A white background with a few lines on it

On Fire 🔥

I had the pleasure of catching up with Andy Bacon, the founder of Sonar Events, to dive deeper into
by Ben Holtam 2 April 2025
I had the pleasure of catching up with Andy Bacon, the founder of Sonar Events, to dive deeper into what makes Sonar so special, its journey so far, and what we can look forward to this year.
by Editorial Team 2 April 2025
Ivybridge and Rural Police reported that officers responded to notifications of an ongoing rave at Cadover Bridge around 07:00 BST.
A white background with a few lines on it

Masked Ball Summer 2019

May 3rd - 5th 2019 | Porthleven, Cornwall

Two women are sitting on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

We now have full details of the much anticipated summer Masked Ball taking place on the cliff top above the Cornish village of Porthleven. Expect the event to return to it's roots to go all out on decor and costumes to match the dance music line up. Want to win tickets?


The Masked Ball, recently lauded as one of the best festivals in the world, is going back to its roots for its spring instalment – with a new date and some blasts from the past.

Masked Ball director Kelvin Batt said the creative team behind the party that takes revellers on journey through multiple venues – and has a 24-hour licence – have come up trumps with some inspiring themes.

Kelvin said: “It feels like huge step forward again for us this year. We’re back to being a totally independent festival. The buzz surrounding the event is great, and last year went so well for us. For 2019 we will be recreating the same atmosphere, whilst improving and refining each area of the production. Expect the unexpected from our maze of venues, stages and secret parties.”

Although many of the elements - including the inspired venue themes, decadent décor and production surprises - are kept under wraps, it has been revealed that the Pyramid, the Laser Shack and the Hot Tub Disco will the back…. along with the revival of an old favourite, The Pleasure Dome.

The Spring Masked Ball, three delightfully debauched days of festival frolics overlooking Mount’s Bay, has been brought forward to the first Spring Bank Holiday in May to mark the very beginning of the festival season.

The Masked Ball was recently labelled one of the best festivals in the world by Conde Naste Traveller alongside the likes of Coachella, in California, and Glastonbury and will feature dozens of acts, DJs and performers across a multitude of curated venues.

A second wave of guests has just been announced, featuring some of the biggest names in alternative dance and electronic music business.

New names added to the line-up include Tokyo based producer and rising star disc jockey Powder, who has just announced a new mixtape on Tim Sweeney’s revered Beats In Space.

Others added to the programme include Bristol-based selector Admin, Ransom Note’s Bawrut, Alfresco Disco, John Gomez, DJ Format, Dave Harvey, Kieran Holden, Pete Herbert, Body Hammer, Dicky Trisco, Francis Inferno Orchestra, Not and Animal and Telephones as well as returning long-time residents Jac the Disco, Austin Ato, Felix Dickinson and Psychemagik. Dicky Trisco and Pete Herbert also return for their infamous Sunday session marathon.

The cream of Cornwall and the wider South West's DJ scene are also on the line-up, including Aeon Seven, Alex Conrad, Algorythm, Boca 45, Crawford, Dad Bod Boogie, Devin, Ellie Stokes, Ere Wax, Florence Bird, French Kiss, Func Musik, Jack Be Nimble, KiWi, Disco Phil, King Louis & Dance Armstrong, KVNG, Lightworks, Loose People, MC Mysdiggi, Nigel Pengelly, Ollie Stratton, Pat McGrath, Postman Joe, Soulworks, Studio 89, Teak, Nigel Pengelly, Tech Collectors, The General and Viscera.

Kelvin added: “We’ve got a 24-hour Saturday party license again, so you can dance whenever and wherever suits you best. We’ve brought in a lot more local DJ collectives and you can expect a secret drum and bass area – all set against the idyllic backdrop of the Cornish coastline.”

Also part of the Summer Masked Ball is the now infamous Sunday session for the truly dedicated hedonists who just can’t get enough.

