Kendal Calling nominated for UK Festival Awards

The Lake District’s irrepressible festival, Kendal Calling is up for ‘Best Medium Sized Festival’ and ‘Best Headline Performance’ from Dizzee Rascal in the annual UK Festival Awards. Organisers of the festival are delighted to be nominated, having scooped ‘Best Small Festival’ at the Live UK Awards last year. Dizzee Rascal delivered THE most energised set to date at Kendal Calling, hot off the back of performing at the Olympic Opening Ceremony the night before. Millions around the globe tuned in to see him open the Games, and the showman brought his tour de force energy to Kendal. 

Having played the festival before in 2008, Dizzee Rascal took to the amphitheatre style main stage this time for a pyrotechnic explosion of big beats, sharp lyrics and a Bonkers atmosphere that the crowd have been calling out to see footage of ever since! Now it can be relived here, video now up online for ‘Bonkers’; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzRP2f3Kdmw

Amidst streamers raining down from the sky, a torrent of fireworks and the vibrations of bass underfoot in the stunning rolling hills of Lowther Deer Park, Dizzee Rascals performance was unparrelled, fusing the buzz of the Olympics with a dynamic live show that raised the proverbial roof.

Voting for the UK Festival Awards is now open and closes on 31st October; voters can enter a draw to win tickets to every winning UK festival in 2013! 

Details here: http://www.festivalawards.com/2012/10/01/vote-now-win-tickets-to-every-winning-festival/

Other highlights this year included an epic headline performance from one of the biggest Manchester bands in rock history, James, who dropped hits like ‘Sit Down’ and ‘Laid’ as the bands family danced at the side of stage and singer Tim Booth crowd surfed and hugged the audience. A festival-first came from new onsite venue Tim Peak’s Diner, that served up an exclusive breakfast cereal called Totes Amazeballs and damn fine coffee while hosting intimate, surprise sets from Edwyn Collins, Nick Heywood (Aztec Camera), The View and many more musicians, DJs and writers who dropped by.

With hundreds of artists performing across 16 areas, every nook of the site was alive with performance.  Other highlights included a unique collaboration from DJ Yoda and the Transiberian March Band on the main stage and folk singer Lucy Rose taking to the Chai Wallahs stage, hot off the plane from LA and welcomed into the lush surrounds of the Eastern tea tent in the Cumbrian hills – it really was a global affair!

BBC 6Music Funk & Soul star Craig Charles closed the festival, in traditional style, with an extended DJ set that saw a packed out audience and the DJs whole family dancing next to him onstage until the wee small hours.

The Riot Jazz stage saw a surprise set from Noon, and drum and bass supremo Andy C played an extended set in the Glow Dance Arena.

Kendal Calling has come a long way since its inception in 2006 when it was a small gathering of 900 people and a two-day event in a park in Kendal. Now festival organisers run ground-breaking events across the UK that have earned them multiple awards as promoters.
Directors of the festival Andy Smith and Ben Robinson have remained true to their ethos of bringing national and internationally recognised artists to Kendal Calling as well as providing a platform for regional talent. The festival prides itself on hosting the most fun and frolics you can have in the fields.

The core team behind Kendal Calling has gone from strength to strength with their projects, whilst the festival has sold out each year.

Watch this space for line up announcements and ticket offers for Kendal Calling 2013 to be announced soon.

VOTING NOW OPEN AND CLOSES ON 31ST OCTOBER
SHORTLIST WILL BE ANNOUNCED 5TH NOVEMBER

TO VOTE GO TO: http://www.festivalawards.com/
FESTIVAL WEBSITE: www.kendalcalling.com

