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Kendal Calling Festival 2024 guide – lineup, stage splits, site map and more

Kendal Calling has come back around and we CANNOT wait.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 31st July 2024

One thing we love about festival season is that as soon as one has passed us by, the next one rocks up right on time and, just like that, Kendal Calling kicks off this Thursday, 1 August.

Running through till the end of the weekend, Kendal Calling will once again be taking over Lowther Deer Park in the Lake District, turning a lovely little valley into one of the best music festivals not just in the North but the entire country as far we’re concerned.

2023’s festival was well and truly one of the best weekends we’ve had in a long time and even the weather held up for the most part, so we can only hope it lives up to the very high bar it sets every year.

So, without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about Kendal Calling Festival 2024.

Are there tickets left?

One of the easiest and best reviews for Kendal Calling is that the much-loved North West music festival not only hits record attendances each time it returns but it also sells out every year without fail – and no, we’re not exaggerating.

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2024 marks the 19th consecutive year that the event has sold out, having first started way back in 2006 and gone on to become not just a cult favourite but one of the biggest dates on the British music calendar.

That being said, while Kendal is once again sold out this year, upgrades when it comes to camping, parking and tickets for early access on Thursday’s opening night are still available. You can also keep your eye out for spares and last-minute passes but, as always, be cautious and only use trusted sites like their official reseller Tixel.

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Kendal Calling festival map and stages

Now, we can’t lie, Lowther Deer Park is pretty darn big so it helps to know where you’re going, especially when heading into the full site itself.

You can find a full lay of the land including where specific camping zones, car parks, entrances and pick-up/drop-off points down below.

We’ve also included the specific stage map on the right-hand side for once you’re into the main area and need a better idea of the layout.

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kendal calling festival map 2024
The full site map.
kendal calling stages 2024
Where to find the festival stages.
Credit: Kendal Calling (supplied)
  • Main Stage – Where all the action and big headliners are playing at the northernmost location
  • Parklands – The second largest stage pretty much smack bang in the middle of the site
  • Calling Out – Rounding out the trio of Kendal stages with even more big acts to the west
  • Woodlands – Exactly what it sounds like: a cosy stage set within the Lost Eden forest
  • Chai Wallahs – Another large tent towards the North East of the site boasting a variety of genres
Credit: Supplied
  • The Soapbox – Just northwest of Parklands, it’s where most of the live comedy is taking place
  • Tim Peaks Diner – Named after Tim Burgess himself, this little hut is built for more pared-down sets
  • Desert Island Disco – Where the electronic scene goes to shine and usher in the late-night fun
  • Roots – Built to spotlight emerging talent from across the region, there are gems to be found here
  • The Town Hall and The Stagger Inn – The latest addition to the festival alongside the official Kendal Calling pub where The Lottery Winners Thom Rylance will be pulling a few pints as landlord. We had a lot of fun with this announcement.

Kendal Calling headliners and stage splits

Now, here’s what you all came for: a reminder of exactly who is playing Kendal Calling Festival 2024. We could be here forever writing out every name playing every single stage, so for now, we’ve put together a quick summary of the biggest names playing the main stage across the weekend.

Kendal Calling lineup – Thursday, 1 August

  • Paul Heaton
  • Declan McKenna
  • The Hunna
  • Beth McCarthy
  • Hardwicke Circus
  • The Allergies
  • Tom McGuire & The Brassholes
  • Freshly Squeezed
  • Stone Cold Hustle
  • Tricky Disco
  • Twisted Time Machine

Friday, 2 August

  • Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
  • Keane
  • The Snuts
  • CMAT
  • Flowerovlove
  • The Untold Orchestra perform ABBA
  • Deadletter — we loved this lot last year and it looks like they’ve had an upgrade (see below…)
  • Alfie Jukes

Saturday, 3 August

  • The Streets
  • Sugababes
  • Kate Nash
  • Heather Small
  • Andrew Cushin
  • Corella
  • Russell Howard

Sunday, 4 August

  • Paolo Nutini
  • The Reytons
  • Feeder
  • Pale Waves
  • Royel Otis
  • Red Rum Club
  • The Lancashire Hotpots
  • Revivalry

You can inspect the full lineup down below:

How to get there

For those of you wondering how to get to Kendal Calling, the festival takes place at Lowther Deer Park in Hackthorpe near Penrith, Cumbria (no, it’s not quite Kendal) and the postcode is CA10 2HT.

By car

Located roughly 25 minutes north of its namesake Kendal, you can drive up there via M6 and south down the A6 from Penrith. You can easily download full directions on Google Maps.

