Summer 2023: your Muddy festival guide to Kent & beyond
Are you ready to make some noise?! From classical weekends to 80s throwbacks to thumping chart-toppers and family-fun affairs, these are the festivals you need to know about this summer.
BEST ALL-ROUNDER
Smoked & Uncut Festival, Sat 12 Aug
Celebrating 10 years of garden-grooving and festi-feasting, Smoked & Uncut Festival is back at The Pig in Bridge Place – Kent’s foremost rock and club venue that played to Led Zeppelin, The Kinks and many more back in the 60s! This August, Razorlight will be headlining with epic street-food, bars, family activities in The Den, massages at The Field Spa or browse their pop-up artisan market tent. Glamping and feasting tickets still available so go, go, go!
BEST FOR COUNTRY COOL
Black Deer Festival, Fri 16 – Sun 18 June
The UK’s only Americana music festival returns home to Eridge Park in Tunbridge Wells this June. Black Deer is a barn-storming three-day family fest of live music, late-night parties, vintage vehicles, outdoor pursuits and foodie delights. You can expect a stellar lineup of established and new Amerciana, blues, folk and bluegrass artists, with more than 100 across 6 stages. Headlining 2023 is The Pretenders and Bonnie Raitt plus, they’ve just revealed the final wave of artists for 2023 and this includes (hold on to your cowboy hats) Damian Lewis.
Yes, you read that right! Hollywood actor (best known for Homeland and Band of Brothers) Lewis has turned his talents to music and his debut album, Misson Creep will be released on the exact same day as he takes to the stage in Eridge Park. What an unmissable performance that’ll be!
BEST FOR BOOK & NATURE LOVERS
The Wealden Festival, near Tenterden, Sat 24 – Sun 25 Jun
We’re big fans of this family-friendly weekend of nature, creativity and outdoor adventures in the enchanting setting of Boldshaves Garden in Woodchurch. This unique annual event attracts acclaimed authors, poets, artists and makers each of whom, in their own particular way, has taken inspiration from the environment, from wilderness and the spirit of place. With everything from author talks – including the celebrated Michael Morpurgo talking about his stunning new book My Heart Was a Tree: Poems and stories to celebrate trees – to workshops and interactive fun, this makes the perfect opportunity to pause and enjoy a moment’s respite from the bustle and bustle of life.
Biddenden Tractorfest, Holden Farm, Sat 19 & Sun 20 Aug
Biddenden Tractorfest is returning to the fields of Holden Farm in Biddenden this August now in its 9th year, it’s a fun day out for all the family! The tractors are definitely the centre of attention with over 200 expected to exhibit over the weekend plus plenty of stalls, vehicle demos, children’s entertainment, falconry demonstrations, the dog & duck show and working horses to entertain both young and old. Not forgetting food and drink, live music and so much more.
BEST FOR FAMILY FUN
Hever Festival Theatre, Sat 27 May – Weds 30 Aug
For your guaranteed summer of fun, get the Hever Festival Theatre on your radar! Set in the stunning gardens of Hever Castle this open air venue has music acts, operas, films, plays and family shows planned all summer long, see the full line-up and get booking asap!
AND THE BEST OF THE REST…
MUSIC
The Soundcrash Funk & Soul Weekender, Fri 2 – Sun 4 June
Bag your tickets asap for this! This is a celebration of all things funk and soul during the open-air weekender at Dreamland, Margate with live music from Kool & The Gang, Hot 8 Brass Band, Craig Charles, David Rodigan and much more. As well as bags of fun from theme park rides, roller disco, disco yoga to dance classes – you won’t want to miss this. It’s close to a sell-out but a few day tickets are still available!
Leeds Castle Concert, Sat 8 July
This iconic event is back, set in the most stunning location and natural amphitheatre in front of the beautiful Leeds Castle, people in their thousands flock to see this amazing open-air musical delight. Expect world-classic music, a spectacular fly-over with a Spitfire and a fireworks finale. Don’t forget the champagne!
JAM on The Marsh, Thurs 6 – Sun 16 July
This annual multi-art festival hosts a wide range of events and exhibitions over various venues in Romney Marsh, including its famous medieval churches. JAM on The Marsh is back this July and is internationally recognised as a creative, dynamic and forward-thinking festival, drawing an audience of over 17k every year. Enjoy visual arts, theatre, poetry, music and children’s events – see the full line-up here.
Local and Live, Fri 25 – Mon 28 Aug
And carrying us right through the summer, the popular free music festival will be returning to Calverley Grounds in Tunbridge Wells over the August Bank Holiday weekend. It’s a four-day celebration of the best live music and culture in the brilliantly creative town and beyond.
