Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds triumph with epic Kendal Calling 2024 set

Our review of a superb Friday at Lowther Deer Park

Noel Gallagher at Kendal Calling 2024

Author: Scott ColothanPublished 3rd Aug 2024
Last updated 6th Aug 2024

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds headlined Kendal Calling on Friday night (2nd August) with a phenomenal set that boasted Oasis anthems aplenty.

Oasis icon Noel Gallagher’s inaugural bill-topping performance at Kendal Calling eight years ago is still spoken about in revered tones on the fields of Lowther Deer park, and his set on Friday is also certain to be forever entrenched in Kendal Calling folklore.

Just like every Noel Gallagher gig over the past two years, the Kendal set was essentially split in two – the first half drawing from his four High Flying Birds albums, and the second an aural onslaught of timeless Oasis classics.

Opening with ‘Pretty Boy’, Noel took the rammed-to-the-rafters main stage crowd through the zeniths from his criminally underrated solo career – from relatively recent single ‘Council Skies’ through to a jubilant ‘We’re On Our Way Now.’

Never afraid of stoking up a bit of controversy, Noel dedicated ‘AKA… What A Life’ to “all the Manchester City supporters” in attendance as images of his beloved Pep Guardiola flashed up on the screens to a handful of cheers and a cavalcade of boos.

Keeping up the footy ante, Noel’s cover of Joy Division’s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ was later dedicated to Leeds United fans, and Oasis classic ‘Going Nowhere’ was in homage to Newcastle United.

Undoubtedly, it was the Oasis part of the set that resonated more with the Kendal audience, the odd heavy downpour on an otherwise dry day only heightening the electric atmosphere.

‘The Masterplan’ was positively transcendental, while ‘Half the World Away’ prompted a mass singalong, even from the befuddled bloke next to us who asked “isn’t this the song from the Royle Family?”

Saving the best to last, Noel’s sublime set peaked with a euphoric ‘Live Forever’ and life-affirming ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger.’ "Song!!" shouted one member of the audience, and we couldn't have said it better ourselves.

Keane at Kendal Calling 2024

Before Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds band mates took to the stage, co-headliners Keane dazzled with a chilled-out indie masterclass.

Definitely not a set for those with a penchant for heavier music, it was an early evening journey of beguiling piano-led anthems like ‘Everybody’s Changing’, a poignant ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ and the ultimate ‘Bedshaped.’

There were highlights aplenty throughout the rest of Friday including, perplexingly, Dick and Dom dispatching a brutal drum and bass remix of Black Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’, and Slay Duggee’s bowel-shakingly heavy set of metal interpretations of kids’ TV tunes.

Perhaps the only thing missing from the set was a metal version of the Lauren Layfield / Hacker T. Dog meme ‘We’re just innocent men / We’re just normal men.’ Maybe next time!

Kendal Calling continues on a gloriously sunny Saturday with a headline set from serial hitmakers The Streets plus Lightning Seeds, Kate Nash, Sugababes and many more.