By train then taxi/shuttle

The nearest train station to the festival site is Penrith (also known as Penrith North Lakes) which is just a 15-minute taxi journey from the site. Alternatively, you can hop on the special shuttle bus service which will run from the station to the festival at various points over the weekend. Various services are available from Scotland, Birmingham, London, here in Manchester and across the North West – for example:

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  • From Birmingham New Street to Penrith (2h31m) — trains every hour
  • From London Euston to Penrith (3 hours) — trains every 30 minutes
  • From Glasgow to Penrith (1h21m) — trains every hour
  • From Edinburgh to Penrith (1h30m) — trains every hour
  • From Lancaster to Penrith (34 mins) — regular service
  • From Manchester Piccadilly to Penrith (1h41m) – trains every 30 minutes, change at Preston

Shuttles will run to and from Penrith (North Lakes) Station to Kendal Calling from 10am-18:45pm on Thursday and 8:30am-19:15pm on Friday. They won’t resume again until early Monday, with the final service lasting from 8:30am until 13:15pm.

The festival has a dedicated pick-up and drop-off point (PUDO) located at Green Gate. Follow the road signage as you get closer to the site for directions to the PUDO, which is also where you’ll find the taxi rank alongside our coach drop-off spot – just a short 5-10 minute to the wristband exchange too.

By coach/mini-bus

Speaking of coaches, you can find ticket prices for official services from locations like Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and many more places across the UK HERE, and for all other info on other options for getting to Kendal Calling 2024 consult the travel section on their website.

Other experiences, entertainment and beyond at Kendal Calling

puppet parade kendal calling 2023
woodlands stage
family friendly stuff at kendal calling
Credit: Supplied

But of course, one of the things we love most about Kendal Calling is that it’s much more than just a music festival – there is literally something for everyone including plenty of family-friendly activities for people of all ages.

From an Oktoberfest tent, the Soapbox stage and the Picture House where you can sit back and just watch a film amidst all the running around, to hordes of dancers, the puppet parade, the Lost Eden forest trail and so much more.

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Don’t even get us started on the wide variety of food vendors that will be rolling into the festival site and helping rinse out bank accounts all weekend long. You can find the full list HERE.

Kendal Calling after dark is also quite the sight to behold…

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And that should be just about everything you need to know ahead of Kendal Calling 2024, which kicks off on Thursday, 1 August and runs until this Sunday.

We’ve got a lot of love for this annual event which continues to draw in bigger crowds and push the boundaries year after year.

The new and improved Audio North (a.k.a. the artist formerly known as The Manc Audio) will once again be heading over, so make sure to say hello if you see us around and show off your best festival fits.

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Have the best time guys and see you in the fields!

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — George Harrison/Tom Martin via Kendal Calling (supplied)/The Manc Group

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The impressive plan to transform Manchester’s landmark Pall Mall building

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson CGIs show how Pall Mall will look when the work is complete. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech

Work is now well underway to completely revamp one of Manchester’s most recognisable buildings, Pall Mall. 

The Grade II-listed building on the beautiful King Street will be totally transformed into a new city centre innovation hub by Bruntwood SciTech. 

You’ve probably walked past it hundreds of times, but soon there’ll be a chance for freelancers, start-ups, and established businesses to step inside and call it home. 

For those self-employed of you out there, there are no scary commitments to worry about when Pall Mall reopens – you can just walk in and book a pay-as-you-go-desk, work at the cafe, sign up for a coworking membership, or go all the way to serviced offices or sign up for the sort of office space you can put your own stamp on – all with flexible payment options. 

Once completed, there’ll be 12 floors of work spaces for between one and 70 people across three interconnected towers.

If you spend your 9-5 in one of the office spaces at Pall Mall, you’ll have access to a free state-of-the-art gym, a contemplation room, a lounge and library space, and a roof terrace with panoramic views across Manchester city centre. 

There’ll also be secure EV charging points and a large cycle hub, plus plenty of greenery added through an outdoor piazza and revitalised entrance space. And every communal space will operate at net zero carbon. Snazzy. 

Pall Mall is a 90,000 sq ft giant in the heart of Manchester, with a rich cultural and historical significance and is an example of a high-quality post-war site. 

CGIs released as part of the plans show bright and open work spaces with lots of fully fitted offices ready to move straight into, plus a totally overhauled outdoor space to make use of an often-overlooked external space in the city centre. 

Pall Mall will have a revitalised piazza outside. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech
Pall Mall will have a revitalised piazza outside. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech
There'll be a cafe on site at Pall Mall. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech
There’ll be a cafe on site at Pall Mall. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech

The ambitious £30m project comes from Bruntwood SciTech, the UK’s largest dedicated property platform dedicated to growing the science, tech and innovation sectors, which is a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund, who last October announced that they would be investing a further £500m into building or refurbing work-class spaces for these types of businesses, and Pall Mall was one of these first commitments.

