Posted By: Editor
March 14, 2024
Plus, a captivating array of unconventional performances and activities including Madame Wong’s Drag Race, Early Medieval Cornish Warband, The Great Lantern Parade, Victorian Sports Day, Fire Dancing, Burlesque and a new Supersized Silent Disco.
Friday 31st May – Sunday 2nd June 2024, Scorrier Estate, Cornwall
f: @greatestatefestival i: @great_estate_festival
The Great Estate, Cornwall’s weird and wonderful celebration of music, culture, and eccentricity, is set to elevate the summer festival experience with an impressive line-up of headline acts including iconic rockers The Darkness, legendary punk rockers The Stranglers, and the soulful grooves of Soul II Soul plus a plethora of offbeat attractions that add to the otherworldly atmosphere. Taking place from Friday 31st May – 2nd June 2024, this year’s event promises an unforgettable weekend of outstanding music, unconventional performances, and imaginative entertainment at the historic and picturesque Scorrier Estate.
The Darkness, an electrifying British rock band, exploded from their Lowestoft roots to global success when they released their debut album Permission to Land to almost overnight success. Catapulting them to international stardom, it topped the UK charts, going 5x Platinum and selling over 1.5 million copies in the UK alone whilst also becoming a huge success around the world from the USA to Australia, Germany to Japan. The album spawned a series of hit singles including ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’, ‘Growing On Me’, ‘Get Your Hands Off My Woman’ and ‘Love Is Only A Feeling’. It also clocked up a series of awards including three BRIT Awards, two Kerrang Awards and an Ivor Novello for ‘Songwriters Of The Year’ amongst many others. The Darkness are as hot on rock fans’ lips around the world now as they were all those years ago.
The Stranglers, first formed in 1974 and were embraced by the punk movement of the late 70s but their musicianship and menace transcended the genre creating a sound unique to themselves. With their first three albums (Rattus Norvegicus, No More Heroes and Black and White) being released within an astonishing 13 months of each other, scoring hit singles with ‘Peaches’, ‘No More Heroes’ and ‘Walk On By’. Further success was to follow with ‘Always The Sun’, ‘Strange Little Girl’ and the mercurial ‘Golden Brown’, amongst many others, earning the group 24 Top 40 singles and 19 Top 40 albums in a career spanning six different decades. With this unique Stranglers sound, combining a brilliant melodic touch with a dark aggression and effortless cool, The Stranglers are now recognised as one of the most credible and influential bands to have emerged from the punk era.
Soul II Soul, an iconic band that emerged from the vibrant UK soundsystem culture epitomises determination, resourcefulness, and an unwavering passion for music. In the mid-1980s, against the backdrop of the underground warehouse scene, Soul II Soul’s creative expression flourished. With chart-topping hits like ‘Keep On Movin’ and ‘Back To Life’, Soul II Soul became household names, solidifying their iconic status. They evolved from a soundsystem DJ collective into a remarkable 25-piece band, captivating audiences on exhilarating live arena tours across the globe while staying true to their roots. Their distinctive bass became the soundtrack of youth culture, resonating through car stereos, boomboxes, and clubs worldwide.
Plus, Mista Trick Collective, The Beatles Dub Club, Bez’s Acid House Party, Mr Wilson’s Second Liners, The Barefoot Bandit, and Junior Jungle in addition to the BBC Introducing Stage for those who love discovering new sounds, and after-hours DJ sets in the woodland.
The Great Estate continues to push the boundaries of the traditional festival experience by curating a programme that goes beyond music, producing an immersive environment where every corner is filled with surprises and delights. For three days, the manicured lawns, enchanting gardens and ancient woodlands are transformed into a magical wonderland where human flamingos roam wild, Vikings battle, lanterns light up the sky and grounds, and drag queens take centre stage.
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Madame Wong’s Drag Race: Meet the queens and be prepared for a dazzling display of charm, charisma, glitz and glamour as Madame Wong’s Drag Race takes the stage in search of the next drag superstar.
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The Great Lantern Parade: Celebrate the beauty of light with The Great Estate and City of Lights as festival revellers prepare for a night of illuminated wonder. Offering lantern making workshops for all to enjoy, the parade will undoubtedly create a magical atmosphere as the glowing lanterns light up the darkness.
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Supersized Silent Disco: Immersing partygoers in a world of music through personal wireless headphones, the much-loved silent disco returns to the festival grounds but this year in a new location. Effortlessly switch between channels to listen to a different DJ or dance to a specific music genre.
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Morvleydh – Early Medieval Cornish Warband: Step back in time with Morvleydh, an early mediaeval Cornish warband that will transport festival goers to a bygone era when Viking longships prowled the coastline and the Kingdom of Kernow was assaulted by the Saxons of Wessex.
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Burlesque: Delve into the world of tassels and tease with the mesmerising performances of Talulah Blue featuring feather dancing, hula hoop, and fire dancing.
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Victorian Sports Day: Embrace the spirit of the Victorian era with a whimsical sports day event, featuring nostalgic games and activities that will transport attendees to a time of elegant leisure and merriment.
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Talks at Teatime: Engage in thought-provoking discussions with cultural icons during Talks at Teatime where festival goers can explore a range of topics and gain insights from influential personalities.
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Comedy Hour: Welcoming Cornwall’s comedy royalty who will be bringing witty one-liners and side-splitting humour to this year’s event.
Early Bird Weekend Camping Tickets are available to purchase at www.greatestatefestival.co.uk for £95.00 (plus £4.50 booking fee). For a sweeter camping experience, glamping options are also available with bell tents. Please note The Great Estate operates a tiered ticket system with prices changing over time. An allocation of tickets is reserved for each tier, this will close when the allocation of tickets is sold out.
The Great Estate is an independent, three-day music festival taking place over the weekend of 31st May – 2nd June 2024 in the prestigious grounds of Scorrier Estate. Since the inaugural event back in 2017, The Great Estate has played host to hundreds of bands, DJ’s and artists, thousands of partygoers, four camels, three suffragettes and a group of Mexican wrestlers. Created by Newquay-based production company Quick Panda Productions, The Great Estate continues to add its eccentric mark on Cornwall.
Additional information about the festival, including the full line-up and schedule, can be found on www.greatestatefestival.co.uk
