THE FRONT ROW

When Kendal Calling first set up shop in 2006 with a 900-capacity crowd and a £15 ticket headlined by British Sea Power, few could have predicted just how far it would come. Fast forward 20 years and 40,000 of us descended on the stunning fields of Lowther Deer Park for a sun-soaked celebration of music, mischief, and milestones. For me, this was a long-awaited return, my first time back since the 2017 edition, and while some familiar faces graced the stages again, it was clear Kendal has grown into something altogether bigger, bolder, and more brilliant.

Here are ten highlights from Kendal Calling’s milestone weekend that summed up the spirit, sounds, and sheer joy of this beloved Lake District festival.

1. Kaiser Chiefs Kick Off with a Bang

Kendal Calling has always known how to throw a party, but kicking off the 20th birthday celebrations with the Kaiser Chiefs felt like a stroke of genius. The Leeds lads are seasoned pros by now, but what we witnessed was a band completely reinvigorated by the size of the moment. Ricky Wilson was in full showman mode, strutting across the stage like it was 2007 again, mic swinging, climbing the rigging, and orchestrating mass singalongs with ease.

Setlist-wise, it was a crowd-pleasing barrage of hits. “Never Miss a Beat,” “Oh My God,” and “I Predict a Riot” hit with maximum impact, but even newer cuts slotted in seamlessly, showing that the Kaisers still have plenty to say. The band sounded tight, the energy was relentless, and the crowd? Completely up for it.

At one point Ricky quipped, “This is amazing – but don’t put us on the Thursday again.” He wasn’t complaining, just enjoying the moment and eyeing a bigger, later slot next year – and after this performance, who could argue? For many, it felt like the real start of the festival, and it set the bar sky-high for what was to come.

What made it particularly special was the sense of occasion. The Kaisers have been around long enough to have played hundreds of festivals, but the energy at Kendal Calling felt different. Maybe it was the birthday buzz, maybe it was the golden-hour lighting hitting the stage just right, or maybe it was simply a band and a crowd meeting each other at just the right moment. Whatever the reason, it was unforgettable.

2. The K’s Celebrate a Historic Moment

Few festival moments stick with you quite like this one. The K’s, having just clinched their first UK Number 1 album with Pretty On The Internet, walked onto the main stage to the kind of roar that can only be born from years of graft, sweat, and unrelenting belief.

From the first notes, you could feel the weight of the moment. This wasn’t just another festival set – it was a band soaking up the validation of years spent on the road, building a loyal fanbase brick by brick. When frontman Jamie Boyle brought out the Number 1 trophy mid-set, the cheers were deafening, and you could see the emotion on the band’s faces. For a group that have come up the hard way, this felt like a communal victory.

Musically, they didn’t miss a beat. Tracks like “Glass Towns” and “Black and Blue” sounded colossal, with the kind of singalongs that echoed for miles across the fields. The crowd responded in kind, arms aloft and voices hoarse. It wasn’t just a gig – it was a coronation. Kendal Calling was lucky to host this moment, and anyone who was there knew they were witnessing the beginning of a whole new chapter for The K’s.

This wasn’t a band ticking a box or going through the motions. The K’s brought vulnerability, passion, and pride to the stage in equal measure. Their gratitude to the fans was palpable, their chemistry undeniable, and their ambition burning bright. If ever there was proof that hard work pays off, this was it, and Kendal got the front-row seat.

3. The Lilacs: Big Crowd, Bigger Sound

The Lilacs have been bubbling under for a while now, but Kendal Calling 2025 may well be remembered as the moment they truly arrived. Stepping onto the Calling Out stage to a sea of fans, many of whom had clearly made the pilgrimage just to see them, they delivered a set that felt like a mission statement.

Muscular indie rock with melodic hooks and a sense of emotional weight, their songs hit hard and resonated deeper. What impressed most was the confidence, they weren’t phased by the occasion. In fact, they looked entirely at home. Frontman Ollie Anglesea had the crowd in the palm of his hand, striking that perfect balance between raw energy and commanding presence.

Songs like “By All Means” and “Vicarage Road” drew huge reactions, with people singing back every word. It was sweaty, it was euphoric, and it felt like a turning point. The Lilacs weren’t just playing Kendal Calling; they were making sure they’d be booked for many more to come, and on even bigger stages next time.

