Kendal Calling Festival 2025: Ones To Watch
This year marks the 20th edition of Kendal Calling, one of the UK’s largest festivals boasting an incredible lineup of music and entertainment. The festival will take place from 31st July - 3rd August 2025, at Lowther Deer Park in the Lake District.
Kaiser Chiefs, Courteeners, Fatboy Slim, and The Prodigy are set to headline, with other performances from Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Wombats, Travis, Lottery Winners and many more.
With so many incredible artists appearing over the weekend, CRESCENDO is here to help you get to know just some of the acts you need to catch!
The Last Dinner Party
Photo by Emma Last, CRESCENDO Magazine
Last October, we caught The Last Dinner Party at the Cambridge stop of their sold-out UK tour. The band’s punchy performances and unique sound has earned them a cult following over the past few years, with their debut album ‘Prelude to Ecstasy’ hitting number one on the UK Albums Chart last February.
“To say the Brixton-formed quintet are rising through the music scene with full force would be an understatement. Since entering the industry on the live circuit opening for the likes of The Rolling Stones and securing an impressive string of festival performances under their belt, the group have garnered a reputation for delivering punchy live performances that balance classical elegance with alt-rock energy.”
The Big Moon
Photo by Emma Last, CRESCENDO Magazine
London four-piece The Big Moon have solidified a strong place in the music scene over the past 10 years, including a recent stint supporting Glass Animals on their EU & UK tour this autumn. Diverse indie, rock, and acoustic sounds infuse their impressive discography, which includes their Mercury-nominated debut album ‘Love in the 4th Dimension’, ‘Walking Like We Do’, and most recent album ‘Here Is Everything’, which is a thoughtful reflection on lead singer Juliette Jackson’s journey into parenthood.
“Through the lens of motherhood, The Big Moon took us on a journey through the giddy joy and consuming vulnerability that accompany growth. And if we can learn one thing from the group’s joyful togetherness, it’s that beyond the muddled arms of trouble, flux, and weight, we can find unbridled, electric beauty.”
Read our full review here:
The Big Moon brings joyous harmonies and string sections to acoustic Southampton show
The K’s
Photo by Alisa Fridman, CRESCENDO Magazine
The K’s are a fast-rising band from Earlestown who released their heavily anticipated debut album ‘I Wonder If The World Knows’ early last year. Combining strong guitar riffs, orchestral lashings, and catchy hooks, their performances are truly electric.
“The K’s delivered a sweaty, energetic, and unforgettable performance at Thekla on their final night of the tour, leaving the audience craving more of their raw, unapologetic rock sound. From the soaring guitars to heartfelt lyrics, each song showcased their growth over the last eight years as a band and their passion for the art they create. With a dedication to remaining connected to their fans and putting on the best performances that create memories to last a lifetime, the K’s prove yet again that they are the next band to be on the lookout for in the live music scene.”
Read our full review here:
Nieve Ella
Photo by Mollie McKay
As one of the UK’s most promising rising stars, Nieve Ella’s appearance at Kendal Calling comes off the back of sold-out headline tours, huge support slots, and an incredibly successful 2023 EP ‘Lifetime of Wanting’. Her sound is an enchantingly unique blend of indie and pop.
“In an often superficial music landscape, Nieve Ella emerges as a beacon of authenticity and vulnerability, proving herself to be a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. As she navigates the complexities of human relationships with unwavering honesty, Ella solidifies her status as one of 2024’s most exciting and promising artists.”
Read our full review here:
Nieve Ella navigates the complexity of friendship fallouts with her new single “The Things We Say.”
Daydreamers
Photo by Emma Last, CRESCENDO Magazine
Back in 2023, we caught Daydreamers at The Finsbury pub in North London for their first live show as a band. From the moment they stepped on stage the soaring potential of this group was crystal clear, and since then they have gone on to have huge popularity, particularly with their viral debut single ‘Call Me Up’. Their catchy indie-pop tones make for a truly unmissable live performance.
“Since we saw emerging London group Daydreamers play their first ever live show at The Finsbury, the enticingly fresh indie pop band has taken social media by storm. Since garnering their well-earned success along the way, their live sets have gone from strength to strength. ”
Luvcat
With an ever-growing fanbase, Liverpudlian artist Luvcat’s music has displayed a masterful blend of gothic theatrics and seductive decadence. Luvcat’s releases include her most recent single ‘Dinner @ Brasserie Zedel’, and ‘Matador’, whose popularity on TikTok quickly propelled the artist into success last summer.
“Luvcat once again creates their familiar femme fatale architype, laced with bloodlust over candlelit dinners and a delicious madness for listeners to feast on. Dinner @ Brasserie Zedel is Luvcat’s best murder ballad yet, blurring the lines between reality and the surreal whilst only enticing listeners further with it’s theatrical charm and a deadly love. ”
Read our full review here:
“Laced with delicious madness”: Luvcat drops new single ‘Dinner @ Brasserie Zedel’
Listen to CRESCENDO’s Kendal Calling 2025 playlist on Spotify