Kendal Calling 2012 - Review

Kendal Calling returned to Lowther Deer Park in the Lake District with an almighty vengance this year, and brought with it 10,000 very happy festival folk to party with it for the weekend. With it's increased populous, we saw the site bigger and better than ever, including a new tent, Chai Wallahs, new area called The Woodlands, were you could bop away at the silent disco, Tim Peaks diner, brain child of Tim Burgess, from The Charlatans, who created a place to chill, eat and listen to Edwin Collins and Nick Heyward perform an acoustic set, a real ale festival within a festival, including a very aptly named beer for myself, “Dizzy Blonde”, so many food stalls from around the world and a couple of fair ground rides, including the helter skelter, which we had to have a few goes on, more sculptures, including "Wooden Man", Iron Man's greener brother rocking out on his guitar and so many cartoon characters thanks to Saturday's fancy dress theme. I don't think I've ever seen so many Dennis the Menace's gathered in one place, definitely makes a change from Where’s Wally. The Beano Club, would be have been proud!!

Our festival began on the Thursday, courtesy of the early bird option, which I always love as it gives you a good chance to peruse the place, before mayhem ensues, and see the quirky acts, including fire act, GeoFest Collective, who bring it back to basics, with a hypnotic primal feel to their performances thanks to the drum and bongo players and the extremely talented fire artists who had their own area this year, just wish they hadn't been tucked out the way so much this year.

Anyway, back to the main reason we were there, the music, and what a line up it was this year. With Friday's headliners Maximo Park, who even though were missing drummer Tom English, who was celebrating the birth of his baby, congratulations by the way, still ripped up the place on Friday night with a full rock onslaught including firm favourites "Girls Who Play Guitars", "The Kids Are Sick Again" and "Our Velocity" as well as some new tracks from their latest album, "The National Health" which sounds like it's going to be as big a hit as the rest of their back catalogue, going by how well it received from the crowd. 

Saturday's main stage brought a little bit of everything for us music lovers with 90's indie band Dodgy playing a laid back set including "Staying Out The For The Summer" and new material from "Stand Upright In A Cool Place". Have to say I loved "Only a Heartbeat" which has a 70's Beatles sound to it. 

Up and coming star, Juan Zelada, played not one, but two sets back to back, one on the main stage and one in the brand new Chai Wallahs tent, and both sets went down an absolute storm, so much so, people left the main stage to catch him play again and I can understand why. With an eclectic mix of funk, blues, soul and a Jerry Lee Lewis style piano playing all rounded up with a fabulous vocal range, that can go from mellow and laid back to smokey blues you cannot help but be drawn into this high energy performance and find your ass shaking along to . You can see that Juan clearly loves what he is doing and thrives on crowd participation and the crowd definitely love him. I've got to say, this was one of the best performances of the whole weekend.

We then had a quick jogback to the main stage for Glasgow born and bred band The View, who do what they do best, get the crowd jumping and bouncing along, especially to the very much loved and very apt for a festival, "Same Jeans"

Headlining the main stage on Saturday, was the man who brought us the brain itch of a song, "Bonkers", yes that's right Dizzee Rascal, who put on one hell of show to end Saturday night, with a whole lot of instructions to "bounce" and "jump" coinciding with flares and fireworks going off, took us right back to the beginning and performed a wide array of his hits, which, I didn't realise, are hell of a lot, including, Jus a Rascal", "Road Rage"and "Dance Wiv Me". He also performed the Olympics song he wrote, "Scream" with the main bulk of the vocals performed by Dizzee's young protege "Pepper" whose vocals flowed over the crowd effortlessly. He ended his performance with, yep you guessed it that little brain itch ditty I mentioned before "Bonkers" and we can confirm that the vibrations felt throughout Lowther and the nearby towns was from the crowd bouncing as one for all their worth, not a mini earthquake!

Pretty soon Sunday was upon us and to be honest excited was not the word, not because it was the last day, but my favourite band in the world when I was 14/15 were headlining the main stage but I had a lot of great bands to while away the hours till then. So thank you to Manchester band, Twisted Wheel, who gave a rockin performance, even though the crowd were a bit subdued and pretty tired looking, but that didn’t stop a majority of them dancing and singing along while shouting “Wheeeaal” inbetween some of their best numbers, including, ”Strife”, “You Stole the Sun” and “Dirty Rock n Rolla”. At least they got away without being accosted by hundreds of Wheel fans who hijacked the stage the last time I saw them. You’ve got to love those Wheel fans.

