Helstonews
Helstonbury 2018
The final line-up for Helstonbury 2018 is now ready and the festival is bigger and better than ever! Now in its 18th year and having raised over £75,000 for local charities to date, Helstonbury 2018 is going to rock The Blue Anchor Inn pub in Helston like its never been rocked before!
However recent months have witnessed a great deal of sadness and tragedy, and the passing of Al Rideout, Dave Sugarbeet and young Henry Stone has turned the Helstonbury world upside down. So, this year the festival will be dedicated to Al, Dave and Henry, and others who have been loved and lost over the years. This year’s amazing line up is fitting for such an occasion. and should make Helstonbury 2018 an event to remember!
Helstonbury Does Jazz
This year the festival has a “Fringe” event and kicks off on Thursday 19th July with a chilled Jazz night courtesy of Helston School Jazz Orchestra (who this year received £1,200 in funding from Helstonbury contributing towards the cost of uniforms for the 25 peice band, concert stands, signage and an overseas concert tour).
See them at 8pm on the Special Stage. Tickets £5 on the door.
Helstonbury Introducing
Helstonbury Friday (20/07/18) is all about up and coming talent. Set up and run for many years by local hero Alan Rideout, this year Holly Turton and Andrew (Scooby) Plenty pick up the baton with staggered performances on the “Helstonbury Introducing Stage” and the “Helston Music Foundation Stage” from 7.20pm until late. Among the many brilliant performances showcasing Cornwall’s youngest musicians and bands, look out for Lily Cooke, Ellie Golding, Wandering Winds, Lunacci, Minty Hindu and Black Leaves of Envy.
Helstonbury Saturday
Helstonbury Saturday (21/07/18) will see the Blue Anchor literally bristling with musical talent; another new stage has been added this year called “Helstonbury Introduced “at the front of the pub, providing performance space for graduates of the “Kids Like to Rock” stage who are not yet on the main stages. In addition to the new Helstonbury Introduced stage there’s also the Cannon Stage (skittle alley), the Special Stage in the outer beer garden and the Acoustic Stage in the covered beer garden. Performances start just after noon at 12:15 and bands to watch out for include Even Nine, Blackout, Riders To Ruin and the perennial favourites Bobby’s Helmet.
Helstonbury Sunday
To finish the festival on a high Helstonbury Sunday has a full day of events and activities starting sedately at 11:00am with the Sunday Service and Military Wives Choir, but then ramping up the energy to full blown party mode with Shabby Chic at 1pm. The knees up then continues throughout the afternoon and evening with help from bands like GoGo Skank, The Roustabouts, Stone Roots, Snake Oil and The Olives before rounding the night off with the popular ‘Silent Disco’. For anyone needing time out from the rather hectic atmosphere of the Cannon and Special stages there’s the more chilled out Acoustic stage, or the soothing sounds of the Acapella stage. Kick back, let the music wash over and around you and contemplate the wonders of Spingo and the Blue Anchor Brewery!
Helstonbury Friday will be a celebration of both the future and the past, paying tribute to the life and work of “Big Al”, co founder and organiser of Helstonbury, who sadly passed away June 2018 after a fierce battle with cancer. Alan Rideout’s life long commitment to live music and in particular his tireless dedication to mentoring young musicians was unlimited. So many musicians, young and old, have been encouraged and inspired by Al to pursue their musical dreams. Over the years the “Kids Like to Rock” night, has given young musicians invaluable experience of performing live from a very young age, many of them come back regularly to play at Helstonbury and some of them have established full time careers in music. Al’s memory lives on in them, in Helstonbury and on this night in particular.
Tickets
Tickets can only be purchased on the door and it gets busy so don’t get there too late. In fact from 1pm on Saturday its usually so busy that the door staff run a strict, one in one out policy. A one day ticket costs £10, a weekend ticket covering Friday, Saturday and Sunday costs £20.