Beach Break Live is now entering its fourth year and what a journey it has been... from a dream, a few whiskeys and concerned looks on bank managers faces, to the sun kissed days of BBL 2007, the ‘glory’ of The Dragons Den, the mass congregation of 5000 students to Polzeath in 2008 and the 'Wild Life' experiences shared by 10,000 students in the sell out event in Kent!

The idea was to bring together everything we love about festivals, find a sandy beach and create a new breed of festival purely for students, where great music, frivolous fun and a strong sense of community are at the heart of it all.

Here’s how it all came together (we will keep this area up to date with current adventures)

Jan - June 2006. Finding a venue

Scouring the Cornish coast line for the perfect venue. Carruan Farm, Polzeath. Tick box. Beach Break Live is the only 3 day festival within walking distance of a white sandy beach so this is no mean feat. Carruan Farm sits on a beautiful hill with 270 degree sea views, just a 20 minutes stroll down a private path to one of the UK's premier surf beaches. Thou shal not be dissapointed.

June - Dec 2006. Finding out if it could work

We spent a number of months working with stakeholders in Polzeath to understand how we could build the festival in harmony with the local community and environment - an ongoing process

Jan - June 2007. Creating the event

Sleep deprivation, serenity, stupidity and sometimes some salvation

There’s a whole host of stuff that goes into this but without doubt the key was finding a team of amazing people to create the event with. Without the following people Beach Break Live would have remained but a dream. In no particular order, thanks to one and all... Rachel Skidoo (music n joy), Phil (words), Hugo (music n silly stuff), Mark and Rob (sound), Rachel (marketing, loo rolls n love), Matt (pictures), Steve (security) Steve Skinner (beer n bars), Adam (light n power), Max (holding it together on site), our team of legendary reps (spreading the word on campus) and then I guess its us, Ian and Celia who did everything from directing the general madness to picking up the tiny bits of plastic from the site when all was said and done. Finally and perhaps most importantly, the thousands of like minded folk who came together at Beach Break Live 2007 and rocked each others worlds – the vibe was truly off the hook

Oct - Dec 2007. Dragon Slaying, U-turns and cause to celebrate

After a successful (and surreal) appearance on The BBC’s Dragons Den we had the fortune of meeting the splendid folk at Outgoing Travel, the UK’s leading Student Travel and Event specialists. The opportunity to partner with them signalled the beginning of something beautiful, so we conducted a rapid hand break turn, said no thanks to the cash money from the Dragons, moved home and office to Manchester and leapt in bed with the Outgoing crew. We also had the new arrival of a certain BBC film crew to the team...

June 2008. Raising the Bar

2008 was more than any of us could have expected. From the humble but lovely attendance of 2007, 5000 students, big bands and a BBC film crew was a pleasant shock to the system! This was the year we really knew something had been born. We couldn't have been luckier with the sun kissed days and starry nights or the crew of people that came together to help us pull it off .. 'The vibe was amazing...... the bands loved you, the sun loved you, you loved each other and god damn it WE LOVED YOU. We're all in love. It's the summer of love all over again! Let's get naked'. We stand by these words.

Planning for 2009

Due to a massive demand for tickets this year (500 Early Birds sold out in 2 days), we decided to pack up camp in Polzeath and move along the Cornish coast to a site capable of holding 10,000 party people. A legendary Cornwall festival site of such joy and outstanding natural beauty it couldn't have been more perfect!

April 2009, The beautiful St Agnes becomes our new home

Celebrations. The Council have fully supported the event and have granted the relevant license meaning we are good to go. A location close to perfection – smiles all around.
Uniquely for a music festival we must also await the final OK from a planning committee (not normally involved in such matters). However, we are assured by all the professionals that given we have sign off from every responsible authority (police, fire, environmental health, health and safety etc) and given the planning department themselves are recommending the application for approval that this is a mere formality...... sigh of relief. Consequently we confirm with the Council that we will stand down the option to use an alternative location and crack on with planning the event in Cornwall. St Agnes is announced! Joy.

Stop Press, 3 weeks until BBL 09 kicks off and we are dealt a huge blow!

Despite what was understood to be a clear cut matter with overwhelming support from the council authorities, local businesses and residents, the planning committee to everyone’s amazement (and horror) voted against granting permission.

