Kendal Calling is a three-day, independently run, non-commercial and spectacularly optimistic music festival. It is held each year in Lowther Deer Park, in between Kendal and Penrith, set inside acres upon acres of beautiful landscape, with panaramic views of misty fells, lush green fields and crumbly stone walls.
That was the selling point, for me. Having attended several festivals in my younger years (Reading and Leeds, Truck, SuperSonic, SXSW, to name the few that I at least remember) Kendal Calling excited me in two ways - firstly it is in Cumbria. In the Northwest, a region that I love because it is so varied and diverse and brilliant. Anyway, that we have our own music festival is quite something, and definitely something that Vision+Media wanted to support. Secondly, the festival promised (and delivered) a small, intimate and local feel. Reading and Leeds, Glastonbury - you're looking at sharing the festival (and more importantly the porta-loos) with hundreds of thousands of people. Not fun. I don't enjoy standing around queueing, either, so smaller festivals are a nice touch. Kendal Calling has somewhere in the region of 15,000 people, a much nicer number. And I can find my friends again if I get lost. Woo.
Anyway, this year myself and some friends set off to Kendal Calling. Driving down the M6 in bucketing rain, going at a snail's pace, seemed like a (really) bad omen... Fortunately when we arrived it was dry - and miraculously stayed pretty dry as well throughout the weekend. It was great to see so many local companies involved in the festival selling food and drink - you don't mind paying £3.50 for a pint when it's the delicious Kendal brewery ales, rather than luke-warm Carling (Reading and Leeds - take note!).
The acts were great. Personal highlights included Yields, Kathryn Edwards, Jo Rose, Wild Beasts, OKGO, and Futureheads. The house-party tent was quite exciting too, for a moment I felt as though I were back in my heady student days... Fortunately I came to my senses before dancing too embarrasingly.
All in all a great festival and we were glad to have supported it. It brings so much new energy to the region, and we will certainly be planning another trip that way soon.
Keep posted for more blogs from the festival, and some photos.
You can check out videos at Kendal Calling's YouTube channel.
Please also check out our blogs about Manchester Jazz Festival