Festival feedback, what did people think this year ?

[ramragon]

After a majority of the feedback that was put on the forum last seems to have been worked on for this years festival whats everyones opinions about their experience this year ? Be it layouts, facilities, suggestions, security and stewards, value for money etc...

Personally I thought both the campsite and arena layouts were much better this year with decent signage highlighting different areas, passed through general camping quite a bit and it seemed a shame there were so many families with small kids crammed in there when there was a family and quiet field that wasnt even half full just down the road, not sure if the parents just didnt know about it or couldnt bse arsed to walk down there. Seemed to make general camping very full and spill out to the campervan field.

Thought theyd made massive steps in catering for disabled people, the section was full with larger toilet cubicles available and parking close to your tent.

The arena area seemed much bigger than last year because there were no dead end fields, seemed much more open plan and enjoyable to walk around as opposed to some sections last year that got visited so infrequently due to where they were placed.

Toilets were a massive improvement on last year and having pootopia throughout definately helped.

More rubbish areas could have helped, we stayed in the campervan field and about 8 people asked me where I was taking my bags to as I walked past. Was still on site at 2pm yesterday and it was heartbreaking to see all the shite that people had left strewn all over. Maybes signage above the rubbish points would have helped, maybes some people are just lazy twats.

Sure i'll think of some more but overall we really enjoyed it this year, still think its good value for money and even saturday nights rain didnt make the site that hard to get round with only the entry points into fields seemingly effected.

No doubt in 12 months time we'll be back

[Johnny Mac]

My first year at the festival. We all really enjoyed it (well, the Friday and Saturday anyway).

The deluge of rain on Saturday night flooded a couple of our friends tents (so they had to pack up early which also meant we had to as we were travelling together).

Bit of a pain since it brightened up and we missed Seasick Steve and Primal Scream. Thankfully have managed to get guest tickets to Belladrum this weekend!

Anyway, back to Kendal...

Thought the site layout was excellent and no real walking distance to get anywhere! Love the fact the main stage is on a hill so you can get good views from anywhere pretty much.

The area up by the Calling Out stage was fantastic too with the pirate ship / Woodland stage and good selection of stalls. We spent loads of time up there relaxing in the sun.

Toilets were in decent condition all weekend, despite a lack of toilet roll (although everyone surely takes their own these days).

Echo the thoughts on the rubbish situation! It's not really that hard to tidy up as you go along (they were even giving us free bags for christs sake). We left absolutely nothing although I guess it's just how a lot of people behave at these events. I'd hate to see the state of their homes...

Bars were generally pretty good with a decent selection, if a little slow service. The real-ale tent should only have sold real-ale as there were so many people in just buying cans (surely plenty other bars catering for that onsite).

All in we absolutely loved the weekend, despite having to leave early on Sunday. If I do come back I'd hire a camper van (too bloody old for camping these days).

Oh, and Public Enemy were the hightlight of the weekend for me music wise!

[viberunner]

Thought theyd made massive steps in catering for disabled people, the section was full with larger toilet cubicles available and parking close to your tent.

[foffi]

My first time at KC. Overall I enjoyed it very much, and will definitely be back next year!

So so glad we paid for last minute Emperors tickets though! The few times we walked through general we saw something every time that confirmed it was not the place to be for us. There were tents with big blade slashes through the sides, police searching people and tents for drugs, rubbish everywhere etc. At one point I saw a child on her own crying her eyes out looking for her Mum. She must have been about 4 years old. I approached her and asked her name and if she was OK only to be pushed to floor and screamed at by the mother for talking to her kid. I didn’t go back into general after that. I appreciate it was only the very busy parts that we walked through and it was much quieter and nice at the back. I appreciate I am now an old git anyway, and long for the days of all nighters so maybe I was just a bit jealous that I can’t handle it anymore. I would have been perfectly happy in quiet camping (we wandered through there after being given the wrong directions).

Did anyone hear the story about 35 tents that were in the campervan field being robbed on Saturday night? Our neighbours said that people had been burgled while they slept, they all had cash taken. I don’t know if it had been exaggerated by the time it got to us though?

That’s about it for negatives though I think! And it didn’t really affect us.

