• Have a beautiful Solstice

    Have a beautiful Solstice

    Hey Montol Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, have a beautiful Solstice. The weather Gods are smiling, food and drink is ready, guests eagerly anticipated and I’m preparing a fire to honour the Sun at the peak of her power. Much love from Team Montol.

    CONTINUE READING AND COMMENT →: Have a beautiful Solstice
  • Penzance Council Grant

    Penzance Council Grant

    Hey MontolLong time no see. I know Golowan’s not done yet … and yet … of course we’re madly making plans but this week it’s Grant Application time … and … time to call on you … just a bit. We’re asking for your active support again.Short letters of support to show Penzance Council just how much love there is for our fabulous festival. Sorry … we can’t just cut and paste all the love from Facebook and Instagram:we need YOU to write “old-school” emails to our address: hello@montol.org Anything and everything you think they need to know. We want…

    CONTINUE READING AND COMMENT →: Penzance Council Grant
  • Every Cloud …

    Every Cloud …

    Hope everyone has recovered from Storm Goretti, and we can all rejoice that we don’t live in Tunbridge Wells where some people lost their water supply … imagine. We have power and water back and a very degraded broadband has finally been restored – hope you’re all back online too. Though I could do without those people (using the term very loosely) determined to keep our news feeds “interesting”. Whatever … very pleased to have been able to rescue something from all the chaos – we’re only a fortnight into the new year and we have “appropriated” the perfect Mock…

    CONTINUE READING AND COMMENT →: Every Cloud …
  • Twelfth Night

    Twelfth Night

    Out, out, brief candle!Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor playerThat struts and frets his hour upon the stageAnd then is heard no more. Sigh … Drama Queen! … until it’s our turn again! Twelfth Night – our Christmastide is done. Traditionally the wildest night of the season – but we’ve already strutted ourselves out. If you’re wassailing, partying or just having a quiet night after a hard day – enjoy. And remember, what a great Montol it was – we all did good – didn’t we? We’ll be a bit quieter here for a while but in the background…

    CONTINUE READING AND COMMENT →: Twelfth Night
  • Curation time

    Curation time

    This is one of my favourite bits – gathering together all the beautiful photos of Montol – for our website and for our socials – and this year to support our grant applications. But also because, on the night, we miss so much – so busy. At the moment I’m looking at Greg Martin, Liz Williams, Kai Greet, Greg Huckfield, Ian Mayou, Cam de Pete, Teddy Munns and Joji Qaranavalu. Is there anyone else you think I should look up? Do you have photos you’d like to share? Looking for hi-res images 2000 to 3000 on their longest edge. I…

    CONTINUE READING AND COMMENT →: Curation time
  • Bledhen nowydh da

    Bledhen nowydh da

    Still here – Never give up … Never surrender Comfort movie and a bottle of wine Whatever your 2025 was like we hope this year is better Happy new year Thanks to Jonny Weeks and The Guardian for the photo

    CONTINUE READING AND COMMENT →: Bledhen nowydh da
  • Keeping the Money Happy

    Keeping the Money Happy

    A little rest. And we have just finished the Reports for Penzance Council and Feast Cornwall. Around 250 performers at 9 venues over 10 hours – actively involving about 5000 people – Wow! When you spell it out … it really is amazing! Deconstructing the traditions of Guise dancing – dressing up, singing, silly and amazing performances, music and dancing, Osses and Beasts and roaming the streets, from pub to pub, playing with fire, turning the world upside down …means that so many more of us can be involved and experience the Magic of Montol.Not just 7 old friends and…

    CONTINUE READING AND COMMENT →: Keeping the Money Happy
  • Was it all just a dream?

    Was it all just a dream?

    OK Montol Where do I start? Every witch from Lands End to Redruth must have spelled their hearts out.We were up at the Rec in the morning and it was like being at sea in a storm. And then … we were all blessed. Thank you all – corporeal and … not. You took the risk and took to the streets in your finery.You all looked amazing and lots of you even amazinger. The atmosphere was gentle and wild, delirious and sometimes misty-eyed, loud and proud and when Tas Nadelik held you all in silence down by the sea –…

    CONTINUE READING AND COMMENT →: Was it all just a dream?
  • Now is the still before the storm

    Now is the still before the storm

    At last, the night before Montol And ancient uncle Aaron is sat in the corner, bent close by the fire cradling a small tankard of warm mahogany in gnarled hands, humming a vaguely familiar tune – (not unaware that he’s playing a part) Would you like to hear a story of old midwinter? Draw near … settle yourself …I shall tell you of Old Ned – the Raven King of Montol. So …My friends the rooks of Penzance, tell it like this … Old Ned — the elusive Raven of Penwith — roosts behind the black clock face of The…

    CONTINUE READING AND COMMENT →: Now is the still before the storm
  • Super Saturday

    Super Saturday

    What a fabulous day! The Montol Workshops were amazing. So many new faces, cunning hands. A fabulous humming atmosphere – we actually ran out of time and almost out of materials. Thanks to Feast for the funding and to Pixel for such a lovely venue To Linus and Charlotte for look after us so well And especially to our emergency crafting mavens: Rosi and Nicole. See you all tomorrow Just one sleep to go – not that we’ll get any!

    CONTINUE READING AND COMMENT →: Super Saturday