Northern Kin 2024

[sheffinghell]

Well this looks interesting! Has anyone been before? What's it like as an overall weekend?

First lineup announcement, apparently more to come.

Seems very reasonably priced, and own food allowed in the arena.

https://www.northernkinfestival.co.uk/line-up/

 

[Rumblestripe]

Yup. Been before in 2019 when it was in Weardale in a rather lovely location in Stanhope, they moved to a bigger area close to Durham city. I missed last year because I came down with the Covid just before the fest. I have tickets for this year as they allowed me to carry my tickets over which they didn't have to do, so good on 'em for that. Friends went and it was a pretty poor experience, the field the festival was in was a quagmire and the car parking field was so bad they were towing cars IN to the field. Unsurprisingly, they had to be towed out again. The searches on entering the field were pretty draconian and some people had alcohol taken from them inside the arena if security spotted you consuming a smuggled tinny or from a hip flask. This was not my experience in 2019 I would hope that they relax security a little next year as this is not cool at all. That said all my friends have rebooked for next year. The festival has moved to a new location after the experience of 2023 and it is now later in the year (it was far too early this year - first weekend in May) it is now mid-June.

As with all festivals the crowd is almost more important than the acts and the facilities and it has been a good easy going mixed crowd. The acts booked looked good and I think it should be a good festival in 24.

[sheffinghell]

Thanks for that. I'm not too bothered about alcohol tbh, as I consume a lot less these days. Weather-wise, I guess that's a risk whatever month - Tramlines '23 veteran (end July) and there was several inches of rain over the weekend. It got a bit miserable, but hopefully a one-off. Good to know the crowd is amiable - I guess the lineup lends itself to that anyway. Seriously thinking about getting a ticket as would happily watch a good proportion of those bands.

[outtolunch]

An elderly crowd average age 50+ sitting in camping chairs drinking Guinness from the dedicated bar as better than main bar where the so called real ale has died from severe frostbite. Considering the mud toilets had been serviced and conveniently placed unlike the 2022 layout.

Food was usual festival stalls a decent enough choice 

As a previous ticket purchaser was offered a too good to refuse offer for 2024 so despite being bigger than the 1,000 head capacity festivals my aged body prefers will be giving it another go next year. 

[sheffinghell]

On 9/30/2023 at 11:03 PM, outtolunch said:

An elderly crowd average age 50+ sitting in camping chairs drinking Guinness from the dedicated bar as better than main bar where the so called real ale has died from severe frostbite. Considering the mud toilets had been serviced and conveniently placed unlike the 2022 layout.

Food was usual festival stalls a decent enough choice 

As a previous ticket purchaser was offered a too good to refuse offer for 2024 so despite being bigger than the 1,000 head capacity festivals my aged body prefers will be giving it another go next year. 

Thanks for that, sounds like a possibility for me, especially as now in June. I see from their website they've moved to a new site and pledging all sorts of extra service levels, so hopefully things will continue to improve. Also, 10CC is a nice addition to the bill.

[Boomtowner]

Definitely considering this one, anyone know the capacity and what the bars were like? I'd rather not smuggle booze but do like a good pint.

[Rumblestripe]

Full Line Up now revealed:

Friday 14th June

Main Stage 1

Starsailor

Alabama 3

Peatbog Faeries

Crazy World Of Arthur Brown

Nine Below Zero

 

Main Stage 2

Kris Barras Band

Dreadzone

Damian Dempsey

Headsticks

 

Acoustic Stage

Tommy Arch

Lockheed Lindsay

Ruby Kelly

 

 

Saturday 15th June 2024

Main Stage 1

The Waterboys

The Undertones

Ferocious Dog

Skerryvore

Oh My God! It's The Church

Los Pacaminos With Paul Young

The Sandy Denny Project

Rosalie Cunningham

 

Main Stage 2

Hawkwind

Peat & Diesel

Elvana

Jesus Jones

When Rivers Meet

The Men They Couldn't Hang

Strange Kind Of Women

Black Water County

 

Acoustic Stage

Henshaw

Tv Smith

Hayley Mckay

Michael Oliver

Radgie Gadgie

 

 

Sunday 16th June 2024

Main Stage 1

10cc

Big Country

Hugh Cornwell

The Alarm

Pentangle

Dutty Moonshine Big Band

Johnny Mac & The Faithful

Cardinal Black

 

Main Stage 2

Billy Bragg

Wedding Present

Bay City Rollers

Deborah Bonham Band

John Otway

Urban Voodoo Machine

Chantel Mcgregor

Morganway

 

Acoustic Stage

Paul Rose

Nick Parker

Paul Ronney-Angel

James Bone

Albie Bach

[sheffinghell]

I'm going to pass on this. The stuff I like is spread too thinly. Was hoping for a solid day. Never mind, will keep an eye out for next year 

[THEBOILERMAN]

taken a punt and ticket bought 🙂 

[sheffinghell]

4 hours ago, THEBOILERMAN said:

taken a punt and ticket bought 🙂 

Love to hear how it goes. Please report back if you can. 

