Words by: Lucy Williamson
Header photo by: Matthew Hawkey
Photos by: Rhys Hurd
As the sun sets on another year of The Great Estate Festival, we’re looking back on yet again another stellar event in the Cornwall Festival calendar. From grassroots musicians performing on the idyllic BBC Introducing stage set among the trees to the Cornwall Shop Small Market perched near Scorrier House, this year’s festival was certainly not one to miss.
Opening the festival, South West musician Kate Hall and her band took to the Main Stage with their fusion of pop and soul. The set was truly warming, which set the tone for an incredible weekend of live music, extravaganzas and surprises ahead.
For fans of: Olivia Dean, Corrine Bailey Rae, The Beau Bennett Collective
Next up were Falmouth’s ones to watch, Petrea, who delivered an anthemic set of melodic hard rock. Ellie’s ethereal and dreamy siren-like vocals floated through the surroundings, sending goosebumps through the crowd, and it didn’t stop there. The band performed three times at this year’s festival, including a set in the Octopus Lounge and 8Track Bus; a truly incredible set every time! We caught up with the band after their three performances, which you can listen to on the next episode of WhisperCast (coming soon!)
FFO: Evanescence, Idle Tongues
Tucked away in the woods with festoon lights twinkling above and the soft wave of the trees swaying in the wind, the BBC Introducing Stage showcased up-and-coming musicians that you should have on your radar, including singer-songwriter Claudelle, who shone throughout her set with soft vocals and poetic lyrics. Ivy Gray opened on Saturday with a dreamy performance reminiscent of Riley Keough’s voice from Daisy Jones and The Six. And Talen Jacks from Cornish indie rock band The 506 performed a solo set on Sunday afternoon with added beats and percussion layered throughout his songs using his loop pedal.
South West boys, 3 Days of Wonder brought an 80s-influenced alternative rock sound intertwined with an energetic stage presence. Their opening track Sometimes is certainly a must-listen, and their third track Younger Days could have been plucked straight out of the Breakfast Club soundtrack. For the penultimate track in their set, the band got the crowd dancing to their hard rock cover of Mumford and Sons’ track Little Lion Man. It was a super enjoyable performance from start to finish, and we are excited to see what else the new band has in store in the next 12 months. Certainly, ones to watch.
FFO: U2, Duran Duran, Simple Minds
From the main stage to the roof of the 8Track Bus, The Velvet Hands brought their rock and roll charisma with their tight riffs and booming vocals. No mosh pits for this set, but a lot of jumping and dancing.
FFO: Fontaines DC, Wunderhorse
Happy Mondays transported the crowd back to the 80s/90s with their hit tracks, Step On and Kinky Afro. A wave of nostalgia flowed through the festival site with the group’s chaotic brilliance of the Madchester era.
Ez Dickens and her band brought their rhythmic reggae sound, laid-back grooves and feel-good band energy to the festival and got the crowd joyfully swaying, flowing and dancing on a warm and sunny afternoon.
FFO: The Undercover Hippy, Hollie Cook
Fresh off touring with The 1975, Cornwall-born indie pop singer-songwriter Polly Money delivered a dreamy, sun-soaked set with her band. Backed by a tight band, Polly’s melodic vocals floated between shimmering guitar tones, warming synths and slow drum beats, which wrapped around her potent storytelling through her songs. She switched between an acoustic and electric guitar throughout the set and also performed a couple of tracks on the keys.
FFO: The 1975, Jo Hill, Fickle Friends
Another highlight from this year’s festival was The Alive’s electric performance with a cameo from local band Tyrants. Partway through the set, the Southern Californian band invited Chevy Metal’s Shane Hawkins to the stage for a 3-minute drum-off with good friend and fellow drummer Miles Elze from The Alive. Earlier in the day, the duo packed out the Grand Hall at Scorrier House for the Drum Clinic Workshop. Fans hugging around the venue eager to hear the words and playing of two masters of their craft!
Keeping with the drumming theme, street theatre act Spark! immersed themselves in the festival crowd popping up with their cleverly choreographed drumming and light show performance.
Before the excitement of Saturday’s headliner, Supergrass, South West band Willie and the Bandits warmed up the crowd with their stellar set full of energy and hard-hitting sound.
Sunday started a little slower with a mooch around the Cornwall Shop Small Market, which was beaming with local creatives from across the county. With everything from seaweed paper prints to jewellery made from spoons, it was lovely meeting the creatives behind the art.
A festival favourite, Will Eason and Joe Hurworth brought their creamy fusion of hard-hitting summer jams and instrumental solos that couldn’t have worked more perfectly with the sun beaming down on the festival on the first day of June!
Perched near the BBC Introducing Stage was the Rainforest Zone, an area of the festival surrounded by trees and nature. There was a VR immersive experience and a film screening of Recovering The Rainforest, an eye-opening short film highlighting the importance of temperate rainforests in the UK. Performing on the stage on Sunday afternoon was singer-songwriter Daisy Mae; a ray of sunshine. She brought a blend of soul and folk music to the Rainforest Zone. Her cover of Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds was truly touching, coupled with the calming surroundings of the rustling of the trees above.
Tucked away down a quiet pathway, which felt like an outdoor corridor with its paintings and themed rooms dotted along the way, led you to the Secret Gin Garden. Acoustic musician Kitty Crocker filled the air with her ethereal voice, sweet melodies and gentle guitar playing as the crowd sat and listened to her stunning music. The peaceful setting and surroundings, decorated with bunting and blossoming flowers, couldn’t have been more perfect!
Ramping it up for Sunday night’s Main Stage headliner, Leftfield, DeluxeX brought the festival vibes on a golden afternoon with DJs, a saxophone player, a drummer and festival dancers. As the sun began to set, the crowd were buzzing with excitement and energy, with the field turning into a dancefloor with dancing, bouncing and handbopping from the crowd.
To close the festival on Sunday night, electronic music pioneers Leftfield transported the crowd to a 90s rave festival with swirling synths and repetitive beats. The crowd was lit up with a spectacular display of costumes from fairies with wings and mystical creatures dancing around the festival.
Tickets for the Great Estate Festival 2026 are now available. Don’t miss out on Cornwall’s garden fete in 2026 and book your tickets now.