All Reports...Soundcheck

With the emergence of Kent-linked acts such as Keane and Joss Stone, there appears plenty of hope on the musical horizon. Scratch beneath the surface and you wil find there is plenty of talent out there within the county. Each month we go behind the scenes with original bands and offer chance to hear their sounds...

Latest Bands

Interview: Nik Kershaw

Enjoying both Stateside and UK success in the early 1980s is something Nik Kershaw looks back on with a mix of amusement, surprise and pride....

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The Novels

For a band who’ve been together just under a year, aspiring indie act The Novels are making fine headway. They have already received drive-time airplay...

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Webb Sisters at home on the biggest stage

Sublime. Coming from legendary Leonard Cohen, king of the miserable lyric, that word is well deserved for Kent's very own Webb Sisters who accompanied him...

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Status Quo

They may have been in search of the holy grail of the fourth chord for more than three decades, yet there's little doubting Status Quo's...

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The Hoosiers

The Hoosiers were one of the undoubted highlights of Maidstone's Big Weekend. Their feelgood pop attracted a huge audience on the main stage, even prompting...

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Local Venues

Pizza Express, Maidstone
the venue plays host to a wealth of leading jazz/blues/soul names including Clare Teal, Gwyneth Herbert and Ruby Turner.
Tunbridge Wells Forum
is a lively joint offering a wide variety of rock and alternative music and regularly has many local bands playing. Visitors have included chart rock acts such as Rooster and The Ga' Ga's.
The Astor Theatre
in Deal has a strong programme of music, from 80s acts such as Howard Jones to Robin Trower of Procol Harum and jazz star Gerogie Fame.
Tap N' Tin
in Chatham offers the best of local live acts like cult musician Billy Childish and has had some big names come its way including Tim Burgess of the Charlatans. The venue has now started its own music label.
Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall
has staged some top music acts including The Darkness, The Doves, Idlewild and soul star Lemar. They have also started a limited number of local live band events.
Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall regularly pulls in big acts, from opera diva Lesley Garrett, soul star Dionne Warwick to classic rock and folk artists including The Manfreds, The Searchers and Donovan.
The Mick Jagger Centre
in Dartford has a top programme of music for folk, roots, jazz and rock, with everyone from The Buzzcocks to Eddi Reader of Fairground Attraction.
Alberry's
in Canterbury has a good range of music from rock to dance, and is currently encouraging young local rock talent such as the hotly-tipped Motion Picture Soundtrack.