Principal contractor Dragonfly has been appointed to build the Sheppard Robson-designed development and local teams also working on the development include Ramboll as sustainability consultants, Deloitte as planning consultants, heritage consultant Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture and structural engineers DWLLP.

Businesses will be able to move into adaptable and flexible workspaces, with different lease lengths available to cater for businesses as they grow. 

Those moving into Pall Mall will be part of a culture that prioritises sustainable growth, from the net-zero communal spaces to the net-zero construction, with the building’s original structure being maintained to save 7,900 tonnes of additional carbon (the equivalent of one passenger making 26,000 flights from London to New York). 

There’ll be an all-electric heating and cooling system, a smart building management system, and new mechanical ventilation heat recovery units to maximise energy efficiency and provide fresh air control to businesses. 

Pall Mall will have a gym. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech
Pall Mall will have a gym. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech
CGIs show how Pall Mall will look when the work is complete. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech
CGIs show how Pall Mall will look when the work is complete. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech

Once complete, Pall Mall is targeting a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating and EPC A rating – a significant achievement for a Grade II listed, 1960s building.

Their green credentials have been noticed – Pall Mall is a finalist in the 2024 edie Awards for Green Building Project of the Year, and also won Best Commercial Unbuilt Project at the 2024 Manchester Society of Architects Awards.

Start-ups, scale-ups and global businesses alike will gain access to a UK-wide network of 1100 like-minded businesses across Bruntwood SciTech’s community, which spans 31 city centre hubs and nine science and technology campuses in six cities, and in Manchester includes the likes of Circle Square, Manchester Science Park, Bond, Bloc, 111 Piccadilly and Blackfriars in Manchester. 

There are big names who already operate from Bruntwood Scitech’s Manchester innovation hubs including – to name but a few – Roku, Deliveroo, AO, Social Chain, Mills & Reeve, and tonnes of freelancers. 

They can access Bruntwood SciTech’s growth support, including direct access to funding and investors, highly skilled talent, new markets, and an extensive clinical, academic and public partner network.

Ciara Keeling, Chief Operating Officer for Bruntwood SciTech said: “Bruntwood SciTech has a strong blueprint for creating innovation ecosystems, having undertaken significant projects across many of the UK’s cities and regions. 

CGIs show how Pall Mall will look when the work is complete. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech
CGIs show how Pall Mall will look when the work is complete. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech
CGIs show how Pall Mall will look when the work is complete. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech

“We believe that these hubs are not only essential to the development, growth and success of many exciting innovation-focused businesses, but can play a significant role in transforming our regional economies and putting the UK on a path to achieving its ambitions of being an innovation powerhouse. 

“Work commencing on our redevelopment of Pall Mall marks an important step in our mission to power economies through innovation, supporting Manchester to continue growing its support for the knowledge economy, and becoming a more environmentally sustainable city. 

“Core to our vision for the building is to develop a workspace that caters specifically to the needs of disruptors and innovators, whilst also remaining acutely conscious of our responsibility to champion the building’s heritage and inherent character.”

Pall Mall’s redevelopment is targeted to complete in 2025, and is supported by Savills and CBRE.

Want to call Pall Mall home for your business? Enquire today.

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Featured image: Supplied

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A Manc’s guide to Piccadilly East – Manchester’s up-and-coming new neighbourhood

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Manchester is an ever-evolving beast.

Just when you think the city centre has reached its peak, entire new neighbourhoods with exciting new openings spring up out of the blue. 

Take, for example, Ancoats – just a few short years ago it was more run-down mill than run clubs and martinis, and now it’s a buzzing neighbourhood with a Michelin star and some of the UK’s most respected restaurants and bars. 

The newest contender for the coolest neighbourhood in Manchester is Piccadilly East, a previously overlooked tangle of roads, warehouses and canals just behind Piccadilly train station. 

It’s all change round here though, with loads to see and do to keep you entertained. 

And it’s not all about the food and the drink and the culture and the nightlife (though there is a lot of that) – it’s also about the new homes that have been built here, like The Castings. 

The design-led development has 352 homes, ranging from well-thought-out studios to spacious three-bedroom apartments, some of the best views in the city, and unreal amenities. More on that later. 

For now, this is your essential guide to Piccadilly East. 

Burgerism and Sureshot Brewery / Credit: The Manc Group

Food and drink

Diecast* – The big name in this new neighbourhood is Diecast, a sprawling food, drink and music spot with masses of outside space, 64 combinations of frozen daiquiri, New York-style pizzas, and even retro caravans you can sit in. 

Ramona and The Firehouse* – It started as a teepee serving Detroit-style pizzas slices, and has now expanded into the neighbouring MOT garage, which has been transformed into a glittering party palace serving fire-cooked meats, flatbreads, and pure disco. 

