A new music and beer festival is set to be staged this weekend after festival organisers and a CAMRA award winning pub joined forces.

The Medway Music and Beer Festival will be at the historic Royal Function Rooms in Rochester, thanks to Make Some Noise, the venue and the people behind the Flower Pot Pub in Sandling Road, Maidstone.

The event will run over two floors and feature Kent-based acts.

They include a rare hometown headline gig on Friday, October 11 by Wild Billy Childish & CTMF, with support from The Shadracks.

Wild Billy Childish & CTMF are fresh from the release of their sixth album in seven years, Last Punk Standing, which has 14 new tracks.

William Charlie Hamper, aka Billy Childish, has recorded more than 125 LPs during his 37-year career and is also a painter, writer and poet.

Childish’s bands have been championed by a succession of fashionable artists including the likes of Kurt Cobain, Beck, Jack White, who appeared on Top Of The Pops with Billy’s name scrawled on his forearm in homage, and even Kylie Minogue who named an LP after one of Billy’s poetry collections.

Other acts include The Gordons, White Heat and the Grand Merci.

On Saturday, October 12 Medway legends Graham Day & The Forefathers headline with acts on the bill including Upcdownc, Maidstone-based The Gallerys, the Galileo 7 and Tres Kings, with music from 2pm, and running until midnight.

Other acts during the day include Holly Henderson, Oskar Vilcrow and Richie Brake.

On the final day, Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer brings his chap hop genre to the stage with support from The Petty Thieves, Muto and Medway band The Ovines.

Also appearing on the day will be Crybaby Special, the Flat Earth Society, Hot Choux, These Guilty Men, Luna Lacuna and singer and guitarist Chris Hunter.

DETAILS

The Medway Music & Beer Festival will be held at the Royal Function Rooms, Star Hill, Rochester, from Friday, October 11 to Sunday, October 13. More details at medwaymusicfestival.co.uk

Tickets for Friday’s gig cost £20 plus a booking fee, while Saturday’s are £10 plus a booking fee and Sunday’s are £8.

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