Hedluv + Passman to Headline Global Pasty Championships at Heligan

Redruth rap duo Hedluv + Passman are set to headline a packed entertainment line-up at the first Global Pasty Championships, taking place at The Lost Gardens of Heligan on Saturday, February 28.

The Casio hip-hop pioneers will be making their Heligan debut as part of a celebration of Cornish culture held on the Saturday before St Piran’s Day.

They will be joined by St Austell synthpop duo Strange Almond, foot-stomping favourites The Tregony Teachers and seafaring shanty singers the Pirates of St Piran.

A Cornish Celebration in Music

Hedluv + Passman, described as unofficial ambassadors of Cornish culture, have taken their songs about “doing things dreckly” to audiences around the world. Their live shows are known for being lively and humorous, with seriously catchy tunes.

Strange Almond, made up of Mark Barratt and Steven Havenhand, formerly of Britpop band Pulp, play exclusively eighties synthpop. They aim to get the crowd dancing off those extra pasty pounds at the Championships.

The Tregony Teachers have entertained audiences across Cornwall for more than a decade with their blend of self-taught interpretive dance, comedy and occasional bursts of excellent music once the jokes and dance options have been exhausted.

Meanwhile, the Pirates of St Piran perform at festivals, pubs and pirate-themed events across the westcountry. The band appear in traditional pirate costume and donate every penny they make from gigs and music sales to charity.

‘Come and Have a Go’

David Harland, chief executive of The Lost Gardens of Heligan, said: “It is our tremendous pleasure to announce such a lively and eclectic music line-up for the first Global Pasty Championships. Hedluv + Passman consistently deliver one the funniest and most energetic live shows around and Strange Almond, The Tregony Teachers and Pirates of St Piran will get the crowd jumping throughout the afternoon.

“For those oggie artisans and skirt beef aesthetes who still haven’t signed up to the competition to be crowned a Global Pasty Champion, we have this challenge for you: come and have a go if you think you’re pard enough!”

Competition, Crimping and Family Fun

Presented in partnership with the Cornish Pasty Association, the Global Pasty Championships will mark the grand finale of Cornish Pasty Week, which begins on February 23.

The Cornish Pasty Association will lead an open competition, complete with leaderboard, to find the World’s Fastest Crimper. Last year’s crimp-off at the Great Cornish Food Store in Truro attracted an entrant from Japan.

At the heart of the event is a contest to find the best pasties in the world, with categories for traditional recipes as well as more outlandish creations. Both companies and individuals can enter.

Junior categories are also available, with young bakers able to enter alongside an adult if they wish to use a cherished family recipe or need a helping hand.

There will be children’s pasty-making workshops led by the Cornish Pasty Association, and life-sized anthropomorphic oggies Mr and Mrs Pasty will also appear.

Entries remain open.

Visitors who want to attend without competing can pay what they can afford for admission to Heligan on the day as part of the Gardens’ Free Range Pricing scheme, which is due to finish at the end of February.

For more information, to register an entry or to book admission, visit www.heligan.com.