Cumbria’s biggest music festival is underway, and Cumbria Crack spoke to some of the local talent performing at Lowther Deer Park this weekend.
Kendal Calling – now in its 19th year – welcomes forty thousand music lovers from across the country to its site this weekend; headliners this year include Noel Gallagher, Sugababes, Keane, and Paolo Nutini.
Hardwicke Circus, a five-piece rock band from Carlisle, opened the festival’s main stage on Thursday.
Frontman Jonny Foster said: “We love playing at Kendal Calling; it’s our favourite festival. All of us in the band have been going to Kendal growing up; we’ve watched some of our favourite bands as punters in those fields.
“Opening the main stage, the first band of the festival, means a lot to us. It feels like a full circle moment. Our set yesterday went fantastic, the crowd really built up throughout it.
“Jack our sax player got up on a cherry picker, and before we knew it, he had his saxophone and was well above the main stage. So many people in the crowd knew the words of our songs, which kind of amazed us.
“We’re a very proud Carlisle band. We wear that on our sleeve. Wherever we go, we tell people we are from this part of the world, which is full of great bands, singers, and art. Kendal is the perfect place to showcase that.”
Kendal Calling has 19 stages in total, all jam-packed with some of the best music the UK has to offer.
Festival co-founder Andy Smith said emerging talent and local names have been a key element of the line-up at Kendal Calling since its founding in 2006.
“Key to an artist’s success is the opportunity to play live in front of audiences. When we started Kendal Calling many moons ago, it was because we were in local bands ourselves and knew first hand the difficulties of growing a fanbase in a rural district.
“By bringing national and international superstars to our corner of the world, who attract sell-out audiences, we have the perfect platform to showcase emerging local talent.
“With local music development charities Music Links, Soundwave, and the Brewery Arts Centre, we have the perfect partners to assist local musicians in their journey,” said Andy.
One new stage for 2024 is The Roots, where fans can listen to emerging and local talent. The stage is organised by BBC Introducing and Cumbrian promoters Oh My Days and Soundwave, based in West Cumbria.
Danny Dunnery and his band travel from Whitehaven to play the Roots Stage on Saturday evening.
Danny said being in the line-up is a dream come true. He said: “Being able to say that I’m in the line-up for Kendal calling is so exciting for me. It’s been something that I’ve wanted to tick off the list for a long time.
“It’s not often that you get to say that you’re on the same bill as some of the biggest artists the UK has ever seen, and the lads and I feel privileged to be a part of it.
“We have a great set lined up on the Roots stage on Saturday evening, and we can’t thank everyone involved enough for allowing us to showcase our music to everyone.”