Inspiral Carpets played a fab set, full of guitar riffs, big grins, Manchester accents and “This Is How It Feels To Be Lonely”. I have to admit I can’t really remember them sounding so rocky but it definitely works. This is one band from the 90’s Manchester music scene that have improved with age, both musically and vocally.

They were followed by Feeder, a band that can rock any stage anytime anywhere. From the opening number, “Am I Just Like You” and “Fight the Feeling”to their new material including “Tiny Minds” and new single “Idaho” (out this month) which is still full of heady drum beats and the grinding guitar riffs that they are synonymous with, but has a happy catchy note to it, that instantly grabs your attention.

And finally the band I’d been waiting for, with trumpets, Tim Booth’s mad dancing and the sound of “woooo hoooo hooo hoooooo hooooooo” it could only mean one thing, James have finally hit Kendal Callings main stage. Playing new and old material, including, “Born of Frustration”, “Waterfall” and “Johhny Yen” which he paid tribute to the “27 club”. Every song was met with enthusiasm, happiness, dancing and applause from the crowd. James are definitely a band who put everything into their performances and even though there was a break for a few years, they have come back bigger and better than ever before. Tim’s vocals are still as crystal clear and his enthusiasm for performing along with the rest of the band grips you and you get carried away, some of us on a reminiscent trip and others who may not have heard some of there material before. By the time it came to the final songs, James had the audience as one and then, the song that they are most famous for “Sit Down” started, which saw the crowd hugging, dancing and singing along for all they were worth. Some people even re-enacted the 90’s and actually sat down, mud be damned to them. Final song for the night though, was my all time favourite song, “Laid” and going by the crowds reaction it was theirs as well. I honestly cannot put into words just how great James were at Kendal Calling and they have definitely got to be the best band I have seen there to date, so go over to Kendal Calling web site and check out the recordings of them and all the other bands to see for yourself.

So that’s the end of another brilliant year at what has to be my favourite festival on the circuit, and yes that includes the godfather of festivals Glastonbury. There is something about this festival that just captures your heart and makes you want to return year after year. I’m just hoping that the expanding doesn’t go too far as I fear it may loose that quirky loveable feeling it has. The House Party, in my opinion, fell foul of that this year. Where had all the furniture and unique feel and atmosphere it created gone???, and that was my favourite places to go after hours  to party once the “difficult” job of listening to top music acts playing all day ended.

But once again many thanks to Kendal Calling for letting us be part of the festivities once again and I can’t wait to see what and who they’re going to get to top this year.

More Photos can be seen HERE

Sold Out Kendal Calling Adds more acts

Kendal Calling has sold out for the 7^th consecutive year and the countdown is on for this year’s festival; as the site begins to take shape and the crew start to create 16 areas and arenas of wonder! The gates will fly open in just 3 weeks, and Kendal Calling is now revealing details of the all-new Woodlands Stage as well as releasing news of many more artist additions.

With over 100 new artist additions including: Lightning Seeds // Redlight // The Whip (DJ Set) // Little Barrie // Sound of Guns // Little Comets // Alpines // Karima Francis // The Travelling Band // Admiral Fallow // Mungo's HiFi // Dave Haslam // Mike Joyce (The Smiths) Radio // B>E>A>K // Will TRAMP! // Where's Strutter // Monument Valley // Endoflevelbaddie // Hatcham Social // Catfish & The Bottlemen // Danielle Moore (Crazy P DJ Set) // Marc Roberts // Jenny-O // Thomas J Speight // Wolfie Razzmatazz // Freear // Mikey J // The Carpels // The Dub Jazz Soundsystem // The Fued // Shaolin Monkey // The Minx // Can't Mix Won't Mix // I am Blackbird // Ottersgear // Paper Tiger with Comedy from Duncan Oakley // The Beta Males // Ray Guns Look Real Enough // Not Quite Quartet // Mik Artistik and many more new additions over all stages and across the full weekend, head tohttp://www.kendalcalling.com/lineup for the full line up. 

