| Location(s) | Lowther Deer Park, the Lake District, England |
|---|---|
| Years active | Since 2006 |
| Date(s) | Last weekend of July (3 days) |
| Genre | Rock / Indie / Dance / Folk / Comedy / Electro |
| Website | www.kendalcalling.co.uk |
Kendal Calling is an independent music festival held annually at Lowther Deer Park in the Lake District, Cumbria. It has grown from a two-day, 900 capacity event in 2006[1] to an 8000 capacity three-day music festival. Kendal Calling has 9 stages and has featured live performances from notable artists such as Blondie, Pendulum, Doves, Dizzee Rascal, Mumford & Sons, Calvin Harris and British Sea Power.[2][3] In 2010 Kendal Calling was awarded the Best Small UK Festival Award at the UK Festival Awards, as voted by the public.[4]
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Kendal Calling was originally held in Abbot Hall Park overlooking Kendal Castle. It had a capacity of 900 with a circus big top housing the majority of the performances. Saturday was headlined by Pendulum with Breaks Co-op, Nucleus Roots, Sourpuss Dj’s and Shaolin Monkey also gracing the stage. Sunday was a full day of live bands with Kendal born rockers British Sea Power closing the festival, the performance made famous by lead guitarist Martin Noble climbing the 50 ft centre pole while robots danced on stage.[5] Also on the schedule for the day was Little Man Tate, White Rose Movement, Seven Seals, How’s My Pop and Amber 292. All tickets sold out in advance of the festival.[6]
Kendal Calling relocated to Grate Farm on the A591 on the outskirts of Kendal and saw an increased capacity of 2000 with more stages added to accommodate additional artists. The Friday night was headlined by BBC Radio 1’s Grooverider with Freestylers supporting on the bill. Other acts included Sourpuss Dj’s, Kendal favourite and ATIC Records founder Aim, Aqausky & Ragga twins and Pama International. The Sunday included Kendal boys Wild Beasts, The Redwings, The Answering Machine and headliners, Carl Barât's Dirty Pretty Things. All tickets sold out in advance of the festival.[7]
2008 saw the festival increase capacity again to 4000 and extending to 3 days. It was a hugely successful year for the organisers as they saw the festival nominated for Best Small Festival, Best Line-Up, Best Toilets and Best Grass Roots Festival and was shortlisted for the latter at The UK Festival Awards. The line-up was worthy of these nominations with the winner of the Best Urban Act Dizzee Rascal flying in from Ibiza to perform on the opening Friday night only to fly back again straight after the show for a performance back on the island. Kendal Calling also welcomed back home town group British Sea Power to headline the Saturday with Welsh rockers Super Furry Animals closing the Sunday. Other acts included DJ Yoda, UK Beatbox Champion Beardyman, dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip, Scottish newcomers Glasvegas, BBC Radio 1’s longest running DJ Annie Nightingale, Scratch Perverts, Howard Marks, Frank Sidebottom and Atomic Hooligan to name just a few. All tickets sold out in advance of the festival.[8][9][10]
Kendal Calling was criticised in the wake of a fatal overdose at the festival, after one of the bands playing appeared to encourage drug taking in the festival programme. The organisers claim that they operated a zero tolerance policy towards drugs.[11]
In 2009 the festival relocated, moving to Lowther Deer Park, near Penrith and raising its capacity to 6000. The festival included an outdoor main stage for the first time. Headliners included The Streets, The Zutons and Ash. Over 100 artists were confirmed including: The Sunshine Underground, Idlewild, Noah & the Whale, Goldie Lookin Chain, Twisted Wheel, Nine Black Alps, Rumblestrips, Krafty Kuts, Stanton Warriors, Beardyman, Mumford & Sons, Tommy Sparks, Frank Turner, Chase & Status, Skream, Aim, Shy FX, Ash Howell, The King Blues, Fight Like Apes, Craig Charles, Howard Marks, Iration Steppa’s, Tunng and Cornershop.[12]
2009’s Kendal Calling had many new stages and area’s incorporated with a SNO!zone area including a real snow slope. The festival had increased non-musical activities such as the Holy Quail Inn pub and stage, a children's activity and performance area and a Big Love Inflatable Church were festival goers could tie the knott in fancy dress. Kendal Calling 2009 was shortlisted for Best Small Festival and Best Grass Roots Festival at the 2009 UK Festival awards. All tickets sold out in advance of the festival.[13]
The festival remained at Lowther Deer Park, Penrith in the Lake District. The audience rose to 8000 and there was a total of 9 stages. Earlybird tickets sold out in record time with 500 being snapped up in one minute.[14] As with previous years all tickets for the festival sold out in advance.[15] Headliners were Calvin Harris on the Friday, Doves on the Saturday and The Coral on the Sunday. Other acts included British Sea Power, The King Blues, The Correspondents (band), okgo and The Futureheads. Craig Charles once again returned to close the festival with a DJ set on the Sunday night.[16] The festival won Best Small UK Festival at the UK Festival Awards, as voted by the public.[17]
The festival is set to remain at the Lowther Deer Park near Penrith. Regular performer Craig Charles confirmed on the official website that he will once again show up at this year's event. On 4 February 2011, the first 'wave' of acts was announced including Echo and the Bunnymen, Beardyman and The Levellers. On 1 March 2011, the second set of acts and main stage headliners were announced. Friday headliners were British drum n' bass artist Chase & Status, Saturday headliners were Wakefield indie outfit The Cribs and New York New Wave/Pop group Blondie closed the festival on Sunday evening. Other artists who performed at the festival were Nero, The Whip and Young Knives. The event sold out in May, 14 weeks before the festival began.