My best memories were lying in the field on Sunday afternoon in the sun listening to Kodaline, the bar near the Jazz tent that seemed to never have a queue at all, discovering some gangster jazz on Friday night, watching a young lad seriously and systematically take apart a cupboard in the House Party, the best plate of Nachos I ever had, eating hot pizza while watching Ghostbusters in Calling Out as the rain pelted down outside, being given a biscuit by Tim Burgess, reliving my youth with Ash, pop-mobilty lessons in Happy Slap, the tunes at the tipple taxi, seeing Zorro sneak into the Superman tent…. And on and on it goes!

Overall, a fantastic weekend and exactly what I hoped and wanted. Hope everyone else had a great time too! (except if you were the drunken mother or the guy who stole my hat )

[ramragon]

Wickerman had a decent accessable area last year right next to the arena entry point, only trouble was the funfair was right next to it so you had the same tunes banging on till 3am ! Suppose thats a downfall of being next to the arena.

[blue6field]

First Time there and have to say couldn't fault much!

we were in emperors and round our part of the site everyone was packing up their stuff and bagging their rubbish, in stark contrast to how the T in the Park or Glastonbury campsites look like on a Monday Morning.

The access from the car park to the camp site and then camp site to arena was superb.

loved the layout everything available within a couple of minutes walk, bars were well placed and the toilets really good(apart from the urinals up at the top of the main arena) it had burst its banks on the Saturday turning the ground into a pish infused swamp. Pootopia was excellent.

Choice of food was excellent and the prices were in line with what I'm used to paying, bar prices were reasonable for a festival and I was relieved to see a choice of lagers. loved the real ale tent!

Excellent choice of entertainment after the main bands , enjoyed Chai Wallah's, Slamboree were excellent! the house party and the music a Sailor Jerry's was brilliant.

Special mention about the steward's. Thought they were the friendliest and most helpful stewards I've come across at a festival!

On the whole had a brilliant time and will definitely be returning in the future

[ramragon]

The people behind us in the campervan field were robbed on friday night, they had a pair of shorts stolen from their awning with a wallet, phone and ccash taken. The shorts turned up with the phone and loose change still in the pocket. The wallet had gone though.

There were 10 robbed in our area dont know how many from the whole field. Never heard of any caravans or campervans being broken into, the thefts I knew about were from awnings. Did hear of an ipad being stolen and the tracer had shown it in a house by the time it was reported so it looks similar to last year where a team hit people and left with their haul straight away.

[thegirlwhowantedtobegod]

It was our first year at Kendal Calling and we thoroughly enjoyed it, definitely getting tickets next year.

Just a couple of very minor points though:

The no glass rule - I can completely see the relevance of this in terms of glass bottles of beer, wine etc but the gate staff at general camping pulled me up for having a bottle of perfume and a roll on deoderant, while my friend wasn't allowed to take in makeup that had a glass mirror attached. Surely this isn't actually what's intended in the rules? If so, that's just crazy!

Secondly, bar pricing - £4.50 for a bottle of cider seemed way too steep. I know they have to make money somewhere but it's just as well that the staff on the gate into the arena weren't looking to hard for booze and didn't clock me wandering back and forwards with a 1litre pop bottle of wine tucked into my hoodie!

Thirdly, we were burgled whilst asleep on Thursday night - they took a chair from outside the tent and one from inside, leaving a third behind. Why they'd do this and leave all the food and booze is beyond me, but I'm glad I was sleeping with my handbag behind my head!

None of these spoiled the time we had, the toilets were great and being camped towards the back of general camping suited us fine. We did tidy up but there was a horrendous mess left by others. Think we'll get Emperor's tickets next time, but only for the showers!

[Comfy Bean]

Wickerman had a decent accessable area last year right next to the arena entry point, only trouble was the funfair was right next to it so you had the same tunes banging on till 3am ! Suppose thats a downfall of being next to the arena.

Edited July 30, 2013 by comfortablynumb1910

[ramragon]

If the weekends are different next year i'll do the 2 again, enjoyed the wickerman and kendal double last year. The caravan added to the comfort loads and made it easier for the baby, bit warmer an a bit quieter plus easier to sort her food out. She loved every minute of it, she's happy all the time anyways and loads of people made a fuss of her. the 13 year old wasnt well so we spent 2 hours friday night in the first aid tent and then her grandad picked her up sat morning as she hadnt slept and wanted to go home. Didnt really see an act until sat afternoon, saw 3 minutes of public enemy as I walked past the stage to first aid !