Although all tickets to this years Kendal Calling are now gone, organisers continue to work with some of the UKs best promoters to book more amazing acts and ensure that this years revelers enjoy an action packed show! The Calling Out tent has been curated by ITB (International Talent Booking) on Friday to bring some of the hottest new bands to the stage.

Lightning Seeds are a much loved Northern act and it’ll be a joy to catch hits like “Lucky You” and “Life of Riley” as they play on the main stage alongside physchedelic folk artists like The Travelling Band and headliners Maximo Park, Dizzee Rascal and James.

The Soapbox stage returns with the likes of musician and comedian Duncan Oakley, a one-man-band who delivers rip roaring sets. Along with high-spirited Ray Guns Look Real Enough, The Beta Males have been making waves on the comedy circuit. Following acclaimed shows at Edinburgh, sell out gigs at Soho Theatre and a Chortle award nomination, we can’t wait to see this collective take to the stage.

The brand new Woodland Stage has been getting the team very excited! Be ready to explore undiscovered territory for late night adventures and soothing afternoons amongst the trees. The stage will feature Nu-folk and Electro followed by a Silent Disco with mind-blowing visuals and AV installations! Acts confirmed for the Woodland Stage include Alpines Music, Jenny O and acclaimed folk artistThomas J Speight plus much more still to be announced.

The House Party returns this year; a venue like no other…think an actual Houseparty in a field but instead of gatecrashers amazing special guests popping in for a brew. Then as the sun sets, the House Party really comes into its own as an all-star lineup of DJs take to the decks, be sure to gatecrash!

Kendal Calling puts Lowther Deer Park on the map for the 7^th year running, creating a hub of music and culture as they bring in talent to the Lake District from all across the UK. After winning Best Small Festival for the past two years in a row and selling out every year since it began, fans can rely on Kendal Calling to deliver an incredible weekend of escapism and excellent music. This year’s theme is Fairytales & Comic Books so ticket holders are encouraged to let their imagination run wild with just 3 weeks to go until this years irrepressible extravaganza! See you in the fields..

Article posted by Musicmafia

Kendal Calling 2012 reveals line up for Chai Wallahs

FESTIVAL DATES: FRIDAY 27^TH – SUNDAY 29^TH JULY 2012

Lowther Deer Park, Hackthorpe, The Lake District

TICKET PRICE: £105 ADULT / £50 11-15YR OLDS / UNDER 11 FREE

Tickets available at www.ticketline.co.uk

www.kendalcalling.com 

Winner of Best Small Festival Live UK award 2011 and UK Festival Award 2010 - 14 stages –

3 days and nights of fun in the fields in the beautiful Lake District

Continuing the run of weekly announcements, Kendal Calling presents a haven of eclectic and world music; The Kaylied area that returns this year in an exciting partnership with promoter legends Chai Wallahs and Global Local!

‘Chai Wallahs’ is the largest independent music venue touring the UK festival circuit, consistently creating a spectacular and energising environment that provides the perfect back drop for programming and production partner ‘Diplomats of Sound’. The Chai Wallahs stage in the Kaylied area will be a melting pot of genres purveying sounds from across the globe bringing extra layers to one of the North’s most diverse festival line-ups. Chai Wallahs in the Kaylied lays on the best in folk, balkan beats, hip hop, jazz, live dubstep, funk and ska!

Landing into the Kaylied area with their beautifully crafted marquee, shisha lounge and famed festival stage; Chai Wallahs and Arts Council funded project Global Local will revamp the Kaylied stage and serve up exotic flavours. Produced by Continental Drifts and its partners, Global Local is a ground breaking project that consistently brings some of the world’s best music to festival stages.

Dance outfit Dreadzone will be setting the night alight with their arresting sound and catalogue of hits. On the flip side are the calming sounds of Benjamin Francis Leftwich who has been making waves on the acoustic folk scene and will also take to the stage with his acclaimed sound.

