WHEN Kendal Called, thousands of hungry music fans roared back.

Kendal Calling, a boutique festival, nestled in the breathtaking surroundings of Lowther Deer Park, went off with a bang last Friday afternoon as Dub Pistols kick-started the Main Stage with a bombastic set of dub, ska and rap.

"We love Cumbria," announced singer Barry Ashworth, while perched on top of an amp.

"This part of the world is going off and we're delighted to be part of it."

It was a sentiment adopted by the 8,000 revellers who descended on the beautiful Lakeland setting during a weekend of live bands, DJs and caberet.

Electropop superstar Calvin Harris - whose pal Dizzee Rascal played the festival two years ago - headlined the main stage on Friday night backed by an impressive light show.

He played a multitude of catchy hits, including Ready For The Weekend and Acceptable in the Eighties, prompting a mass rave in the picturesque Eden setting.

Over at the Glow Tent, DJ Yoda proved too popular for his own good as hundreds of desperate fans queued outside as he delivered his exciting cut and paste mash-ups.

The hoards returned early on Saturday as Morecambe four-piece The Heartbreaks took to the Main Stage. The seasiders powered through an exciting set of melancholic, sing-a-long indie, winning a new legion of fans with their catchy riffs.

They were followed by the optimistic feel good pop of OkGo, Sunderland favourites The Futureheads and Mancunian indie heroes Doves.

But it was Kendal’s very own Wild Beasts that proved to be the highlight. Playing their first gig since their Mercury nomination, they drew huge crowds of proud Cumbrians to the Main Stage.

The atmosphere reached fever pitch as the Lakeland romantics raced through stirring beautiful songs including This Is Our Lot, Hooting and Howling and Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants.

On Sunday, Badly Drawn Boy encompassed the family appeal of the festival by bringing his daughter on stage to play a set of undeniably pretty songs.

British Sea Power’s brooding soundscapes drew a distinctly smaller crowd to the Main Stage than fellow Kendalians Wild Beasts, but their set was laced with favourites including Remember Me, Waving Flags and the ever beautiful No Lucifer.

Proving themselves to be true pedellers of grassroots music, festival organisers had hand picked an exciting clutch of new bands to play the Calling Out stage.

Seal Cub Clubbing Club packed out the tent with a vibrant performance of their surreal pop, The Crookes continued that Sheffield tradition of excellence and Deathretro impressed with their psychedelic-tinged electronic rock.

Sunday’s Main Stage headliners The Coral played their usual brand of Sixties style, sing-a-long indie, but it was frenetic pop-punks Dananananakroyd and funk and soul hero Craig Charles who created the buzz needed to close this truly eclectic event.

Before Kendal Calling, Cumbria was crying out for a festival to call its own. Five years on and the event has garnered a reputation to belie its youth.

Co-director Ben Robinson said: "It's been absolutely amazing, all the hard work has been made worthwhile.

"Five years ago we just had 800 people and now it's 8,000 and moved to this fantastic site. We're really starting to appreciate what we've done.

"I do feel like now we've got to five years, I can imagine it going for ten."