“KENDAL CALLING” DOES IT LIVE UP TO THE HYPE? – HIGHLIGHTS 2024
This year, I made my debut at Kendal Calling, celebrating my son’s 21st birthday on Sunday meant I could only spend a day and a half at the festival, but the experience was remarkable, thanks to the incredibly welcoming and helpful press team. I’ve started to acknowledge such teams in my reviews, recognising that many journalists and photographers self-fund their travel and expenses, making any hospitality like complimentary food or drinks especially appreciated. I recall one festival where we didn’t even have access to a plug socket!
Now, let’s delve into a bit of history for those unfamiliar with Kendal Calling.
Beginning as a modest two-day event in 2006 with a capacity of 900 people at Abbot Hall Park in Kendal, the festival has expanded significantly, now drawing approximately 40,000 attendees. Kendal Calling showcases a wide array of music genres, such as rock, indie, dance, folk, and features comedy acts. Renowned artists like Blondie, Pendulum, Doves, Dizzee Rascal, Mumford & Sons, and Calvin Harris have graced its stages. The festival was honoured with the Best Small UK Festival Award in 2010. In 2009, Kendal Calling relocated to the spacious and scenic Lowther Deer Park, known for its lively ambiance, imaginative installations (more festivals should do these), and an assortment of stages and tents.
The opening act on Friday, FLOWEROVLOVE featuring Joyce Cissie, showcasing an extremely confident artist who captivated both the stage and the audience. Reading more about this girl , it became immediately clear why her magnetic stage presence was so impactful. Observing her through my lens for a few minutes, she immediately captured my interest big time. This South Londoner released her debut EP ‘Think Flower’ in 2021 and also appeared at Paris Fashion Week.
She has fronted campaigns for prestigious brands such as Gucci and Pangaia, and notably, her first London show was a sell-out. Her music is vibrant and unforgettable, and importantly, interviews with the rising artist indicate she is an immensely positive role model for young women—a crucial figure in the current social media environment. Her array of talents is sure to earn her widespread recognition in the near future.
I pride myself on the honesty of my reviews. Initially, I was up-to-date with most new music, but three years of intense psychology studies at university have dulled my edge. Am I admitting ignorance of CMAT? Certainly not, but have I dedicated the time she merits? Clearly I haven’t, what a revelation she was – an absolutely astonishing live performance. This girl is brimming with personality, and if you’re reading this, CMAT, I think you are BRILLIANT.
Anyway, less of the fangirling, lets talk about the music, CMAT was a contender for International Artist of the Year at this years BRITs, competing in the same category as Asake, Burna Boy, Caroline Polachek, Kylie Minogue, Lana Del Rey, Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rodrigo, SZA, and Taylor Swift.
While I appreciate all the artists and congratulate SZA on winning the award, I would have been thrilled to see CMAT take it home. Her performance was so compelling that it’s clear she adds a new and exciting dimension to the music industry. CMAT has proven to be a powerful force, seamlessly blending melodrama, emotion, exhilaration, and sheer delight. The Irish music scene is truly thriving at the moment, isn’t it?
I’ve recently had to address my habit of people-pleasing all across my life, and I’m discarding those tendencies even in my music write ups. Looking back at my past festival experiences and reviews, I realise I was scared to be frank or share my genuine opinions about certain bands or artists, especially if I knew their manager or was friends with a band member as I didn’t want to offend any band that had worked hard for their success. However, to uphold the standards of journalism that values integrity over flattery, I understand that I must be uncompromisingly honest in the future. So, lets look at some of the other artists that I saw on the bill that didn’t quite get my festival juices flowing.
The Snuts presented their quintessential Scottish indie anthems to a decent-sized audience on Friday. Although they don’t particularly disappoint me, and despite having interviewed them at TRNSMT some years ago, I must confess, with all due diplomacy, that their act no longer thrills me.
The same feeling applies to The K’s performance on Saturday; it all seemed like a rerun of everything I’ve seen before and felt flat compared to their usual energy. I’ve being watching them for years and frankly, they just didn’t in the words of Shania Twain ‘impress me much’.