6-piece Yes Sir Boss are an unstoppable force. Hailing from Bristol the outfit are original and distinctive with off beat rhythms, singalong choruses and epic riff and horn sections!

Edinburgh based band, Hidden Orchestra combine drummers, samples and dub basslines to create cinematic soundscapes, which is truly music to be experienced.

Festival favourites King Porter Stomp are also joining the bill along with folk extraordinaire Lucy Rose who has been receiving lots of national attention of late, and Jesca Hoop who returns to Kendal following the release of her third album “The House That Jack Built” this Summer.

One act not to be missed are 10-piece live band Slamboree, who waltz aboard complete with circus performers, brass sections, carnivalesque guitars and more to create an immersive audio-visual experience, incorporating electronic music with live instruments, acrobatics, pyrotechnics and fire! 

Other artist highlights include Kendal Calling favourite and much-loved BBC Radio DJ Craig Charles who returns to close the festival with his acclaimed Funk and Soul Show which is sure to get those wellies deep down on the dancefloor for his extra special extended set at this year’s festival.

The music and activities in the Kendal Calling meadow span 14 diverse stages and areas, situated in a close-knit site that means you’re never far from your friends; areas include Mainstage, GLoW dance tent,

Calling Out new music stage, Chai Wallahs in the Kaylied area, Soapbox, Kids Area, Kendal Calling Real Ale Festival tent, Garden of Eden, Village Green, New Woodland area (details tba), Happy Slap boutique, Riot Jazz, Houseparty, Sailor Jerry’s, Songsmith Solar stage, and new for 2012; Kopparberg Kube and Tim Peak’s Diner brought to you by Tim Burgess of the Charlatans!

www.kendalcalling.com 

Article posted by Musicmafia

Kendal Calling tickets on sale 23rd feb

KENDAL CALLING FESTIVAL ON SALE 9AM ON THURDAY 23RD FEBRUARY

PLUS 1^ST CROP OF ACTS TO BE ANNOUNCED

FESTIVAL DATES: FRIDAY 27^TH – SUNDAY 29^TH JULY 2012

Lowther Deer Park, Hackthorpe, The Lake District

Tickets available at 9am on Thursday 23^rd February from www.ticketline.co.uk

www.kendalcalling.com

Winner of Live UK Best Small Festival 2011 & UK Festival Awards Best Small Festival 2010

11 stages – 3 days and nights of fun in the fields in the beautiful Lake District

The most anticipated festival in the Lake District, Kendal Calling are set to make a big announcement next week and open the flood gates once more as tickets go on sale! With tickets released at 9am on Thursday 23^rd February, the news of the first crop of hand-picked line-up will also be unleashed at the same time with info revealed across the website, facebook and twitter.

Kendal Calling HQ have secured another spellbinding bill of acts set to grace the 11 stages along with a myriad of performers, art and exhibits all set to descend on one of the UKs most breathtaking festival sites.

Nominated for Best Small Festival in the 2012 NME awards, Kendal Calling have delivered a sold out event every year for the past 6 years attracting revellers from all over the UK. Spread across 3 days in late July, Kendal Calling return bigger and bolder than ever before with a multitude of additions and tweaks to make the 3-day party even better.

With areas including Mainstage, GLoW dance tent, Calling Out new music stage, Kaylied tent, Soapbox, Kids Area, Kendal Calling real ale festival, Garden of Eden, Village Green and the Houseparty, Kendal Calling has something for everyone.

Kendal Calling cannot wait to reveal a taster of the 2012 line-up. Hundreds more acts across all 11 stages will be announced over the coming months so watch this space...

