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For the second consecutive year The Lake District based festival Kendal Calling has scored the coveted prize for the Live UK music industry award for Best Small Festival.
The title, awarded to festivals that have fewer than 15,000 attendees is a true accolade as the event was nominated to win by music industry experts.
Live UK who host the awards are the only magazine dedicated to the UK’s contemporary live music industry; providing news, features and information to 2,500 key professionals.
Kendal Calling was cherry picked from a long list of other events that have taken place in the 2011 festival calendar, with the final result chosen by fans.
This year’s event saw the festival sell out in record time with eight weeks to go.
Headliners included New York legends Blondie, anthemic indie band The Cribs, Liverpool stalwarts Echo and the Bunnymen, reformed hip-hop act House of Pain and dubstep stars Chase & Status.
The festival has come a long way since its inception in 2006 when it was a small gathering of 900 people and a two day event in a park in Kendal.
Since 2009 the event has been staged at the stunning Lowther Deer Park, the NME describing the site as ‘One of the most beautifully scenic places in the country’.
Directors of the festival Andy Smith and Ben Robinson have remained true to their ethos of bringing national and internationally recognised artists as well as providing a platform for regional talent to their local area.
Although the event has grown in size, the festival has retained its intimate and friendly atmosphere and has sold out every year since its inception.
This year also saw the Kendal Calling team launch Live From Jodrell Bank, held in the shadow of the famous Lovell telescope in Cheshire.
The 5,000 capacity sell-out event saw space rock band The Flaming Lips perform a breathtaking show.
More transmissions are in the pipeline at Jodrell Bank as well as exciting new areas at Kendal Calling Festival, including the return of the original festival Olympics the Cumbrian Olympics in recognition of London 2012 games.
Ben Robinson, Co-Festival Founder and Director said on behalf of Kendal Calling, ‘It’s been an amazing year, the festival has gone from strength to strength, and we’re extremely proud of the whole larger team now involved.’
‘The festival is testament to those who come and year on year continues to attract a lovely bunch of people who just want to have a good time… which is what we set out to do six years ago.’
Plans for 2012 event are already under way and announcements are due to be made early next year.
Stay tuned to Purple revolver for details on the run up to 2012s event.
www.kendalcalling.com
Photos courtesy of Tom Martin