Maidstone's popular Fringe Festival is set to return for an eighth year this May bank holiday weekend.

The music festival, which takes place in venues across the County Town each year, will be held from Thursday, May 3 to Bank Holiday Monday, May 7.

Celebrating the diversity of new and original music in Kent and the South East, it will feature live acts from across a range of different genres from rock, indie and pop-punk, through to acoustic and blues acts, ska, contemporary folk, funk, soul, dance and hip-hop.

Incorporated within the festival are also a number of all-day events and family-friendly entertainment in cafes and coffee shops in the town centre.

Some 18 artists are confirmed to play so far, including David Migden & The Twisted Roots, Hullabaloo, Funke & The 2 Tone Baby, We Are Bandicoot, No Limits Street Band, TV Smith, Native Oyster Band, Upcdownc, and The Mofos.

Venues confirmed so far are: The Style & Winch, 4 Degrees, The Druids Arms, The Flowerpot, Café Bruges, The Stag, Drakes, The White Horse, The Cellars, Pizza Express Live, The Royal Albion, Frederics, The Duke Of Marlborough and The Social Chill Bar and The Bierkeller, which was not open for last year's event.

Clive Emson Auctioneers are the main sponsors with One Maidstone continuing to support the event.

Details of more acts and venues will be announced in the coming weeks. The festival website can be found at maidstonefringe.com