From Kate Bush to Mick Jagger, Kent has produced some of Britain’s biggest music stars.

It looks like 2023 is set to be another great year for music and, from up-and-coming popstars to local indie bands, we’ve picked our top five to watch out for.

Depdepan

This rising female duo, made up of friends Chelsea Tolhurst and Grace Bontoft, have left their mark on 2022 with the release of their first single, Darkest Hour. The pair caught the attention of emerging record label Wantsum Music in Ramsgate after forming in lockdown, and their single became the label’s second official release in September. Depdepan performed at the 20th anniversary gig of Pie Factory Music, the youth charity behind the label, and finished off the year with an acoustic version of their debut track. They have promised some very exciting things to come, so 2023 looks set to be a big year.

You can find Depdepan on Instagram at @debdepan.

James Wood

After several years with Tunbridge Wells-based band The Gallerys, singer-songwriter James Wood is now breaking out on his own with new solo material. His early recordings, all created on a budget in a Kent studio, led to a signing with Run On Records (The Coral, the Royston Club). His new EP, Wiser, was released in October with a celebratory show at his local venue, The Forum. James has teased a string of shows throughout 2023 so you’ll have plenty of chances to catch him performing live.

You can find James Wood on Facebook at jameswoodsongwriter and on Instagram at @james_wood_music.

Mimi Webb

One of the biggest breakout musicians from the county to keep an eye on this coming year is Mimi Webb. The singer, from Canterbury, has already racked up millions of streams with her singles House on Fire and Good Without and performed on shows such as the Tonight Show and Ellen. Her debut album, Amelia, is set to be released in March and she has already announced a huge 30-date UK and European tour for 2023. It was also recently revealed that the Kent singer has been nominated for a BRIT Award, so it looks like the only way is up for this rising popstar.

You can find Mimi Webb on Facebook and Instagram at @mimiiiwebb.

The Pastel Waves

Medway-based indie band the Pastel Waves have had a pretty impressive year. Their latest single, Still Light, saw the band release their own music video, perform at the Medway Music Festival and even get some airtime on BBC Music Introducing. They have been going full steam ahead lately and, while they are already a staple of the local music scene, it feels as though the Pastel Waves are on the cusp of something bigger.

You can find the Pastel Waves on Facebook at thepastelwaves and Instagam at @the_pastel_waves_band.

Paulus

Musical comedian Paulus, who grew up in Littlebourne, near Canterbury, has been entertaining audiences for a fair few years. Whether it’s drag and cabaret nights or being a familiar face on the judging panel of All Together Now, Paulus has been sneaking into the spotlight more and more in recent times. After a successful musical show at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival - an original tribute to the late Victoria Wood, which he also brought to the Faversham Fringe Festival - there seems to be no stopping this hilarious music man. This latest show could just be the one to catapult him into entertainment stardom.

You can find Paulus on Facebook and Instagram at @thecabaretgeek.