Runcorn Linnets (NWCFL Premier Division)

I missed last week’s opener at Silsden in favour of attending Kendal Calling music festival. Sorry lads but sometimes the music has to come first.
And what a feast of music it turned out to be.
As the rain relentlessly thundered down we thanked our mate and Abbey part-timer Alex from Reddish for bringing a tent big enough for us all to cower under.
This year’s bill on the face of it seemed to be aimed at the younger end of the market with poppy acts like Tom Odell and Ella Eyre. On closer inspection though there was definitely plenty to keep us occupied. 
First up on the Friday were US rap stalwarts De La Soul who worked the crowd with consummate ease. 
I like festival hip hop gigs and although they’re usually better in a tent, the main stage reverberated as the trio ran through their substantial back catalogue of hits.
Next up in the nearby Calling Out tent was ex-Doves frontman Jimi Goodwin and his new band. New material such as the effortlessly beautiful Didsbury Girl sat alongside older Doves hit The Last Broadcast. A fine performance and a nice break from the rain. 
An initiative that’s been running for a number of years now is a diner called Tim Peaks, run by Charlatans singer and all round good egg Tim Burgess. Although unlicensed you can still bring your cans in, which was good because by this stage we were knocking them back for fun.
On Friday’s menu was a Britpop disco. As the tunes began to play I looked around. Everyone was at least 35 and had a beard. It felt homely in a good way. Elastica, Suede, Ash, Oasis belters followed. A little piece of our youth exported to the Lakes. Nice.
Saturday morning began with a bang. Alex’s banging tunes to be precise. I looked at the watch and it was only 8:30am. Rum. A dubious choice of song came on. ”Bloody hell, Julie, what’s this?” cried Alex in dismay. Then addressing the campsite he bellowed: “Sorry everyone, it’s my wife’s iPod.”
Never a dull moment.
Bands wise there was nothing of interest until the evening. The Happy Mondays, whose hit Step On is the tune Abbey run out to, took to the main stage at teatime. 
Dancer Bez took the opportunity to warn the audience about the dangers of fracking, a cause close to his heart. 
Kinky Afro opened and a succession of funky numbers from the Salfordians’ artillery of anthems followed. Backing singer Rowetta’s voice was in fine fettle and even Shaun Ryder looked presentable enough. They’d obviously been no where near the campsites.
By the end of the set Bez had his kids up on the stage with him. Quite how they explain that one at school I’ll never know.
Sunday was mainly spent in a wine-induced haze around the campsite. Mid-thirty-somethings bemoaned the fact that they never get to see their mates as much as they’d like and the newbies in our number vowed to make Kendal an annual event.
Despite the rain it had been a successful weekend.