Kendal Calling is back, and this year, it’s celebrating a whopping 20 years in the fields.
From humble beginnings as a two-day party in 2006 to growing into an award-winning event bringing huge artists including Blondie, Snoop Dogg and Fatboy Slim to Cumbria – it’s a festival that has quickly become a household name.
Alongside its star-studded line-ups, big brand deals, art installations and vendors of all kinds, it also draws in over 40,000 festivalgoers from both inside and outside of Cumbria into Lowther Deer Park, just off the A66 near Penrith.
Weather is becoming an issue as people’s thoughts turn to leaving the event today, Sunday and tomorrow.
Organisers said high winds were expected from 10am tomorrow, Monday August 4.
Support vehicles will be available from midnight and 7am tomorrow in case anyone needs help.
It’s set to be a busy day on the roads too – so people are urged to be patient.
Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland have asked us to give a big shout out to Andy Smith and the organisers of Kendal Calling for their support over the last 14 years.
The charity sells sunflower goodies at the event to raise funds for its vital work.
Debbie McKenna, the charity’s CEO, said: “Sunflowers can be seen all over the festival.
“Every year they allow us to bring a team of volunteers to raise much needed funds to provide End of life care in peoples own homes locally and we are grateful to them and the wonderful volunteers who help sell sunflowers to the amazing Kendal Calling community.”
But while it’s an event that has grown to epic proportions, it’s also never lost sight of its Cumbrian roots.
Countless memories and stories from different generations of festival goers have been made at the site over the years and this weekend, we’re on a mission to share them with you.
It’s a festival that means the world to thousands of people and if you’re one of them, we want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]
Sunday
It’s a rainy, slightly windy start in the fields today, but it is expected to brighten up later on, but it really wouldn’t be Kendal Calling without a little bit of rain.
Lucy said Fatboy Slim was a treat last night – the highlight being Praise You – where he celebrated the Lionesses recent win and Barrow’s Georgia Stanway appeared on screen.
Co-founder Andy Smith said that research has estimated the festival injects a whopping £23 million into the local economy – and it’s an impact that can be easily spotted by locals.
Andy said: “I remember going to a supermarket in Penrith one day and they were completely out of booze, just for a bit of perspective!”
The festival has also dug itself firmly into the hearts of some of the big bands and musicians playing at the festival.
Kendal Calling has scooped several awards over the years including festival of the year at this year’s Northern Music Awards.
But Andy said one award in particular has stood out from the rest.
Andy said: “There was a wonderful moment at the UK Festival Awards around 18 months ago when the last award of the night was given out by the Lottery Winners.
“They’d made their own unofficial award, and it was the best festival, and it was Kendal Calling.
“We’ve got all these wonderful awards in the office made out of glass or wood or stone and this one was made out of toilet rolls, and they’d painted them.
“That has pride of place, because it means a lot and they’ve been coming to the festival for 15 years and they’re one of the hardest working bands I know, they’ve had their number one album and on tour with Robbie Williams and I’m really really happy for them.”
As eclectic as ever – we’ve also woken up to screamo this morning, it sounds like it could be coming from the campsite, and since the acts don’t start until 12, it’s likely.
There are quite a lot of people packing up and after Lucy spoke with a food vendor, they said a lot of people are a bit worried about the weather tomorrow and are planning to pack up and leave late at night after the final act.
All people packing up so traffic tonight could be intense just like how the arrival numbers on Thursday was unexpected.
Oh and we identified the screamo – it was Dwelled warming up and now playing on the Woodlands stage!
They have just thanked people for watching and listening even if it’s not their kind of music, which is really one of the best parts of Kendal, there’s something new for everyone and always something new to seek out.
Rachel Tarn and Phil Norman, of Durham, have had a week for the history books after heading to see Oasis Live 25 in London Wembley on Wednesday before picking up their campervan they’d parked at Darlington train station and heading straight to Kendal Calling!
Luckily, their Cumbrian friends saved them a good parking spot to camp for the weekend!
They got their campervan packed up for Kendal on Monday to make sure they were ready for their week and after watching Oasis on Wednesday night, on Thursday they were in King’s Cross Station by 8am and then were parked up at Kendal by midday!
It’s Rachel’s second time at Kendal and it’s her favourite small festival, for Phil it’s his 10th time coming and when we asked what keeps him coming back he said it’s the perfect size of the festival, the strong line ups and the fact it has a bit of everything.
The pair said Oasis on Wednesday was amazing – Rachel first saw them at 13 in 97 and Phil remembers watching the bands last performance before they split up at V Festival in 2009.
Rachel’s niece Kalila and nephew Fraser also went with them.
The pair went to see the Oasis Supernova tribute in the Parklands tent behind them shortly after chatting with us!
Amy and Morgan Sands from Milton Keynes – both their first time at the festival.
Took them seven-and-a-half hours to get here.
They had a last minute panic on Wednesday wanting a costume that was Halloween themed and googled “good Halloween costumes for bald men”
They were still sewing at 2am the night before they set off!
The Grays and the Armstrongs from Wigton have been coming for over 12 years and they’re celebrating the festival’s birthday as part of the themed celebrations Sunday.
They keep coming because cause it’s local, a great atmosphere and good for kids.
They said: “It’s really important to us because it gives us that chance to get together every year.”
They also turn their trolley into whatever the Sunday theme is each year – trolleys for carrying children are quite popular in the fields, and the families said its a really great and fun way to get kids around.
Bryn Wilson, 54, and Jo Lynch, 54, from Leeds and York, got engaged on Thursday beneath Kendal’s Lost Eden Earth while working as part of the Festival Angels team.
Bryn used a Haribo ring to propose and the pair plan to get a real ring later.
Jo said while she normally likes to stay in the know of everything going on that Bryn succeeded in surprising her with the proposal.
She said: “I thought he’s never going to catch me out with it, but he really did!
“He got down on one knee with a Haribo ring, I think we’ve gone through a whole bag over the last four days!”
The pair have volunteered for the organisation for around nine years covering Leeds fest but only properly crossed paths and started to speak to one another around three years ago.
They really liked each other, but with various things going on in their lives, it wasn’t until the following year that they started to date.
Bryn said: “It’s been an absolutely brilliant weekend because she said yes.”
The pair have volunteered at Kendal Calling for the past two years and it means a lot to them, as it marks some of their first proper time spent together as a couple.
Bryn said he planned in advance to propose at the festival as it has a friendly, calm and open atmosphere.
Bryn said he was excited to propose to Jo and added: “I just want to spend the rest of my life with her.”
Some of the Festival Angel team also threw the couple a little surprise celebration on their engagement with cake and prosecco handed out in their tent.
The pair plan to return to Kendal Calling to volunteer again next year.
Saturday
Up bright and early and ready to go? Or are you already hungover?
Either, way, we’re back bringing you more Kendal Calling tales, details and general excitement.
The sun is shining and the first acts start around 11am on the Roots stage.
All through the night people kept shouting “Alan” at each other from across the campsite – this is apparently a Kendal Calling ‘thing’ that has been happening for a few years.
We’re chatting with others and trying to figure out why on earth it’s so funny to people, and our working theory so far is that it references a popular meme of an alpine marmot that shouts “Alan” which we think may have first entered the internet sphere in around 2009.
Headliners for today include The Lottery Winners, Travis and Fatboy Slim.
All festival goers will now be on site and ready for the weekend – which makes Kendal Calling officially Cumbria’s third largest town, behind Carlisle and Barrow.
Around half of tickets sold are to those within an hour of Cumbria while the other half are people from across the country and beyond.
It’s a thing you only know about if you go and camp in the fields, but it does cause a lot of funny confusion, with the uninitiated questioning who on earth is Alan and how has he got himself so lost.
Teleshopping are also not able to make the festival and are being replaced by Oscar Hartland at 1pm on the Calling Out stage today.
Tomorrow, Jason Manford is unable to perform due to illness and will be replaced by John Bishop at 3pm.
The Sidebottoms and The Purples from Leeds – It’s their second year coming, they love to atmosphere and the family friendly mature audience and said they absolutely will be back next year.
They’re all wearing matching Fatboy Slim shirts and are very excited to see him perform tonight.
Lucy says it could also could be a bit of a nightmare tomorrow night – rain is predicted tomorrow and quite a few people on Facebook talking about leaving after The Prodigy, so we shall see how that pans out.
But today, the weather is so hot, that everywhere is a sunbathing spot…..
Lucy also met Malcom and friends from Lancashire. Malcolm might be the instigator of this trend with the arrow on top of his head as there’s a few arrowheads lurking around the arena, but this one was bought for him by the group.
When we ask about it, the group tell us it’s to “keep an eye on Malcolm” and not lose him in a crowd!
The group have been to Kendal a few times and they explain they keep coming back because it’s a great time in a gorgeous setting – but partying wise, Malcolm said it can make you question your life decisions.
Nicola and her daughter Niamph who is 10, from Rochdale
Nicola has worked festivals before but it’s Niamph’s first ever one.
The pair are having a lot of fun and thought the dinosaur costumes would be the cherry on top.
They were looking forward to seeing Fatboy Slim and thought they might catch a film at The Pinkturehouse, Kendal’s on site cinema, before heading to bed.
We also heard that a kitten was also allegedly found in a car on site – a staff member asked for the owner to come forward as it is too hot for any animal in a car, let alone a kitten.
Big turn out for festival favourites The Lottery Winners too.
Friday
The action is building at the Deer Park as thousands begin to descend on the site, just outside of Penrith.
While some people have already spent a night camping under Cumbrian skies – the official line-up starts today with The K’s, The Wombats and The Courtneers headlining the main stage.
Local bands are also set to play on the Woodlands stage and Roots emerging talent stage throughout the weekend.
Ollie, Lucy and Ben will be bringing you all the details of the weekend’s action.
Lucy caught up with a group who have been coming to Kendal Calling for years.
