Kendal Calling 2025: A 20th Anniversary to Remember
From Thursday 31st July to Sunday 3rd August, the fields of Lowther Deer Park came alive for the 20th anniversary of Kendal Calling – and what a celebration it was. With sunshine, nostalgia, and a lineup packed with legends and rising stars, this year’s festival was a masterclass in how to throw a birthday bash.
Thursday: Scenic Routes, Soulful Grooves, and Riotous Nostalgia
We kicked off our Kendal Calling 2025 adventure on Thursday, cruising through the scenic route via Shep with the SoundMate X Kendal Calling 2025 playlist setting the mood. The queue into the site was long, but spirits were high—and honestly, the wait was more than worth it.
Once inside Emperors Field, we set up camp, exchanged greetings with our neighbours and made our way into the arena. First stop: Chai Wallahs, where Stone Cold Hustle delivered a high-energy set that instantly got us moving. It was the perfect way to shake off the travel and dive into the festival spirit.
Next, we wandered over to the main stage to catch fellow Mancunians Corella. Their set was tight, confident, and full of hometown pride. The crowd erupted during Barcelona Girl, with everyone singing along like it was a local anthem—pure Kendal magic.
Photo Credit: Hayley Grice of RGM Magazine
After some exploring and grabbing food (which, let’s be honest, is half the fun), we geared up for our first headliner of the weekend: Kaiser Chiefs. It was our first time seeing the Leeds legends live, and they absolutely delivered. Opening with bangers from Employment, the set was a nostalgic blast back to our school days. Never Miss A Beat had the crowd bouncing, and I Predict A Riot turned into a massive singalong that felt like a shared memory across generations.
We wrapped up the night after their set, knowing there was a long weekend ahead – but Thursday had already set the bar high.
Friday: From Chaos to Catharsis – A Day of Pure Festival Joy
What better way to kick off the weekend at a sold-out Kendal Calling than with a DJ set from Dick and Dom at Parklands? The tent was overflowing, with people spilling out just to catch a glimpse of the chaos – and it was glorious. Their set was the perfect blend of childhood nostalgia and festival madness, instantly igniting the party atmosphere.
From there, we shifted gears and headed to the main stage for a completely different vibe: Tim Burgess, joined by the RNCM Session Orchestra and Helen O’Hara. The orchestral arrangements of Charlatans and Dexys classics were stunning – an emotional, beautifully crafted performance that reminded us of Kendal’s ability to surprise and move you.
We took a breather in the sunshine, sipping Thatchers Blood Orange, and found ourselves in yet another nostalgic singalong with Corinne Bailey Rae. Put Your Records On hit differently in that moment – warm sun, good company, and a song that took us straight back to high school. Then came the indie rock surge.
The K’s took the stage and gave us one of the most unforgettable moments of the weekend: the announcement of their second studio album ‘Pretty On The Internet‘ hitting Number 1 mid-set. The crowd erupted, and the emotion was palpable. Singing along to Hoping Maybe and closing with Sarajevo felt like being part of something truly special.
Photo Credit: The K’s, Kendal Calling, Official Charts Company and Lab Records.
Next up were The Wombats, bringing more high school flashbacks with Moving to New York – which instantly triggered memories of The Inbetweeners. We danced through Kill The Director and ended on a high with Let’s Dance To Joy Division, a euphoric set from the Liverpudlian trio.
Photo Credit: Hayley Grice of RGM Magazine
Then came the big one: Courteeners. Inked on my skin and etched into my soul. This was my first time seeing them since the release of Pink Cactus Cafe, and hearing the title track live was everything I hoped for. The acoustic section, featuring Liam and Elina’s cover of Labi Siffre, was goosebumps-inducing, an arena-wide singalong that felt intimate and powerful.
The five-song encore was the perfect finale, with What Took You So Long? sending the crowd into a frenzy. Another flawless headline set from the Courteeners, and another memory made.
Saturday: Nostalgia, New Bangers, and a Silent Disco Under the Stars
Saturday began with a mission: a long trek across the campsite to the Co-Op for ice to keep the beer cooler alive. But even the queue had its own vibe – a disco party in full swing, proving that at Kendal, even the mundane becomes memorable.
On the way back, we stopped at the main stage to catch Finn Forster, a recommendation we’re so glad we followed. His vocals were stunning, and his set was the perfect soundtrack to a sunny morning in Lowther Deer Park.
With the beers chilling back at camp, we returned to the main stage for the weekend’s special guests: The Pigeon Detectives. As expected, Matt Bowman brought his signature chaos and charisma, delivering a wild, high-energy performance that had the crowd bouncing.
Then came our most anticipated set of the weekend: Reverend and the Makers. The Sheffield legends, led by the ever-charismatic Jon McClure, stormed the stage with flags flying and basslines thumping. Bassline kicked off the party, and the crowd swayed in unison through Heatwave in the Cold North, ironically fitting for the sweltering Kendal heat.
