Kendal Calling 2016 review

Image: Kendal Calling

Another year, another stellar line up and another sold out weekend in the fields. After celebrating their 10th birthday last year, Kendal Calling once again proved for a smaller festival they have built enough of a reputation to pull in some of the biggest acts around.

Managing to talk the likes of The Charlatans into headlining the Thursday night is a huge testament to how big they have become. Never mind getting none other than Noel Gallagher, a potential 2017 Glastonbury headliner in to close proceedings.

Kendal has always been a bit special. It's about much more than just the acts, but being engulfed in a completely different world for the duration of the weekend. The people make Kendal, it’ll be hard work to find a better, warmer atmosphere anywhere. The stunning forest heavy setting is just a bonus.

The sheer variation of stage settings is something that the organisers have worked incredibly well. Take the Woodlands stage, tucked away in the middle of what feels like nowhere, providing a relaxing escape from the lively main arena, something that comes in pretty handy after a heavy night before.

Tyldesley act, The Lottery Winners were one of the many fantastic acts appearing here. There’s something pretty comforting about hearing a familiar Northern tinge, especially when it’s coming in the form of a Madness song ‘It Must Be Love’ and getting such a huge response.

 

How are all you Kendal Calling folk feeling? The Lottery Winners were one of our highlights! #kendalcalling #thelotterywinners

A photo posted by Skiddle (@skiddleuk) on Aug 1, 2016 at 1:41am PDT

The Jagerhaus stage was another completely different setting. An old stone barn converted into a dark, gloomy stage for Brighton rockers The Wytches. They ripped through a spine tingling set that justified the hype that’s been surrounding them since their impressive debut Annabel Dream Reader. 

The Garden of Eden was as trippy as it always has been. Wandering into the woods will always be one hell of an experience no matter how many times it’s done. Gigantic illuminated insects buzzing around people’s heads, tribal fire pits and actors dressed as deer running around at visitor’s feet. 

Also away from the music, things like the Real Ale tents kept everyone happy (mostly the sunburnt dads looking for shelter from the sun).

Again serving locally brewed ales, as they always do, provides a nice touch, showing the festival, despite its unprecedented growth and endless list of awards, has not by any means lost any touch with its Cumbria roots or charm.

Image: Tom Martin 

Those same dads were all out of the ale tent in force when it came to Saturday night headliners and ska legends Madness. It retty much captured what the whole weekend really was and always has been about, a hell of a lot of fun.

'Suggs' hasn’t lost any of that cheeky cockney charm either, proving he’s still one of the most like-able front men around and after all these years he had the whole crowd dancing around. That one wasn’t just the dads either. 

That ability to cater to such a wide crowd is something that makes it so likeable. Rudimental being picked to close Friday night is a perfect example of that, providing a headline act cut from a complete different cloth than the other three.

It doesn’t sway too far towards being simply a family festival, huge DJ’s spin into at least 3am every night. Chai Walla was particularly special this year, with the likes of Jenna & The G’s dragging huge crowds from all over the arena to end their night with her drum ‘n’ bass and soul combination. 

However it’s not like delving into the area of chaos at the likes of giants Reading & Leeds though. They have struck just the right balance between the two. There’s the families dancing around with their kids on their shoulders and there’s the younger generations mixing with them.  

Predictably, one of the most striking sets came from Mr. Gallagher. After headlining Y Not Festival the night previous, having one of Manchester’s greatest sons bringing Sunday night to an end in such an intimate setting was always going to be truly special.

The sales of flares must have spiked before the weekend, as coloured smoke filled the night sky to give a pretty surreal backdrop to a soundtrack filled with some of the most iconic tunes ever.

In true Gallagher fashion he was quick to shoot down a Yorkshire Rose spotted in the crowd celebrating Yorkshire Day. “It’s for Yorkshire Day? You’ve got your own day? Get to “fuck”.

Everything was back to being fine though once he launched into Oasis classics ‘Digsy’s Dinner’, ‘Champagne Supernova’ and ‘Wonderwall’ all featuring in a hit packed set.

Of course Clint Boon was the ideal DJ choice after Noel. His four hour ‘Mainly Manchester’ set in the House Party was the most mega of ways to end the festival. An ending that Kendal more than deserved.

There really is something special about the place, despite all its growth and success its ability to keep true to what it started as gives it that little bit more than other festivals.

Grab Kendall Calling 2017 tickets below or use our festival finder to find your perfect getaway.

Like this? Read our Y Not Festival 2016 review 

Tickets are no longer available for this event