Young musicians in Medway will be following in the footsteps of rock legends Status Quo and boogie-woogie maestro Jools Holland.

For the first time, a special concert will take place in Rochester Castle Gardens to showcase up-and-coming talent in the Towns.

Youngsters will be taking to the stage following this year’s summer concert series.

All the acts, aged 11 to 18, will perform on the same full-sized stage using professional equipment with the support of a professional crew.

The concert, called Under Siege, is being organised by Medway Council, and inspiration for the event has come from council leader Cllr Rodney Chambers.

He said: “I wanted to utilise the castle concerts stage for the benefit of the undoubted local musical talent we have got here in Medway. “We have decided to use the opportunity to give our young people the chance to perform on a real live, professional stage, in front of a large audience.

“This is a chance for us all here in Medway to recognise the talent we have, which often goes unsung, and the opportunity to give it the widest possible promotion to the community at large.

“If the concert is a success this year then I want it to become an annual event as part of the Rochester Castle concert series.”

Local music organisation Training Them Live has signed up the performers who will take part.

Musical director Dan Wise, said: “We are very grateful that Cllr Chambers has given a serious venue and outlet for the creativity that the young people in Medway have. This is set to be an amazing event, outstripping any of its kind. If you go to one gig this year, make this the one.”

One of the bands taking part will be The Fatal Fools, comprising Adam, Olli, Pete and Sean from Greenacre School.

Olli said: “We are really excited to be playing at Rochester Castle Gardens. This is our biggest venue yet and a brilliant opportunity for us. We met at Training Them Live’s Rock School in 2006 and have been together ever since. It feels like it’s all been building towards this massive gig.”