THE rain clouds lifted for a few hours and the sun shone on the opening afternoon of the St Ives September Festival on Saturday, September 13 as big crowds enjoyed the Street Entertainment programme.

Falmouth Marine Band launched the proceedings as they marched round the harbour and through the town and the performers enjoyed themselves as much as the Festival-goers.

Boudica Rocks brought their eclectic combination of Morris and rock from Bodmin to The Wharf as they rocked St Ives for a second successive year on an opening day featuring many Cornish performers.

The Countrymen, from Launceston, headlined at recently-renovated St Ives Theatre, while Cornish singer-songwriter Will Keating and banjo virtuoso John Dowling sold out the opening night at St Ives Arts Club, where Miranda Sykes was also fully booked the following night.

The 15-day festival of music and the arts continues until Saturday, September 27.

Fascinating Aida’s final night theatre appearance on the final night has been sold out for weeks with This Flight Tonight’s Songs of Joni Mitchell set to follow on Sunday.

On Wednesday, September 17, ARKangel present their new 2025 show Lullaby of Harlem – The Birth of the Blues at the Mariners Gallery with Lowender’s Night of Cornish Song at St Ia Church with shanty singers Cork an Barbor at Café Art and blues legend John Dummer and Friends at the Crypt Gallery.

Folk star Martin Simpson returns to the festival at St Ives Theatre on Friday with St Ives singer Molly Hocking – the 2019 winner of ITV’s The Voice – at St Ia Church and Global Jamming’s Spirit of St Ives night of music and films at Porthmeor Studios.

More than 300 events make up this year’s festival with guided walks, participatory workshops, Open Studios and lunchtime music and poetry in Norway Square continuing daily.

Full details at www.stivesseptemberfestival.co.uk