Kent’s Local & Live music festival is set to be bigger and better than ever this year.

It is being staged in Tunbridge Wells over the holiday weekend, with the town’s Calverley Gardens the setting for the main stage.

The festival, supported by kmfm, is now in its ninth year and attracts more than 20,000 people over the its four days. More than 300 bands and artists will be taking part and organiser Paul Dunton thinks it is on course to be the biggest yet.

“From a modest community event Local & Live has expanded massively to a cornerstone of the Kent musical calendar,” he said.

“This year, in order to accommodate the growing crowds, the main stage moves to the idyllic surroundings of Calverley Gardens.”

This year’s bill toppers are Freddy Green & A Few Good Folk on Saturday, August 23 and the Soundcasters on Sunday, August 24. Both will be appearing at 8.15pm.

They will be supported by a selection of the town’s finest original artists from noon onwards, including Will Joseph Cook, Goldie Reed, Intraverse, the Standard Lamps, the Reckostacks, Ricky & the Hats, the Breretons, Sean de Burca, Lee Willz and David Migden & the Twisted Roots. Joining the line-up is Paul Dunton himself, who will be on stage with his 20-piece orchestra.

Tunbridge Wells very own Mark Morriss, frontman of the Bluetones, also makes his first appearance at the festival.

The centre stage at Calverley Gardens will be supported by a sizable “fringe” programme across multiple venues, including Sankeys, the Beau Nash, the Royal Oak, the Black Dog Café, the Trading Post, No. 9 Smokehouse Bar (previously Thorins), the Grey Lady Music Lounge, the Camden Quarter and the Bedford.

Independent music venue the Forum will be hosting free entry Local & Live Electric evenings over the four days, featuring around 40 acts.

Calverley Gardens main stage

Saturday, August 23

12-12.25pm Jessica Simpson

12.30pm Chris Pope

1pm Sean de Burca

1.30pm Frances Yonge

2pm Poppy Alice

2.30pm Charley Blue

3pm Tom Haacke

3.35pm Worry Dolls

4.05pm The Ackerleys

4.35pm The Violet Jive

5.10pm The Breretons

5.45pm Creatures Of Habit

6.20pm The Paul Dunton Orchestra

7pm The Reckostacks

7.40pm Will Joseph Cook

9pm Freddy Green & A Few Good Folk

Sunday, August 24

Noon Phoebe Katis

12.30pm Ant & Fie

1pm Lily Denning

1.30pm Arcelia

2pm Mistress & The Malts

2.30pm The Good Ship Band

3pm Ricky & The Hats

3.35 The Paul Dunton Orchestra

4.05pm Matt Pound & Lt Leek

4.40pm Wheels

5.15pm Intraverse

5.50pm The Standard Lamps

6.25pm Mark Morriss

7.05pm David Migden & The Twisted Roots

7.40pm Goldie Reed

8.20pm The Soundcasters

Local & Live runs from Friday, August 22, to Monday, August 25. Free entry. Visit www.localandlive.org for more details or call 07786 547265.