the streets headline saturday at kendal calling 2024

★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

Unfortunately, our sleep wasn’t quite as good on the Friday night thanks to some people who arrived on the Friday. Between one of them throwing up and the others shouting between their tents from 3.30 – 6.30am it wasn’t the best sleep I’ve had in a tent. They had managed to invite some women they’d met back to their tents, and I really wish they’d followed through on their repeated assertions they were going back to their own tents. If you are George and you read this, next time maybe think about someone other than yourself and actually go back to your own tent?

So, a bit tired, we had some breakfast beers and geared ourselves up for the coming day. One that would throw up a few surprises and wouldn’t end up where we necessarily expected it to.

The PR had produced a list of artists who might be available to interview in between gig so I out my name down for a few more in hope than expectation and planned my day. A more traditional breakfast of a baguette and sausage consumed I was starting to feel ready to face the day, probably helped by one other members of the press bringing in their excellent homemade cookies.

I had a plan for who I wanted to see that I didn’t manage to complete for very good reasons but I did manage to see Harvey Jay Dodgson, Russell Howard, Shelf Lives, Heather Small (briefly) Home Counties, Sugababes, The Royston Club, New Dad, Peace and the Untold Orchestra performing Stevie Wonder. I had a roughly two hour gap in the middle of the day which meant I missed a few acts as I was interviewing Shelf Lives, Houne Counties and Heather Small.

Harvey Joy Dodgson is a real talent; he is like a cross between Sam Fender and Alex Turner. He is going to go far, the stage wasn’t packed for his early show but, if he stays as good as he is, it’s just a matter of time until he’s playing bigger stages with bigger audiences.

Russell Howard played the main stage very early during the Saturday and had tears of laughter streaming down my face while also manging to make a few poignant comments as well. His description of the difference between out and down is still making me laugh. He didn’t care who he offended but he was consistently brilliantly funny. Bill Bailley played the main stage two years ago, Russell Howard this year, hopefully this is something Kendal might do more of? It put a massive smile on my face!

Shelf Lives were a band I first heard while preparing for Kendal, I was intrigued and wanted to see them live. This Canadian/British duo did not disappoint. They are a mix of electronic, pop and punk. Their energy and exuberance are fantastic and, as I found out later when interviewing them, they are also really nice people. The crowd was a bit sparse to begin with but quickly grew.

Heather Small had a lengthy journey to Kendal, having driven from London that day, but it didn’t lessen her voice or her impact. Lots of singalongs to some of the best loved songs of the last 20 or so years ensued. She still has it; the voice is not diminished in any way.

Home Counties are another new band to me, having interviewed them I was keen to see them play. They were on the Woodlands stage and, getting to see them, I realised they should have been on a bigger stage. They are quite a large band with a very audience friendly sound while just being the right side of quirky to keep it all interesting. One to definitely watch.

Sugababes were as good as ever, there comeback continues to gather momentum, as the coolest girlband of their time along with All Saints they have the back catalogue to liven up any audience, which they did here in spades. I can see why there was such a crush to see them at another well-known festival.

SUGABABES PERFORMING ON SATURDAY AT KENDAL CALLING 2024
PHOTOCREDIT: JOHN HAYHURST

The Royston Club are an excellent live band, another one to keep an eye on as they will start to move up the bill. I really enjoyed the part of their set I saw. New Dad were also as good as I expected them to be, one who were on my list I was glad I was able to fit them in and I will definitely make the effort to go see them again.

Peace were tremendous, I was really impressed with them, they played Calling Out like they owned it. A band totally on top of their game, great music, great voice, great songs!

We decided we weren’t going to try and fight our way back into the main arena for the Street and instead made our way back to The Untold Orchestra does Stevie Wonder. I’d heard snatches when they’d played the main stage the day before with their Abba set and was really looking forward to this. Sound issues meant the were delayed starting but that just meant by the time they came on the crowd was the biggest I’d ever seen for the Woodlands stage to the point I don’t think they could have fitted anyone else in. It was worth the wait, they ere excellent, I danced, I sang and when I left if was with a massive spring in my step and smile on my face.