Kendal Calling is a music and arts festival, held annually at Lowther Deer Park in the Lake District, Cumbria in the North West of England. It has grown from a two-day, 900 capacity event in 2006[1] to a 25,000 capacity 4-day music festival. Kendal Calling has 9 stages and has featured live performances from notable artists such as Blondie, Pendulum, Doves, Dizzee Rascal, James, Mumford & Sons, Calvin Harris and British Sea Power.[2][3]
In 2010 Kendal Calling was awarded the Best Small UK Festival Award at the UK Festival Awards, as voted by the public.[4] Kendal Calling also won the industry award 'Best Small Festival' at the LIVE UK awards 2011.[5] Superstruct Entertainment, the live entertainment platform backed by Providence Equity Partners, owns the festival after it entered definitive agreement for the acquisition of several live music and entertainment festivals from Global Media & Entertainment and Broadwick Live.[6]
2006
Kendal Calling was originally held in Abbot Hall Park overlooked by Kendal Castle. It had a capacity of 900 with a circus big top housing the majority of the performances. Saturday was headlined by Pendulum with Breaks Co-op, Nucleus Roots, Sourpuss Dj’s and Shaolin Monkey also gracing the stage. Sunday was a full day of live bands with Kendal born rockers British Sea Power closing the festival, the performance made famous by lead guitarist Martin Noble climbing the 50 ft centre pole while robots danced on stage.[7] Also on the schedule for the day was Little Man Tate, White Rose Movement, Seven Seals, How’s My Pop and Amber 292. All tickets sold out in advance of the festival.[8]
2007
Kendal Calling relocated to Grate Farm on the A591 on the outskirts of Kendal and saw an increased capacity of 2000 with more stages added to accommodate additional artists. The Friday night was headlined by BBC Radio 1’s Grooverider with Freestylers supporting on the bill. Other acts included Sourpuss Dj’s, Kendal favourite and ATIC Records founder Aim, Aqausky & Ragga twins and Pama International. The Sunday included Kendal boys Wild Beasts, The Redwings, The Answering Machine and headliners, Carl Barât's Dirty Pretty Things. All tickets sold out in advance of the festival.[9]
2008
2008 saw the festival increase capacity again to 4000 and extending to 3 days. It was a hugely successful year for the organisers as they saw the festival nominated for Best Small Festival, Best Line-Up, Best Toilets and Best Grass Roots Festival and was shortlisted for the latter at The UK Festival Awards. The line-up was worthy of these nominations with the winner of the Best Urban Act Dizzee Rascal flying in from Ibiza to perform on the opening Friday night only to fly back again straight after the show for a performance back on the island. Kendal Calling also welcomed back home town group British Sea Power to headline the Saturday with Welsh rockers Super Furry Animals closing the Sunday. Other acts included DJ Yoda, UK Beatbox Champion Beardyman, dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip, Scottish newcomers Glasvegas, BBC Radio 1’s longest running DJ Annie Nightingale, Scratch Perverts, Howard Marks, Frank Sidebottom and Atomic Hooligan to name just a few. All tickets sold out in advance of the festival.[10][11][12]
2009’s Kendal Calling had many new stages and area’s incorporated with a SNO!zone area including a real snow slope. The festival had increased non-musical activities such as the Holy Quail Inn pub and stage, a children's activity and performance area and a Big Love Inflatable Church were festival goers could tie the knot in fancy dress. Kendal Calling 2009 was shortlisted for Best Small Festival and Best Grass Roots Festival at the 2009 UK Festival awards. All tickets sold out in advance of the festival.[14]
2010
Main stage at Kendal Calling, 2010
The festival remained at Lowther Deer Park, Penrith in the Lake District. The audience rose to 8000 and there was a total of 9 stages. Earlybird tickets sold out in record time with 500 being snapped up in one minute.[15] As with previous years all tickets for the festival sold out in advance.[16] Headliners were Calvin Harris on the Friday, Doves on the Saturday and The Coral on the Sunday. Other acts included British Sea Power, The King Blues, The Correspondents, okgo and The Futureheads. Craig Charles once again returned to close the festival with a DJ set on the Sunday night.
The festival won Best Small UK Festival at the UK Festival Awards, as voted by the public.[4]
2011
The festival remained at the Lowther Deer Park near Penrith. On 4 February 2011, the first 'wave' of acts were announced including Echo and the Bunnymen, Beardyman and The Levellers. On 1 March 2011, the second set of acts and main stage headliners were announced. Friday headliners were British drum 'n' bass artists Chase & Status, Saturday headliners were Wakefield indie outfit The Cribs and New York City New Wave/Pop group Blondie closed the festival on Sunday evening. Other artists who performed at the festival were Nero, Proud Mary, The Whip and Young Knives. The event sold out in May, 14 weeks before the festival began.
The festival went on to win the industry award 'Best Small Festival 2011' as awarded by the LIVE UK awards.[5]
2012
The festival sold out in record time 4 months prior. Further stages were added included the first appearance of Tim Peaks Diner, an American style Diner created by The Charlatans (UK band) frontman Tim Burgess (artist), as well as the Kube and The Woodlands.
The festival picked up the 'Best Medium Festival UK' award, beating off competition from Latitude, Camp Bestival and Secret Garden Party following the 2013 festival.[19]
The 2018 dates were revealed before the 2017 Festival had taken place and sold out as per previous years. Kendal Calling took place on 26–29 July with Catfish and the Bottlemen, Plan B and the Libertines headlining.
An unofficial Kendal Calling Facebook group raised £1,500 for local charities by selling custom festival wristbands. This amount was then matched by festival organisers, and £3,000 was split between three local charities previously supported by the festival. They were Fletcher's Fund, Brathay Trust, and Eden Valley Hospice.[22]
Kendal Calling 2020 was due to take place from 30 July to 2 August 2020 and to celebrate its fifteenth year. The festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.[23]
2021
Kendal Calling 2021 was also cancelled due to COVID-19, citing the lack of insurance scheme to cover financial losses if the event were to be cancelled for COVID-19-related reasons, and a delay in the release of guidance needed in order to properly implement biosecurity protocols.[24]