WELLNESS
LoveFit Festival, 14 – 16 July
3 days of adventure, fitness, wellbeing and magical forest parties is returning to St Clere Estate in Sevenoaks this July. Enjoy 4 classes per day from yoga, trapeze, SUP, forest ride and much more. Then relax in the wood-fired hot tub or enjoy the climbing wall, wild runs and the talks on health, fitness and nutrition. After an adrenaline fuelled day transcend into LoveFit’s majestic afterparties in the forest and dance the night away with live bands and DJ sets.
Good Vibrations Festival, Pippingford Park, 4 – 6 Aug
Ok not technically Kent but this festival is just over the border at Pippingford Park in Ashford Forest. It’s a camping weekend of music, ecology and wellbeing to nourish your soul with incredible music, great food and drink, wild swimming and inspirational activities. Sign us up!
FOOD & DRINK
Wine, Cider & Jazz Festival, Woolton Farm, Sat 29 – Sun 30 July
Woolton Farm have some crackin’ events coming up this summer. Don’t miss their Wine, Cider & Jazz Festival at the end of July, it’ll keep your foot stepping all day long. Expect 2 days of live music, food and drink all weekend long with freshly made pizza, sweet treats from Beardy Baker, garden games, bouncy castle and face painting for the little ones – selection of wine and cider for the adults! Can’t make that? There’s also their Classic Car Show with FREE entry on Sat 6 Aug from 11am and open for all to come and see some fantastic Classic motors. Plus their Woolton Farm Summer Fete (£5 entry) with garden games, hog roast, live music, face painting, bouncy castle and large selection of craft cider and beers on 26 & 27 Aug.
Gin & Jazz Festival, Sat 27 & Sun 28 May
The hugely popular lip-smacking festival with £5 G&Ts (yes really!) is back on The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells this May. Open 11am – 10pm, try and taste over 150 gins from over 30 local and national producers. Plus street food, live music, food demos and entertainment all weekend long.
Spring Cider & Beer Festival, Fri 26 – Mon 29 May
Set in Woolton Farm’s exquisite thatched barn building will be a beautiful weekend of live music, face painting, cake and craft stands, fête games and not forgetting, lots of tasty cider and beer to enjoy! Adult tickets (over 18s) are £5pp and under 18s go free. Tickets on sale now!
Pub in the Park, Fri 7 – Sun 9 July
Another absolute belter is Pub in the Park in Tunbridge Wells’ Dunorlan Park with live music like Rudimental, Badly Drawn Boy, Mcfly and Sister Sledge – it’s going to be a good one! Not forgetting you can taste the very best of culinary delights the country has to offer alongside chef demonstrations and top quality shopping.
Kent Beer Fest, Fri 29 & Sat 30 July
Bowley’s at The Plough will be hosting a beer festival with a huge selection of beers from local breweries in Kent and not forgetting the tasty bar food. More info coming soon but pop it in your diary for now.
LeicesterFest, Sun 27 Aug
Celebrate the last bank holiday of the year at The Leicester Arms in Penshurst for a day in the sunshine filled with live music, gorgeous food and tasty drinks from their outdoor bar.
FAMILY FUN
Camp Kindling, Fri 18 – Mon 21 Aug
Grab the last few tickets for Camp Kindling set in Sevenoaks. It’s a wild weekend set in a gorgeous forest retreat with over 100 amazing activities (included in your ticket) to do, learn and discover. Dance the night away amongst the trees with 50 live bands and DJs across the weekend and relax in wood-fired hot tubs or chill around the campfire.
The War & Peace Revival, Tues 25 – Sat 29 July
The greatest celebration of military history and vintage lifestyle in the world returns to The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood. The War & Peace Revival is the greatest gathering of military vehicles, living history, vintage village, classic cars and their world famous trade stalls. Better yet, kids go free!
bOing!, Sat 26 & Sun 27 Aug
bOing! is bouncing back at The Gulbenkian in Canterbury, expect an amazing weekend of the very best in theatre, dance, films and fun for all the family, packed with magical performances and experiences. The majority of the events are free with a select few are ticketed.
HAVE WELLIES WILL TRAVEL?
Isle of Wight Festival, Isle of Wight, 15-18 June
Wireless Festival, London Finsbury Park, 7-9 July
Latitude Festival, Suffolk, 21-23 July
Kaleidoscope Festival, London Alexandra Palace, 15 July
Camp Bestival, Dorset, 27-30 July
Boardmasters, Cornwall, 9-13 Aug
Camp Bestival, Shropshire, 17-20 Aug
All Points East, London Victoria Park, various dates from 18-28 Aug