Feeling blue that the next Maidstone Fringe Festival is still eight months away? Don’t despair, the fringe organisers have a mini festival up their sleeves called New Blues.

The two-day event will have a range of artists – some local and two guest acts from overseas – all with a basis in blues, but taking in rock, roots and alternative styles along the way.

Guest acts are rock trio Black Market III, from the USA, and Norwegian pop and blues act Moviestar.

Also performing will be King Size Slim, who has a huge following in the county, on the Sunday, Kent artist Ben Mills with his blues trio and Rob Wicks, from Coco and the Butterfields, who will perform an acoustic blues and country set.

Upcoming grunge act Broken Banjo and Maidstone musicians Vaughan Batchelor and Jon Fuller will also perform on the Saturday.

Other acts include Rhonda and the Great Unknown, featuring Rhonda Merrick, British blues rock act Flawless Carbon and Salvation Jane.

Both days are free at Earls in Earl Street, Maidstone, on Saturday, October 1, 4pm to late, and on Sunday, October 2, 3pm to 10pm.