REVIEW | Kendal Calling 2016

Confidentials 1 August 2016

IT WASN’T so long ago that Kendal Calling was a little-known indie festival in the Lake District, bubbling under the radar of the British festival scene.

this year when Kendal called, Confidential answered

Now, the former award-winning 'best small' sized festival (and then 'medium-sized' in 2013) has grown up, expanding from a mere 900 attendees to 12,000 over three glorious days in the Lakes. This year ‘KC’ turned ten-years-old, and showed no signs of slowing down at a time when other festivals are sloping off.

So, to celebrate, this year when Kendal called, Confidential answered.

From Noel Gallagher to unplanned circus acts, here's our best, worst and downright dangerous moments of this year’s festival in Lowther Deer Park:

Kendall Calling 2016

The Best

Blossoms

Blossoms were tipped as the must-see band of the festival, we even gave them a five-star review, see here. Whether we called it or not, nobody will deny that Blossoms got Kendal Calling going. From the Friday night headline set on the Calling Out stage to DJ'ing at the Houseparty Tent, or popping up to play a secret gig at Tim Peaks Diner and finally partying with fans late into the night, it’s fair to say Blossoms were everywhere. The Stockport boys were clearly pleased to be back on home soil and quickly became the talk of the campsite.

Tim Peaks Diner

For those that made the trek to the top of the hill to hang at Tim Peaks Diner were not left disappointed. In fact, it seemed many fans decided to stay there all weekend - and why wouldn't you, especially when Tim from the Charlatans, Peter Doherty, Blossoms and co are popping into play secret gigs and have a boogie with festival goers? Tim Peaks Diner has to be one of the friendliest spots at any UK festival; you get to enjoy a fun-loving vibe, a decent brew, top tunes and free wifi. For those that danced the night and day away during the Bowie and Prince DJ tribute sets we salute you. In music we trust.

Pete Doherty performs secret gig at Tim Peaks Diner

Hardwicke Circus

The Carlisle band got Saturday started with an immediate groove. The crowd were slow to warm up after a presumably heavy night the evening before, but the boys were on point from beat one, letting everyone know they're not a first-on-the-bill sort of act. It wasn't long until the tent was rocking, and all before anyone had time to grab lunch. Hardwicke Circus will soon outgrow stages like the one they played at KC16, and not just because there are so many of them crammed onto the stage. Like many acts they were spotted across the festival checking out their favourite performances and chatting to fans - a much-loved trait of bands at KC.

Novelist

The South London boy had a late set in the festival's loudest hidden gem: the Jagerhaus. Those that were there caught one of the best shows of the weekend. He might only be nineteen but the grime MC and producer had been gaining plenty of attention over the past two years and he'll have left Cumbria with some new found fans.

Kendall Calling 2016

The Worst

Feed The Kid

'Worst' maybe a bit harsh, but when you only have a ten minute set at a festival you should probably make the most of it. The lead singer of Feed The Kid certainly did - although it seemed he'd forgotten he was here to do a gig. Rumours were rife that he'd been up to no-good in the VIP campsite fooling about in the lake. Rumours, we should add, that were started by him as he was getting dragged off stage, chanting "Rio!", completely missing the point that the packed out crowd were chanting "Wheel!" eagerly anticipating Jonny Brown from Twisted Wheel's set - which in stark contrast was full of down to earth northern honesty, that was reciprocated by the loyal crowd.

The Dangerous

Unplanned circus acts...

A special mention to the topless man who climbed to the top of one of the festival flag poles, unassisted, like Fireman Sam crossed with The Hulk. And then a second special mention for trying to avoid security guards for the next 30 mins. In the end, he was marched off for an early bath but not before gathering a crowd that many of the acts would have been proud of.

Kendall Calling

Cumbrian Sun

Yes, you read it right. Cumbrian Sun fought the rain and the sun won. Nobody expected it, and the sunburn lines by Sunday were a fine sight. Special thanks to the kind mum that was handing out the sun cream to unprepared revellers.

The crowds that gathered at the main stage on Sunday night are surely the biggest KC has seen. Noel Gallagher didn't disappoint. Fans belted out all the sing-a-longs. Kids released flares en masse in time to the old classics that were probably written before they were born. Noel was loving every minute of it, especially when he received a business card from a band who claimed to be 'the original rock and roll band’.

It takes a brave person to disagree with Noel, but when it comes to 'the dreams we have as children fade away', Andy, Ben and the rest of the KC Team (if you're reading this) please ignore NG's advice, keep your Kendal Calling dream burning brightly, nobody is ready for this festival to fade away.