After that we decided just to watch a few acts in afternoon an a few at night so the bairn could get some sleep and food. Knew before I went it wasnt gonna be a party all the way festival but enjoyed what I saw ! I do festivals with the lads to drink but kendals been a family one for last few years.

How was wickerman then ? Anyone worth booking for next year down the road ? Hopefully not amy macdonald as headliner but chic would be good

[Comfy Bean]

That`s crap about your 13 year old but one good granpa right there. Fair play to him. Nothing much at Wickerman that you haven`t had at Kendal already ie Bombskare, Dreadzone, King Charles, Primal Scream.

We had a great weekend and the weather was good but for me it wasn`t a vintage year music wise, well apart from this .........

I feel very lucky to have seen this twice this summer. If they are going to be out and about next summer book them now KC. Will never ever understand why they didn`t get a headline slot at Wickerman.

http://youtu.be/Yyfy_71itBI

[ramragon]

It was 2 seperate awnings right behind us that got done, they reported them to the police an d cancelled their cards straight away, several site security came down and were speaking to the people and there were a string of others waiting to show them where theyd had stuff taken from. It was near the bottom of the campervan field in the first 4 rows, not sure if further up the field got done over as well.

thing is does everyone report the incidents or just strike it down as bad luck or feeling stupid for leaving stuff lying in the awning when they were stopping in a locked caravan.

Emperors was pretty safe last year as well, security seemed more switched on and was watching every entry point in to emperors to check peoples bands.

Edited July 30, 2013 by ramragon

[foffi]

Think we'll get Emperor's tickets next time, but only for the showers!

[ramragon]

To be honest if its showers you were after then it would have been worth walking to the family and quiet field, they cost £4 but there was never a queue, even if you showered fri,sat an sun it would have cost £12 as opposed to an emperors ticket which would have set you back around £30 with booking fees and postage. Both fields had pootopia in them and the people in quiet and family had much more space per tent than emperors as there was next to nobody in the field !

[jamj]

2nd KC, overall a great weekend and the layout was much better this year.

Fantastic line up with just enough for the kids (although I feel there could be more - but we have been spoiled with an Angel Gardens Experience at Bearded Theory this year).

Stayed in emperors, and didn't expect it to be as crammed as it was, and reading that the family field was half empty has me wondering if it was worth it. Especially as the security guy on emperors gate was taking bribes from any tom, dick (and they usually were) or harry to let them in, I seen him agree to a can of coke and know for a fact he was being bribed regularly with ciggies too. We made a big mistake in that we had a polite word with him before we knew what he was doing - to then have him be a total twat to us for the rest of the weekend, thoroughly searching our bags every time we went in, making me take my jacket off regularly saying I had something under it, and patting the other half down every time he passed. Not what you want really.

Toilets massively improved on last years experience, we'll defo try to be back next year.......but will maybe just buy one emperors ticket then take a pack of fags for the rest of us to use as little bribes

[Flaminglippy]

2nd KC, overall a great weekend and the layout was much better this year.

Fantastic line up with just enough for the kids (although I feel there could be more - but we have been spoiled with an Angel Gardens Experience at Bearded Theory this year).

Stayed in emperors, and didn't expect it to be as crammed as it was, and reading that the family field was half empty has me wondering if it was worth it. Especially as the security guy on emperors gate was taking bribes from any tom, dick (and they usually were) or harry to let them in, I seen him agree to a can of coke and know for a fact he was being bribed regularly with ciggies too. We made a big mistake in that we had a polite word with him before we knew what he was doing - to then have him be a total twat to us for the rest of the weekend, thoroughly searching our bags every time we went in, making me take my jacket off regularly saying I had something under it, and patting the other half down every time he passed. Not what you want really.

Toilets massively improved on last years experience, we'll defo try to be back next year.......but will maybe just buy one emperors ticket then take a pack of fags for the rest of us to use as little bribes

[Emandjay]

To be honest if its showers you were after then it would have been worth walking to the family and quiet field, they cost £4 but there was never a queue, even if you showered fri,sat an sun it would have cost £12 as opposed to an emperors ticket which would have set you back around £30 with booking fees and postage. Both fields had pootopia in them and the people in quiet and family had much more space per tent than emperors as there was next to nobody in the field !

