It’s back. Cumbria’s rolling fields are once again calling the weird, the wild, and the wonderfully dressed. Kendal Calling 2025 promises to be its most ambitious yet – a surreal mix of throwback icons, fresh indie fire, immersive wonderlands, and theme parties that make Glasto look tame. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned mud warrior, we’ve crafted the definitive A–Z guide to help you navigate the madness.
So lace up your boots, pack that glitter, and prep for four days of absolute escapism. Here’s everything you need to know, from Alfie to Zest…
🅰️ Alfie Templeman
Kicking things off with groove-laced indie-pop, Alfie brings silky falsettos, toe-tapping guitar lines, and Gen Z charm. Expect singalongs and a packed Calling Out tent.
🅱️ The Big Moon
Lush harmonies and fuzzed-up guitars? Yes please. Their live set fuses cosmic energy with emotional weight – they’re one of the most consistently brilliant bands on the indie circuit.
🅲 Courteeners
They’ve practically got season tickets to Kendal, and we’re not mad about it. Liam Fray and co return to deliver indie bangers by the crate – cue flares, chants, and “Not Nineteen Forever” echoing across the hills.
🅳 Daniel Bedingfield
Yeah, you read that right. This is pure 2000s gold – “Gotta Get Thru This” live in a field will hit harder than you expect. Pop nostalgia in all its glory.
🅴 Easter Extravaganza
The Soapbox stage gets a pastel makeover as it channels Easter energy. Think springtime bunnies, bonnets, and surprise egg hunts mid-festival. Utterly bonkers – in the best way.
🅵 Fatboy Slim
You haven’t really partied until you’ve raved in a field with Fatboy Slim. Expect iconic visuals, huge drops, and a setlist built for chaos. “Right Here, Right Now” under the stars? Unreal.
🅶 Good Times Theme
Each area goes full-send with immersive vibes – one minute you’re at a Halloween house party, the next you’re counting down to NYE or lost in a Christmas rave. Dress accordingly.
🅷 Halloween at Parklands
It’s spooky season all weekend at Parklands. Witches, pumpkins, skeleton DJs, and a lot of fake blood. Perfect for ghouls who want to get down.
🅸 Inspiral Carpets
Part of the Madchester heartbeat, these legends bring retro organs, psych-laced grooves, and a live energy that still packs punch. Time for the new gen to get on board.
🅹 Jason Manford
Comedy at a music fest? Kendal makes it work. Jason’s set is the perfect palate cleanser – sharp wit, big laughs, and northern charm in abundance.
🅺 Kaiser Chiefs
Festival veterans and ultimate crowd-pleasers. Expect “Ruby,” “Everyday I Love You Less and Less,” and Ricky Wilson bouncing around like he’s got springs in his shoes.
🅻 Lost Eden
An enchanted woodland bursting with art, installations, and secrets. Wander through and discover hidden performances, mind-bending visuals, and unexpected magic. A true Kendal staple.
🅼 Maxïmo Park
Paul Smith’s lyrics are poetry in motion – literate, passionate, and backed by anthemic alt-rock. Get ready for arms-in-the-air moments and a bit of dancefloor drama.
🅽 New Year’s Eve at The Town Hall
Because why not celebrate NYE every night? With countdowns, confetti, and champagne vibes, The Town Hall becomes your go-to for late-night glittery chaos.
🅾️ Orchestra Collaboration (Tim Burgess x RNCM)
Charlatans legend Tim Burgess joins forces with the Royal Northern College of Music Orchestra for a genre-defying, heart-expanding set. Indie meets classical = goosebumps.
🅿️ The Prodigy
The kings of rave-rock are back. Strobe lights, sweat, and seismic bass – it’s going to be feral. Expect a set that bulldozes through genres and ignites the crowd.
🆀 Quirky Costumes
Pirates, Santas, zombies, and disco aliens – if you’re not in costume, you’re doing it wrong. Each day’s theme gives license to go wild. No judgement, just vibes.
🆁 The Royston Club
Welsh up-and-comers making serious noise on the indie scene. Gritty lyrics, jangly guitars, and proper frontman charisma. One to catch before they blow up.
🆂 Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Disco meets indie darling. She’ll have you twirling to “Murder on the Dancefloor” (and yes, probably that Saltburn dance too). Glitter, glam, and glorious pop perfection.
🆃 Travis
Timeless singalongs and melancholic melodies. When the heavens inevitably open, there’ll be no better soundtrack than “Why Does It Always Rain on Me?”
🆄 Upside Down Garden
A whimsical corner where the trees grow down, disco balls spin in daylight, and the vibe is pure joy. Dance, chill, or just take it all in.
🆅 Vibrant Visuals
From giant inflatable creatures to projection-mapped forests, every inch of Kendal is photogenic. It’s an art installation meets festival field – Insta-worthy everywhere you look.
🆆 The Wombats
Still kings of festival indie. Bursting with serotonin, animal metaphors, and tight hooks, their set is always a guaranteed highlight. “Let’s Dance to Joy Division”? Yes please.
🆇 X-traordinary Experiences
Where else can you party through a snowstorm in July, high-five a T-Rex, and find a silent disco in a tipi? Kendal’s chaos is what makes it unforgettable.
🆈 Yule-tide at Calling Out
Festive jumpers in summer? Naturally. Fake snow, baubles, and Christmas anthems – it’s all part of Kendal’s “every season at once” spirit.
🆉 Zestful Atmosphere
It’s more than music. It’s the people, the wild outfits, the laughs at 2am, and the constant surprises. Kendal is community, creativity, and chaos bottled into one magical weekend.
See you in the fields. Bring glitter. Bring weird. Bring it all.
THE FRONT ROW 
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