TOP bands Basement Jaxx, The Charlatans and Primal Scream will headline this year's Kendal Calling, organisers have announced.

The Lightning Seeds, Ash and I Am Kloot will also play at the award-winning festival taking place over the weekend of July 26 to 28.

The eight annual festival, featuring 14 stages and promising three days and nights of music fun, will be in the fields at Lowther Deer Park, Hackthorpe.

A spokesman for the event said: "Situated in one of the most beautiful locations in the UK, Kendal Calling has established a reputation as one of the most forward thinking festivals in the country, combing fantastic music, great food, award winning ales and good times in the outstanding surroundings of the Lake District.

"And Kendal Calling today announces an incredible first crop of artists.

"Basement Jaxx are the ultimate party act who have paid their dues on the dance music circuit and have got the back catalogue to prove it.

"This dance act don't hide behind a screen of visuals, they put on and epic and extravagant performance that is more carnival than live show and showcases their mix of Latin, hip hop and dancehall infused house music to devastating effect."

Last year Tim Burgess from The Charlatans hosted the Tim Peaks Diner at the festival, a virtual diner that was one of the highlights of the festival and this year he’s bringing the rest of his band with him for a Saturday night headline slot.

The Charlatans are one of the great British bands of the last 25 years and have melded rock, psychedelia, funk and dance rhythms over 11 albums since their inception in 1989.

For many Primal Scream are the greatest rock n’ roll band of the last 30 years mixing indie, alternative rock, psychedelia and acid house to mesmerising effect.

"But Kendal Calling is about much more than just the headliners and its hugely eclectic line ups have drawn much critical acclaim from festival goers, artists and media alike," organisers said.

"Frontman John Bramwell’s poetic one liners and twisted, witty lyrics punctuate I Am Kloot’s deceptively understated songs and their gritty but pretty symphonies about life, love and alcohol are timeless.

"Northern Irish stalwarts Ash make a welcome return after their epic headline slot back in 2009 and will whip up the crowd with a set of exemplary alternative rock.

"Fake Blood aka DJ Touche is an enormous presence on the house and electro scene and his set will have the Kendal Calling crowd dancing long into the night."

Kendal Calling also welcomes back local Lake District heroes, British Sea Power with a special show for their 10th anniversary while Mystery Jets exhibit the quintessentially English, crowd pleasing pop of their 'Radlands' album.

The festival, which has been a sell-out since its inception, sold out seven weeks in advance last year proving its growing popularity.

Organisers said they have kept the event to the same capacity as last year, 'protecting the festivals intimate feel and attention to detail for which it is renowned'.

To keep up to date with news about the festival and a full list of the acts visit www.kendalcalling.com