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Kendal Calling was an exciting weekend filled with chart topping bands and acts which invoke the festival’s core message ‘leave nothing but memories’. The founders of the exquisite festival Ben Robinson and Andy Smith advocate for the sustainability of their festival and that every attendant and staff member have the minimal environmental impact. Kendal Calling has multiple stages in which this year adapted to their theme ‘good times’, such as a themed Christmas tent (Calling out) and Halloween tent (Parklands). Kendal Calling advocates for sustainable art and sustainable good times. This year their ‘Lost Eden’ installation consisted off a breathtaking piece of over 8,000 lights which shone overhead by the infamous artist Ithaca. The atmospheric art echoed the amazing artists’ stage presence and talent of the Woodlands stage; highlighting Keo’s stage presence and their ability to mesmerise audience members with their musical talent.

Talent emanated from not only the main stage but from the various stages amongst the arena, highlighting the variety of music available. Each stage was taken by each artist as they turned the stage into their own for thirty minutes; mesmerising all those lucky enough to be in their presence.

FRIDAY

The infamous K’s took the main stage for an hour starting with ‘Gravestone” a song from their new hit album Pretty on the Internet. The Northern Lads stole everyone’s attention, as all eyes and ears turned towards them. Not only their music, but their stage presence invoked people to listen across the hill. They followed with the song ‘Hometown’ in the middle of their set, invoking an emotional connection to their hometown with the entire crowd. Despite a varied crowd varied from all around the world; with this song they all shared a similarity. Near the end of their set, they announced their band dream of obtaining the number one spot in the British Charts had come true thanks to their listeners. Sharing their success with the crowd displays the bands loyalty and devotion to their fans. They ended their mesmerising set with a hometown favourite ‘Sarajevo’. Solidifying their success, from their first ever festival performance to becoming a band performing on the main stage to thousands of people. They closed out their set with thanking the audience after performing a memorable set to the Kendal crowd.

Carrying on in the Calling Out stage, Luvcat was next took the stage with their mesmerising talent. She established her presence, rocking out to the introduction to her first song and newest single, ‘Vicious Delicious’; apart of the upcoming album releasing in October. Taking the audience by storm, she gleaned with happiness and enjoyment. It radiated, not from just the audience lucky enough to see them perform, but by the entire band as

She played to turn the audience into life long followers of her ground breaking music.

She followed with the song ‘Lipstick’ in which the audience exemplified their knowledge singing the lyrics, and even those new to the band still swayed and rocked. Luvcat embodied the energy of a pop-star, using every part of the stage to include everybody into the performance. As they exited the stage you were left thoroughly wanting more. Luvcat is a notable band to watch within the indie scene this festival season.

To close Friday, the infamous Courteeners took to the stage. As night drew closer their stage presence never faltered as they kicked in with their song ‘Morning glory’. This opener established their place within the Kendal Calling history books. the audience clambered to get a closer. The Courteeners not only used their music to connect, but to defy societal expectations. The lead singer, Liam Fray, took to the stage individually to perform the beautifully encapsulating song ‘Bide Your Time’ , in memory of his late mother. The lone singer on the main stage with only an acoustic guitar got everyone’s attention and invoked such emotion. The song explores the feeling of grief and loss, the futility of hate and the fragility of life and love. From this, they performed their hit song ‘Not Nineteen Forever’, encapsulating emotions about aging, loss and mistakes. The audience jumped along and sung with collectives feelings towards the inevitability of not staying ‘nineteen forever’. Courteeners embodied the Kendal Calling message and energy, definitely a headliner you couldn’t miss and established the energy and effort for subsequent acts.

SATURDAY

Starting off Saturday, The Royston Club entered onto the main stage to an already delighted crowd chanting ‘Royston’. The notably Palestine supporting band announced their upcoming album Songs for the Spine as they played their first song ‘The Patch Where Nothing Grows’. The shone on the vibrant and energetic crowd and the band as they rocked out to their songs. ’The Patch Where Nothing Grows’ discusses crying out to a lover as you cant live without them. The crowd reciprocated the energy of the band wonderfully. A Welsh flag and a Palestine flag, exemplifying their support for the ongoing genocide, were present onstage. A further reminder of the need for artists with a platform to speak about the injustices within the world. Their heartbreaking song ‘Glued to The Bed’ explored the psychological and physical effects a break up, eloquently discussing feelings of wanting to hold on and to let go off love once had. The crowd not only sang the lyrics but some members of the audience could harmonise with the message of the song. Towards the end of the set they played the song ‘Cariad’ echoing the sentiment of the previous songs, exploring the acceptance of a breakup. As the crowd swayed and sympathised, The Royston Club came to be a crowd favourite.