Claire – dubbed as the group long timer – with her friends and family from Kendal have been attendng since 2012 – and they’ve followed it after its initial move and remember its small early days fondly.
A few have even grown up at the festival and put simply they keep coming back because Kendal is “good beer, good food and a good atmosphere”.
The group said they were also fans of Cumbria Crack, which we always like to hear.
We met with Twiggy, a Whitehaven-based artist who is here to support the Soundwave team at the Roots stage.
Twiggy is painting live all weekend – and people can see the finished results on Sunday.
His artwork is inspired by AI – he explains to us that he generated an image of a typical Kendal Calling festival goer which has inspired his piece.
He tells us since AI is stealing the work of human artists, he believes artists should steal back.
He’s using watercolours that belonged to a family member in the 60s and alcohol markers.
In the time we’re speaking, dozens of people flock to him to ask about his painting and the commissions he does.
The Roots stage is sharing local talent all weekend – some of the youngsters performing this will be their first time on stage, so go show them some love.
While he said a lot of first timers are nervous before they get on stage, he added that the buzz they get after thanks to enthusiastic crowds makes it all worth it.
The weather is mixed right now – it’s warm, but there’s a bit of a wind chill and a threat of rain, but spirits are good.
Lucy met Catherine, Paul and their 13-year-old daughter Ellie from Carlisle today.
Paul has been six times to Kendal, and brought both Catherine and Ellie as she grew up over the years
They keep coming because they love how close it is to home and the friendly atmosphere that’s also suitable for families and the mix of music.
Ellie bought the goose hat especially for Kendal. Her dad tells us its because she loves geese and when we asked, she said “I just love it”.
They highly recommend Dick and Dom and are looking forward to The Prodigy on Sunday.
Mandy and Neil from Macclesfield are both first timers, but have a friend Jo living in Whitehaven who is joining them and comes every year.
Mandy was crocheting and dancing while watching a secret DJ set by Woody Cock in the green room.
Neil is modelling one of her previous hat creations!
The pair said they are loving the chilled atomsphere and they love the woodlands and thought the Tim Peake’s Diner where they watched Inspiral Carpets was a really special experience.
Neil is a big Glastonbury fan and according to Mandy, hasn’t stopped talking about Glasto for the past 10 years.
He said it he does feel Kendal Calling has a Glastonbury feel about it – and wandering around the site you do hear a lot of people making the comparison.
Mandy has been crocheting for the past 10 months and is loving it after her daughter wanted to learn but couldn’t quite get the hang of it.
A staff outing from the Station Inn in Oxenholme are a mix of first timers and one of them – who didn’t want to be named – said he has been five times. He came to the very first festival with his wife, who used to work at the event.
Claire, 35, and Craig, 41, from Newcastle are first timers. They’re loving the atmosphere so far. They’ve been here since yesterday and thought headliners were amazing at Kendal.
They are looking forward to Fatboy Slim and said Sophie Ellis Bextor was excellent and really personable on Thursday.
For guitarist Jake Andersonbell who grew up living close to the Kendal Calling site, performing on then woodlands stage was a childhood dream come true.
The band have just finished their performance!
For many Cumbrians, Kendal Calling is a bit of a right of passage.
Whether you’re 16 or 60 and heading to your first festival with friends or you’re a parent taking your child to their first ever festival or you’re anywhere in between – Kendal marks a spot in a lot of Cumbrian lives.
A word from co-founder Andy Smith
The festival’s co-founder Andy Smith, who has been running the festival since he was 18 years old, said it’s a privilege to bring a festival that grows to the size of the third largest town in the county to Cumbrian every year.
He added that over the years the team has heard tales ranging from a headliner getting stuck in the toilet, to unbelievable coincidences, including one occasion where a man in quiet camping told the tent next to him to quiet down at 3am, only to realise it was his neighbour from the Isle of Man.
Plenty of love stories have also happened on site too, including old flames bumping into each other for the first time in 20 years only to get married 12 months later.
Unexpected encounters including a group of friends who ended up backstage because they helped push a broken down tour bus and magical ones, including a child who lost their teddy, only for it to reappear onstage during a set.
Andy said: “We are so incredibly fortunate to have created a festival that has really taken people’s imagination and that they’ve enjoyed coming back to it every single year.
“It’s a real privilege to be involved in so many people’s lovely stories too. I was chatting to one of the bar staff last year and he said ‘oh it’s not my first time’ and I said ‘how long have you been coming?’ and he said since he was about four years old!
“We do want it to be a right of passage but we want it to also be something that people all come back to, my group of friends are scattered around the country and world, but it’s the festival is that one focal point of the year where we’ll see everybody.
“We don’t want to lose the identity of the festival, so it’s grown slowly as we have grown and aged as people, and we seem to have got it right, because we’ve sold out every year for 20 years.
“But our Cumbrian roots are certainly something we’re very proud of, who isn’t who has had the luxury of growing up here?”
This year has been no exception to Kendal Calling’s sell-out rule, and tickets for the show’s 20th birthday sold out 10 months ahead of the festival.