Given that planning permission is not normally needed we were assured that the powers that be (top bods in the Council) would over turn the decision and that St Agnes was still on. Over the next sleepless days St Agnes was on, then back off, solicitors and barristers employed, back on, tears of joy shed, and then in a final twist back off.

BUT with the words of The Beastie Boys singing in our heads... ‘You have to fight, for your right, to party!’ we would not be beaten....

Gilgermesh, God of Summer Festivals answers our prayers...

After coming face to face with the prospect of extinction, we followed our animal instincts and headed across the UK in search of safety. Bursting out of the undergrowth amongst the rhino’s, tigers, monkeys, lions and a whole host of other completely splendid looking creatures, Beach Break Live erupted in the blossoming safari spectacular of Port Lympne in Kent.

The response from you guys about the potential bad news and the threat of cancellation was outstanding. You kept your faith….. and we delivered. This is definitely a 1st for the UK. A SOLD OUT event for 10,000 like minded students, defied all obstacles and relocated to a brilliant new location with a week to go. The legendary festival of revolutionary spirit that was Beach Break Live 2009 will go down in student history and you’ll be the one telling the story.

A massive thanks to Kent and the The Aspinall Foundation for hosting us.

Beach Break Live 2009

The sun has now set on Beach Break Live 2009 and what an adventure it’s been. Our thanks to all for the part you played in Beach Break Live 2009 – it was a true epic. Beach Breaker spirit was genius, there was a big whiff of sixties loving infused with a modern electronic twist - our parents would have been proud!?

In all seriousness, the last minute loss of our site in Cornwall was a killer situation. We asked you to keep the faith and vowed we would not go quietly into the night and your support and enthusiasm helped us pull it out the bag for you – thanks again, we salute you!

Proud winners at the UK Festival Awards

Ladies annnnnnnnnnnnnd Gentleman. The votes are in. The judges have made their decision! And would you believe it, we actually won......... not one....... but TWO!
BEST SMALL FESTIVAL and PROMOTER OF THE YEAR!!!!!
A massive THANK YOU to all of you guys who voted for Beach Break Live, less we forget our bingo winging blackberry wielding grandmas who blue toothed the message round their nursing homes to get those extra votes. Merci beaucoup.

Best Small Festival
Best Small Festival was the big award of the night. It was voted for by you, the people that really matter, so winning this award fills us with unbridled joy. Winning Best Small Festival has put Beach Break Live on the podium alongside Glastonbury & Bestival. Nay bad!

Promoter of the Year
Promoter of the Year was voted for by the industry and unanimously awarded to us for the epic achievement of relocating the festival within a week. Once again, to the countless people who worked literally round the clock to pull it out the bag, our most sincere thanks.

A massive success. (Clash Magazine)

A date that will become as essential to students as their dissertations and final exams (Virtual Festivals)

An unbeatable atmosphere unrivalled by nearly all festivals out there (Virtual Festivals).

BBL will definitely be one of the top 10 highlights of 2009 (All Gigs)

The atmosphere was without doubt the most friendly we’ve experienced at any festival in the UK…. It really seemed like a community, everyone was really happy and relaxed. (Safe Concerts)

Planning for 2010

With the excitement of 2009 now behind us, we find ourselves in the privileged position of being able to scratch our chins and postulate over what will make the perfect festival for 2010.

We have found ourselves inundated with artists wanting to play, from the new and breaking to some of the UK’s biggest artists expressing their desire to stand in Dizzee’s shoes..... We have some serious surprises up our sleeve for 2010.

We’ve also been able to scour the UK’s coast line to find the perfect permanent home for the event........you’ve asked for ‘As close to a beach as possible’, ‘beautiful surroundings’, ‘hidden areas’, ‘stages on the sand’, ‘good sound levels’....... What we will announce on the 14th of January will literally blow you away – we truly believe we have found the greatest festival location in the world.... paradise!

How many tickets will be available? Given the sell out in 2009 a lot of people have asked this question. We will announce how many tickets will be available, along with the site announcement on the 14th of Jan but can confirm now that whilst we will make more available than last year, we want to keep the atmosphere of the event boutique and intimate, meaning alas they will be limited...