EDITORS NOTES: FULL TICKET DETAILS AND CAMPING OPTIONS COMING SOON

KEY INFO:

Date:                                        27^th – 29^th July 2012

Location:                                  Lowther Deer Park, Hackthorpe, CA10 2HN

Tickets info:

Adult: £105 full weekend / 11-15yrs £50 / under 11 – free (must have a ticket)

More details on Emperors Field camping area & camping accommodation coming soon

Ticket link: www.kendalcalling.com /  www.ticketline.co.uk

   

WHAT THE ARTISTS SAID ABOUT KENDAL CALLING 2011:

"It was definitely the highlight of a really great festival season for us, the site was amazing and the crowd were one of the best we've played to. We enjoyed it so much we camped and stayed the rest of the weekend." – The Cribs

"Beautiful site, a refreshing absence of corporate logos, fantastic soundsystem and up for it crowd. Perfect gig.”  - Adam Freeland

“Kendal was a riot. It’s quickly becoming the best festival in Britain with a true family atmosphere.” – Craig Charles

“It’s unlike any other festival… One of the highlights of the summer” – Tim Burgess (Charlatans)

“Amazing setting, lovely people, great mix of music & a real ale tent right next to where I was DJing!” – Mr Scruff

“Kendal calling is like our dream festival, a beautiful location, not too big, not too small… The atmosphere was electric” – Young Knives

WHAT THE PRESS SAID ABOUT KENDAL CALLING 2011 -

"A beautiful Lake District location is the setting for a festival that has already won over many fans" - Daily Mirror

"Cool Cumbrian independent festival that is set to rock the lake district" - Guardian

"Run to the hills for this small, family-friendly indie-dance festival" - Independent

"This is the Glastonbury of the North, albeit a fraction of the size." - Marie Claire

"One of the most beautifully scenic places in the country" - NME

"Award winning indie festival in the Lake District. The stunning 150 acre field and woodland site is transformed by artwork, flags and a glowing dance tent." - Sunday Times Culture

"Kendal Calling once again boasts a stellar line up at this family friendly fest in picturesque surrounds" - Time Out

Kendal Calling wins 2011 BEST SMALL FESTIVAL in Live UK music awards

Last night, the Lake District based festival Kendal Calling took home the Live UK music industry award for Best Small Festival - under 15,000. The award is a true accolade as the event was nominated to win by music industry experts. LIVE UK, who host the awards, are the only magazine dedicated to the UK’s contemporary live music industry; providing news, features and information to 2,500 key professionals. Kendal Calling were cherry picked, and the team are delighted to receive this valuable and highly sought after peer to peer accolade!

The festival has come a long way since its inception in 2006 when it was a small gathering of 900 people and a two day event in a park in Kendal. Directors of the festival Andy Smith and Ben Robinson have remained true to their ethos of bringing national and internationally recognised artists as well as providing a platform for regional talent to their local area. The festival prides itself on hosting the most fun and frolics you can have in the fields, and in 2010 they earned the UK Best Small Festival award at the UK Festival Awards voted for by the fans.

The small, core team behind Kendal Calling has gone from strength to strength with their projects, whilst the festival has sold out each year and although grown in size has retained its intimate and friendly atmosphere. 2011 saw the KC team launch ‘Live From Jodrell Bank’, a 5,000 capacity sell-out show featuring space rock band The Flaming Lips performing in the shadow of the famous Lovell telescope. More transmissions are in the pipeline at Jodrell Bank as well as exciting new areas at Kendal Calling Festival, including the return of the original festival Olympics the Cumbrian Olympics in recognition of London 2012 games.

Ben Robinson, Co-Festival Founder and Director said on behalf of the festival:

“It’s been an amazing year, the festival has gone from strength to strength, and we’re extremely proud of the whole larger team now involved. The festival is testament to those who come and year on year continues to attract a lovely bunch of people who just want to have a good time… which is what we set out to do 6 years ago."

The festival has always boasted a line up that punches well above its weight, plus has a plethora of entertainment for all ages, without the heavy price tag! Headliners at the festival last year included legends Blondie and the almighty Chase & Status. Plans for 2012 event are already under way and announcements are due to be made early 2012 - keep checking the website for more details.

2011image gallery: http://photos.kendalcalling.co.uk/view/?image_keywords=Highlights

www.kendalcalling.com