Primal Scream - Kendal Calling Live Review

The sun began to set, and the final hours of Kendal Calling Festival 2026 were approaching. However, there was still fun to be had. As Bobby Gillespie swaggered onto the stage, the crowd started to shriek and ‘Movin on Up’ spread across the field. 

The pressure was on as Primal Scream were the penultimate headline act of the weekend, but like the veterans they are, they proved they’ve still got it.

Primal Scream last performed at Kendal Calling in 2013, headlining the main stage alongside Basement Jaxx and The Charlatans. They were also due to headline the Thursday evening in 2020 before the event was cancelled.

On stage at 19:25, ‘Movin on Up’ was the perfect opener to get the crowd going. As the mosh pits began to open (rather prematurely), the fans bellowed in, using each other to propel themselves higher as the music raised their spirits.

The powerful track ‘Swastika Eyes’ was a standout moment in the set, allowing fans to fully expel any pent-up rage and emotion, especially when Bobby began to share his own political views. Many in the crowd cheered in agreement toward Gillespie's comments.

While 1990 hit ‘Loaded’ emanated from the speakers the audience divided, with my left side feeling the groove and slowly dancing to the tune, whereas to my right opened another mosh pit - erupting even bigger than the last. 

This show was an incredible collaboration of young and old fans, all congregated as close as possible to celebrate Primal Scream.

‘Love Insurrection’ allowed the audience to partake in something beautiful, feeling the bassline within your chest while the sun gently set over the picturesque venue, and Gillespie shaking his maracas for the thousandth time.

Andrew Innes’ resonant guitar rang clear across the arena, particularly more so than any other artist over the weekend in my opinion.

The reaction from ‘Country Girl’ was rather disappointing and I certainly expected a better reception, but as I looked around, I found the audience casually chatting through this top listen which is usually a huge crowd pleaser at other shows.

However, this all changed when the iconic opening jig to ‘Rocks’ commenced. Hands raised, drinks in air and all inhibitions lost - culminating with someone's mam throwing herself amongst the rowdy crowd and embracing the heat and dust.

This performance could have been the perfect way to end a jovial weekend at Kendal, with Primal Screams’ expressive, upbeat music. Instead, we still had to wait for recent Brit Award winners; Wolf Alice.