So far this summer we've got our hands dirty in the British festival calendar and already toiled away at Nozstock in Herefordshire and Wickerman in Scotland. All just for your benefit so you can plan which festivals to go to next year.  Last weekend saw our third festival outing to the relatively young Cumbria / Lake District based Kendal Callng. Kendal takes place in the Lowther Deer Park filled with foresty goodness, dramatic views of big rocky hills and a herd of deer who've lived there for nearly ten centuries.

       Now in its fifth year Kendal calling has grown from a small 2 day music event in central Kendal in 2006, to a fully grown festival with more than 8000 party goers. We decided to take a gonzo approach with our reviews as you may have noticed with our wickerman and nozstock pieces and Kendal was no exception.  

    When we arrived at the Deer Park on friday night it was surrounded by ominous clouds.  However the festival gods had blessed us with a tiny circle of blue over the entire festival. (YES FESTIVAL GODS DO EXIST).  

    We just managed to catch the Stereo MCs on the main stage. If you're young you probably don't know who they are and you probably don't need to. Nevertheless they had a good crowd going warming up for Calvin Harris. The Main stage had a good lineup of band based music through the weekend. Something we don't really go for but with names like the Coral, Badly Drawn Boy and The Doves it was still worth a look now and again.  

    Besides, any seasoned festivaler knows its not usually about whats going on at the main stage.  There's a variety of tents in all different shapes and sizes filled with all different tastes. The "Glow Tent" brought us our usual festival fix of drum and bass, dubstep and other such electronic genres.  Names like High Contrast, who it seems play every festival in the world.  

    Aside the two big stages "Glow" and the "Main Stage" there was a collection of more homely indy tents nestled round the corner amidst the trees. The Kaylied and Calling Out stages showcased a whole host of acts.

    Manchester resident brass band "Riot Jazz" also hosted their own tent the "Riot Jazz Cafe" which for us was the definite highlight of our weekend. It had a really nice vibe all weekend and was rammed pretty much the whole time as well. So well done to the Manc boys doing us proud.

   Like Nozstock,  Kendal also had a Comedy / Burlesque sort of tent. All festivals should have them. Although some people seemed to have confused the exotic form of sophisticated dance which aims to empower women that is Burlesque with a group of people "getting their rat out" as its come to be known these days.

    All in all Kendal is a good weekend away and definitely goes down as one of the festivals thats Family Friendly as well as mash up friendly. One to consider for next summers festival outings.

Check our photos here...