Hearing their new track Haircut live was a joy – fans belting out every word to a tune that’s already cemented itself as a feel-good anthem. For me, this set was deeply personal. Having seen Rev perform in my mum and dad’s living room a decade ago, it’s been an incredible journey following their evolution. Each album brings something new, and we’re already buzzing for their next release, Is This How Happiness Feels?, dropping April 2026.
Photo Credit: Hayley Grice of RGM Magazine
Next up: Travis. I’d imagined singing Why Does It Always Rain On Me in the rain, but Kendal surprised us with sunshine and warmth. Their set was heartfelt and nostalgic, a beautiful moment of calm in the chaos.
We wandered through Lost Eden, a daytime preview of the stunning light show to come, before heading to the Woodlands stage for an intimate acoustic set from James Walsh of Starsailor. Just him, a guitar, and a kick pedal – his voice filled the forest with emotion. Alcoholic and Good Souls were spine-tingling in that setting.
We did make our way to the main stage for Fatboy Slim, but the crowd was enormous – easily the biggest of the weekend. We didn’t stay, but those who did called it their highlight, and it’s easy to see why.
Instead, we headed to Parklands for Scouting For Girls, where the tent was packed and families spilled out onto the hill, watching on the big screen. Heartbeat and She’s So Lovely had everyone singing – pure festival joy.
As the night deepened, we returned to Lost Eden, now transformed into a glowing, surreal wonderland. The floating sphere, ambient lights, and immersive sounds made for a magical walk to the Woodlands stage, where we joined the Silent Disco with Dave Sweetmore and DJ B.
I tuned into Dave’s channel, belting out indie classics with a crowd of fellow music lovers. Occasionally, I’d take off my headphones to hear the beautiful chaos of clashing singalongs – each DJ’s crowd passionately singing different tracks. It was one of my personal highlights of the weekend. If you’ve never done a silent disco, make it a priority. It’s unforgettable.
Sunday: Hot Pots, Hidden Gems, and One Last Dance
It wouldn’t be Kendal Calling without a set from the legendary Lancashire Hot Pots. Their Sunday slot was the perfect hangover cure—belly laughs, dancing, and singing along to classics like Chippy Tea and our personal favourite, Egg, Sausage, Chips & Beans. The crowd was buzzing, and the vibe was pure joy.
Next up was Calling Out, where The Clause made their Kendal debut. Their set was electric – fans on shoulders, flares in the air, and mosh pits erupting. I was certainly ‘In My Element’ as were the crowd, and they closed with that very single which hit hard, and the energy was off the charts. Another serious contender for set of the weekend.
We then headed to the hill at Parklands to grab some food and prepare for the mysterious secret set teased as “Here’s Johnny?”. The reveal? Red Rum Club. The clues on social media – symbols from American Nights & English Mornings – had us guessing, and they kicked off with that very track. The crowd around the tent and on the hill was massive, and the singalong to Would You Rather Be Lonely was one of those perfect festival moments.
As the sun began to dip, we made our way to the main stage for the final headliner: The Prodigy. We caught The Last Dinner Party beforehand, and while they’re talented, the set felt underwhelming as a warm-up for what was to come.
Photo Credit: Kendal Calling, Tom Martin.
Then, The Prodigy lit up the arena. From the first notes of Voodoo People, the crowd was bouncing – kids on shoulders, generations united in dance. We lost ourselves in a whirlwind of tracks like Omen and Firestarter, the latter accompanied by a touching tribute to Keith Flint on the screens.
As the weekend caught up with us, we drifted toward the back of the crowd to soak in the finale: Breathe and Smack My Bitch Up, closing out a truly legendary set. And just when we thought it was over, the sky lit up with a firework display, with Fatboy Slim’s Praise You ringing out – a perfect moment of reflection as we looked back on an unforgettable weekend in the fields.
But we weren’t done yet. One last walk through Lost Eden, now glowing and surreal, led us back to the Woodlands stage for another round of the Silent Disco with Dave Sweetmore. It was the perfect way to end the weekend. One last dance, one last singalong, and one final walk back to the tent, hearts full and feet sore.
Final Thoughts: See You In The Fields...
Monday morning hit hard. Torrential rain and wind made packing up the tent a challenge, but it couldn’t dampen the memories. We were blessed with no rain and glimpses of sunshine for all four festival days, and as we loaded the car and set off home, we laughed and reminisced about everything we’d experienced. And before we’d even hit the motorway, we were already talking about next year.
By Thursday, Kendal Calling 2026 tickets were on sale – and of course, we booked them. We can’t wait to do it all over again. The lineup reveal is now eagerly awaited, and while we’re still recovering (festivals over 30 definitely require a bit more recovery time), we’re already counting down the days. If you have FOMO after the review of our experience from this year, there are only a limited amount of tickets available for next year, you can get yours by clicking here.
Thanks for an amazing festival, Kendal Calling. See you in the fields next year.