What made this set stand out was the sheer scale of the reaction. There was a momentum in the air, a sense of something happening. Even those who weren’t familiar before the set were talking about it after. That’s the sign of a great festival performance – and The Lilacs delivered it in style.

4. Finn Forster Steps Into the Spotlight

Opening the main stage at a festival the size of Kendal Calling is never an easy gig, but Finn Forster made it look effortless. Fresh off a UK and European tour with the Stereophonics, his set was a confident showcase of a rising talent finding his voice and his audience.

What struck most was the maturity. Forster’s songwriting has depth, his vocals are rich and textured, and his stage presence is magnetic without ever feeling forced. Backed by a tight band, he worked through a set of tracks that married storytelling with stadium-ready melodies.

Whether it was the soulful sway of “Long Nights,” the upbeat groove of “Grey Skies,” or the energetic closer of “Stay Right Til the End” there was an emotional thread throughout that drew the audience in. People who’d wandered over out of curiosity stayed for the whole thing, and left as fans. It was one of those early-day performances that lingers in the memory long after the weekend ends. Expect his name to be higher up the poster in years to come.

There was something undeniably magnetic about the way Finn connected with the crowd. He spoke like a headliner, moved like a headliner, and performed like one too. Kendal’s always been a home for rising stars, and this set confirmed Forster is firmly on that trajectory.

5. Slay Duggee: Chaos, Circle Pits, and Kids’ First Mosh

There are performances you go into expecting to be amused, and then there are the ones that blindside you entirely, Slay Duggee falls firmly into the latter. Billed as a heavy metal kids’ band dressed as cartoon dogs, it sounded like the kind of novelty that might burn out fast. But what they delivered on stage was one of the most creative, chaotic, and strangely wholesome sets of the entire weekend.

The band stormed through classic rock and metal tropes with bone-rattling riffs, all while leading a field of kids and adults through moshing, air guitar lessons, and circle pits. Yes, circle pits, for toddlers. It was utterly surreal. But beyond the spectacle, there was a genuine love for the music and a mission that felt inspiring: to introduce a new generation to rock culture in a way that was safe, silly, and unforgettable.

Kids were on shoulders. Parents were laughing with tears in their eyes. The band managed to bring Slipknot and mayhem into a family-friendly format that somehow didn’t feel watered down. It was educational anarchy, and the joy was infectious. We joked about going beforehand, but by the end, we were fully converted. Hats off to Slay Duggee, what they’re doing is unique, and it left a bigger impression than many of the weekend’s headliners.

6. Freddie Halkon Brings the Away Support

Freddie Halkon is having a summer. After impressing on home turf at Tramlines the week before, his Kendal Calling set felt like the away fixture, but one where the fans travelled en masse. From the moment he stepped on stage, the energy was electric and the tent was heaving.

There’s something about Halkon that cuts through. Maybe it’s the blend of indie hooks and working-class grit, or maybe it’s his ability to connect with a crowd without a hint of ego. Either way, this set confirmed he’s a festival act in the making. The crowd sang every word back to him, and when he dropped “Girl from the Smoking Area,” the noise levels doubled.

It wasn’t just a tight set – it was a moment of communal pride. People knew they were watching an artist who’d soon be filling even bigger spaces. He’s clearly got the songs, but just as importantly, he’s got presence. Kendal often captures acts on the cusp, and this performance felt like one of those sweet spots where timing, talent and fan support all aligned.

What also stood out was how comfortable he looked. Not in a complacent way, he worked for every reaction ,but in that special way where the stage feels like a natural habitat. There was real joy on his face as the crowd bounced and belted out lyrics. A standout set from an artist very much on the rise.

7. Dick and Dom: Pure Festival Joy

It might sound like a curveball, but Dick and Dom’s DJ set was one of the most joyously bonkers experiences of the weekend. For anyone who grew up watching the duo’s TV antics in the early 2000s, this was an unmissable blend of rave culture and childhood nostalgia – and it worked an absolute treat.

Their Parklands Stage appearance was packed with people in bucket hats and glitter, many of whom had likely grown up yelling “BOGIES!” at inappropriate moments in school corridors. That energy was recreated in full at Kendal Calling, with conga lines snaking through the crowd and inflatable props flying through the air.

