Episode 33

For a few days every summer Andy Smith is in charge of the third biggest town in Cumbria. Kendal Calling, which he set up when still a teenager, has grown to the point where its size has eclipsed the actual Kendal.

It’s a stat that Andy looked back on with pride during an interview with Tom Speight celebrating the festival’s 20th anniversary at a networking event held by LA23NET at Eden Arts’ base the Old Fire Station, in Penrith.

Lessons he shared: never say no to a music agent, knowing Blondie’s songs doesn’t help if you don’t know who Blondie are, and the value of lawyers in getting your first big headliner to play…

It was also the launch of a new arts newsletter for the county, Curated Cumbria.