By Chris Story

Last updated at 15:10, Thursday, 05 April 2012

Thousands more festival fans could be joining the crowds at Kendal Calling – potentially helping lure more big-name acts.

Organisers of the popular music festival have been given permission to increase its capacity from 14,999 people to 19,999 as the event continues to grow.

But they say that despite the extra space, they do not want the atmosphere for which the festival has become renowned to change.

Eden council this week approved an application to increase the capacity of the three-day showcase, at Lowther Deer Park, Hackthorpe, near Penrith.

The 5,000 extra places will not be brought in at once, but will be phased in over the next three years.

Ben Robinson and Andy Smith, the men behind Kendal Calling, were pleased with the result and explained the reasoning behind their move.

They said in a statement: “Kendal Calling is nationally renowned for being a fantastic small festival and we have no aspirations to become a large event.

“To be able to provide the tremendous amount of creative content and facilities we do without vastly increasing the ticket price to that similar to other festivals, we may find it necessary in, the future, to gradually increase the festival capacity.

“This would be done cautiously, as it has been over the past six years, to ensure that the atmosphere is unaltered and the experience only improves.

“Doing this would allow us to continue to attract great touring acts, improve site infrastructure and provide fields full of activities and at great value.”

This year’s Kendal Calling will be held from July 27 to 29.

Dizzee Rascal, James and Maximo Park will headline the event. Also appearing will be Ms Dynamite and Feeder, while the sounds of 90s Britpop will be provided by Shed Seven and Dodgy and the Inspiral Carpets.

It was announced this week that they will be joined on the line-up by US indie rockers We Are Scientists, Scottish quartet The View, much talked-about band Tribes as well as rising stars Spector.

The capacity increase application was considered by Eden’s licensing panel.

Its members endorsed a recommendation to approve the bid, subject to conditions.

Kendal Calling has been staged at Hackthorpe since 2009.

First published at 14:23, Thursday, 05 April 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk