Things to do in Cornwall
Queens of the Stone Age and the 70 other big names you can't miss in Cornwall this summer
There are a lot more to be announced too
Lee TrewhelaFeatures Writer / Senior Reporter
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Queens of the Stone Age. Gary Barlow. George Ezra. Massive Attack. Chemical Brothers. Gaz Coombes. Nick Mulvey. Catfish and the Bottlemen. The Charlatans ... I could go on.
2018 is shaping up to be another extraordinary year for big names as well as hot new up-and-comers.
There are a lot more names to be revealed for the likes of Leopallooza, Tunes In the Dunes, Port Eliot Festival, Looe Music Festival, Knee Deep Festival and the Eden Sessions.
However, check out those already announced from hotly-tipped names like Sam Fender and Declan McKenna to independent stars such as Natalie Merchant, Magic Numbers and The Farm; acclaimed folk performers like Bellowhead's Jon Boden to acts your mum will love such as Martine McCutcheon and those really huge names such as Bjork, Paloma Faith, Pixie Lott and Rag'n'Bone Man.
32 of the greatest venues in Cornwall to watch live music this year
NICK MULVEY
May 20: Princess Pavilion, Falmouth
The spectral singer-songwriter will be playing an intimate show at the Princess Pavilion on Sunday, May 20 as part of his Spring Tour which sees him headline London's Royal Albert Hall.
Keen to get back to Cornwall since his unforgettable performance at Boardmasters in 2016, the show will see a return to the Pavilion, a venue he first played in 2015.
May 31: St Petroc's Church, Bodmin
It's not often that a band can be credited with starting a new genre, but Fairport Convention did just that with its seminal record Liege & Lief. It's widely acknowledged to be the first folk rock album. They're still going strong and you can enjoy them in the church as part of the St Petroc's Sessions.
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THE CHARLATANS
June 2: The Great Estate, Scorrier
Last year's inaugural Great Estate festival saw a career-defining set by Echo and the Bunnymen. Hopefully, the baggy champions will do the same with such anthems as North Country Boy and The Only One I Know.
The Charlatans to headline The Great Estate festival in Cornwall
June 6: Eden Sessions, Eden Project
Gary Barlow's coming to Cornwall
The housewives' favourite will be causing some swooning near the biomes with a set that will include Take That classics, solo hits and the odd surprise.
June 8: Tunes In The Dunes, Perranporth
There's nothing like some gentle skanking in the sun, on a beach, and that's exactly what the Jamaican singer will provide on the opening night of the festival on Perranporth beach.
STEREO MCs
The 90s British hip hop stars bring the party to the beach. Get yourselves connected.
UB40 ft Ali, Astro and Mikey
The three founding members of UB40 played a blinder at the Live at Heartlands festival in Pool a few years ago and they return to Cornwall to do the same on the beach with all those pop-reggae favourites and songs from album A Real Labour of Love.
THE SELECTER
Pauline Black of The Selecter
It's going to be a real punk reggae party on the Saturday as the Coventry ska favourites led by the inimitable Pauling Black and Arthur 'Gaps' Hendrickson warm the crowd up for UB40.
THE BEAT ft RANKING ROGER
If that wasn't enough the Brummie ska favourites are also on the bill. Expect Mirror In The Bathroom, Can't Get Used To Losing You and a lot more.
June 10: Tunes In The Dunes, Perranporth
The Lightning Bolt wunderkind returns to Cornwall to headline the final night of Tunes In The Dunes. Now with four albums to cherrypick from expect a varied night of sing-along songs under the stars.
With No 1s such as Mama Do, Boys and Girls and All About Tonight under her belt as well as spots on Strictly Come Dancing and starring on stage as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's, Pixie should deliver an entertaining show.
GABRIELLE APLIN
There's a lot more to the singer-songwriter than that cover of The Power of Love. Second album Light Up The Dark proved there is a depth to her songs and she's always great live. Taylor Swift is a fan.
FISHERMAN'S FRIENDS
Everyone's favourite shanty group will make you proud to be Cornish. Is there anywhere better to see them than on a beach with a pint of cider in your hand?
June 15/16: Eden Sessions, Eden Project
Robert Del Naja with Massive Attack partner Grant 'Daddy G' Marshall
Always an astonishing live proposition, this has the potential of being one (actually, two) of the greatest Eden Sessions ever. Brooding and infectious in equal measure, these shows will be visually stimulating as well as musically impressive. With the likes of Unfinished Sympathy, Teardrop, Paradise Circus, Risingson and The Spoils to choose from, this will be epic.
Massive Attack and Young Fathers to play exclusive weekend double-header at next summer's Eden Sessions
Young Fathers will be a brilliant support act for Massive Attack at Eden
If two Massive Attack gigs wasn't enough, then support from Edinburgh's ingenious Young Fathers will make the Sessions even more special. New album Cocoa Sugar is out in March.
CUBAN BROTHERS
June 16: Watering Hole, Perranporth
The band of brothers who blur the boundaries between comedy and a funk / soul revue present a rum party at the Watering Hole.
LEE MEAD
June 22: The Regal Theatre, Redruth
It's been ten years since Lee Mead first donned the coat in the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Featuring songs from the classic shows he has starred in, such as The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Legally Blonde, Wicked and many more.
LEVELLERS
June 23: A Beautiful Day Out, Eden Project
Levelling the land in Cornwall
The Brighton folk-rockers will be celebrating their 30 anniversary by playing hits like What A Beautiful Day, Hope Street and more at a one-day version of their Beautiful Days festival.
The Levellers, New Model Army and Reef lead the bill at A Beautiful Day Out at Eden Sessions
With six Top 40 albums and a feverish mix of punk, folk and soul, New Model Army are always superb live and will be formidable at Eden.
The West Country favourites will rock out among the biomes. Just wait for the crowd to go crazy during Place Your Hands.
DREADZONE
There's always a party vibe with the techno, rave, dub mix of the band who are now on to their eighth album.
GINGER WILDHEART
The show will be opened by rock guitarist Ginger Wildheart, who made his name in The Quireboys and later formed and led The Wildhearts. One of rock's greatest characters.
JOOLS HOLLAND'S RHYTHM & BLUES ORCHESTRA WITH MARC ALMOND
June 28: Bands In The Sands, Perranporth
Marc Almond is returning to Cornwall
TV presenter and celebrated pianist Jools Holland brings his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra to Cornwall on Thursday, June 28.
Featuring former Squeeze drummer Gilson Lavis as well as guest vocalists Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall and Rosie Mae, the real draw for Cornish music fans will be special guest Marc Almond.
KING CREATURE
June 30: Princess Pavilion, Falmouth
King Creature, heading for big things
It's fair to call St Austell's own metallers a big name now. With a brilliant debut album under the belts, a recent UK tour and even dates in China they are proving that hard rock is still as popular as it was 30 years ago. Joining them will be the female yin to their yang, Cornwall's rather superb Honey.
Debut album by Cornish rockers King Creature is HUGE and will make them huger
BEN HOWARD
June 30: Eden Sessions, Eden Project
Every Cornish surfer's favourite singer-songwriter, who started his career in Falmouth, returns as an Eden headliner to promote forthcoming third album Noonday Dream, which was partly recorded at Sawmills studio near Fowey.
July 3: Eden Sessions, Eden Project
Josh Homme, of Queens of the Stone Age, on stage last year
It's fair to say no other announcement this year, or for quite some years, has caused the amount of excitement on social media as the news that Josh Homme and co are playing this intimate show. The fact it's off the back of one of their finest albums, Villains, means it will be a stormer and possibly the best Session in 17 years.
Queens of the Stone Age to play the Eden Sessions in Cornwall
The Hawaiian surfy songwriter is an acquired taste – you either love him or you don't. Over 6,000 people have proved they do as this sold out straight away.
Fresh from the acclaim of her recent Utopia album, the Icelandic star will definitely produce one of Eden's most memorable shows.
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July 8: Live In The Wyldes, Bude
It's a great weekend for strong female performers, as Paloma – fresh from the huge success of her The Architect album – will play the Leopallooza site the night after Bjork's Eden concert.
July 13: Bands In The Sands, Perranporth
The X Factor winner plays next to the Watering Hole off the back of two successful albums and a couple of million-selling singles (the only X Factor star to manage that particular feat).
NATALIE MERCHANT
July 13: St Ives Guildhall
More than three decades after her first UK concert with 10,000 Maniacs and two years after her sold-out Royal Albert Hall show marking the 20th anniversary of her solo debut Tigerlily, this will be a unique opportunity to see the celebrated singer and REM contemporary play a solo show in intimate surroundings.
July 17: Watering Hole, Perranporth
Fresh from a stunning performance on last year's return of Twin Peaks, the American singer-songwriter has just released her well-received fourth album Castles. Like a one-woman Fleetwood Mac, who can go from out and out pop to slightly sinister, this is a summer gig not to miss.
THE SUGARHILL GANG & FURIOUS FIVE
Members of the Sugarhill Gang and the Furious Five
Not one but two rap and hip hop pioneers are playing the Watering Hole. Rapper's Delight, Apache, The Message, White Lines, It's Nasty ... all the hits on a Cornish beach. Unmissable
July 22: Sundowner Sessions, Lusty Glaze, Newquay
Morcheeba at Lusty Glaze
The trip hop band fronted by Skye Edwards return to Lusty Glaze's lovely beach for a night of smooch beats and tracks like Trigger Hippie and The Sea.
BAXTER DURY
July 26: Port Eliot Festival, St Germans
Mr Maserati himself, Baxter Dury
The son of Ian Dury finally equalled his famous father with the wonderful Prince of Tears album, one of the best of 2017. He opens Port Eliot Festival with his midlife crisis Serge Gainsbourg-moves-to-London songs.
Musician behind one of the best albums of 2017 Baxter Dury will headline Port Eliot Festival 2018
GAZ COOMBES
A couple of years ago, Gaz Coombes's record, Matador, presented something of a new musical identity. It earned a Mercury Prize nomination and was one of the best received records of his life – Supergrass included. Gaz's follow-up, World's Strongest Man, due in May, combines gorgeous, experimental electronic landscapes, lush choruses, Krautrock influences and introspective West Coast hip hop. He'll headline the Park on the Saturday night.
INSECURE MEN
July 26 to 29: Port Eliot Festival, St Germans
Insecure Men are Saul Adamczewski and Ben Romans-Hopcraft, of Fat White Family and Childhood respectively. Their first LP together is full of beautiful tunes and melodies that belie some of the themes of the likes of Mekong Glitter and The Saddest Man in Penge, to name but two. The record is calmer and prettier than anything under the Fat White name but there's plenty going on underneath.
July 28: Leopallooza, near Bude
What a coup for the homegrown festival - the quirky R&B star of Milkshake and "I hate you so much right now" fame headlines on the Saturday. Definitely not to be missed.
ST PAUL AND THE BROKEN BONES
Alabama's St Paul and the Broken Bones
Alabama six-piece band have recently supported the Rolling Stones and are acclaimed as one of the most vibrant live bands on the planet. You may not have heard of them yet, but you will, so head over to Leopallooza at the end of July.
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July 27 to 29: Leopallooza, near Bude
The mighty IDLES will play at Leopallooza
Also appearing at Leo are one of the greatest bands to emerge in the past couple of years. Formed in Bristol and releasing one of the albums of 2017, Brutalism, IDLES are where Fugazi meets Sleaford Mods with lyrics that are just as in-your-face as the music. Not to be missed.
THE GO! TEAM
The brainchild of Brighton-based melody obsessive Ian Parton, The Go! Team will undoubtedly whip the Leopallooza crowd into a frenzy as they share a slice of their newly released fifth studio album Semicircle. Where hip hop meets celestial pop.
RAT BOY
Ray Boy is returning to Cornwall
Chelmsford's Jordan Cardy AKA Rat Boy joins the line-up. Blending hip hop with indie rock, the Essex-born artist released his debut album Scum in August last year and was sampled on Kendrick Lamar's track Lust in 2017.
August 3: Cornwall Motorfest, Stithians Showground
The Liverpudlian groovy train arrives at Cornwall Motorfest. The showground will be singing All Together Now all together.
CATFISH & THE BOTTLEMEN
August 10: Boardmasters, Watergate Bay
Catfish and the Bottlemen return to Boardmasters, this time as headliners
The North Wales rockers have become a bit of a sensation in the past couple of years, stealing a bit of the Arctic Monkeys' thunder. They headline the first night of Boardmasters.
Catfish and the Bottlemen, George Ezra and Rag'n'Bone Man revealed for Boardmasters 2018 along with 26 more acts
The grime star and actor plays a UK exclusive date on the first day of Boardmasters. Expect tracks from all five of his albums, which have made him a figurehead of British hip hop.
EVERYTHING EVERYTHING
Manchester's finest art rockers return after a brilliant slot at Boardmasters a couple of years ago. Always brilliant live.
FUN LOVIN' CRIMINALS
Fun Lovin' Criminals are returning to Cornwall
If any band are guaranteed to get a crowd bouncing it's the fun loving criminals and their Scooby snacks. Now that native New Yorker Huey Morgan lives in Somerset, it's not far for him to come.
Northern Ireland's finest purveyors of pop-punk are back. Expect a hits-strewn set from Girl From Mars to Shining Light.
THE AMAZONS
The band from Reading who topped best new band for 2017 lists have proved themselves the new saviours of indie rock.
Chemical Brothers perform at Alive Festival in Portugal in 2016
This will go off big time. As well as being a huge club night in a field, it will be visually stunning. Hey boy, hey girl, you don't want to miss this.
Boardmasters announces Chemical Brothers as first headline act for 2018
The synthpop King-makers have brought electro pop into the 21 century and will be an interesting build-up to the Chemicals.
Editors are coming to Watergate Bay (Image: Rahi Rezvani)
The doom rockers, who have gone extra electronic and epic over the years, are a welcome addition to the Saturday line-up. Always brilliant live.
ANNIE MAC
The Radio 1 DJ will warm up the crowd with dance and indie classics.
The original turntablist hip hop legend on the decks in Cornwall.
GEORGE EZRA
George Ezra returns to Cornwall
Back with a second album after the phenomenal success of Wanted On Voyage and singles like Cassy O' and Budapest, George headlines the final day of Boardmasters. Fittingly, he spent some time in Cornwall writing the new songs.
RAG 'N' BONE MAN
After headlining the Live In The Wydles concerts at Bude last summer, the Human star returns to Cornwall for a main stage appearance.
The R&B star who has seen a remarkable renaissance presents TS5, which started out as the most exclusive pre-party in Miami hosted by Craig at his penthouse home, Tower Suite 5. Craig's sets combine massive old skool anthems from R&B to Swingbeat and from Garage to Bashment, into current chart topping House hits.
FRIENDLY FIRES
The indie-dance act reappear after Mercury Prize-nominated albums. They have been recording with Acid House pioneer Andrew Weatherall.
FAT FREDDY'S DROP
The New Zealanders have navigated their way from the incubator of sunshine reggae through a colour-saturated field of soul psychedelia before swerving onto a desolate Detroit superhighway at night. A big hit with Cornwall's surfers.
From garage rockers to nu-goth merchants and now psychedelic dance, The Horrors are one of the finest British bands to have emerged in the past 10 years.
Idris Elba (Image: John Phillips/Getty Images)
No less than Luther himself will be on the decks this year after cancelling at the last minute at last year's Boardmasters.
DECLAN MCKENNA
Still only 19, McKenna has been compared to such legendary British songwriters as Ray Davies and Jarvis Cocker. His debut album What Do You Think About The Car? last July.
September 14: Little Orchard Cider & Music Festival, Penhallow
Imagine your favourite rock classics getting the bluegrass treatment. It shouldn't work but it does in spectacular fashion.
THE WURZELS
Original party starters will be driving their musical combine harvester through a cider-drinking crowd.
The Scottish indie rockers headline the popular family festival off the back of latest album, In Your Own Sweet Time.
September 15: The Regal Theatre, Redruth
Brit-Award-winning vocal trio Blake return in 2018 with a special UK tour, celebrating 10 years together. The show features songs from their brand-new 10th anniversary album including Elgar's Nimrod, The Beatles' Here There and Everywhere, Somewhere from West Side Story and the classic Caruso, along with all the band's popular anthems in powerful three-part harmony.
HACKNEY COLLIERY BAND
September 15: St Ives September Festival
Updating brass music for the cool set, the nine-piece are just as likely to throw in a Nirvana cover as jazzy dance.
Boardmasters
Eden Sessions
Leopallooza
Looe Music Festival
Port Eliot
St Ives September Festival
Redruth
Perranporth
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