NEWS
BIGGER
PICTURE
What : Kendal Calling Where : Lowther Deer Park , Lake District When : 31 July-3 August 2025 Image : Tom Martin
From The Fields has much to celebrate having picked up the Event Promoter of the Year trophy at the Access All Areas Awards on 5 December and having seen the 2025 edition of its festival Kendal Calling festival sell out in record time .
Kendal Calling was founded in 2006 by Andy Smith , and over the years since the event ’ s capacity has been grown from 900 to 40,000 . The festival has sold out every year since it was launched , but never as swiftly as next summer ’ s edition .
Among the acts booked to play the 2025 event are Courteeners , Fatboy Slim , The Prodigy , Kaiser Chiefs , The Last Dinner Party and Frank Turner . Smith believes that the great response to next year ’ s event is not just down to the lineup . He says , “ A lot of people wanted to come and celebrate it being the 20th anniversary of the festival next year , but the strong sales are also on the back of a perfect festival this year ; the 2024 edition couldn ' t have gone better . For the first time in 19 years , it didn ' t rain once and so that allowed the event to be as great as it can be . We ' re in an absolutely beautiful part of the country and when the sun shines , you ' re in heaven .”
Among the enhancements to the event next year will be an increase to the size of the area given over to campervans , and a greater focus on immersive and creative non-music elements .
Says Smith , “ We have really tried to make it into a festival where all the arts are represented . When Kendal Calling first started out two decades ago , it was just a music festival . We have continually expanded it with things like the storytelling tent and theatre , it ' s about providing something for everybody . Kendal Calling has been organically evolved steadily over the years .”
“ The secrets to why it has gone as well as it has is that we ' ve never tried to run , we ' ve always taken slow and steady steps forward ; building on the success of the previous year and taking the audience with us by making sure we maintain their loyalty .”
06 accessaa . co . uk