If you’re thinking about west coast festival’s but Coachella is a bit beyond your price range/ travel time, fear not the UK’s own westerly edge is getting in on the music act. Launching this year the Somersault Festival takes place in north Devonshire between 17 and 21 July. “There’s a great array of artists over the weekend including Half Moon Run, Nick Mulvey, Fink, Bombino, Catfish And The Bottlemen and Amadou & Mariam,” explains organiser John Empson. “Many more artists are still to be announced with three live music stages, campfire feasts, talks and debates, late-night parties and a huge host of activities from Surfing, Rock-climbing and Kayaking to falconry and foraging.” To give us an idea of what to expect he’s made us this Playlist of his picks from the bill so far.
Hiss Golden Messenger – Call Him Daylight
“Scott Hirsch and MC Taylor’s alt country musings will be a beautiful way to start the Sunday at Somersault. Pedal steel, bluegrass and Bloody Marys.”
Half Moon Run – Full Circle
“With the ubiquitous, emotional sound of Montreal’s Half Moon Run firmly planted in the public psyche their set immediately before headliner Ben Howard, this has the potential for becoming a festival defining moment.”
Bombino – Amidinine
“We are hugely excited to welcome the internationally acclaimed Tuareg guitarist from Niger to the South West for his debut show in the region to give a truly unique piece of spice to the festival. His set will seriously raise the stakes on Saturday afternoon.”
Catfish & The Bottlemen – Rango
“We’re really excited to see Llandudno’s finest on the big stage in the Deer Park at Castle Hill Estate in North Devon – they’ll blow away the cobwebs and probably scare away the wildlife!”
Fink – Perfect Darkness
“Fink is set to have a huge year with the release of his new album this Spring, coming back to this roots for a festival defining set that will be a massive highlight. He’s massive in the area so sure to make a massive impact.”
Sierra Leone’s Refugee Allstars – Chant It Down
“SLRA’s authentic reggae from war-torn West Africa add some roots and energy to the proceedings, sure to put a smile on the faces of 20,000 people.”
Ben Howard – Only Love
“This will be one of only a handful of UK shows that Ben will play this Summer and the biggest in his home county ever. He’ll be unveiling his brand new album tracks and playing to the converted for sure – we’re expecting greatness.”
Nick Mulvey – Cucurucu
“Nick Mulvey’s star is in serious ascendency and by the summer he’ll be a household name. He’s a perfect fit for the Somersault vibe of serious good music, good food and summer good times.
Crowns – My London
“Local heroes Crowns will bring their energetic mandolin driven set to North Devon. Almost veterans of the South West Festival circuit these young scamps will get the crowd dancing and the beer flowing.”
Amadou & Mariam – Senegal Fast Food
“The Grammy award winning ‘blind couple from Mali’ will bring something really special to the festival in an exclusive summer performance which will set the scene for Saturday’s headliner perfectly as the sun goes down…”
Jack Johnson – I Got You
“The term legend is often trotted out in reference to musicians but with Jack Johnson it is fact, he’s a bonafide legend in the South West of England and with this being his only outdoor show in the UK this year we are guaranteed deification!”
For more, including the full line-up so far and ticket details, head to Somersaultfestival.com.
