The Masked Ball, the glamorous mainstay of the south-west party calendar, has just announced the first round of acts to appear at the Summer Masked Ball, next year.

Following on from the screaming success of the Halloween Masked Ball that attracted a sell-out crowd to scary going-ons at Flambards Theme Park, Helston; Masked Ball organisers are already setting the scene for the next event at Porthleven.

Masked Ball director Kelvin Batt said: “We were pleased with how the Halloween event went, particularly as it was a new site and the theme park setting was different to anything we, or anyone else for that matter, have ever done before. So we’d like to say thank you to everyone who came, helped and enjoyed the spectacle.

“The summer ball sees us return to the site where it all began and where we’ve shared so many amazing experiences over the last eight years.

“We've got some great ideas on how we can improve on what's gone before and create the ultimate night out - and the very best day after the night before!”

First up on the bill is legendary producer and DJ Andy Weatherall, whose performance was the talk of last summer’s Port Eliot Festivial. The Screamadelica producer will be joined by Portishead’s Andy Smith, Pyschemagik, a Herbaliser DJ set and Crazy P.

Veteran ballers will also welcome the news that Masked Ball regulars The Cuban Brothers will be returning, as will London's Horse Meat Disco collective.

The Summer Masked Ball, which takes place on May 2 and 3, sees the Ball return to its spiritual home at Beacon Crag for a two-day festival.

Early bird tickets to the summer ball are now on sale at £40 and include entrance to the Saturday all-nighter and the 12-hour Sunday session, plus camping for both nights.

This year the Masked Ball has released a limited number of Christmas card tickets for that special party animal in their life.

Kelvin Batt added: “We're really lucky that so many people get what we do and are so supportive of the events, from the beautifully bonkers Ballers themselves, to local businesses and the council.

“We're also so happy that the Ball has grown to the stage where it can put a something back into the community, and hope to add to the £12,500 we have raised for local charities so far just by buying a ticket and dancing the night away.”

Early bird tickets are sale now at www.maskedball.net