Tariff and Dale* – A long-time favourite in the Northern Quarter, with the sort of natural industrial charm that so many have tried and failed to replicate, Tariff and Dale is known best for its classic cocktails, British beers, and wood-fired pizzas. 

Freight Island – Want to be spoilt for choice for your dinner? Piccadilly East rubs shoulders with Freight Island, a massive food hall and entertainment space that plays host to loads of great traders from across the North West, including the award-winning Burgerism. 

Diecast and Cloudwater Brewery / Credit: The Manc Group

Cloudwater* – Arguably the most well-known craft brewery in Manchester, if not the UK, Cloudwater has its own taproom here in Piccadilly East, where you can sip on delicious beers directly above the brewery itself. 

Track – Another spot where you can drink your beer as close to the source as possible is Track (happily, directly across the road from Cloudwater), which has built a beautiful taproom inside its huge brewery where you can crack open a can while you watch beers being canned in front of you. 

Sureshot – Part of the unofficial Piccadilly Beer Mile (there are a lot of brewers working around here) is Sureshot, a brewery with some of the funniest beer names in Manchester and an excellent taproom too. 

Shopping

Northern Flower* – Want a new little leafy mate for your new pad, or a bunch of flowers to treat a special someone (that special someone could be yourself)? Then Northern Flower is the spot for you. It’s a long-standing florist in the Northern Quarter, a short walk from Piccadilly East.

The Norah Store – Okay this is technically in Ancoats, not Piccadilly East, but the beauty of the new neighbourhood is that it’s very central. The Norah Store sells vintage-inspired womenswear, all designed by female designers and other small independent business owners. 

Literally the entire Northern Quarter – Actually, if you end up living in Piccadilly East you’re incredibly well-placed for some of the best independent shopping in the North West. In the Northern Quarter alone you’ll find vintage shops, boutiques, comic book shops, florists, bakeries, record shops, lifestyle stores, and more.

Northern Flower and The Norah Store / Credit: The Manc Group

Nightlife and hotels

The Warehouse Project – When it comes to nightlife, Piccadilly East is at the heart of quite possibly the most famous clubbing series in Europe – The Warehouse Project. Taking over Depot Mayfield every autumn and winter, it attracts the biggest names in dance, electronic, house and more for several weeks of pure fun. 

Leonardo – Time to rest your weary head? The new Leonardo Hotel has plenty of spacious bedrooms, and is a familiar sight now thanks to its striking Jenga block-style exterior with plants spilling out from every level. 

Dakota – Another hotel in this neck of the woods is Dakota, a luxury spot with phenomenal rooms that’s played host to more than a few celebrities since it opened in 2019 (cough cough, Hugh Jackman…)

Culture

Mayfield Park – One of the best things for locals to do around Piccadilly East is to check out the new Mayfield Park, Manchester’s first new city centre park in 100 years. It was recently awarded a prestigious Green Flag award, with judges saying they had ‘never seen such an outstanding urban park’.

Ancoats Marina – There’s more valuable outside space to be found near Piccadilly East, with Ancoats Marina and all its charms right across the road. You can grab a coffee, a pastry, a wine or a pint, and soak in the waterside views. 

Co-op Live and Mayfield Park / Credit: The Manc Group

Co-op Live – Piccadilly East is walking distance for most people to the brand-new Co-op Live arena, a staggering new music venue that’s already hosted some of the biggest music names in the world, with plenty more to come. 

Events – There are always things happening at all of the places we’ve mentioned already, whether you’re wanting to browse a Maker’s Market, dance into the early hours, or even go to a Batman exhibition (this one has sadly departed but something similar will surely follow).

Property

The Castings – When it comes to where to live in Piccadilly East, The Castings is a clear favourite. Its apartments have been finished to the highest standards with huge bedrooms with massive built-in wardrobes, well-equipped kitchens complete with top-of-the-range appliances, and stunning living spaces that are flooded with natural light. 

The building also has its own gym, kitted out with Technogym equipment that includes a free weights zone, squat rack, and cardio equipment, or taking on a class in the studio where virtual instructors are available seven days a week. 

Then there’s an on-site home working hub with 12 desk spaces, three private booths, and a bookable meeting room, plus a media room with a huge sofa and 86” TV.

And just off the working hub is one of several roof terraces which looks out over a small but green square below. 

The Castings / Credit: The Manc Group

Transport

The easiest commute in the world awaits you from Piccadilly East, which is (as the name suggests) right beside Manchester Piccadilly and all the many trains that pass through it every day. 

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You’re also very close to key stops on the Metrolink tram stop, bus routes, and are walking distance from all of Manchester city centre. 

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From here, you can hop on one train or one tram all the way to the airport if you want to get further afield. 

*Indicates that The Castings residents can get discounts and perks at these neighbourhood heroes.

Featured Image – The Manc Group

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