Boardmasters, the UK’s premiere surf festival, took place on the weekend with all the best names in music, surf, skate and BMX descending onto the coastal town of Newquay. The Sea to Sky team couldn’t make it to the event, so we sent designer and lover of all things surf, Alie Sadler, to cover the event:
On Friday the sun is out with no hint of the extreme weather that will later blight the festival. Piles of people descend on Newquay via packed trains and clogged roads. It was such a mission to get to camp at the beautiful location of Watergate Bay, the busses were packed. I’ve never had to wait so long! The hilly fields are full of colourful tents and the amazing views of the local countryside beats a hotel any day.
Some have been festivaling since Thursday, chilling out to the Beach Sessions at Fistral Beach, and watching the surfing competitions that were already underway. Back at Watergate, the festival has all sorts: fairground rides, all the food you could ask for, clothes and knick knack stalls. There was even a place to buy native American headdresses, and to get your hair dreadlocked whilst smoking a shisha (as everyone does). Plenty of things to keep you entertained while drinking Cornish Rattler Cider.
Friday night, the serious music begins. An amazing set by The Enemy got the crowds at Main Stage energised early on in the evening. Playing all the best-known songs from their album back in 2007, We’ll Live and Die In These Towns, as well as more recent releases from the last few years.
Beans on Toast, a brilliant and funny lyricist from Essex, was onstage in The Keg & Pasty, a cosy pub – like Indoor Stage. He has a great dialogue with the crowd, and even gets a random person up on stage to beatbox for one of his songs.
The headliner Chase & Status rocked the usually quiet Cornish countryside. There was dancing, moshing, singing.. one guy climbed up a flag pole. Quite a rowdy one! They definitely got the party going!
On Saturday the surfing and skateboarding was on at Fistral Beach in the heart of Newquey. The live music at the beach bar sets the mood for a chilled out day on the beach. Amongst all these events there are the merchandise areas selling all sorts, from clothes by small sellers, to crafted products such wooden watches and Sunglasses, and hand-crocheted beanies. There were also many places to sign up and learn about – The Royal Navy, RAF, RNLI Lifeboats, and more.
Surfers Against Sewage, one of the festival sponsors, made its presence felt with a petition to stop marine litter. They also had support from musical artists with some brilliant intimate gigs, one of which was Sunset Suns, who played a beautiful acoustic set and got a nice little crowd surrounding them on straw bales. Their next single Remember is coming out around the end of October.
Back over at Watergate Bay, everyone was in the full festival swing. Coves played in Mavericks tent, with an animated show for an early set time. Zane Lowe was on fire on the decks, getting the crowds buzzing.
Scott Matthew at the View Stage captivated everyone (despite the rain) with his dusky captivating songs, as well as – as the stage suggests – the amazing view out to the ocean. Saturday’s headliner, Snoop Dogg, in his heart-shaped sunglasses, sang popular songs from his 90s days, like Gin & Juice, and even encouraged the young crowds to smoking weed, albeit through a song. Nice to see he has not changed with age.
Saturday night through to Sunday saw ex-hurricane Bertha roll in to join the party. Strong wind and rain came in and Bertha thought it would be fun to destroy the revellers’ tents. From pop-ups, to teepees, to the spacious house-like tents, many collapsed or flew across the fields along with random pillows, sleeping bags and rubbish. Sadly, though, the wind meant that part of the Mavricks’ stage roof came down, and the Sunday festival was called off, which meant no Bastille and a disappointed ride home on the train.
