Review by Linda McDermott
There’s a special kind of buzz that surrounds the start of any festival but Call of the Wild’s VIP night has its own flavour entirely. Set at the Lincolnshire Show ground, this family-friendly rock weekender is now in its fifth year, and it’s clear the regulars have made it a traditional pilgrimage at the end of May. With bands like Royal Republic, The Commoners, and Michael Monroe set to storm the main stage over the weekend, it’s shaping up to be another belter. But before the gates officially open for the three main days, it’s the VIP ticket holders who get first dibs on the party atmosphere and boy do they know how to make the most of it.
I arrived on Tuesday, along with other volunteers to help and while it might have looked calm on the surface, there was a whole machine at work behind the scenes. Stages were being built, fences put up, sound systems tested, merch stands sorted, and the bar, arguably the festival’s most crucial part was being stocked with everything needed to stop people from getting thirsty. It’s easy to forget the graft that goes into setting this up so the punters can roll in on Thursday afternoon and dive straight into the fun without a second thought.
And that’s exactly what happened. From 2pm on Thursday, the VIP crowd started rolling in, tents were popping up, camper vans parking neatly (or not), and old friends greeting each other like no time had passed at all. It’s that familiar vibe that sets COTW apart, people may only see each other once a year, but the connection’s real. The other thing to mention here is that even if you are single and have no one to come with, I guarantee you are never alone at Call of the Wild Festival. Everyone’s here for the same thing: rock music and good times and you’ll be talking to people in no time at all.
Come evening, the Trailblazer Tent hosted the official kick-off with three bands that perfectly set the tone for the weekend ahead.
First up was Foxx, who didn’t waste any time bringing the energy. Their rock ‘n’ roll set was full of swagger, and as more and more people piled into the tent, it quickly turned into a proper party. They went down a storm with the early crowd, and you could feel the mood lift with every riff and cheer.
Next on were Moskito, one of my personal favourites, and they did not disappoint, but then again, they never do. With a bottle or two of Buckfast (because it wouldn’t be a Moskito set without it), they launched into a ferocious run of songs including Clinomania and Killing Joke, while also teasing us with new material that slotted in seamlessly. The vocals were raw, the guitars punchy, and the crowd completely on board. It was one of those sets where they could do no wrong.
By this point, the chatter was constant, the drinks were flowing, and the atmosphere was nothing short of buzzing. Enter Scuzz Lightyear, bringing a blast of nostalgia with a set packed full of 80s and 90s rock hits. They had the whole tent bouncing, dancing, and singing along like it was a school disco, if school discos served beer and smelled faintly of campfire smoke and burgers!
And just when you thought the night might wind down, The Sisters of Spin, Caz and Tina, hit the decks and kept things rolling past midnight with more rock bangers. It wasn’t long before bodies were moshing, shapes were being thrown, and the VIP tent officially turned into a full-blown rock rave.
Eventually, as the clock ticked on, people began to stagger back to their campervans and tents, hoarse, happy, and already buzzing for what’s still to come. If the VIP night is anything to go by, the main event is going to be something truly special. Call of the Wild Festival had well and truly got under way, and I imagine there was going to be a few sorry looking punters in the morning but isn’t that what makes those festival memories that will be talked and laughed about for weeks to come.
And with that, I help my slightly intoxicated husband back to the camper van……..
Keep up with all the news by following Call of the Wild Festival socials for ticket updates for 2026 which will go on sale very soon. My advice is to get in there quick and snap up your ticket sooner rather than not get one later.
https://www.facebook.com/CallOfTheWildFestival
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