[paulo80]

2nd KC, overall a great weekend and the layout was much better this year.

Fantastic line up with just enough for the kids (although I feel there could be more - but we have been spoiled with an Angel Gardens Experience at Bearded Theory this year).

Stayed in emperors, and didn't expect it to be as crammed as it was, and reading that the family field was half empty has me wondering if it was worth it. Especially as the security guy on emperors gate was taking bribes from any tom, dick (and they usually were) or harry to let them in, I seen him agree to a can of coke and know for a fact he was being bribed regularly with ciggies too. We made a big mistake in that we had a polite word with him before we knew what he was doing - to then have him be a total twat to us for the rest of the weekend, thoroughly searching our bags every time we went in, making me take my jacket off regularly saying I had something under it, and patting the other half down every time he passed. Not what you want really.

Toilets massively improved on last years experience, we'll defo try to be back next year.......but will maybe just buy one emperors ticket then take a pack of fags for the rest of us to use as little bribes

[ramragon]

The emperors bands were strange tis year, we all got one attached, as did everyone in the campervan field, so that we could use the emperors facilities cos we paid premium price buying a campervan ticket.

[pc3036]

Me and my son (15) first time at KC, camped in Emperors, arrived on Thursday, took just under an hour from getting on site to the car park, then 2 min walk to pitch tent, i think there were two main problems with the camping in emperors,

1> far too many people in there, it ended up completey rammed

2> far too many people who had arrived on thursday had set up tents in such a way they had massive communal areas taking up space for at times two or three tents

i think the stewards and security (who on the whole did a fantastic job) could have managed the camping a little more proactively ensuring early birds didn't take the piss with the space they took up.

some other minor things which i think could help

an information board would have been useful in the emperors field (at the entrance) giving an update on space ion the campsite/changes to the programme and weather updates

the poor stewards/security could have been provided with a gazebo or something to shelter from the initial blazing sunshine then the pouring rain

if the rain had continued then the path from the emperors field to the arena could have got damn near impossible for those with younger children

all in all though a brilliant festival with a great family atmosphere (only saw one instance of somebody pissing in a bottle and throwing it) i'd definately go again, i think the style of bands was just about right for the style of festival, keeping a lot of the "professional manc" types away

thought the choice and value of the food was really good - a lot of food around the £5/6 mark (even the £10 for the pizzas near the top of the arena was great value - big pizza and tasted really great.)

bars were good, plenty of staff and never any queues - loved the real ale tent. pricing not bad for a festival as well, plenty of toilets in the arena as well. great plan of getting all the kids to collect discarded cans/cups in the arena to claim the deposits back - kept the site quite tidy and gave them something to do :-)

[LJS]

first time at KC & generally very impressed. lots of variety in music on offer. lots of bars & not too expensive or too busy. atmosphere was good & security was generally very friendly.

I paid for emperor's fields tickets & not really sure it was worth it. showers were far too busy & there didn't seem a great deal of extra space. it was very handy for arena though!

[bottonrob]

we were in emperors this year too, showers always looked too busy and when the wife managed to get in there was no hot water however saying that we would probably pay the extra again just for the short walk both to tent from car and then into the arena. toilets in the arena were so much better than last year, not sure why we couldn't get our 10p's back at the bars for handing in our pintpots this year though, the q's at the glass collections places were stupid behind loads of kids with binbags full... oh and whilst I'm on that is there no way that they can stop them routing in the bins, it's just disgusting especially for the girls who take the glasses off them unknowingly!! we did have a ball though!

[pc3036]

To add to the Emporer / Space debate.....there was plenty of room up the hill away from the arena....the problem is noone went up there until after they'd pitched their tent.

Also, people take bigger tents into the area due to reduced travel distances.

Festivals are all about community so I don't agree with stopping creating their own space to gather as a group in front of the tents...that's the whole point!

[viberunner]

It was pretty windy though, our wind-break made camping that much more pleasant.

Mind you, we didn't use them to thieve half an acre or anything!!

[blue6field]

some of the communal areas are OTT

we managed to get 4 tents into a space on the Friday thinking we'd won a watch only for our neighbours turn up later with a face on and we overheard them moaning to their friends later, couldn't believe they wanted so much communal space!!