Kendal Calling announces Kasabian, Blossoms, Royal Blood for 2023
Kiefer Sutherland, Happy Mondays and Kaiser Chiefs are also set for Lowther Deer Park
By Joe Goggins
The lineup for this year’s Kendal Calling festival has been revealed, with Kasabian, Blossoms, Royal Blood and Nile Rodgers & Chic set to headline.
The Lake District bash returns for its 17th edition over the weekend of 27-30 July this summer, with a packed lineup offering the usual blend of established and up-and-coming indie rock, as well as a smattering of pop. In addition to Kendal Calling veterans like Kaiser Chiefs, Frank Turner and The Enemy are appearances by chart heroes Natalie Imbruglia, Melanie C and Rick Astley, as well as the emerging likes of The Lathums, Beabadoobee and Confidence Man.
Happy Mondays are in line for a special guest slot, meanwhile, whilst a rare UK festival appearance is in prospect for actor-turned-country rocker Kiefer Sutherland. Elsewhere, Annie Mac and Mike Skinner will play DJ sets as part of Glow at Kendal Calling, and Scouting for Girls, Reverend and the Makers and Circa Waves help round out the main lineup. You can see the poster below.
The festival returned to Lowther Deer Park last summer after a two-year, pandemic-enforced layoff, with a sold-out 15th anniversary weekend that saw headline sets from Bastille, Stereophonics, Supergrass and Hacienda Classical. Speaking as the 2023 lineup was announced, Kendal Calling co-founders Andy Smith and Ben Robinson said: “after an absolutely stunning festival last year, we cannot wait to get back in those fields! With Kasabian, Royal Blood, Blossoms, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Kaiser Chiefs, Rick Astley, Annie Mac – the line-up is looking absolutely stacked. All we need now is a bit of sun and we’ve got the perfect weekend!”
Tim Burgess, a veteran of several Kendal Callings who launched his enduring pop-up coffee shop Tim Peaks diner there, added: “Kendal Calling has always been a favourite of The Charlatans – and even more so as Tim Peaks has been there since 2012 and I’ve felt like part of the family. Looking forward to heading back there in July, got me a solo gig, some listening parties, a DJ set and maybe a couple of surprises too.”
Tickets for Kendal Calling 2023 go on pre-sale at 10am on Friday (January 27) – you can sign up here. The general sale begins at 10am on Saturday (January 28).