disco@dj-oli.co.uk

Kendal Calling a weekend to Remember

Last Friday, my dad and I were surprised with tickets to Kendal Calling—courtesy of Musiclinks (https://music-links.org.uk/, a brilliant charity that connects people through music. We had no idea it was coming, and it turned out to be one of the best days we've had in a long time.

The weather played nice (no rain, which felt like a miracle), and we arrived in good time. The only snag? Trying to meet up with Paul and James from Musiclinks to get our wristbands. The mobile signal was overloaded—too many people in one place, and no one’s phone worked. Still, we eventually got sorted, and somehow managed to park right in the heart of the festival grounds. No long trek, no hassle. It honestly felt like we had VIP treatment.

I’ve never seen so many people in one place—about 40,000 packed into the fields. The festival was loud—really loud—with a mix of music blasting from every direction. Different beats and sounds hit our ears constantly, but that didn’t stop me. I loved it.

We visited most of the music tents and soaked up as much of the atmosphere as possible. One standout act was a brilliant young Indian rock band from Ireland called Academic—full of energy, great sound, and a real surprise.

Getting around was no problem thanks to my Off-Road Extreme 8 chair. It handled the bumpy fields, crowds, and festival chaos like a beast. Nothing got in its way.

Annie Mawson’s Sunbeams charity was one of Kendal Calling’s official charities this year, and it was great to see some familiar faces. I caught up with Vanessa, Liesl, and loads of their amazing volunteers. They were in full festival mode—selling classic “festival tat” and spreading the word about the powerful work Sunbeams does with music therapy.

There were a few unexpected reunions too. I bumped into Pam in the main stage area—she used to help me on the school taxi back in the day. She’s still her fun, crazy self and was camping at the festival. I also ran into Clare, my old social worker, who’s clearly in her element at festivals—she absolutely loves them.

It was an unforgettable day, packed with music, memories, and good people. Fingers crossed, I might even get the chance to do a DJ set at Kendal Calling next year. That would be something else.

Huge thanks again to Musiclinks for making it all happen.