 In the Christmas themed tent ‘ Calling Out’ The Guest List took to the stage, managing to keep the audience away from the bar. They started off with the song ‘London’, navigating feelings of wanting to be loved. London drove the audience to harmonise with the band by becoming their backing vocals, emphasising the collective feeling of either wanting to be loved or the emotional conflict of loving someone knowing it wont last. The up-and-coming band performed their sensationally nostalgic song ‘161’. It pays homage to a street within their hometown, Chapel Street, which sent the most soldiers per-household during the first world war. The audience stared in awe towards the band as everyone can familiarise the feelings of loss, nostalgia and experiences of playing as a child. Telling the story of these unnamed boys of Chapel street who gave their lives, allowing the audience to follow through the stories of the boys tragically lost and sympathising with their families as the band encapsulates the psychological effect of loss and grief through the harmonising of the instruments.This emotional song is easily one of the most emotionally driven songs performed; defining them as a band to watch climb through the charts.

Fatboy Slim was Saturday’s headliner as he took to the stage to an overflowing crowd of ready onlookers ready for his mix of house and rave music. Even before he took to the stage his music bonded people into making friendships as everyone connected. He opened with a mix of the popular song ‘Pure Imagination’, energising the entire crowd as they danced and moved from the barricade to the exit of the arena. FatBoy slims music implores people to shed their shyness and to come out of their comfort zone to come together and dance for this once in a lifetime moment. He followed on with a British classic ‘Eat Sleep Rave Repeat’. However, his entire effects on the digital display consisted of AI. Which was a common talking point once everyone exited the arena as they conflicted with the idea of a progressive artist. Towards the end of the set there was confetti and a light show, even coming back for an encore to use every minute of his allotted set time. Despite Fatboy Slim being a progressive and energetic act, he is overshadowed by his use of AI which negatively affected his set, ultimately leaving everyone conflicted.

SUNDAY

On the last day of the festival, numerous acts participated in Kendal Calling’s yearly parade. This year’s theme was fittingly ‘Good Times’. It displayed all the four seasons; through celebrations like Christmas and Halloween and the hotter months through the use of musical instruments and the use of nature costumes. A defining act was Chloe Slater who shone bright on stage as she openly talked about politics, including her support for Palestine. Her song ‘Death Trap’ discusses the housing crisis within the UK and how the limited places listed to rent are unsafe for human life to live in. Also exploring the common exploitation of political employees as ‘they won’ t tax their friends’ but instead target those who ‘scrapped their creative degrees’. This song resonated with the audience as the housing crisis has likely nearly affected everyone within the audience.

Imploring the audience to sing and shout with the band due to their growing frustrations not only with the government but with the lack of care for the working class.

She followed with the song ‘Sinking Feeling’, exploring the monotony of adult life and burnout. This allowed the audience to resonate and use the song as a vocal outlet. Lastly, Slater performed their latest single ‘Harriet’ which explores the internal conflict with love and heartbreak and the common comparison between you and their new lover. Overall, Chloe Slater and her band is ones to watch out for as they refuse to shy away from political resonance.

Later on the phenomenal pop star Nieve Ella took to the Parklands stage. She started off with the song ‘Anything’ driving the audience to jamming out with her and her band. They enter their set list with overflowing energy and love for performing as the audience joyfully sings and dances with the band; cementing their rise to fame and their constant ability to turn heads with their music. As the set continued the band played their hit song ‘Car Park’, made popular through the show Heartstopper. Her encouraging energy reciprocated by the audience’s knowledge of the lyrics cemented the moment into a crowd favourites for the festival. Throughout their entire set, they definitively rocked out harder than those before them in the tent. Close to the end of their set they played an unreleased song ‘Lucky Girl’ which struck the hearts of all the audience members. Confirming that they are the next big pop-stars within the industry as they never fail to impress or steal the show.

The Last Dinner Party then took to the main stage. Another politically active act, the band used the large screen to reflect a QR code to directly fund aid for Palestine, making them the biggest advocate for the support of Palestine while at the festival. The band debuted a song labelled ‘The Scythe’ cementing themselves to onlookers as one of the greatest girl bands of all time. This song is a reminder of love and to those that are destined to be together in every universe. Following on the band played a new song labelled ‘The Killer is Speaking’ to conflict with the media’s belief of the band being an ‘industry plant’, not only putting down female talent but also demeaning their skills as performers and writers. Lastly they performed their hit song ‘Nothing Matters’ leaving their memorable set on the main stage with a lasting effect on the audience. The Last Dinner Party are on a continued path to historical fame as they continue to impress audiences all over the globe with their fantastically written lyrics. 

In conclusion, the entire festival is something that is unforgettable. Kendal Calling excels in their ability to entertain and support their environmental stances as they grow to be an extremely popular festival. This festival is one which everyone should experience.