Spotlight: Kendal Calling 2024 - Must See Bands

Kendal Calling 2024 – who are the top ten acts to see?

The 2024 version of Kendal Calling is only about 2 weeks away now, what do you mean you haven’t got a ticket? What’s wrong with you? There are very few tickets left, hurry up!

It’s one of the best festivals in the UK, set on the edge of the Lake District, in Lowther Deer Park, its compact yet with many hidden niches and special places and has one of the best atmospheres you will ever encounter, both family friendly and party central at the same time it genuinely is a festival to cater to all.

The 2024 event will be my third attendance in a row, and it just gets better and better.

Everyone goes looking for something different from Kendal, we each have our own favourites but I’m going to have a go at suggesting ten acts you shouldn’t miss from the 2024 line up, some are obvious, some less so, but all are brilliant in their own way.

Paul Heaton and Rianne Downey

The Thursday night headliners are fresh from a magnificent show at Glastonbury which drew raves reviews and was universally loved. Paul Heaton is one of the greatest songwriters this country has produced. From the Housemartins to The Beautiful South to his work with Jaqui Abbot and solo stuff he does not write, or sing, a bad song. So many hits, so many songs you’ll have forgotten you know. I did wonder how Kendal were going to trump last year’s Thursday headliner, Chic, well they’ve only gone and done it. Expect some Housemartins style dancing from those of a certain generation and some mass singalongs. What makes this even more likely to be a brilliant part of the festival is the presence of Rianne, Rianne also played Kendal last year but she was on the Woodland stage and I don’t think there was more than a 100 of us there, I was aware of the buzz but hadn’t been prepared for just how good she was, what a voice, what a performer, although I’m still waiting for her manager to respond to my request for an interview! This is one of the great things about Kendal, Rianne has gone from playing for about 100 people to headlining in one year but what it should also make clear is don’t just stick to the main stage, Calling Out Or Parklands, there is a lot of fantastic talent out there on the other stages, go discover it for yourself.

Sugababes

Okay, I’m biased with this one, I think Sugababes, along with All Saints (big hint for next year to the organisers there) are the thinking persons girl group. Not that either have ever sat comfortably within that overused label. Sugababes are back to their original line up but never mind the line up feel the sheer quality and variety of the songs. This is a band with a massive back catalogue who will blow you away with how good they are live, don’t take my word for it, watch their Glastonbury performance and unlike then you will get to see them. It should tell you something that so many people tried to see them at Glasto that they had to stop anyone else joining the crowd, you will dance, you will sing, and you will hope they don’t stop.

HENGE

A Kendal favourite for those in the know, I’m actually reluctant to add them to this list as I don’t want too many people there, I want this wonderfully weird and unusual experience all to myself please! Two years ago there were dancing mushrooms, aliens and immortal beings, how knows what we will get this time but trust me, if you can, and are able to open your mind to another reality, Henge are the band that will do that for you, oh and the music is surprisingly good as well but it is a definite second to the performance!

The K’s

Not their first time at Kendal but their first time headlining the Calling Out Stage, they do have a tough assignment being up against Noel Gallagher. However, if you can, go see them. They have been regularly playing live supporting a number of acts over the last couple of years and have released their debut album to excellent reviews this year (including from me). They are a potent live act; one you should let into your life. You won’t regret it! I first saw them at Scarborough Open Air Theatre and have also seen them at Kendal. They are just one of those acts you know you rely on to be great, no matter what’s going on, they will be excellent.

The Lancashire Hot Pots

What can I say, an absolutely legendary band, a Kendal Sunday tradition, if you know you know but if you don’t know grab yourself a flat cap (obligatory) and get ready to sing along to Chippy Tea, I fear IKEA etc etc. The Hot Pots, despite being from Lancashire and not the superior county of Yorkshire (that’s right, I said it) are one of the best things about Kendal. A truly joyous experience not to be missed, I know you probably had a big one on the Saturday night, but you need to drag yourself out of your pit for this one.

The Lottery Winners

Also, Kendal favourites, the Lottery Winners have been regulars at the festival and for good reason, they just get better and better. They are headlining the Parklands this year but personally I think they are not far off headlining the main stage. They’ve been everywhere recently, supporting so many other acts, having hit records, and, this is the clincher, this year they will be guest landlords as well. If you don’t know what they’re like you have no idea what a treat you’re in for, this is one band who are unashamedly themselves, there are no airs and graces but there is also amazing music.

PALE WAVES

Magnificent, that’s the only way I can describe their new album which I had the pleasure of reviewing for this site. If you don’t know Pale Waves by now, where have you been? The new music is fantastic but then everything they have done has been fantastic. This is a band who get better and better and who are also touring later this year in surprisingly small venues, this may be your last chance to see them in small venues, but you don’t want to miss them on the main stage, definitely a Sunday highlight! If you don’t know them this is your chance to see them, they will keep moving up the bill and getting better and better.

THE HUNNA

I was gutted last year, the Hunna played on the Sunday night, but circumstances meant I didn’t get to see them. If you don’t know then then I’d suggest you get your ticket for Thursday now, there is a fantastic line up and the Hunna will more than hold their own. Their body of work to date is such that you won’t find a bad song or something you won’t thoroughly enjoy.

The Pigeon Detectives

This is a band who have been around for a while but, as a result, have built an excellent back catalogue, as far back as 2006 NME was tipping for success. They have built a loyal fan base with a selection of excellent releases; they are a great live band who will make sure you don’t regret choosing them.

Dead Pony

Kendal has been graced by Dead Pony before although sadly they had to pull out as a result of illness last year but the year before that they opening on the main stage, this is a band who are definitely going to get bigger and bigger, this may be one of your final chances to catch them lower down the bill as it feels like it’s just a matter of time until they blow up big time, they’re just back from Europe and hopefully all breakages that occurred there will be healed in time but if you do go see them you won’t regret it, just make sure you leave room for me!

What I would say though is that just a few suggestions from me, there are so many other brilliant acts, Red Rum Club, Katy B, Kate Nash, The Snuts, CMAT, Sundra Karma etc etc, I also didn’t mention any of the main stage headline acts for Friday to Sunday deliberately as you will know who they are and how good they are but don’t just stay there, go to Woodlands, go the Chai Wallahs, go see a comedian at the Soap Box, try the Bier Halle, visit Tim Peaks Dinner and Lost Eden, find the real ale tent (I’m embarrassed to admit I only found it on the Sunday two years ago) but be aware that Kendal has proper cask ale on site and generally explore, experience, learn and most of all enjoy! You’re going to a brilliant festival, See You in The Fields!

Article - Iain McClay