IT'S the most quirky and laid-back festival on the Westcountry summer calendar, an arena where words, music, food, fashion, film, drama and art join in harmonic union for one glorious weekend in Cornwall.

Port Eliot Festival, held in the beautiful grounds of one of the most charming stately homes in the Westcountry, has quickly built a reputation as a place where you can open your eyes and ears to unexpected and delightful experiences, as well as revisit and relish the more familiar.

This year, after a fallow 2008, the "Lit" has been removed from the festival's title to demonstrate Port Eliot's wider platform which takes its audience far beyond the average books and authors event; this broad spectrum is underlined in a musical line-up for 2009 that's bursting with riches.

Think of all the major acts who might be headlining at mainstream music festivals, then cast them instantly aside and forage the minor stages of Glastonbury, fringe folk festivals, intimate backstreet venues, seaside concert halls and remote recording studios to gather together the intriguing musical melee on offer next weekend in St Germans.

How about Evan Dando of the Lemonheads, British Sea Power, indie folk rockers Noah and the Whale – best known for their 2008 Top 10 hit In Five Years Time – Ralph McTell, former Orange Juice lead singer Edwyn Collins, The Loose Salute, The Lani Singers from the remote highlands of West Papua on the island of New Guinea in the south-west Pacific, and prolific Scottish singer songwriter Kid Creosote? And that's just for starters.

The bill has taken shape with guidance from Louis Eliot, son of festival host the Earl of St Germans, and a gifted musician and songwriter in his own right. Louis returned to his rural roots a few years ago after fronting the internationally renowned pop rock band Rialto, and now fronts his own acoustic ensemble.

He has been assisting the core festival team – his father's wife Catherine, Lady St Germans, musician and actor Rick Worthy, and Simon Prosser, the publishing director of Hamish Hamilton – to put together a bill to suit all tastes.

"We sign up bands in all sorts of ways," Louis explains. "Actually we're inundated with requests, but we also do a load of brainstorming to decide what would fit and if one person strongly dislikes a suggestion then it's out. That way, hopefully we achieve a really broad appeal."

He's long been an admirer of siblings pop quartet The Magic Numbers, whose lead singer Romeo Stodart will play a set with magical folk songstress Kathryn Williams, as well as join sister Michele and Sean and Angela Gannon for a band performance.

The Magic Numbers were shortlisted for the 2005 Mercury Prize and have released two studio albums and a mini album since their meteoric rise to fame in early 2005. They are currently building a studio before working on songs for their third album, due out next year.

Evan Dando is another of Louis's favourites. "He was the king of grunge in the early 90s but has since become a sort of modern day Gram Parsons: a brilliant troubadour." Evan will play some songs solo and some with a band that includes Louis and Tam Johnstone of bands Glass Shark and The General Store.

Others Louis says to look out for include The Egg, who will be performing in the House of Fairytales. There's the Dulwich Ukulele Orchestra, back by popular demand, plus Neil Halstead, "a unique English eccentric" from Newquay with strong Neil Young overtones, signed to Jack Johnson's Brushfire label.

Louis de Bernieres, author of Captain Corelli's Mandolin, will be playing his own mandolin in the estate's church.

Most intriguing are The Penguin Cafe Orchestra, who Louis describes as "the kind of Moby of their day", featuring Arthur the son of band founder Simon Jeffes, plus ex-members of Gorillaz and Suede.

"They make this beautiful sound and though people may never have heard of them they'll recognise their music, which is often used for TV ads," says Louis.

Indie rockers British Sea Power have gone from strength to strength since their debut album The Decline of British Sea Power in 2003. Their third album – Do You Like Rock Music? – earned them a Mercury Prize nomination in 2008.

Port Eliot sounds like the ideal setting for a nature-loving band who have been known to adorn the stage with branches and leaves; they are promising a show completely different to any that has gone before, possibly involving their passion for birdwatching.

The Loose Salute is the latest project from drummer, singer and guitarist Ian McCutcheon of Slowdive and Mojave 3 fame.

The band split their time between London and Cornwall and promise to bring the atmosphere of the beach on to the stage in the Caught By The River area run by Heavenly Records founder Jeff Barrett.

Queens of Noize, Chris Watson, Richard Strange, Mik Artistik and The Lani Singers, Louise Parker, Gaz Mayall, My Window Faces South and The Antonius Players, Black Friday, Wurlitza, Braga Tanga, AJ's Big Band, and Glorious Chorus will also be pitching in with their unique contributions over the weekend. Oh, and don't miss the One Minute Disco down by the riverside every hour.

Port Eliot Festival takes place on the estate at St Germans, near Saltash, Cornwall from Friday, July 24 to Sunday, July 26. Adult weekend tickets can be purchased for £105 each and children's tickets for £40 each. Family tickets and day tickets are also now on sale. Call 01503 232 783 or visit www.porteliotfestival.com.

See tomorrow's Weekend supplement for details of literary guests at the festival and an interview with Jeff Barrett of Heavenly Records and Caught By the River.