Ramblers Rock Up For The Darkness At 2019 Ramblin’ Man Fair

by | Jul 27, 2019

The Darkness perform at Ramblin Man Fair - Friday 19 July 2019 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

Ramblin’ Man Fair, held tucked under the North Downs in picturesque Mote Park, Maidstone, is now in its fifth year and after a rocky (no pun intended) start (original owners of the RMF brand, Team Rock went bust in 2016), the festival has gone from strength to strength.

The Darkness perform at Ramblin Man Fair - Friday 19 July 2019 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

The Darkness Headline Day One at Ramblin Man Fair (Simon Reed)

The festival has a prominent demographic (rock fans who could bring the kids, but could also leave them at home) and it caters to the faithful very well. Previous headliners have included ZZ Top, Greg Allman and the Scorpions and this year, The Darkness, Black Stone Cherry and Foreigner take top spots on the premier Planet Rock stage.

The Darkness perform at Ramblin Man Fair - Friday 19 July 2019 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

The Darkness (Simon Reed)

For 2019, the Friday afternoon lineup was greatly expanded with The Lazys, Chris Barrass Band, FM and The Wildhearts forming the undercard before The Darkness came out. I would have liked to see all five but alas paying the mortgage meant that as well as several thousand cars on the M25 travelling at single digit speeds, the first four bands were in the rear-view mirror by the time I eventually arrived on site. In fact, I got there just as Ginger Wildheart crashed out his final power chord. My review of The Wildhearts based on what I saw: everyone loved them!

The Darkness perform at Ramblin Man Fair - Friday 19 July 2019 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

Fans Watch The Spots & The Darkness perform at Ramblin Man Fair Day (Simon Reed)

The Darkness receive some heat from people who take their music too seriously (and that includes a small but vocal contingent in the RMF fanbase), which is a shame because being a bit po-faced about them means missing out on a very entertaining night out. Justin Hawkins never gives less than 100% and is one of the most naturally gifted all round frontmen I’ve ever seen.

The Darkness perform at Ramblin Man Fair - Friday 19 July 2019 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

Justin Hawkins (Simon Reed)

He can sing, he can play and he is a consummate raconteur. There was a great moment tonight when he took a swig from a bottle of water and then proceeded to do a mock ‘infomercial’ based on the experience: “Strathmore Water, still or sparkling, always refreshing. Drink it from the bottle or from a glass”. He finished the bottle and tossed it off the stage. “Don’t litter, especially you young ones. This will be your planet soon”.

The Darkness perform at Ramblin Man Fair - Friday 19 July 2019 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

The Darkness… Holy Mackerel  (Simon Reed)

The supporting cast (guitarist and Justin’s brother Dan Hawkins, bassist Frankie Poullain and drummer Rufus ‘Tiger’ (and son of Roger) Taylor) are far more than just a backing group. This is a band that can really play and through the joking, the back-kicking guitar picks into the crowd and the inevitable exposure of the word ‘Lowestoft’ tattooed across Justin’s midriff, they knock out some serious hard rocking music. They play Gibson Les Paul’s, they stand in front of Marshall 4×12’s. They’re a proper rock band!

The Darkness perform at Ramblin Man Fair - Friday 19 July 2019 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

The Darkness  (Simon Reed)

As one might expect, they close with the song that everyone knows: I Believe In A Thing Called Love and fireworks crackle overhead. Based on the very warm reception the band received, it’s safe to say that the Friday night ramblers do too.

 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

Ramblers 2019 (Simon Reed)

 

Live Review & Photography by Simon Reed who has the following website www.musicalpictures.co.uk

A Beautiful Saturday At Ramblin Man Fair 2019

Stevie Wonder @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Bethan Miller-Carey)

A Night In Wonderland: Stevie Wonder And Guests Delight At BST Hyde Park 2025

“Awwwwight!” drawls Stevie Wonder, arms flung wide, grinning like a teenager trying on cockney charm for the first...
Neil Young @ BST Hyde Park (Trudi Knight)

Dance, Shadow And Harvest Under The Full Moon: Van Morrison, Yusuf Islam And Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts At BST Hyde Park 2025

Gone are the sparkled cowgirls and pop princesses of previous BST gigs. It’s the turn of the Baby Boomer generation to make up the core crowd of Hyde Park – a sea of grey hair, straw hats, and sensible shoes. They reapply sun cream religiously, have brought picnic blankets, and can be forgiven for taking their time getting up and down from the ground between acts. This is the generation that invented outdoor rock and folk festivals – and they’re here to show the rest of us how it’s done.

Poptones (Rune Gro-Nielsen)

Poptones Play Their Wild Card With New Single ‘Say Something Now’ Ahead of Forthcoming Album ‘Pure’

Danish experimental rock trio Poptones have unveiled their new single Say Something Now, offering a taste of the unpredictability and emotional depth that defines their upcoming sophomore album Pure, out 26th September via Happy Metal Records. Where lead single Skin Of Sea teased a shift toward expansive and instinctive composition, Say Something Now dives headlong into that experimental impulse—guided, intriguingly, by the rules of UNO. Yes, the beloved card game.

Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age @ iTunes Festival 2013 (Kalpesh Patel)

Queens Of The Stone Age Announce Intimate European ‘Catacombs’ Tour, Including Special London Show

Queens Of The Stone Age have today unveiled details of their eagerly awaited Catacombs European Tour – a string of uniquely atmospheric shows inspired by their acclaimed 2024 Alive In The Catacombs performance. The tour, set for October 2025, will include a standout UK date at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 29th October, promising a rare and intimate reimagining of the band’s formidable back catalogue.

Alice Merton @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Trudi Knight)

Alice Merton Brings Sharp Pop Precision To The Rainbow Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

As the sun began to dip behind the trees in Hyde Park on 11th July, a throng of festival-goers packed into the Rainbow Stage area, drawn by the magnetic presence of German-Canadian artist Alice Merton. The singer-songwriter—best known for her breakout hit No Roots—delivered a punchy, emotionally agile set that brought the stage to a vibrant close, just before Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts took the spotlight over on the festival’s main Great Oak Stage.

Brian Molko of Placebo @ Brixton Academy (Kalpesh Patel)

Placebo Announce Deluxe Collection This Search For Meaning, Featuring Documentary, Live Album & Bonus Tracks

Anglo-American alt-rock icons Placebo have announced This Search For Meaning, a four-disc deluxe collection arriving 12th September via SO Recordings. The package offers a comprehensive portrait of the band’s current creative era, combining introspective documentary filmmaking with live performance energy and exclusive music content.

Die Spitz (Anatheme)

Die Spitz Announce Debut Album ‘Something To Consume’, Drop Ferocious New Single ‘Throw Yourself To The Sword’

Austin punk outfit Die Spitz have announced their debut album Something To Consume, arriving on 12th September via...
Dean Lewis (Sean Loaney)

Dean Lewis Releases Deluxe Edition Of ‘The Epilogue’ with Powerful New Single ‘Hurt So Bad’

Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis has unveiled the deluxe edition of his acclaimed third studio album The Epilogue, alongside the release of an emotionally raw new single, Hurt So Bad.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing