KENT FESTIVALS 2021 - THE DETAILS SO FAR...
(THIS LIST WILL BE UPDATED REGULARLY)
Well, it has been a year to forget really hasn’t it… not least for those putting on festivals and quality outdoor live events. With everything that has been happening, it has been easy to lose track of which festivals are doing what. So we thought we’d try and break it down for you….
RAMSGATE FESTIVAL OF SOUND 2021
As part of the much-anticipated Ramsgate Festival of Sound 2021, it has been announced that Mercury Prize nominated singer-songwriter Nadine Shah will headline and perform her critically acclaimed album ‘Kitchen Sink’ at Ramsgate’s Winterstoke Gardens, Saturday September 4th 8pm.
Nadine said: “This will be the second and possibly last time we play Kitchen Sink in full. Ramsgate is my new home and there’s no where I’d rather see out the summer than there on the cliff tops with you all.”
The festival of sound is a nine-day event featuring the specially commissioned Sonic Trail, cabaret, immersive children’s theatre courtesy of Bindlestick Theatre Company, family fun at Ellington Park, the national launch of ‘Banned!’ a new work produced by the Freedom Road Project created Sabina Desir and Jessica Lauren, classics from the world of jazz and opera in Vale Square, community choral events and Busk at Dusk on the stunning east cliff of Ramsgate.
WHEN: AUG 27th - SEPT 5th, 2021
WHERE: RAMSGATE
INFO: www.ramsgatefestival.org
postponed
DATE CHANGE
REVIVAL: IBIZA CLASSICAL FESTIVAL
Revival make a comeback with a number of events this year including the Ibiza Classical event at Mote Park, Maidstone.
With the likes of the Symphonic Ibiza Orchestra, The Lisa Marie Experience, Trickster, Hysteric Ego, Porn Kings and many more to be announced.
The Symphonic Ibiza Orchestra will be returning with a set list full of absolute classics including:
RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW
CHILDREN
DELIRIUM SILENCE
9PM TILL I COME
ONE MORE TIME
DON’T YOU WORRY CHILD
CAFE DEL MAR
INSOMNIA
BORN SLIPPY
+ MORE
If you purchased a ticket for one of Revival’s 2020 events and carried them over, you can find information what that means for this event online.
WHEN: 31st July, 2021
WHERE: Mote Park, Maidstone
INFO: https://www.revivalfestuk.com/2020ticketinfo
Postponed
GRDN, CANTERBURY
“Following tonight’s Government announcement, we’ve unfortunately decided to postpone our launch party in Canterbury on Saturday 3rd July.
WHERE: SECRET CANTERBURY LOCATION
INFO: https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Canterbury/Secret-Canterbury-Location/GRDN-Open-Air-Day-Rave/35802736/
THE LAST DANCE, DREAMLAND, MARGATE
The summer line-up of Kent festivals just got even hotter with a stacked out line-up at Margate’s Dreamland.
Live music promoters Soundcrash have announced ‘Last Dance Festival’, which will include DJ sets from Basement Jaxx, and Groove Armada as well as performances from Crazy P, Norman Jay MBE, Trojan Sound System, Renegade Brass Band and many more.
WHEN: Saturday 25th September, 2021
WHERE: Dreamland, Margate
INFO: https://www.dreamland.co.uk/events/listings/eventdetail/10934/9/the-last-dance-with-groove-armada-basement-jaxx
DATE CHANGE
ROCHESTER CASTLE CONCERTS 2021
LINE-UP:
Thursday 16th September – The Libertines + Sports Team + Black Honey + Chappaqua Wrestling + The Ovines
Friday 17th September – Soul II Soul + The Brand New Heavies
Saturday 18th September – UB40 + The Stone Foundation + The Style Councillors + The Petty Thieves
WHEN: 16th-18th September, 2021
WHERE: ROCHESTER CASTLE, MEDWAY
INFO: WWW.THECASTLECONCERTS.CO.UK
OH SO RETRO, MARGATE
With more than 1,500 classic and retro cars, scooters and motorcycles, the Oh So Retro has been a mainstay in the Margate outdoor event calendar for a number of years.
There is live music, trade stands and lots more for petrol heads as well as those passionate about revival events.
WHEN: 26th SEPTEMBER, 2021
WHERE: NORTHDOWN, MARGATE
INFO: www.OhSoRetro.co.uk
CITY SPLASH, BECKENHAM/BROMLEY
A celebration of the influence of reggae music, Afro-Caribbean food and high-vibe culture this September.
Paying homage to the unmistakable influence of reggae on British culture and music genres birthing everything from jungle and dubstep to garage. City Splash Festival is an all-day, family-friendly festival with a line-up of some of the baddest bands, sound systems, artists and DJ's alongside wellbeing workshops, panels and live discussions.
With four music stages dedicated to the biggest of reggae acts, you can happily bounce around between the unique production sites to catch your favourites.
▶️ VIP Area - A VIP ticket grants access to the exclusive VIP craft beer + cocktail bar and seating area hosting a separate sound system with DJs playing all day long plus VIP toilets.
▶️ Kids Area - Keep the little ones entertained with face painting, circus activities, immersive theatre and craft stations with plenty more surprises planned on the day.
▶️ Food & Drink - We will be hosting London’s finest Carribean street food vendors, sampling favourite delights from jerk chicken to vegan ital stew, fried plantains and much much more.
WHEN: 12th SEPTEMBER, 2021
WHERE: BECKENHAM PLACE PARK
INFO: https://www.city-splash.com/
LIVE FOREVER FESTIVAL, TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Live Forever Festival is a celebration of the best music and clubbing scenes from the 90's. For those that loved nights out at clubs such as The Hacienda, Big Beat Boutique, The Bomb and many more this is the festival for you. Live performances and DJ sets from from some of the very best acts in the world spread over four stages in stunning Kent woodlands.
Day tickets and full weekend camping available.
WHEN: 13th-15th AUGUST
WHERE: Colebrook Park, Tunbridge Wells
INFO: https://www.skiddle.com/festivals/Live-Forever-90s/
ELECTRIC MEDWAY FESTIVAL
Digital arts festival Electric Medway is returning 21-30 August 2021.
Building on the huge success of its first year in 2020, the team will be presenting an ambitious arts programme that will exist in different spaces, tell new stories and nurture digital creativity.
Audiences can expect an exciting array of free works and activities including virtual reality, streamed performances, animation, projection and sound.
Sign up to their newsletter to be the first to hear about our planned events and artist opportunities.
WHEN: 21st- 30th August 2021
WHERE: MEDWAY
INFO: https://electricmedway.co.uk/
CAMP WILDFIRE 2021 - EXTRA TICKETS AVAILABLE
The Campwildfire team said: “Following updated Government guidance, we are able to release another 1000 tickets to summer 2021!”
”Ticket Release - 10:00 on Friday 30th Apr - To be in with a chance of getting a ticket you must register for the weekend you would like to attend.”
Need more adventures in your life? Want to party in a secret forest? Vice magazine said: “This is Utopia” and, with Team ‘cene having attended last year, we can vouch that this ain’t no Teddy Bears picnic.
The UK’s first Summer Camp exclusively for adults! It includes activities such quad-biking, zorbing, flying trapeze, rafting, tree-climbing, archery, dodgeball and swing-dancing.
Experience joy through learning, relax in a woodland spa, feast on incredible foods, dance wildly through the night, share stories around campfires and enjoy an amazing live music offer.
THERE WILL ALSO BE NEW WINTER CAMPS - COMING SOON!
In 2021, there will be two Summer Camp Wildfire events across two consecutive weekends on the following dates:
WHEN:
Weekend 1- 27th- 30th August 2021
Weekend 2- 3rd-6th September 2021
WHERE: HERITAGE PINE FOREST, SEVENOAKS
INFO: WWW.CAMPWILDFIRE.CO.UK
MALLE BEACH RACE 2021, MARGATE
After its first run last autumn, the Malle Beach Race returns to the Margate seafront in September this year.
Rider Registration for the Beach Race will open soon, with lots of exciting new details to be announced.
The team behind the race took to social media to say: “Sorry to delay it, but this unique race will be worth the wait!”
WHEN: 10th - 12th September, 2021
WHERE: MARGATE BEACH
Image - Jason Pay
BOING! INTERNATIONAL FAMILY FESTIVAL, CANTERBURY
Gulbenkian has announced the return of bOing! International Family Festival on Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 August 2021!
Reunite with family and friends this August for an amazing weekend of the very best in theatre, dance, films and fun for all the family, packed with magical performances and experiences on the beautiful University of Kent campus in Canterbury.
The festival’s new Director, David Sefton, said: “We are all absolutely thrilled to welcome audiences back to bOing! After unavoidably missing last year. We look forward to bringing back the mix of international artists, live music and film that makes bOing! such a well-loved festival and highlight of the Kent summer calendar.”
The organisers are planning for all eventualities, and explained by Operations Director, David Haigh:
“It’s another challenging year for everyone in the events industry, and we are working hard behind the scenes on different scenarios. We are planning a socially distanced bOing! right now, but hope that we will be able to relax this if Government advice changes over the coming months.”
bOing! International Family Festival 2021 is free to enter, with indoor performances ticketed. The programme will be announced in May.
WHEN: 28th - 29th August, 2021
WHERE: THE GULBENKIAN, CANTERBURY
INFO: boingfestival.com
REVIVAL IN THE PARK, MAIDSTONE
Revival In The Park returns on Saturday 25th September with their biggest event ever, including the new Pop stage!
The all-new Pop stage will feature some of the UK's biggest 90's and 00's Pop acts, including 5ive, East 17, Big Brovas, Blazin' Squad, 911 and more!
The remaining stages will see some returning favourites, as well as new faces perform; Artful Dodger, DJ Luck & MC Neat, Pied Piper, Ratpack, Shades of Rhythm, Slipmatt, Sweet Female Attitude, Utah Saints, DJ Chalk E White, Ellis Dee, DJ Druid, Faydz, The Acid Brothers, Zack Le Nez, Angie Brown, Xpansions and more!
VIP tickets will gain you access to VIP area, with private bars, exclusive chill out area and luxury toilets.
WHEN: Saturday 25th September 2021
WHERE: MOTE PARK, MAIDSTONE
INFO: www.revivalfestuk.com
CARING IS CREEPY PRESENTS NEW IN TOWN 2021
Taking place at @elsewheremarg8 , New In Town serves as a taster of what one would usually come to expect from the Caring Is Creepy - the multi-venue music festival curated by promoters @art_s.cool and independent record label @moshimoshimusic - which has been sorely missed due to an enforced fallow year.
New In Town will feature performances from @yardactband , @theloungesociety , @falle_nioke , @the.umlauts , @thebandlime and more TBA. Artwork by @personalitycrisis .
WHEN: 16th OCTOBER 2021
WHERE: ELSEWHERE, MARGATE
INFO: https://www.seetickets.com/event/new-in-town-yard-act-the-lounge-society-and-more/elsewhere/1812358
POSTPONED
PRIDE CANTERBURY 2021 (DATE CHANGE)
Pride Canterbury returns on Saturday 11th September, 2021, for its fifth year and has seen phenomenal growth since it started in 2016.
Now the biggest one-day event in Canterbury, with more than 20,000 people expected, it is also the biggest Pride event in the South East outside Brighton.
Expect the Dane John Gardens to be filled with colour and a carnival atmosphere.
WHEN: SATURDAY 11th SEPTEMBER, 2021
WHERE: CANTERBURY CITY CENTRE
INFO: PRIDECANTERBURY.COM
POSTPONED
MARGATE SOUL FESTIVAL 2021
WHEN: 6th-8th AUGUST, 2021
WHERE: MARGATE OLD TOWN
INFO: WWW.MARGATESOULFESTIVAL.CO.UK
KENT COFFEE FESTIVAL 2021
Kent Coffee Festival is set to celebrate all things coffee that Kent has to offer!
The Kent Coffee Festival will take place at the Gulbenkian theatre at the University of Kent, Canterbury as part of the boing! International Family Festival on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th August. It will celebrate all things coffee, providing fresh inspiration, tips and ideas for coffee enthusiasts. Visitors will also be able to take in boing!, a free-to-enter festival, featuring the very best in theatre, dance, films and fun for all the family.
The first Kent Coffee Festival, in partnership with headline sponsors La Marzocco, will open exclusively for trade visitors on Friday 27th August from 12pm until 5.30pm at The Gulbenkian theatre at the University of Kent, Canterbury. On Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th August the festival will open its doors to the public from 10am until 5pm with the event expected to attract in the region of 1500 coffee lovers.
WHEN: 27th-29th August, 2021
WHERE: GULBENKIAN, CANTERBURY
INFO: HTTP://WWW.KENTCOFFEEFESTIVAL.CO.UK/
FOLKESTONE TRIENNIAL 2021 (EXTENDED DATES)
Creative Folkestone is delighted to announce the new dates for the fifth Folkestone Triennial, The Plot, from 22 July – 2 November 2021.
With an extended running time now spanning across the summer, audiences can safely enjoy over 20 outdoor, newly commissioned public artworks in Folkestone’s scenic coastal setting, by artists including Assemble, Rana Begum, Gilbert & George, Atta Kwami, Pilar Quinteros, and Richard Deacon.
Free to the public, the Triennial marks one of the UK’s most ambitious art exhibitions. Following its run, some works will remain as permanent additions to Creative Folkestone Artworks, which currently features 74 artworks located across the town and harbour and accessible throughout the year. Dedicated to producing and enabling the very best creative activity that has transformed Folkestone and East Kent, and continues to do so, Creative Folkestone’s mission is to make the town a better place to live, work, play and visit.
WHEN: 22nd July - 2nd November, 2021
WHERE: FOLKESTONE
INFO: https://www.creativefolkestone.org.uk/folkestone-triennial/folkestone-triennial-2020-the-plot/
CONNECTED FESTIVAL
Festival Statement: “Following a comprehensive review and continued cooperation with the Local Authority, event partners, our supply chain and some key industry leaders, we have made what we know, and feel is the right decision to move Connected Festival to our planned and pre-advertised 2nd fallback date on the MAYDAY bank holiday – Sat 30 Apr & Sun 01 May 2022
“As previously stated, the team at Connected want to be as upfront and honest with you as possible, with not only what we are doing but why we are doing it too. Our primary focus has been to ensure that Connected Festival WILL RETURN TO LYDD, as safely as possible, without doubt or hesitation. Whilst the roadmap was a positive step in the right direction, we are much more confident in being able to bring you a bigger and better event on the May Bank Holiday dates, at a time where we feel more assured and more importantly, we will be allowed to run without any kind of disruption or restrictions.
“The move to May has also allowed us to secure and improve what already is a fantastic line up, without the worry of conflicting schedules, and we are extremely excited to bring these acts to our stages.
“In the coming weeks and months, we are planning to release more Line Up information and many more exciting announcements including some imminent Live Streams, newly introduced “Connected Presents” Club Shows, Camping, travel information, and much much more.
“All tickets have been automatically transferred to the May 2022 date and if you haven’t already got yours, we will be releasing information on how to secure your ticket for 2022 through the redesigned deposit & payment scheme.”
WHEN: 30th April - 1st May, 2022
WHERE: Lydd Airport
INFO: connectedfestival.co.uk
ALFRESCO FESTIVAL, TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Alfresco Festival is an award winning independent electronic music festival, featuring the world’s best DJs.
Statement: “Moving forward, we will be keeping many of our planned COVID safety measures in place, such as running at 25% capacity of the festival site’s potential. We have also kept our line up predominantly from the UK, as we don’t want to risk any travel restrictions further down the line. Our first wave of acts will be released next Friday, March 5th and tickets will also go on sale on that date. Tickets previously bought carry forward automatically.”
WHEN: 27th - 30th August, 2021
WHERE: Colebrook Park, Tunbridge Wells
INFO: https://alfrescofestival.co.uk/
Canterbury Festival 2021
Canterbury Festival returns this autumn from 16 – 30 October with a fortnight packed full of unique experiences in the heart of the historic City.
Now in its fourth decade and 38th year, the Festival presents an eclectic programme of music, theatre, circus, talks, science, family events and visual arts – offering unique live experiences that will delight, inspire and resonate with all ages.
In 2020, the Festival successfully delivered a reduced programme of socially distanced events – providing a much-needed lifeline for working artists and moment of escapism for hungry audiences. With a brighter future on the horizon, the Festival team are eager to welcome back Kent’s audiences and celebrate the magic of live performance.
WHEN: 16th - 30th October, 2021
WHERE: Canterbury
INFO: canterburyfestival.co.uk
UPDATE
PUB IN THE PARK, TUNBRIDGE WELLS
UPDATE - “We have designed the festival for these unusual times with more space to allow for social distancing.
”Our mainstage viewing area will be divided into pods for up to 30 people to enjoy the music and chef demos from, with plenty of space to socially distance - covid marshals will be managing this area.
All of our events before 19th July will have the same measures in place and proceed as planned within current government guidelines.”
Chef Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park festival will return to Tunbridge Wells in July, complete with amazing chefs, musicians and artisanal producers.
You’ll be able to tuck into tasty dishes from Kerridge's Bar & Grill, All's Well, Little Social and others...
Then party with your mates to live performances from Craig David and TS5, James Blunt, Beverley Knight, The Lightning Seeds and more!
Sign up to the newsletter to get access to the ticket pre-sale from Thursday 18th March.
WHEN: 9th - 11th July, 2021