This year’s Keswick Mountain Festival saw huge crowds turn out for a weekend of superb live music.
The entertainment started on Friday, May 20, with Batala Samba kicking it off, followed by Gary Stewart’s Graceland, Shooglenifty, and Ferocious Dog, with new Keswick bassist Nick Wragg.
READ MORE: Cumbrian bassist to debut at music festival with headlining band
Shooglenifty entertained all with their unique folk music, and Ferocious Dog said before they performed they were ready to ‘melt faces’ with their blend of folk and heavy metal.
Their frontman Ken Bonsall said: “It’s good to see (the fans) travel all the way to see us.
“I’ve come here (to Keswick) as a kid with my parents then I brought my kids here.”
This is their first time at Keswick Mountain Festival but they’ve performed in Cumbria’s Solfest previously.
Their newest album ‘The Hope’ was released in November last year, and they’re still touring with it.
They promised to bring a lively show, as they added: “It will melt your face.
“The softer songs are just for breathers.”
Ken said: “The live set is just smashers, we don’t have many where we slow it down.”
The next day saw, among several acts, another Keswick musician, Annemarie Quinn, perform music inspired by her time in Malawi.
She moved after the 2015 floods in Cumbria, and worked in Malawi for Madonna’s Raising Malawi charity, taking inspiration with her when returning home last summer.
She said of coming back home: “It’s cold, but it’s been great and a bit of reverse culture shock, but it’s been great to visit friends and family.”
She’s performed at KMF before at the first one, so was glad to be back with bongo player Andy Liles accompanying.
Following Annemarie was comedy band Lancashire Hotpots who, after a phenomenal set with several costume changes, spoke of their love of the Lakes: “The views are beautiful.
“We’ve been very well looked after, and the chips are lovely.
“We’ve played Theatre by the Lake and Kendal Calling; we like to think of Cumbria as an extension of Lancashire.”
On their set, which included fan-favourite ‘Chippy Tea’, they said: “A festival is a place to play hit after hit.
“Playing here is a first for us but hopefully we’ve made an impression on the people.”
It wasn’t just the music that entertained and attracted guests.
The festival village boasted fresh food and groups representing their brand ranging from Rubicon who was running a competition, Craghoppers and the British Mountaineering Council (BMC).
Niall Grimes, marketer for BMC, said: “We’re promoting mountaineering and encouraging responsible engagement outdoors.
“I think it’s a very good festival, this place is amazing.
“It’s a place where wilderness is accessible for everyone.”
He and the team provided free litter pickers for guests to promote cleaning-up the landscape.
Craig Fordham who was promoting Craghoppers and demonstrating bushcraft skills said: “I use the gear all the time, I’ve been around the world with it.
“It’s my first year here, I hope I can come again.”
Another part of KMF was the tent talks, one such host was Lizzie Carr MBE, who shared the adventure that led her to cover the length of England via paddleboat.
She said of KMF: “It’s great to see people out and about enjoying nature after the pandemic.
“This is the first time my daughter’s been here, I wanted to show her this special part of the world."
READ MORE: Line-up for Keswick Mountain Festival's Festival Village announced
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