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| Kendal Calling | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kendal Calling |
| Location | Lowther Deer Park, Cumbria, England |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Founders | Tom Grennan |
| Dates | July/August (annual) |
| Website | Official site |
Kendal Calling is an annual multi-day music festival held in Cumbria at Lowther Deer Park near Penrith. Founded in the mid-2000s, the event has grown from a boutique gathering into a major independent festival that features a mix of rock music, indie rock, alternative rock, dance music, folk music, and electronic music. The festival combines live performances with camping, visual arts, culinary offerings, and family-friendly programming, attracting attendees from across the United Kingdom, Ireland, and continental Europe.
The festival began in the 2000s as a small local event influenced by regional festivals such as Glastonbury Festival, Reading Festival, and Latitude Festival. Early curators and promoters drew inspiration from independent promoters who worked with artists associated with Domino Recording Company, XL Recordings, and Rough Trade Records. Over time, organisers negotiated with major talent agencies including Live Nation and Coda Agency to book acts that had performed at Bonnaroo, Isle of Wight Festival, and Primavera Sound. Key developmental phases included expansion of capacity, infrastructure upgrades comparable to Download Festival and Creamfields, and diversification of programming similar to The Great Escape and Green Man Festival. The festival navigated regulatory frameworks involving Cumbria County Council and safety standards from Health and Safety Executive while adapting to broader industry disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and UK-wide licensing changes following events like the 2011 England riots.
Headliners over the years have spanned mainstream and underground acts booked through agencies like William Morris Endeavor and UTA. The roster has included performers with associations to labels such as Columbia Records, Warner Records, Sony Music Entertainment, Merge Records, and Sub Pop Records. Notable acts who have appeared on comparable billing at regional festivals include members from Arctic Monkeys, The Libertines, Blur, Oasis-era artists, and solo performers tied to BBC Radio 6 Music playlists. Booking choices have reflected trends seen at Coachella, Tomorrowland, Sziget Festival, and Roskilde Festival, balancing legacy artists represented by Live Nation Entertainment with emerging artists discovered via BBC Introducing, NME, Pitchfork, and Rolling Stone. The festival has also hosted DJs and producers linked to Ministry of Sound, Fabric, Anjunadeep, and Ninja Tune.
The site at Lowther Deer Park sits within the Lake District National Park boundary historically associated with the Earls of Lonsdale and the Lowther Castle. Access routes connect via the M6 motorway and rail links at Penrith North Lakes railway station. Infrastructure planning has involved coordination with transport operators such as Network Rail, Northern Trains, and coach services analogous to those used for V Festival. The layout integrates arenas, camping fields, car parks, accessibility zones, and emergency egress points compliant with guidance from British Standards Institution and standards used at Wembley Stadium events. Local landowners and stakeholders including the Lowther Estate participate in site agreements modeled on arrangements seen at Royal de Luxe outdoor events and heritage-managed sites.
The festival programs multiple stages that reflect genre divisions similar to setups at Reading and Leeds Festivals: a main arena for headline rock music and indie rock acts, electronic tents reminiscent of Ministry of Sound residencies, folk and acoustic areas comparable to those at Cambridge Folk Festival, and specialist stages for experimental and jazz artists akin to Montreux Jazz Festival satellite events. Curators have included curatorial partners who work with BBC Introducing, The Guardian arts teams, and independent promoters tied to venues like O2 Academy, The Roundhouse, and Barbican Centre.
Camping amenities include general campsites, campervan zones, accessible camping areas administered in line with guidance from Disability Rights UK and ticketing managed by third-party platforms similar to Ticketmaster UK and See Tickets. Catering features traders associated with regional food networks including Slow Food affiliates and producers promoted through Cumbria Food and Drink initiatives. On-site services such as medical tents coordinate with NHS England ambulance trusts and private providers akin to St John Ambulance and event security companies used at Taylor Swift tour stadium shows. Family areas and children’s programming mirror offerings at family-friendly festivals like Camp Bestival.
Organisers have run sustainability programmes inspired by initiatives from A Greener Festival, Julie’s Bicycle, and Friends of the Earth campaigns, encompassing waste management in partnership with local recycling operators, renewable energy projects tested at events like Shambala Festival, and biodiversity assessments influenced by Natural England guidance. Community engagement includes partnerships with Cumbria Community Foundation, local charities, and educational outreach with institutions such as University of Cumbria and Lancaster University. Economic impact assessments reference models used by UK Music and tourism strategies promoted by VisitBritain and Visit Cumbria.
The festival has been nominated alongside peers in schemes run by Festival Awards UK, National Outdoor Events Association, and industry bodies such as Association of Independent Festivals. Press coverage and accolades have come from outlets including The Independent, The Telegraph, Daily Mail, Metro, Q, and trade publications like Music Week and Pollstar.
Category:Music festivals in Cumbria