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

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 (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!

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.

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… 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 (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.

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

Alexandra Kay @ BST Hyde Park 2026 (Kalpesh Patel)

Alexandra Kay On Second Wind, Self-Belief And Country Music’s Biggest Stages

Fresh from making her BST Hyde Park debut alongside Garth Brooks, Zac Brown Band and Ashley McBryde, Alexandra Kay is firmly establishing herself as one of country music’s fastest-rising stars. With her sophomore album Second Wind now out and a growing international audience behind her, the Illinois singer-songwriter continues to prove that persistence can be every bit as powerful as overnight success.

Zac Brown Band @ BST Hyde Park 2026 (Kalpesh Patel)

Garth Brooks Has Friends In Hyde Places At BST Hyde Park 2026

Nearly three decades after Garth Brooks last performed in the UK, Hyde Park welcomes him back in spectacular fashion. Demand is so overwhelming that BST expands the event’s capacity, creating the biggest concert the park has ever hosted, with Brooks becoming the first artist to perform to almost 70,000 fans at the festival. It is a fitting stage for one of country music’s biggest stars, whose long-awaited return has been building for years and whose audience is more than ready to welcome him back.

Matt Bellamy of Muse @ The O2 (Kalpesh Patel)

Muse Reach For The Stars On Ambitious New Album ‘The Wow! Signal’

Muse have never been a band to think small. From dystopian concept records and politically charged anthems to symphonic rock epics and stadium-sized spectacles, the Devon trio have spent more than two decades redefining what modern rock can sound like. Now, with the release of their tenth studio album, The Wow! Signal, Matt Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard once again prove they’re unafraid to venture into uncharted territory.

Brandon Flowers Returns With First Solo Album In Over A Decade, ‘THRASHER’, Shares New Single ‘Plans’

After more than a decade away from solo releases, Brandon Flowers has announced his long-awaited return with THRASHER, his third solo album and first since 2015’s The Desired Effect. The record arrives on 21 August 2026 via Island Records, with its lead single, Plans, available now.

Download Festival XXIII (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Download Festival Is More Than Just the Metal

I’ve been attending Download Festival since 2005. Every year, as I walk through those gates, I feel something that can be difficult to explain to people who have never experienced it. For a few days each June, I stop feeling like I’m standing on the outside looking in. I belong.

Sophie Grey @ Hammersmith Apollo (Kalpesh Patel)

SOPHIE GREY. Reaches For The Moon With Euphoric New Single ‘Lunar Highs (Hands Go Up)’

Rising electro-pop artist SOPHIE GREY. has unveiled her shimmering new single Lunar Highs (Hands Go Up), a euphoric slice of synth-driven pop arriving just ahead of June’s Strawberry Moon and setting the tone for a busy summer of high-profile live performances.

Kimberly Schlapman & Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town @ Royal Albert Hall (Kalpesh Patel)

Little Big Town Team Up With Ashley Monroe On Soulful New Single ‘Sucker For A Sad Song’

Country music favourites Little Big Town have unveiled their latest single, Sucker For A Sad Song, a heartfelt collaboration with acclaimed singer-songwriter Ashley Monroe, offering another enticing preview of their forthcoming album It’s A Dying Art, due for release on 28th August.

Lucia and the Best Boys @ O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire (Kalpesh Patel)

Lucia & The Best Boys Continue Their Rise With A Spellbinding O2 Shepherd’s Bush Performance

Fresh from an acclaimed appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival, Lucia & The Best Boys arrive at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire with momentum firmly on their side. Opening for the reunited 4 Non Blondes, the Glasgow quartet seize the opportunity with a commanding seven-song set that feels less like a support slot and more like a statement of intent.