The Chimney Boys - just one of the many acts appearing at the Love Music, Hate Racism festival in Margate on Saturday September 11.

By Peter Barnett

THE show will go on for Margate's first Love Music, Hate Racism music festival on Saturday (September 11) - despite losing its stage.

Ten days before the event, disaster struck as its stage was destroyed in gale force winds.

The organising committee went into action to find a replacement, and were phoning companies from Exeter to Edinburgh with no success.

Event organiser Bunny Laroche (left) said: "We were desperate to find a stage to ensure the festival goes ahead. Then at literally the last gasp we rang the Thanet Extra, and they put us in touch with a company that could help. A couple of hours later a new stage was booked, and it's bigger and better too".

But the organising committee now has now launched an emergency fund-raising appeal for a further £1,000 as the replacement stage is more than twice as expensive as the original that was booked through Thanet council.

Bunny said: "We have had very generous support from the National Union of Teachers and other local trade unions. Donations from organisations or individuals are very welcome."

The show will begin at noon and aims to bring a fresh and multi-cultural celebration of music and diversity to the town. Local bands will be playing and Hartsdown Technology College at Margate and Dame Janet infant school in Ramsgate will perform dance routines including a tribute to Michael Jackson.

The festival features international performer Lowkey along with Colt 44, Dimitri, Spookasonic, Neil Sparkes and the Bougarabou, Drifta, Mic Righteous and many more.

Lowkey will not only be performing but handing out certificates to the local schools involved in a banner making competition for the festival.

The main stage will be on the piazza opposite the harbour, with an acoustic stage at the nearby Westcoast Bar.

Many local businesses are supporting the festival in various ways including Pie Music Factory, The Belgian Bar in Ramsgate, O Neill's Boxing Club, Margate, Westcoast Bar and the Lighthouse Bar Margate.

For donations, to book a stall for the event or more information, contact the organisers, emaillmhrkent@gmail.comor telephone 07947 424505

The programme for the festival is as follows.

Main stage:

Noon - The Light Program; 12.30pm - School Dance Group; 12.50pm - Aurora ; 1.40pm - Colt 44; 2.30pm - The Assembly Worker, Rapscallions, Joey Prolapse, Spookasonic ; 3.30pm - BouGaRaBou; 4.20pm - Tyrannosaurus Alan; 5.20 - Whitstable World Music Big Band; 6.20pm - Rebel Control; 7.20pm - Lowkey.

Acoustic Stage at the Westcoast:

12.30pm - Steph Kailou; 1.10pm - Henry Johnson; 1.50pm - The Chimney Boys; 2.50pm - Vaughan Hawthorne-Nelson; 3.20pm - East West Trio; 4.15pm - Raqsonic; 5pm - Spy Plane; members from The Word Poetry Group to perform in between acts.

After the festival there will be a party with a £3 entry charge. Taking part are DJ Basic, DJ Rubble, Buttaphingaz,

Fioxi, Drifta, Mic Righteous, V.I.C, Rapscallions.