Cornish festival announces eclectic musical line-up
This year’s Rock Oyster Festival will play host to an eclectic line-up of international musicians, home grown rising stars and family entertainers, organisers have announced today.
Bentley Rhythm Ace, The Easy Star All Stars and Cornish native Ruarri Joseph will join Cornwall’s best chefs at Dinham House over the weekend of the 17th-19th June to help raise thousands of pounds for charity.
Festival favourites The Destroyers will return on the Saturday evening. Organiser Charlie Anderson said: “They are a 15 piece band hailing from Birmingham who step it up and make you dance with their unique brand of turbo folk music. Both themselves and the audience had such a good time last year, we had to ask them back. We’re delighted they’re closing the night as they’re sure to bring the house down.”
Louis Robinson of The Destroyers said: “Last year’s Rock Oyster Festival was absolutely mega so we’re thrilled to be asked back! Amazing setting, lovely friendly up-for-it crowd, wonderful food, flags, swimming, and a stinking hangover. What more could you ask for? For us, the highlight of last summer, without a doubt. Roll on the Rock!”
Also playing on Saturday night are the Easy Star All Stars who are jetting in all the way from New York. The musical collective have recorded their own takes on classic albums such as ‘Dub Side of The Moon’, ‘Radiodread’ and ‘Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band’ and will bring reggae – but not as you know it – to North Cornwall for the first time.
Currently working on a new album due out in 2011, lead singer Kirsty Rock says: “While we love playing big festivals, as a band we often have more fun playing smaller, unique, family friendly festivals like Rock Oyster Festival, where we get to interact with fans, and enjoy good food.”
Headlining the Friday night, from Birmingham, are Bentley Rhythm Ace who include in their line up Richard March, formerly of Pop Will Eat Itself and Mike Stokes on keyboards. Playing their pioneering blend of break beats, their goal is to make dance music fun again with songs such as ‘Bentley’s Gonna Sort You Out’, and ‘Theme from Gutbuster’.
Cornish musicians will also be well supported at the festival with acoustic duo Lisa & Helen and St Minver Silver Band entertaining the crowds. Newquay-based Ruarri Joseph will be making his debut at the festival. The singer-songwriter has toured all over the UK, playing with acts such as David Gray and Paolo Nutini and taking to the stage at Glastonbury.
As well as local and international music acts, the festival includes entertainment for family members of all ages. Opening the festival on Friday night, The Circus Bezercus are performing their show, A Komedy of Errors. Expect chaotic clowning, dazzling juggling, mind boggling magic and audience participation, with a hint of danger thrown in for extra measure.
Travelling across the channel from Belgium will be three artists making their debut at the festival. On Saturday afternoon Ben, Jok and Mik, otherwise known as Le Botrio, will be performing Rhythm and Beast - a spectacular display of trampoline-based juggling and acrobatics.
Charlie Anderson said: “Many larger festivals would be proud of a lineup as talented and diverse as ours, and this is without mentioning our picturesque location and world class food. But we’re not finished yet and are still looking to bring more entertainment to Cornwall, so keep checking the website for the latest news.”
Early bird tickets are on sale priced at £28 for the whole weekend. Limited rustic camping is available on site for £10. For more details and to purchase tickets please visit rockoysterfestival.co.uk.