[Rumblestripe]

Just announced the festival has been put back to 9th - 11th Aug. Poor ground conditions have delayed necessary work on the site.

 

https://www.northernkinfestival.co.uk/ 

[THEBOILERMAN]

52 minutes ago, Rumblestripe said:

Just announced the festival has been put back to 9th - 11th Aug. Poor ground conditions have delayed necessary work on the site.

 

https://www.northernkinfestival.co.uk/ 

 

 

lets hope it doesn't result in too many changes to the Line-up 

[davefb]

So been kinda messed up by this as the new date isn't good for us.... But since my tickets were early birds and hardly paid much for em will probably roll over instead of cancel .. 
But.
Left a bit of a hole in June festival wise 😉 ...
Eden line up doesn't look that good ( do like the festival though). Any ideas for others "mid june"ish... ?

(edit)
Of course I could use the festival info.... well Sonic Rock Solstice is a maybe.. But of our group its only really me who'd love that line up.. Anyone know of anything a bit more 'crusty' ? preferably allows dogs. (dragged my sister in law to her first festival last weekend, she might have got the bug, but they need to take the dogs, hence NK)

Edited May 14 by davefb

[THEBOILERMAN]

Who`s going?

[Rumblestripe]

OK. Just got back from Northern Kin 2024.

 

Firstly we were blessed with incredibly good weather. The new site is pretty good, the three things I would point out to anyone attending in future, one, the camping fields are sloping; two, the arena appears to be an old quarry and it is quite uneven in places, protruding rocks, sudden dips and old stone foundations mean you have to watch your step; three, the walk back to your tent/van is poorly lit, take a torch. The festival now has the main stage as "open air" the second in a large tent and although close when music was playing I didn't encounter any problems with sound bleed

 

The line up was a little down on quality I felt, but this was largely due to the late switch of dates which meant the festival lost 10cc, Hugh Cornwell, The Undertones, Skerryvore, Los Pacaminos w. Paul Young, Peat and Diesel and one or two others. The rejigged line up was simply not as good. But, they did well to bring in Jools Holland and one or two others, and we got a decent festival.

 

We arrived on Thursday as we were in the van and well, why not? Drove straight in and got set up. It rained through the night but Friday  dawned bright and clear. First act was Nine Below Zero at 3:20pm. At 3:20pm there was queue outside the arena, the security staff appeared to be having a last minute huddle but opened the gate at about 25 past. Someone had obviously told the band as they waited until just after half past before appearing. Watched a bit of them and then decamped to the tented stage 2 for Rosalie Cunningham (excellent set to a small gathering).

 

Saturday was another sunny day. Headlined by The Waterboys, subbed by The Feeling. Waterboys delivered a sublime set of astounding musicianship, The Feeling also got the crowd going (loved their cover of "Fat Bottomed Girls", as we walked by the later finishing Stage 2 we were able to catch the end of Hawkwind performing Space Ritual and Silver Machine (with lasers)!

 

Sunday, even hotter. I'd managed to sun burn my knees the previous days so back into long trousers for me! Lovely relaxed day beautiful weather, we wandered back to van to eat and missed a couple of acts. Jools and his band brought proceedings to a conclusion in suitably impressive manner. Only slightly spoiled by the one kno-head of the weekend insisting on dancing/staggering into my wife. I gently pushed him away and he didn't return.

 

The foodstalls were underwhelming. I ate from the "Loaded Fries" stall on Friday (£4 for a decent portion of fries and put your own salt, vinegar and ketchup on). On Saturday, I had a portion of chips and curry sauce from the Fish and Chip stall (£6 for a tiny portion of chips and spoon of curry, come on, really), I also had the "Greek Box" from the Gyro stall which was substantial enough to feed me and the good lady for £15. On the last night I had coffee and donuts from the stall similarly labelled (lovely fresh donuts still hot from the fryer and a decent latte for about £7 IIRC). Now, I do like to support the foodstalls but I'm sorry the offerings were poor. Pizza was something like £5 a slice for what looked like a sixth of a standard supermarket pizza... Chinese stall also apparently gave very small portions. 

 

The bar was limited but reasonably priced £6 for "craft ale" or Strongbow Cider , Guinness was £7 and a continental lager for the same. Double spirit and mixer for a tenner. Not bad at all and the service was quick and the products acceptable. 

 

Special mention to the security team who did their jobs with a smile and politeness. Thanks guys good job.

 

A lovely festival, we've agreed to repeat next year. Bring it on.