Festival Preview: Kendal is Calling Again – Get In Those Fields This Year!! [1st to 4th August – Lowther Deer Park, Penrith]

By John Hayhurst
By January 25, 2024 Culture, News

Not one, not two, not three, not four… but FIVE headliners this summer: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Paolo Nutini, The Streets, Paul Heaton & Rianne Downey, Keane/Sugababes

 

Hailed as ‘the mini-Glastonbury of the North’, Kendal Calling is back in the fields this summer and today shares an enormous first drop of acts for 2024. This includes FIVE huge headliners, plus over 120 world-class acts set to entertain and delight in August. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Paolo Nutini, The Streets, Paul Heaton with guest singer Rianne Downey, and Keane top the line-up, headlining Kendal Calling. Plus, droves of unmissable acts, fun for all ages and unrivalled entertainment for another unforgettable summer in the fields of Lowther Deer Park. Set in the beautiful Lake District, Kendal Calling will take place from 1 – 4 August 2024.

 

Tickets for Kendal Calling went on sale last August, with fans snapping them up in record breaking time. With demand at an all-time-high and over 60% of tickets sold so far, fans are urged to get theirs in Friday’s pre-sale to avoid missing out, this will be followed by general on sale on Monday! Tickets will be available at www.kendalcalling.co.uk.

 

Returning to Kendal Calling for the first time since 2016, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Noel Gallagher has shaped and inspired contemporary guitar music since his outset in the 1990’s as the principal songwriter, lead guitarist and occasional lead vocalist of Oasis, one of the biggest and most loved bands ever to emerge from the UK. His continued success with the High Flying Birds cements his position as one of the most prolific and successful British songwriters of the last 50 years. With the recently released album, Council Skies, having received widespread critical acclaim, the band now have four studio albums, multiple EPs, a career-spanning No.1 Best Of and numerous global tours under their belt.

 

Paolo Nutini is revealed for Kendal 2024, too – having released ‘Last Night In The Bittersweet’ in 2022, his fourth album and third consecutive #1 studio album featuring tracks ‘Lose It’, ‘Through The Echoes’, ‘Radio’, ‘Shine A Light’ and ‘Petrified In Love’. Following a series of major headline shows in 2022 including 2 sold out shows at the historic Alexandra Palace and a record breaking run of 5 sold out shows at The Hydro in Glasgow plus other sold out shows around the UK and Europe, Paolo now heads to the Lakes.

 

Pioneers of UK garage, The Streets make their return to Kendal Calling headlining the main stage this summer. Fronted by the inimitable Mike Skinner, The Streets have cemented themselves as one of the most influential groups in British music culture since bursting onto the scene with seminal album ‘Original Pirate Material’ in 2002. Twenty years on, The Streets remain groundbreaking with a captivating catalogue of hits including Fit But You Know It, Has It Come To This?, Blinded By The Lights, Dry Your Eyes and 2022’s Brexit At Tiffany’s.

 

Kendal Calling is delighted to announce the return of Paul Heaton to the fields, this time alongside special guest Scottish singer and songwriter Rianne Downey. Heaton is the much loved frontman of The Beautiful South, which gave us the brilliant hit single ‘A Little Time’. Joining him to sing The Beautiful South and Housemartins classics will be Rianne Downey, the Glaswegian singer songwriter who played the Woodlands stage just last year. Downey has cemented herself in the music scene, supporting some huge names in the industry like Paolo Nutini, The Coral and DMAs before winning Breakthrough Artist of The Year 2022 at the Scottish Music Awards.

 

Also joining the stellar lineup is British rock band Keane, celebrating 20 years since the release of ‘Hopes And Fears’. The seminal album sold over 12 million copies worldwide and features Somewhere Only We Know, Everybody’s Changing and This Is The Last Time. With their distinctive piano sound, Keane will grace the Kendal Calling main stage serving up their timeless melodies that have defined a generation. Adding a dose of girl power to the Kendal Calling line up is four-time platinum award-winning, chart-topping Sugababes. With a string of huge hits including Push The Button, Round Round and About You Now, the trio are poised to bring their infectious energy to the fields, promising an unforgettable dance-along set.

