2010 line-up: first wave

The Port Eliot Flower Show

A first for any British festival, The Port Eliot Flower Show is a celebration of the horticultural arts, curated by acclaimed designer Michael Howells, with flower arranging demonstrations, specially commissioned floral displays and guests including the Eden Project’s Tim Smit. Read more

A stunning array of literary talent

…Including Rosie Boycott, Jez Butterworth, Margaret Drabble, Bill Drummond, Geoff Dyer, Hari Kunzru, Ian Jack, Nicky Haslam, Alexander Masters, Gavin Pretor-Pinney, Toby Young and Luke Wright. Plus Edward Fox reading TS Eliot’s The Wasteland. Read more

A brand new Fashion Tent

Set in the Walled Garden, the Fashion Tent will feature Stephen Jones, Anna Sui, Luella Bartley, Barbara Hulanicki, Oscar winning costume designer Sandy Powell and leading make-up artist Alex Box. Read more

Down by the riverside…

A huge hit at last year’s festival, the Caught By The River stage returns with Chris Watson’s incredible Nature Disco and Ceri Levy’s Bird Effect, along with evening bonfires, readings, demonstrations, art, live music, DJs, sound installations, a Rough Trade record area and more surprises to be announced shortly. Read more

The Wild Swim returns with Kate Rew, founder of The Outdoor Swimming Society, leading swimmers on an evening exploration of the Lynher Estuary before relaxing in the riverside hot tub. The Boathouse will be dishing up more wild performances as well as the now legendary One Minute Disco. Read more

Idling, fairytales, folklore and food

The Idler’s Academy of Philosophy, Husbandry and Merriment will be opening its doors for the first time under the expert guidance of professional idler Tom Hodgkinson. Amongst other illuminating lessons students enrolling in the Academy will be able to study a varied and eccentric curriculum including ‘How to Build a Bed’ led by Bill Drummond and ‘How to Start a School’ with Toby Young.

Deborah Curtis and Gavin Turk will once again open the gates to the magical House of Fairy Tales, set deep in the woodland rhododendron garden. Amongst the expanded literary line-up for the House of Fairy Tales this year is Angie Sage, author of the bestselling Septimus Heap children’s books and storyteller Rachel Rose Reid.

Simon Costin’s intriguing Museum of British Folklore will be in residence at the Port Eliot Gatehouse and the Big Kitchen will serve up a menu of renowned chefs including Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Sci-fi and camping expert, author Matthew De Abaitua, will lead a ‘We Are Camping’ tour through Port Eliot’s campsite and Martin Parr talks about his Parrworld exhibition. Read more

Musical teasers

The full music and cabaret line-up is yet to be announced but early names include virtuoso multi-instrumentalist Talvin Singh who will improvise live on the tabla as author Geoff Dyer reads from his latest novel, Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi, alongside a rare screening of Forest of Bliss. Fisherman’s Friends, hot off their million-pound signing with Island records, will bring their sea shanties to the festival and the highly acclaimed Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara present an afro-blues shakedown with their combination of gritty rock groove and lilting North Africa sounds.

Also on stage will be songsmith Sam Carter, who recently won the Horizon Award for Best Newcomer at the 2010 BBC Folk Awards, JimBob (ex Carter USM) who will be reading from his book and playing some old favourites and Princes in the Tower, a Tudor power trio recently seen on the Mighty Boosh. Read more

Lots more will be announced in the coming weeks, so watch this space – or, better still, sign up to our newsletter (on the right) to receive updates direct to your inbox (no more than once a month; we won’t bombard you, promise!).