The Masked Ball takes place on May 3-5, at Beacon Crag, Porthleven, Cornwall.

Original ball tickets are available for just £55, or stay the weekend from Friday to Monday for just £85. Both tickets include camping. Tickets are available from www.maskedball.ne t

General Info – Festival Timings

  • Opens Friday 4pm
  • Be off site by Mon eve
  • Once you have you’re wristband you may travel in and out as you please down to our lovely village

General Info – Access

Please expect to be searched and asked to show some identification upon entry to the festival site. For more information on alcohol restrictions, prohibited items, accepted forms of I.D and more please check the FAQ’s .

General Info – Vehicles

There are both car and campervan parking facilities available on site. Please note these are located in different fields. To park you will require the correct pass from the tickets page. Please note these have sold out very quickly in the past so we strongly advise booking in advance. Tents will not be allowed in the parking / campervan zones and no electricity or water hook ups are available.

General Info – Litter

Please look after the beautiful site! Beacon Crag / Methleigh Farm is a fully functioning farm, broken glass, bits of plastic and all the rest of it is BAD. Be nice to the land to be nice to the animals! The will be have plenty of bins on site, please bag up your rubbish and dispose of it responsibly.

General Info – Lost Property

If you’ve managed to lose all of your worldly possessions, not all hope is lost! There will be a lost property system in place that is dealt with on a case by case basis. Lost property is dealt with by members of the Masked Ball team in their own time, so please be patient during the period immediately after the festival as they will all still be busy clearing up the site.
If you think you might have lost something, keep an eye on the Masked Ball Facebook page the week following the event for a list of found items and instructions on collecting them.

The little south logo is on a blue background.

Written by

Editorial Team • 3 March 2019
I had the pleasure of catching up with Andy Bacon, the founder of Sonar Events, to dive deeper into
by Ben Holtam 2 April 2025
I had the pleasure of catching up with Andy Bacon, the founder of Sonar Events, to dive deeper into what makes Sonar so special, its journey so far, and what we can look forward to this year.
by Editorial Team 2 April 2025
Ivybridge and Rural Police reported that officers responded to notifications of an ongoing rave at Cadover Bridge around 07:00 BST.
by Editorial Team 21 March 2025
Alkie, one half of the Symbiosis duo, has created an inaugural mix that highlights his favourite house sounds. This episode showcases a variety of tracks that have resonated with him over time. Listeners can expect to traverse the house music spectrum throughout the mix. Alkie is a noteworthy addition to the house music landscape.
by Editorial Team 7 March 2025
We are pleased to introduce a new artist who specialises in the intersection of high tempo tech house and techno music. Mazarus has been developing her DJing skills over the past three years, during which time she has performed at numerous events and shared lineups with established artists across the South West of England. This podcast mix showcases her current punchy tech house sound which we love!
by Editorial Team 22 February 2025
Tim French, a DJ and producer from Plymouth, steps back into our podcast spotlight, known for his Progressive House, Breaks, Melodic, and Techno sound. He has previously held residencies at notable venues in the South West, including the Dance Academy and The Warehouse in Plymouth. Tim is recognised for his progressive and melodic music styles, which he showcases at venues throughout the region. This podcast mix features his signature sounds, including tracks commonly heard in his Cosmic Sounds DJ sets.
by Editorial Team 18 February 2025
We explore the thoughts of artists and music sharing. In today's digital age, discovering new music has become more accessible than ever due to online platforms like Spotify, SoundCloud, and download services such as Beatport. While traditional methods of exploring music, such as visiting record shops, have diminished in popularity, the process of musical exploration remains significant and enriching, especially when one encounters a standout track. For performing artists, the quest for fresh music is a continuous endeavor, often regarded as equally important as the performance itself. This raises an interesting question: is it appropriate for artists to keep the details of their music sources confidential? This topic invites further discussion from some of the South West DJs and producers on the nature of music discovery in the modern landscape.
Show More
Share by: