Lightning Seeds and Russell Howard shine on a spectacular Saturday at Kendal Calling 2024

Our roundup of day three at Lowther Deer Park

Russell Howard at Kendal Calling 2024

Author: Scott ColothanPublished 4th Aug 2024
Last updated 6th Aug 2024

Headlined by The Streets, the third day at Kendal Calling 2024 continued in fine style with a melting pot of incredible music, comedy and curiosities.

Gloriously self-deprecating funnyman Russell Howard proved to be an inspired booking in the blazing early afternoon sunshine on the main stage.

For those shaking off the late-night excesses of the Friday, Howard’s incredulous take on the contemporary world - covering everything from the divisive political sphere to his lazy eye to Whatsapp banter in his trademark sardonic wit - proved to be the perfect tonic.

In fact, Russell Howard drew easily the biggest crowd of the entire day – yes, even bigger than serial chart conquerors Sugababes.

Russell Howard crowd

As is always the case with truly great festivals, often the best bits about Kendal Calling are the unexpected random events on smaller stages.

A trip into the Woodlands reveals a tiny hut where an acoustic singer belts out 80s covers with great gusto alongside an unseasonal roaring fire, there’s a field of trippy kaleidoscopic magic mushrooms, and an enchanting neon love heart that only glows when two people hold hands.

Firm Kendal institution Tim Peaks Diner is also a delight, hosted by our very own Tim Burgess. Friday featured a DJ set from fellow Absolute Radio presenter Danielle Perry, and she also played the keys with John J Presley.

Today, we pop in to imbibe a legendary reviving coffee, and fresh from slaying the main stage, Andrew Cushin surprises us with an impromptu set to the packed Diner.

Tim Peaks Diner

Over in the fabled Kendal boozer The Stagger Inn, an Early Doors aficionado shouts “To the regiment, I wish I was there!” to huge cheers.

Earlier, Alan Fletcher – aka Karl Kennedy of Neighbours fame – performs a country-tastic set on the Parklands, and he regales the audience with humour throughout in his hyper-Aussie accent.

Post-Andrew Cushin, we also catch the tail end of Kate Nash’s set that has parents shielding their kids ears during an expletive-strewn ‘D---head’, while ‘Foundations’ proves to be a satisfying climax.

Lightning Seeds at Kendal Calling 2024

Over on Parklands, Scouse icons Lightning Seeds triumph with their cavalcade of anthems like a joyous ‘Lucky You’, a euphoric ‘Life of Riley’ and set-closer ‘Three Lions’ that has the Scottish contingent in the crowd rapidly evacuating the tent.

Despite not attracting the kind of crowd Noel Gallagher and Paul Heaton commanded, The Streets’ Mike Skinner does his best to pump up the crowd - “Come on Kendal, it’s Saturday, no excuses!”

Skinner and his band belted out all the hits from ‘Turn the Page’ to ‘Let’s Push Things Forward’ and nostalgic rave banger ‘Weak Become Heroes’, but, unsurprisingly, it’s ‘Dry Your Eyes’ and ‘Blinded by the Lights’ that proved to be the standout tunes of the night.

The Streets at Kendal Calling 2024

The fourth and final day of Kendal Calling is headlined by Paolo Nutini and boasts sets from Kendal favourites The Lancashire Hotpots, Feeder, The Reytons and many more.