Who would have thought, when the Fisherman’s Friends performed their first charity gigs on the Plat at Port Isaac, that this was the start of a proper Cornish phenomenon?

Their discovery by a visiting record producer has resulted in several albums, sell-out UK tours, not one but two films and a stage musical documenting their history (well, with a bit of artistic licence) – and now, drum roll please, the Fisherman’s Friends Festival, a bit like a bijou Glastonbury.

“Hello, Stithians!” is not a cry you expect to hear on your average tour, and yet here we were, at a showground more used to welcoming prize-winning cattle and classic steam engines; a sold-out crowd of 5,000 packed into a big top to hear our favourite shantymen belt out some of their best-loved numbers.

Launching and ending the weekender, the Fishies formed the bread in the most glorious folk music sandwich. The line-up featured a host of names that could happily headline a festival all by themselves, let alone appear alongside other luminaries: Mercury Prize-nominated Dartmoor fiddler Seth Lakeman, Yorkshire songstress Kate Rusby, Irish accordion supremo Sharon Shannon, Scottish traditionalists Skipinnish …

The list goes on, and that’s before you’ve even mentioned Jools Holland and his big band (something of an outlier in terms of style, but without a doubt a crowd-puller for those who love shanties but aren’t convinced by folk).

A bandstand formed a second stage, with a line-up dominated by local acts including Stithians Ukulele Group and Cornish language performer Martha Woods, and a daily set curated by Geoff Lakeman (Seth’s dad and an accomplished musician on his own right).

We’ve been to a fair few folk festivals in our time, including Sidmouth and DMF stablemate Beautiful Days, and this was up there with the best of them. We were thrilled to see familiar faces including The Longest Johns, the anarchic and energetic Bristolian shantymen who were behind the viral Wellerman; while we discovered bagpipe-led Skipinnish at Sidmouth and were instantly entranced by their high-energy vibe. They were the biggest draw for us without a doubt, and they didn’t disappoint.

They were preceded by punksters Peat and Diesel, who hailed from Stornoway and had a frontman who sounded like he gargled with granite. Their barnstorming number Island asked: “Are you from …” and then went through seemingly every Scottish island known to man, getting louder and shoutier along the way (please can someone do a Cornish version?). Both bands appeared to have bussed in a lot of fans who knew all the words and led the singalongs with gusto.

Further highlights included angel-voiced Kate Rusby, whose set included some canny covers of songs including Manic Monday (“Nice Bangling, guys!) and Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds. I’ve been following Seth Lakeman since his early days, and while he’s packed a lot of music into the last two decades, his signature tune Kitty Jay – a sinister tale not unlike that of Charlotte still packs a powerful punch and has been properly zhuzhed up with lights and sinister drone backing.

There was plenty of home-grown talent too: top tunes from Porthleven Town Band, tight harmonies from The Oggymen, and side-splitting local-flavoured comedy from emcees Kernow King and Johnny Cowling.

Not sure where to go or when? The £10 programme came with a handy timetable on a lanyard, which as well as being practical had the added bonus of making everyone look and feel like a VIP with a backstage pass.

The site was compact, with the kind of lovely stands you’d expect from a quality folk festival: wafty dresses, accordions, bonkers felt hats shaped like sea creatures (not great for standing behind if you’re pint-sized like us, but fun nonetheless).

Daughter discovered a stall with a badge swap board, which was just made for her, although I pity any poor souls who were left with her cast-offs. The food offer was great, too - a little pricey, but that’s festivals for you.

The weather couldn’t have been better – did organisers DMF put a request in to the big guy upstairs? - and there was a distinct air of bonhomie about the place. This was a family-friendly affair, with plenty to keep young folkies busy – a circus show in the belly of a blow-up whale, a ferris wheel, a roving Oxbridge punt on wheels, and an art tent making lanterns for a Sunday night parade.

All this, and on our doorstep too. We’re not averse to camping, but were very happy to be able to drive 20 minutes and be in our own beds with hot showers guaranteed.

Bottom line: the inaugural Fisherman’s Friends festival was an unqualified success. By the time they closed the show, the FFs themselves were proud and frankly a bit emosh about the whole thing – and rightly so. The wheels are already in motion for the 2027 line-up – bring it on.