It's been a long build-up, but Gary Seager and his band Bad Pennies have just released their debut album, Songs from the Medway Delta - 18 years after they first formed.

The unsigned band, originally formed in Medway, and are hardworking chaps, gigging across the county most weekends.

They started writing in 2016, and released their first EP, Turned Up Again, which debuted at No.22 in the IBBA UK Blues chart.

Songs from the Medway Delta, recorded at Ranscombe Studios in Rochester, sees them at a peak in their music career, a high of which was kicking off this year's Broadstairs Blues Bash.

But they have their sights set even higher. Guitarist Gary, from Rainham, said: "This is a great little blues festival organised by Nigel Feist in Broadstairs and we had the pleasure of playing to a packed house full of blues fans - the response to our set was amazing.

"I formed the band around 18 years ago. I’d moved to Medway then got together with other musicians I met at the local jam night at the Three Mariners in Lower Rainham Road. We were all Medway-based then and started gigging around the local pubs playing blues rock covers."

The line-up has changed over the years and is now Gary, singer Adam Stocker from Sevenoaks, bassist Gavin Matthews from Dartford and Dave "Two Jackets" a drummer from Aylesford, who have been playing together for two years.

Their new album has 14 original songs covering a range of styles from Texas shuffles to hi-octane blues rock, New Orleans and Delta Blues, and is a collection of tales recounting some of the trials and tribulations encountered in and around the area.

And where do they have their sights set next?

It's the Blues Stage at the Ramblin' Man Fair in Mote Park, Maidstone. "In front of a crowd full of music fans at a festival is one of the best places to be," said Gary.

DATES

The band have dates across the county from West Malling to Faversham and Sittingbourne to Ramsgate throughout the year. They play the Priory Hotel, Dover, on Friday, March 23.

For more dates visit badpennies.co.uk