The Gossip headline Surfstock

AFTER months of planning the go-ahead has been given to Surfstock Festival 2008 with a great line-up of bands including media darlings The Gossip.

Surfstock is back for its fifth birthday party this summer at a new, bigger location in St Agnes, perched above the North Cornish coast (on the sorely missed SAS Ball site).

A stellar line-up awaits including The Gossip, new cool NYC dance star Santogold, The Go! Team, wonderfully sleazy dance duo Chromeo, Black Lips, Lightspeed Champion, Alphabeat among many others confirmed for the intimate two-day coastal get-down.

Five thousand revellers can soak up the atmosphere and enjoy over 50 live acts day and night across six eclectic areas on Friday, August 29, and Saturday, August 30..

Surfstock is also one of the very few festivals in Cornwall which has a fully equipped campsite catering for campervans, children and families.

Other music acts due to appear include The Complete Stone Roses, Emmy The Great, Natty, Leon Jean-Marie, Haven and a whole host of local bands including I Say Marvin, Rosie & The Goldbug, My Elvis Blackout and The Sycamores.

Surfing is central to the festival and this year Surfstock will be hosting the Festival Team Challenge and a jet ski assisted Tow-At Exhibition (TBC); the £10,000 prize purse (the largest amateur purse in the UK) is set to attract the nation's best surfers to Porthtowan beach. Free shuttle buses will be laid on.

This year's festival also includes the first annual Surfstock H30 Awards, which will showcase the best of insane, boundary-breaking surfing in the UK and Ireland, with six categories and £3,500 prize money. Surfstock ticket holders will vote for the Surfer of the Year, Photo of the Year and many other accolades such as the 'secure ward' award for the heaviest wave surfed.

The UK Surfing Museum will be exhibiting on-site alongside the giant outdoor cinema premiering some local surf films alongside international releases and surfing classics.

An ample supply of themed bars will be serving Tiger beers, some special local tipples and delightful cocktails – there is also a dedicated Baja tequila bar.

Other attractions include a silent disco (this is extremely entertaining especially as the DJ spins two different soundtracks simultaneously to people wearing headphones – think two people dancing side by side, one to Iron Maiden and one to Morcheeba).

A comedy tent hosted by a very special guest will be bringing down some of the hottest talent on the current circuit with a finale from John Otway.

There will also be plenty of global food stalls including an American '50s diner, a surfers' village, hang loose areas and some very special surprises… announced soon.

Press Play will be on board running the Cornish Cream tent showcasing the very best of local music talent, and Music Evolution from Penzance will also have their Groove Lounge operating right through to dawn.

And just wait until you see the Upside Down House club!

Surfstock aims to reduce its carbon footprint and impact on the local area by providing free shuttle buses to the beach and back all day as well as organising car-sharing. Precautions against bad weather have been taken with all the main stages under cover in beautifully dressed big tops.

What: Surfstock

Where: The Beacon, St Agnes

When: August 29 and 30

Tickets: Tickets go on sale at 9am on Thursday, June 12. Early bird weekend tickets are £79 (including two nights' camping) and £5 booking fee. Early Bird tickets subject to availability. Family ticket (two adults and two children aged 12-15) £200 plus £14 booking fee. Kids under 12 go free. Car park £5, Campervan pitch £15. Maximum purchase of eight tickets per household. No group bookings

Box office: Tickets are available from www.surfstock.co.uk

Website: www.surfstock.co.uk