KENDAL CALLING 2024 PREVIEW
Dubbed ‘the mini-Glastonbury of the North,’ Kendal Calling returns to the fields this summer boasting five major headliners and over 120 world-class acts ready to captivate audiences this next weekend in August. It kicked off in 2006 as a small, two-day event with just 900 people, but now it’s a massive four-day party with around 40,000 festival-goers. In this initial review, I share my excitement about this year’s line up. Although I had some reservations about a few of the acts, as you would understand if you’ve read from my Tramlines review, I’ve heard that Kendal Calling is quite a special festival.
A brief history for those interested: Kendal Calling began at Abbot Hall Park in Kendal, showcasing stellar performances by artists such as Pendulum and British Sea Power. The festival relocated to Grate Farm in 2007 before settling permanently at Lowther Deer Park in 2009. Throughout its history, Kendal Calling has hosted iconic performers including Blondie, Mumford & Sons, Calvin Harris, and Dizzee Rascal. The festival has earned prestigious accolades, such as the Best Small UK Festival in 2010 and the Best Small Festival at the LIVE UK awards in 2011. It’s renowned for its eclectic line-ups, vibrant atmosphere, and unique attractions like the Cumbrian Olympics and the Real Ale Festival.
This year, Kendal Calling is set to be an unforgettable experience with headliners like Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Streets, Paolo Nutini, and Paul Heaton with special guest Rianne Downey. Keane will also be taking the stage, along with other exciting acts such as the Sugababes, The Snuts, and Kate Nash. With such a stellar lineup, the festival is promising to deliver it’s usual electrifying atmosphere and memorable performances. I’m attending from Friday, so I’ve started my preview there to coincide with my review.
FRIDAY
We’ll start with the headliner this Friday at Kendal Calling, Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds. Despite in my youth being an Oasis fan, I haven’t had many opportunities to see Noel perform solo. As one of the UK’s most prolific songwriters, I admire several of his solo tracks such as ‘If I Had A Gun’, ‘The Death of You and Me’, and ‘The Dying of the Light’. His credibility is undeniable, but it’s questionable whether any potential Oasis songs could come across the same, as I’m used to hearing his younger brother belt out the tracks. I expect it will be fantastic for a singalong, yet akin to some of the Tramlines headliners, I’m unsure if it will meet the energy level I personally favour.
I really enjoyed The Pigeon Detectives’ debut album, but their subsequent work didn’t quite grab me in the same way. Nonetheless, The Pigeon Detectives consistently deliver fantastic live performances at festivals, making them a definite recommendation for any music event line up.
Pip Blom and Deadletter both show a lot of promise with their impressive onstage presence. However, like many new bands, after a few standout tracks, my interest often wanes. Let’s see what they bring to the table this weekend, and again I’ll share my verdict afterward. I share similar thoughts about Bilk; a few tracks really resonate with me, but I’m uncertain if I can listen to their entire album from start to finish. In terms of attitude, I think they could be a bit more humble, but that’s their prerogative.
I’ve been a huge fan of The K’s for years, witnessing their ascent from the beginning. I’ve experienced their absolutely mind-blowing performances before massive crowds. I’m looking forward to seeing how the journey is evolving as its been a while.
SATURDAY
Saturday brings The Streets to the mainstage for the headline performance. Now I’ll be honest I wouldn’t say I’m a huge Streets fan as in I don’t listen to them on a regular basis, but stick me in a field after a few pints and WOW I love them. Frank Skinner can get a crowd going and that’s exactly what a festival headliner should be, full of ENERGY.
Andrew Cushin is such a supremely talented guy and can hold a festival crowd easily as he proved supporting The Reytons in Clifton Park. I will definitely be catching his set on Saturday and recommend you do too.
The Royston Club is a band that truly resonates with me; their sound is immense, they just epitomise coolness effortlessly, they have a great look and are fantastic to photograph, and they perform a set that captivates and holds your attention from start to finish.
Sugababes, Kate Nash and Heather Small bring the girls to the mainstage and will bring some much needed feminine energy and hits. All good with a nice (hopefully) cold cider or beer in the sunshine.
SUNDAY
I understand that Paolo Nutini has a dedicated fanbase that adores him, but I don’t share the same enthusiasm. I’ll attempt to remain as neutral as possible. Nutini has also earned critical acclaim, with his 2022 album “Last Night in the Bittersweet” securing his third UK number one album. Remarkably, it achieved gold certification by the BPI within just one year of release, underscoring his enduring popularity since his debut in 2006. So, I get it, but having watched his entire two-hour performance at Tramlines last weekend, here’s my take: if you’re a fan, you’ll undoubtedly enjoy it. However, if you’re familiar with his hit album ‘These Streets’ and are expecting a setlist packed with those hits, you might end up disappointed. My tip? Start listening to his latest work before you head to the festival to get a sense of what to expect.
Although The Reytons’ lyrics may not stand out to me (as I am particularly fond of lyrics), their live performances are undeniably electrifying and guarantee to energise the audience. While I generally avoid comparisons, if you’re a fan of bands like Arctic Monkeys and Milburn, then The Reytons will likely be right up your street.
Royel Otis is likely the band I’m most excited to see. They are an Australian guitar-pop duo from Sydney, formed in 2019 by Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic. Their music is a fusion of indie pop with touches of post-punk and psychedelic rock, resulting in a distinctive and appealing sound. “Oysters in My Pocket” is one of their standout tracks, celebrated for its lively and captivating rhythm, I can’t wait to hear it live!.
Sunday will feature Megan Wynn on the Calling Out Stage. Megan, a gifted young singer-songwriter from Anglesey, Wales, first gained attention with her impressive covers of songs by artists such as DMA’s, Wolf Alice, and Blossoms on YouTube. In 2021, she earned wider acclaim by appearing on the “Brits & Pieces 2” compilation and having her debut single “Polaroid” listed on BBC Radio Wales. Renowned for her emotive lyrics and captivating live performances, her blossoming reputation in the music scene indicates a promising future.
BBY is a band that has captured my interest with their single ‘Hotline’; its sound and vibe are again a band who are quite promising. Admittedly, I haven’t had the chance to listen to much more, but I will be doing so and will definitely check them out further, depending on any potential clashes.
With that in mind, I should start devising my strategy! I’m excited for my first Kendal Calling experience and I’ll see you in the fields!
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Words: Rachel Brown
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