It would not be an exaggeration to say that Newquay has been in the news an awful lot in recent years, many top festivals are held here throughout the year and as bad news sells newspapers, there are also lots of stories of the under age drinking culture which seems to blight places like Newquay along with the sun, sea and sex culture that we read so much about.
Whether these stories are true depends on which newspapers you read but one thing is for sure, at the Cornish Bluegrass Festival which is held every September at Hendra Holiday Park in Newquay there will be none of those shenanigans, just people completely enjoying themselves and having an absolutely fantastic time.
If you are not familiar with the Hendra Holiday Park in Newquay, it is one of the best holiday parks in the UK and when combined with Newquay and the Bluegrass Festival it really is a match made in heaven.
For those who have not yet experienced the joys of Bluegrass, it is basically an American form of country music but most people know it better as hill billy music. The Bluegrass Festival is basically a celebration of this kind of music and since it's inception back in 2004 it has gained in popularity enormously to such an extent that this Newquay event is regarded as the premier festival of its type in the UK.
There are jamming sessions galore, lots of top rated bands and workshops which are a great place to learn various bluegrass techniques. When everyone has settled in during the first day the atmosphere really is quite extraordinary, if you close your eyes it is not hard to imagine that you are in a nightmare scene from the famous Hill Billy film, Deliverance, especially if you are making your way back to your caravan late at night after a few beers!
Don't let that put you off though, if you have any interest at all in this type of music you will have the time of your life at the Cornish Bluegrass Festival, the Hendra Holiday Park lends itself perfectly to the event and if you ever feel like a break from the music there are lots of other things to do, a swim in the pool or indulging in any of the other amenities that are available.
Newcomers to the Cornish Bluegrass Festival often comment that they weren't aware that this kind of thing is so popular, when the event first stated it was attended by just a few hundred people but the several thousand that now attend just goes to show that these niche events are inspiring so many.
With that in mind it is of little wonder why the main theme of this festival is to encourage others to join in so even if you have just the slightest inkling to pick up a banjo and get on down with the best of them, attending the Cornish Bluegrass Festival is something that you should seriously think about.
Are you a music lover who likes to attend festivals in which you are encouraged to join in, even if you are just a beginner? If so, go ahead and share as we'd love to find out more.