From blues and ska to funk, soul and rock, dozens of acts converge on pubs and clubs across the County Town this weekend for the eighth Maidstone Fringe Festival.

The five-day event, held at venues across the town from Thursday, May 3 to Bank Holiday Monday, features a mix of rock, indie and punk to acoustic, blues and ska, funk, soul and hip hop.

The line-up includes Kent's own Coco & the Butterfields, who play Maidstone before heading out on the road with their new record at venues including the O2 Academy.

Joining them as headliners will be founding member of the Sex Pistols and Rich Kids, Glen Matlock, and originals of the "Canterbury Scene" back in the day, psychedelic and prog rockers Soft Machine.

The festival includes some all-day events as well as family-friendly entertainment in cafes and coffee shops, with much of the music free to attend.

Headline acts confirmed to play at the Pizza Express Live are opener Glen Matlock on Thursday, May 3, chap-hop stars Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer and Professor Elemental on the Friday, Soft Machine on the Saturday and Coco & The Butterfields on the Sunday.

Special guest visitors from Norway Moviestar join the festival for two shows at The Flowerpot on the Saturday supporting TV Smith and on the Sunday at the Make Some Noise all-dayer at the Royal Albion.

Ska enthusiasts are catered for by the Scorchers at the Style & Winch on the Friday and Toot N Skamen at the Duke Of Marlborough on the Sunday.

Kent-based acts confirmed include David Migden & The Twisted Roots, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells-based band The Gallerys, Hullabaloo, regulars Funke & The 2 Tone Baby, Best Intentions, We Are Bandicoot, Witchdoctor, No Limits Street Band, Native Oyster Band, Upcdownc, Radidas, Clea Llewellyn, The Devils Prefects, Esk Forte, David James Rumsey, The Mofos, Fred Clark, Rudy Warman & The Heavy Weather and Lew Lewis & The Twilight Trio.

Venues involved include Bierkeller for the first time, 4 Degrees, Druids Arms, the Flowerpot, Café Bruges, the Stag, Drakes, the White Horse, the Cellars, the Royal Albion, Frederic and the Fisherman’s Arms.

HIGHLIGHTS

GLEN MATLOCK, THURSDAY, MAY 3

A founding member of The Sex Pistols and Rich Kids, and writer of hits Pretty Vacant and God Save The Queen, Glen is a musical legend, raconteur extraordinaire, bass player and songwriter. Set to release a new album accompanied by Earl Slick from David Bowie's band and Slim Jim Phantom from Stray Cats, Glen is a believer in musicians earning their keep, so is still out on the road. Tickets are £16 to see him.

MR B THE GENTLEMAN RHYMER & PROFESSOR ELEMENTAL, FRIDAY, MAY 4

The chap hop star, who has family in Maidstone, played the festival last year and returns with Professor Elemental, with support from Re-Union DJs and Great KentSpectations. Tickets are £12 for the gig.

COCO & THE BUTTERFIELDS, SUNDAY, MAY 6

Since their inception in 2012, Canterury-based CoCo and the Butterfields have been busy playing live all over the county, the country and Europe. With their crowd-pleasing live act, the band have sold thousands of their first four EPs, and, after signing a publishing deal with peermusic in 2016, took a break from performing live to work on their new EP. Having road tested their new material, including at Bestival, they play their biggest London headline date soon at the O2 Academy Islington.

DETAILS

For more details on the event, sponsored by Clive Emson auctioneers, visit maidstonefringe.com

For tickets to the Pizza Express shows, call 0207 439 4962 or visit pizzaexpresslive.com.