 

This summer, there’s only one place to catch Gary Neville B2B Tim Burgess for a DJ set that is not to be missed. Tim Burgess said, “I’m very excited about the prospect of DJing with Gary – he’s got great taste in music. Last time we shared a stage was when he joined The Charlatans on guitar. Can’t promise we’ll be doing any songs together but there might be an impromptu singalong at some point…”

 

And that’s not all, as over 120 more artists today join the line-up for Kendal Calling including Declan McKenna who is gearing up for the release of his third studio album What Happened To The Beach, Rotherham’s chart topping rock four piece The Reytons and one of the most exciting musical exports from Scotland – The Snuts. As well as Foundations hitmaker Kate Nash, Manchester’s Pale Waves who’ve teased that they’re making their “best album yet”, Katy B, the unmissable CMAT,  Kendal favourites Lottery Winners who will headline Parklands and Movin’ On Up singer Heather Small.

 

Bringing the laughs will be Saturday’s special guest opener is arena comic Russell Howard, plus there’s show-stopping performances from roaring Liverpudlian comedian Paul Smith, Lovesick hitmakers Peace and bringing the bangers, The K’s. Also not to be missed, Kendal favourites Dick & Dom will be back with the highest octane performance of the weekend, as well as serving up catchy summer melodies, Pip BlomThe Royston ClubTemples and of course, The Lancashire Hotpots.

 

Kendal Calling’s late-night offerings will keep attendees grooving until the early hours. Festival-goers will have the chance to be immersed in the eclectic sounds of Shy FX, promising a sonic journey through drum and bass, reggae, and everything in between. Orbital DJ, renowned for their futuristic soundscapes and other-worldy experiences, takes to the stage to deliver a blend of techno and ambient beats. Get ready for a funk-filled night with the one and only Craig Charles. A master at blending funk, soul, and dance, with an infectious energy to vibe along with it: for those seeking an unforgettable festival experience, Charles’ set is one that is not to be missed.

 

Andy Smith, Kendal Calling co-founder said, “After the week we have had, bring on the summer! It is with much joy and excitement we share with you today the biggest Kendal Calling lineup to date. From the incredible Paolo Nutini closing the Sunday night and Keane, Sugababes, Paul Heaton & Rianne Downey and Katy B gracing our fields for the first time, joined by old friends Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds and The Streets closing the Friday and Saturday night respectively, we have the perfect ingredients for a fantastically celebratory weekend. But as ever the most important ingredient is YOU – and we can’t to see you in the fields x”

 

Each year, Kendal Calling transforms Lowther Deer Park into a visual and auditory spectacle, from the wonders of the annual carnival parade, which features a mind boggling procession of over 200 participants from across Cumbria, to the incredible artwork that surrounds every stage and corner of the woodlands.

 

Kendal Calling unites a community of loyal festival-goers who gather to make Kendal the magical place that it is, with a collective sense of joy that is palpable across the entire site. The wonderful world of Kendal Calling has everything from world class artists, breakthrough bands, DJs, comedians and more alongside all of the many nooks and crannies that are just waiting to be discovered. Plus, there’s plenty for families to enjoy including the specially curated Kids Calling as well as a plethora of art and light installations and even a themed parade. Last summer, Absolute Radio described Kendal Calling as “triumphant” with The Manc calling Kendal “really, REALLY good’ – so, what are you waiting for?

 

Kendal once again comes Calling in 2023 from 1 – 4 August 2024. Get your tickets at www.kendalcalling.co.uk – see you in the fields.

 

PRE-SALE TICKETS ON SALE FROM 10AM, FRIDAY 26 JANUARY

GENERAL ON SALE FROM 10AM, MONDAY 29 JANUARY 

 

WITH OVER 60% OF TICKETS ALREADY SOLD AND A RECORD 25,000 SIGN-UPS SO FAR, KENDAL CALLING LOOKS SURE TO BE A SELL OUT

LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP FOR PRE-SALE HERE www.kendalcalling.co.uk/presale