Following another hugely successful year for Kendal Calling, tickets for the 20th anniversary of the much-loved Northern festival have gone on sale and are already selling out rapidly.
2024 marked the 19th consecutive sold-out year for the festival, and you can bet your house on Kendal Calling 2025 tickets disappearing before you know it as well.
With more than 40,000 people making their way into Lowther Deer Park in the Lake District every 24 hours over the course of the four-day music and arts festivals, it’s one of the biggest and best festivals in the region.
We certainly enjoyed ourselves the last two years, put it that way.
To better put it into context for you, when broken down to the numbers the festival sees the town suddenly inflate to the third biggest town in the whole of Cumbria thanks to the hordes of new punters, families and returning fans that travel to the Lakes simply for the festival.
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Dubbed by many as a ‘mini Glastonbury of the North’, the organisers have already built a remarkable reputation for themselves, attracting huge names over the years.
From Bastille, Elbow and Snoop Dogg; Catfish and the Bottlemen, Blondie, Chase and Status; Public Enemy, Calvin Harris, Tom Jones and countless others, Kendal Calling boasts some serious pedigree and is only set to go bigger and better from its 20th birthday – a huge milestone for any festival.
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Viral moments from this year’s legendary lineup included Declan McKenna’s iconic set on Thursday’s opening night, Manchester’s very own Corella jumping into the main stage crowd and, of course, Gary Neville delighting crowds with a DJ set some amusing on-stage antics for us Mancs.
It’s moments like these that explain exactly why tickets sell out every year and why they’re already being snapped up not even a week after the 2024 edition wrapped up.
It also needs reminding that the festival is about much more than just the music.
Following this year’s festival, Kendal Calling’s co-founder Andy Smith said: “From Paolo Nutini to Gary Neville, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds to Dick and Dom, packed out fields for Sugababes and The Reytons to the legendary Barrioke, woodlands adventures and swashbuckling parades… even a special visit from the Fury family backstage.
“The history books continue to be written, and 19 years in this could, quite possibly, have been our best one yet! As festival-goers set off for another year and we return the fields to the wildlife who call it home, we want to extend an enormous and heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who makes Kendal Calling the magical place that it is!
“The revelry, the community and the unutterable feeling of joy span every corner of our site and that is all down to you!” They’ve made sure to keep repaying that gratitude too by freezing ticket prices and even, with payment plans also available from as little as £15 per month.
So, with tickets for 2025 and their 20th-anniversary festival already on sale, we can only urge you to give it a go. Taking place from 31 July-3 August, adult early bird passes with camping for the full weekend start from £184.95 including fees.
You can find the full list of options HERE. We hope to see you in the fields next year and you can read our full review of Kendal Calling 2024 down below.
Jimmy Bradbury, Reuben Haycocks, Aoife Anson O’Connell, and Paddy Murphy – better known together as Westside Cowboy – formed back in 2023 when they were students at the Royal Northern College of Music, so while they may not all be from Manchester, they definitely have the spirit of our city at the heart of everything they do.
After playing in different bands across the city throughout their student years, the four-piece joined forces to create Westside Cowboy – an indie rock collective credited with self-coining the genre of ‘Britainicana’.
Put simply, Britainicana is a cultural concept that mixes the hazy, mythic feel of American country and folk, with the sound of raw British punk, indie rock, and small-town life.
Westside Cowboy have released their debut album, It Goes On / Credit: Clementine Schniedermann (Press Shots – Supplied)
If that sounds like your cup of tea, then you’ll be pleased to know that Westside Cowboy have released their debut album, It Goes On, to the world today (21 August).
And the reception from critics, arguably, couldn’t be better.
Prior to the release of their debut album, the band had released two EPs, including So Much Country ‘Till We Get There in January earlier this year, and had started to make a name for themselves with their popular debut single ‘I’ve Never Met Anyone I Thought I Could Really Love (Until I Met You)’ in 2024.
They went onto make even further waves when they supported equally-rising American rock band Geese on their UK and Irish tour back in March – with many fans calling it one of the best support and main act combinations in some time.
Three singles from their debut album were shared with the world ahead of its release – ‘Kick Stones (The Boys)’ came first, followed by ‘Pin Up Boys’ and ‘Dobro’.
So, it’s fair to say the anticipation for album was high… and if the reviews are anything to go by (which we think they are), it looks like the band has very much delivered what they set out to achieve.
Westside Cowboy’s debut album It Goes On is now available to stream, or you can purchase a physical copy in a range of formats from their website here.
Take a listen👇
Featured Image – Press Shot (Supplied)
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BBC Introducing LIVE is back with events across the North for grassroots music artists
Emily Sergeant
BBC Introducing’s flagship live event will return with a huge lineup of activities for aspiring musicians and music creators this autumn.
To celebrate and champion undiscovered talent across the country, BBC Introducing LIVE will include an array of live performances, immersive workshops, educational panels, and networking opportunities for grassroots artists, DJs, and music creators, all at the start of their careers.
Introducing LIVE will head across the UK, including hosting four special gigs in Leeds and a songwriting camp in Manchester.
The BBC Introducing Songwriting Camp is an invite-only event offering an ‘unparalleled’ experience for artists and creatives to develop skills and collaborate with industry professionals in a real music studio.
Then, on Saturday 28 November, BBC Introducing will host four showcases across Leeds, celebrating some of the best new music from across the UK – with independent music venues The Wardrobe, Belgrave Music Hall, and Oporto all taking part.
While up in Sunderland, following the success of BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend there earlier this year, a special takeover event will take place at The Fire Station – with a day of panels, workshops, open mics, and an industry feedback centre planned, all designed to support and inspire the next generation of musicians and music industry professionals.
Other northern cities hosting events during this year’s programme are Gateshead, and major music city Liverpool.
Many successful artists, including the North’s very-own Sam Fender, as well as big names like Ed Sheeran, Raye, Olivia Dean, and Loyle Carner, all began their careers with support from BBC Introducing.
“Championing and nurturing artists and creatives is at heart of everything BBC Introducing does, and so I’m excited that Introducing LIVE will be returning in November for our biggest year yet,” commented Kelly Betts, who is the Editor of BBC Introducing.
“BBC Introducing will be at events, panels, and gigs across the UK giving emerging talent the opportunity to learn from industry experts, make music and connect with fellow artists.
“Music has the power to unite, inspire, and shape our culture and BBC Introducing’s flagship event will help some of the UK’s rising stars on their journey to achieve this.”
Danny Jones -
8th August 2024 