Having been a festival-goer for ten years before owning Northern Exposure, and then attending as a reviewer and photographer at most of the major festivals for another decade, I feel that innovation is lacking, with the same acts and shows appearing annually at numerous festival line-ups. While these bands certainly hold their own in the music industry, I think festival organisers need to pay more attention to the entertainment value and how the new music produced by these artists will resonate with a crowd of many inebriated festival-goers.
A highlight I must mention was Harvey Jay Dodgson, who left a lasting impression on me with his raw talent and powerful voice during his impactful performance on Saturday afternoon.
His unfiltered tracks featured hard-hitting lyrics and narratives that captured the essence of youth and vitality. This thrilling indie-rock artist radiated an immense youthful energy, with his distinctive whiskey-soaked vocals adding intensity and his compelling hooks engaging the audience. Each track was irresistibly catchy, and I’m delighted to have experienced his performance that afternoon.
I decided to skip Noel Gallagher’s performance on Friday because there were several acts at the Tim Peaks Diner that caught my interest. With the Gallaghers, it often feels like you know what to expect, and it’s something I’ve experienced countless times before. So, I opted to explore some unfamiliar music instead.
I’ve found a significant issue with festivals this year; when I attend one, I seek energy, the desire to dance, and to sing with all my heart, but I’ve felt that, in terms of headliners, this has been utterly lacking. However, The Streets saved the day delivering an outstanding performance on Saturday night, making Kendal Calling unforgettable.
Tim Peaks Diner, conceived by Tim Burgess, the iconic lead singer of The Charlatans, has become an integral part of Kendal Calling. This diner is far from ordinary—it’s like entering a warm, caffeine-infused parallel universe where music and coffee merge seamlessly and all run by volunteers. The diner has been a significant part of Kendal Calling’s charity efforts. Last year, the festival contributed to raising a record-breaking £55,000 for various charities. The proceeds from coffee sales at Tim Peaks Diner went towards the “Help Us Help Bands” fund, which supports up-and-coming bands by providing financial assistance for recording new music, buying merchandise, and more. It’s wonderful to see such community spirit and support for new artists.
Gary Neville also made his DJ debut at the festival on Sunday, as the Manchester United legend joined The Charlatans’ frontman Tim Burgess on the decks.
The line up included A Certain Ratio, Dave Haslam, and Nik Void, all conjured up musical enchantment in the rustic cabin over the weekend, with Tim Burgess himself taking to the stage for an extraordinary performance with Helen O’Hara (of Dexy’s Midnight Runners fame) and the Royal Northern College of Music’s Session Orchestra. So many epic surprise performances have taken place within those inviting walls, from The Libertines, Blossoms, The Coral, The Cribs, and even The Vaccines have all made impromptu appearances, this year saw Andrew Cushin, Starsailors James Walsh and Anthony Szmierek play surprise sets.
By Sunday I had travelled home, but Kendal Calling favourites The Lancashire Hotpots brought everyone from their tents and into the fields as they emitted an infectious singalong energy. Pale Waves, Royal Otis, Red Rum Club and Antony Szmierek were among the day’s highlights, marking the very best of the UK’s new wave of festival acts. A tremendous final run of Lottery Winners, Sundara Karma, Feeder and The Reytons had the floors shaking across the site as every tent was dancing along to anthemic hits, filling everyone with anticipation for the festival finale of Paolo Nutini.
Would I recommend Kendal Calling? Without a doubt, I would 110%. It’s important to be realistic; no festival line up can satisfy everyone’s preferences. And of course, everyone, myself included, will have their personal views. The festival is generally well-organised, boasting an array of tasty food stalls, and the bar queues are always manageable. The security is stringent but fair, and the press team is friendly, helpful, fostering a great atmosphere in the press tent. The ambiance is family-friendly set in a fantastic location, with attendees ranging from young children and teenagers to adults of all ages enjoying the festivities.
Set in Lowther Deer Park in the beautiful Lake District, Kendal Calling will return next year for 20th birthday from 31 July – 3 August. Tickets for Kendal Calling’s 20th adventure will go on sale on Thursday 8 August at 10am, and what’s more, organisers have frozen ticket prices in line with this year – with payment plans available from as little as £15 per month: http://www.kendalcalling.co.uk/
PHOTOS AND WORDS UNLESS STATED BY RACHEL BROWN
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