kano, stepped up to the plate to still please the punters. Elsewhere throughout the day chilled acoustic starlet, Gabriella Aplin, greeted the sunset spot on The Land Of Saints tent to a beautiful effect.
The Point stage continued to flourish on the Saturday. Relentless have been partners with Boardmasters for now seven years and endeavoured to make this year one to remember. Big light sequences, a unique stage set up, a picture perfect view, dance platforms and an enhanced effort in production made the weekend certainly one to enjoy. It's 360 degree musical experience was complimented still by the immense views over Watergate Bay and the seemingly endless Atlantic.Saturday played host and continue to show off the best dance music the festival had to offer as hotshots Heidi and Dusky helped close out the day.
Indie-rock legends, Kaiser Chiefs, support headlined the mainstage a few weeks after announcing a new album for an autumn release. Ricky Wilson, commanded the crowd like a seasoned rockstar- proving why they are still one of the best live festival acts around. Playing tracks from 2005’s smash hit, Employment, but also new track, Parachute, it was smiles all round. Predictably, I Predict A Riot, was a raucous affair and, Modern Way, Everyday I Love You Less & Less and Oh My God treated the packed crowd. EDM head honcho, Deadmau5, brought his unmissable spectacle to, Boardmasters, to headline the Saturday. Easily one of the most anticipated sets of the weekend it didn’t disappoint. With lasers and smoke filling the stage and the capacity crowd filling out the site with no one standing still. Gleefully shouting “it smells like fish and chips” the now cult favourite didn’t speak much to the crowd instead let his unique brand of dance music do the talking. Dedicating, Raise Your Weapon, to his late friend the entire set proved why he has become of the of world’s biggest DJs as he drained the Saturday crowd.
Sunday came as the final day and the illustrious Cornish sun was still shining. Surprise mainstage openers, Sunset Sons, treated the early crowd. The south of France based rockers brought tracks from their debut, Very Rarely Say Die, to soundtrack the Sunday morning.
Festival-goers continued to enjoy the entertainment on offer at the classic onsite pub, The Keg & Pasty. Those in-search of more relaxing and folky music headed to,The View stage, with hay bales and giant daisies adorning the Cliffside stage.
The Point Stage continued to please as Glasgow DJ, Jackmaster, exhausted the remaining energy of the dance lovers with an electric set. Throughout the day emotive dance duo, Maribou State, Detroit Swindle and Doorly impressed as the sun continued to shine over the stage with the festival drawing to a close.
To finish the weekend UK chart-topping and hat wearing star, James Bay, gleefully ended the Sunday. His multi-platinum debut, The Chaos And The Calm, has brought James Bay unending success- this show was not only his debut big festival headline show but also the last on his album tour. With big tracks, Let It Go, and, Hold Back The River, hitting it big and proving he is ready to make the big step up to next level fame. Album two is eagerly waiting but for now the festival enjoyed and celebrated one of the UK’s best recent breakthroughs.
Boardmasters 2016 was a gigantic success with a record 50,000+ crowd taking to the Cornish coast and picture perfect weather nearly all weekend it’s a weekend no one will forget in a hurry.