The music wasn’t just throwaway filler either, they mixed in drum and bass, garage classics, and proper party bangers. But it was the atmosphere they created that elevated the set. There was no pretence, just a shared sense of fun. Everyone was smiling, laughing, and completely throwing themselves into it. In a weekend full of high-octane guitar bands and intense mosh pits, this was a reminder of the simple power of collective silliness.

Whether you were reliving your CBBC days or just swept up in the madness, Dick and Dom delivered one of the most talked-about and joy-filled sets of the weekend. It shouldn’t have worked. But it absolutely did.

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8. Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls: Sunday Salvation

By Sunday afternoon, after three long days of dancing, sweating, and surviving on questionable food choices, many festivalgoers were starting to flag. But when Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls took to the stage, it was like a bolt of energy shot through the crowd.

Turner has long been associated with Kendal Calling, having played multiple times over the years, and there’s a clear affection between him and the Kendal crowd. He didn’t waste time. Opener “The Ballad of Me and My Friends” had people up on their feet, beers raised, shouting every word like it was gospel. By the time “Recovery” dropped, we were all believers again.

There’s something uniquely healing about a Frank Turner set. His lyrics mix grit and hope in equal measure, and on a sunny Sunday, they landed like warm anthems for the tired but still-standing faithful. He joked about being older, about how long he’s been doing this, but the fire was still there in his performance.

Kendal doesn’t always get Sunday afternoons right, but this was perfect programming. Turner didn’t just play songs, he led a communal comeback. People who had slumped to the grass moments earlier were suddenly jumping again. He’s one of the few artists who can rally the troops when the energy is gone. This set was a reminder that even in your festival-worn state, you can always find one more gear.

9. The Clause Turn Up the Heat

By the time The Clause took to the Calling Out stage, the weekend was winding down for me, but their set lit a fire under the Sunday night crowd. Despite it being their first appearance at Kendal Calling, they played like veterans of the circuit. It was slick, stylish, and seriously loud.

The Birmingham outfit has been doing the rounds at UK festivals all summer, and it shows. Their set was punchy and confident, loaded with big choruses and sharp guitar work. New tracks from their upcoming debut album landed just as hard as fan favourites like “In My Element”.

What stood out was the cohesion. This is a band with a clear identity – part swagger, part soul – and they brought the Calling Out tent to life with it. The sound was tight, the performance was polished, but it still had that live-wire unpredictability that keeps you hooked. The crowd, feeding off their energy, gave everything back.

Kendal was ready to wind down, but The Clause made sure the fire burned a little longer. As first-time appearances go, this was textbook stuff. Expect them to be much higher up the bill next time around.

10. The Lancashire Hotpots: A Homecoming Party

Kendal Calling wouldn’t be Kendal Calling without The Lancashire Hotpots. The self-proclaimed house band of the festival returned once again to send the weekend off with the kind of chaos only they can deliver – and it was beautiful.

Their set was part comedy show, part local legend showcase, and part communal karaoke. Tracks like “Chippy Tea,” “I Fear Ikea,” and “Bin Mon” were met with mass singalongs, pint-spilling dancing, and plenty of laughing. If your legs were tired, this set convinced them otherwise.

It was more than just funny songs, it was community. Locals, regulars, first-timers and families all packed in to see the band that has become part of Kendal’s DNA. There was something really moving about how much joy they brought, especially to those of us who’d been coming for years and knew this set would feel like home.

The Hotpots might never headline Glastonbury, but at Kendal Calling, they’re royalty. And as far as festival Sunday acts go, few send you away with a bigger smile on your face. It was chaotic. It was charming. It was pure Kendal Calling.

A Festival Grown, But Not Changed

As the sun set on Sunday and tents began to collapse under the weight of the weekend, it was clear that Kendal Calling had once again outdone itself. This wasn’t just a festival marking a milestone – it was a reminder of what grassroots events like this mean to people. It’s where bands break through, where fans find their tribe, and where stories get passed down like folklore.

Twenty years on from its humble beginnings, Kendal Calling still knows exactly who it is – and that’s why we keep coming back. Whether you came for the indie icons, the secret sets, or just to dance with your mates in a field, this year gave us all something to hold onto.

Here’s to the next 20.