Thu 22 Aug 2024

Sunshine, great vibes and fab food make for a memorable Tropical Pressure 2024

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Three days of sunshine, great music and positivity for the planet helped make this year’s Tropical Pressure festival one of the best ever. 

The event, overlooking Porthtowan Beach in Cornwall, was hailed as the number one small festival by The Times last year. 

This summer’s edition lived up to its billing and now organisers are already planning an extra-special tenth anniversary festival for a year’s time.  

Tropical Pressure is renowned for its intimate vibe, fine food and fabulous lineup of music, celebrating Latin American, African and Caribbean cultures. 

Since it began it has been held at Mount Pleasant Eco Park, a beautiful, safe and grassy farm set in an area of outstanding beauty. 

Reflecting on this year’s event, which took place on July 12-14, festival manager Claire Marshall said: “We’ve had loads of great feedback this year, which was brilliant to hear after so much work was put into the event by the amazing Tropical Pressure team. 

“We had two new areas this year - the Cob Theatre was programmed with great performances on Saturday and Sunday.

“Our new Movements area brilliantly embodied our theme with talks and workshops that inspired people to embrace change, focussing on the power of community, collaboration and positive action.

“And the music this year was a perfect reflection of the sunny weather and the positive vibes of everyone who attended. We can’t wait for next year!”

Among the top names on this year’s bill were Los Guayabo Brothers, a vibrant band blending Colombian folklore and modern music.

Another capacity-crowd favourite was the high-energy ensemble Hannabiell & Midnight Blue, with a fusion they call Afro-psychedelic funk.

As part of his memorable set, Caribbean folk artist Elkin Robinson brought his young daughter up on stage for a heart-warming duet. He commented on the festival’s sense of community, which reminded him of home.

Cornwall-based post-punk outfit Wild Oyo came first in Tropical Pressure’s Battle of the Bands competition, winning a filmed main stage slot, and set pulses racing with their relentless energy. 

The World Food Market hosted a wide variety of traders and all the offerings were totally plant-based, in tune with their overriding aim of being amongst the most environmentally sustainable festival.

Once again Tropical Pressure  proved an ideal event for families with children, providing workshops, performances and a host of activities from bug hunting, to kite making and learning circus skills in the Kids Field.

With the setting of the sun, each night the site became a sparkly wonderland as top-name DJs took over three party spaces - Fandangos Nightclub, the Enchanted Dancehall and La Cornucopia - playing music from around the world.

Claire Marshall added: “From humble beginnings, Tropical Pressure has grown organically over the years to become a firm favourite on the festival calendar.  We are already looking forward to our 10th anniversary event, which will take place from July 11-13 next year.   

“Tickets go on sale on October 1, 2024,  and we’d advise everyone who would like to come to get online quickly as we normally sell out within 24 hours.”