Review: Kendal Calling 2014

Photo: Kendal Calling / Credit: Jen O'Neill

Two years ago I popped my festival cherry with a visit to Cumbria’s premier music festival, Kendal Calling. It was an all-too-brief whirlwind of brilliant live music, sunshine, new faces and a truckload of alcohol, culminating in a slightly odd Sunday evening set by Madchester-mainstays James and an almighty hangover on Monday morning.

As bad as the hangover was though, my entire weekend was spent with an unshakeable grin plastered across my face, so when I got the opportunity to head back to the fields this year I, naturally, jumped at it.

We turned up on Thursday, getting there nice and early to pick out a prime camping spot, and clearly we weren’t the only ones with this masterstroke of thinking. For anyone who is even remotely concerned about where they’re going to be pitching up, it is seemingly imperative to turn up on Thursday. Plus, it’s another day spent drinking in a field not thinking about work... what’s not to like?

With things not kicking into top gear until Friday, the main attraction for Thursday night was the UK’s king of funk, soul and everything in between; Craig Charles. I think it’s safe to say his high-energy set, featuring everything from Jackson 5 (in which the crowd joined in chorus for 'ABC') to eclectic Northern Soul favourites, didn’t leave anyone disappointed. A brilliant way to kick off the weekend.

Friday, headlined by Britpop pioneers Suede and hip hop heavyweights De La Soul, was when things really got into full swing, and one thing which really stood out was the diverse crowd that Kendall Calling pulls in. UK Festival’s 2013 “Best Medium Festival” does a spectacular job of cramming in something for everyone without damaging the family friendly atmosphere or becoming so vast you feel lost in a sea of people.

Frank Turner encapsulated the feeling perfectly when he expressed how much he felt part of the Kendal Calling family, having played there a number of times previously, and his joy at making his triumphant return to headline the main stage.

Even the heavens opening on Saturday, transforming the ground under-foot into a bog which quickly degenerated into a mudbath, could do little to dampen the spirits. In fact, I defy anyone to tell me they’ve lived a truly fulfilled life until they’ve witnessed two vikings having a friendly mud-wrestle, all set to the soundtrack of Shaun Ryder’s extremely distinctive lyrics. 

Acoustic guitar-toting rogue Frank Turner was a more-than-worthy headline act for Saturday night but the fun certainly didn’t end there. After the main stage has packed up for the evening, there’s still plenty to do and see and my night was brought to a close by the incredibly entertaining Riot Jazz Brass Band (above) in the, appropriately named, Jazz Riot tent.

On Sunday, after the likes of Miles Kane, Tom Odell, and Clean Bandit had all delighted the crowd. The Main Stage was rounded off by electro-hop chicken-lover Example who, it’s fair to say, puts on one hell of a show ('Take Me As I Am' in particular got everyone fired up). Trying to bounce around without sacrificing a welly to the mud had become a near-impossible task at this stage but I, like everyone around me, was giving it a damn good go.

As I poked my head out of the tent on Monday morning, the hangover I’d been putting off for three days finally starting to take hold, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed (and not because the sun had finally decided to put in an appearance). No, I was gutted because it was time to pack up and head home.

The whole weekend seemed to pass in the blink of an eye and I wasn’t quite ready for it to end just yet. I couldn’t help wondering, had I spent enough time dancing, albeit terribly, in the Glow Tent? Had I unwittingly missed the next big thing wowing everyone on the Calling Out stage? Was the burger I had on Saturday night really the best one going? In the end, it didn’t matter.

For the second time in three years I’d had an absolutely awesome time in the fields. The next time Kendal calls I will, without a shadow of a doubt, answer.