Kentish Express Ashford & District - What's On
MUSIC TO YOUR EARS...
From pop perfection to rock ‘n’ roll riffs, there are some unmissable outdoor concerts coming up in Kent this summer
SOUL
Get up offa that thing and head to the Soundcrash Funk and Soul Weekender. Fans can get their groove on with disco legends Sister Sledge, best known for hits We Are Family and He’s the Greatest Dancer, and influential funk godfather George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. l Soundcrash Funk and Soul Weekender takes place at Dreamland, Margate, from Friday, May 27 to Sunday, May 29.
DANCE
Making its debut on the festival scene this year is Dream Valley. This new immersive dance festival combines electronic music artists with interactive experiences to create a truly unique day of live entertainment. It’s set to feature an outdoor cinema, yoga workshops, wellbeing classes and a street food market, plus artists including Basement Jaxx, Roger Sanchez and Charlie Hedges. l Dream Valley takes place on Saturday, May 28 at a venue to be announced
AMERICANA
The iconic Black Deer Festival is returning to the stunning Eridge Park this June. Some of the biggest artists in Americana, country and bluegrass music will be performing in the historic deer park, including Lightning Bolt singer Jake Bugg, rock band Wilco and GrammyAward winner Van Morrison. l Black Deer Festival takes place at Eridge Park, Tunbridge Wells, from Friday, May 27 to Sunday, May 29
CHILLED CLASSICS
Cafe Mambo Ibiza Classics touches down in Kent this summer for a huge one-day festival to kick off the Jubilee bank holiday weekend. The star-studded line up bringing the music of the White Isle to Maidstone includes Judge Jules, Brandon Block and Lovely Laura. l Cafe Mambo Ibiza Classics In The Park takes place at Mote Park, Maidstone on Thursday, June 2
POP ROCK
Three huge British artists are kicking off a series of summer concerts at the Hop Farm. First up is Simply Red, whose ‘80s hits - including Holding Back the Years and If You Don’t Know Me by Now - have seen the band sell more than 60 million albums worldwide. Following on from Mick Hucknall and his band is The Jam frontman Paul Weller, who went onto form the Style Council and launch his own successful solo career. Rounding off the weekend will be chart-topping four-piece Keane, who met at school in Tonbridge and will be back in the county this summer. l Concerts take place at the Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, from Friday, June 17 to Sunday, June 19
RETRO
Grab your leg warmers, dust off your shell suit and get ready to relive the ‘80s at retro music concert Let’s Rock Kent. Audiences can expect stellar performances from the likes of Wet Wet Wet, whose 1994 single Love Is All Around spent 15 weeks at No. 1, and trailblazing female pop group Bananarama. l Let’s Rock Kent takes place at Mote Park, Maidstone, on Saturday, July 3
POP
Pub in the Park is serving up pints and pop stars this July. The food, drink and music weekender boasts some of the UK’S most well-known performers, including former Spice Girl Melanie C, queen of the kitchen disco Sophie Ellis-bextor, electronic group
Faithless, ‘00s guitar band The Feeling and rapper Professor Green. l Pub in the Park takes place at Dunorlan Park, Tunbridge Wells, from Friday, July 8 to Sunday, July 10
CLASSICAL
Leeds Castle Concert will return this year for an evening of classical music in the stunning castle grounds. Swing orchestra Down for the Count will be opening the concert with spectacular swing classics such as Sing, Sing, Sing and I’ve Got You Under My Skin. More artists have yet to be announced for the concert, but visitors can also enjoy the Spitfire display and fireworks finale. l Leeds Castle Concert takes place at Leeds Castle, Maidstone, on Saturday, July 9
OPERA
Enjoy a night at the proms with Katherine Jenkins. The multi-award winning artist will head to Maidstone for the Mote Park Proms this July. Performing alongside Katherine, who was honoured with an OBE in 2014, will be musical theatre group Collabro. The Britain’s Got Talent winners are best known for covering hits from shows such as Les Misérables and West Side Story. l Mote Park Proms takes place at Mote Park, Maidstone, on Saturday, July 23
FOLK
A staple of the Kent festival calendar is Broadstairs Folk Week, an annual music event hosted in multiple venues across the picturesque seaside town. This year, the festival will feature more than 50 musicians - and the full line-up hasn’t even been announced yet! Folk fans visiting this August should also make time to stop off at Broadstairs’ sandy beach and seafront restaurants. l Broadstairs Folk Week takes place in multiple venues across Broadstairs from Friday, August 5 to Friday, August 12
CLASSIC ROCK
Music fans from all over the county will be heading to Mount Ephraim Gardens for three days of riffs and rock music. A New Day Festival will bring together titans of classic rock, prog-rock and blues in the Kent countryside. Headliners this year include British legends Jethro Tull, Dutch prog-rock band Focus and ‘70s glam rock group The Sweet. Visitors can also enjoy unique ales, delicious food and beautiful scenery throughout the weekend. l A New Day Festival takes place at Mount Ephraim Gardens, Faversham, from Friday, August 19 to Sunday, August 21
SKA
What do you get when you combine the seaside and ska music? Skabour festival, of course. The seafront festival welcomes some of the best ska, reggae and dub artists for a weekend of live music overlooking the Folkstone harbour. The line-up for this year is yet to be announced, but previous artists include the Neville Staple Band, Dawn Penn and Skabretta. l Skabour takes place at Grand Burstin Hotel, Folkestone, from Friday, September 16 to Sunday, September 18
If you’re in the mood for a night at the theatre, here are three more shows hitting the stage this week… lbritai■’s
Magical Bones up a spectacular night of entertainment with his latest show, Black Magic. The breakdancing illusionist is hitting the road to thrill even more audiences with his mysterious moves and back-flipping card
Got Talent winner is conjuring
tricks. Black Magic is at the Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone on Thursday, March 24. Book online or call 01622 758 611.
lzogand his crew are flying back to the stage with a brand new adventure. The children’s show, based on the book
Zog and the Flying Doctors
by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, is crash landing in Kent to introduce young audiences to the thrill of the theatre. Zog and the Flying Doctors is at the
Churchill Theatre in Bromley from Thursday, March 24 to Saturday, March 26. Book online or call 03433 100 020. lwhile
it’s not a typical March show, that’s no reason not to get into the spirit of things. Scrooge, performed by am-dram group Chip Productions, is a story we all know but never tire of - which makes it the perfect yearround production. Scrooge is at the West Malling village hall on Saturday, March 19.
Call 07720 851 865 to book.