Next summer's music festival Ramblin' Man Fair will feature a three-day residency by American band Clutch when it returns for a fifth year in 2020.

It is the first time the festival in Maidstone has hosted a residency stretching across the three days of the event, which next year is from Friday, July 17 to Sunday, July 19.

They will start by headlining the main stage on the Friday with Who Wants To Rock; play a semi acoustic set, An Afternoon At The Doom Saloon, on the Saturday, also on the main stage, and close with a Blues Stage headline jam, Sound Attack! featuring special guests.

The residency concept may be extended for 2020 with other acts to be announced.

Formed in 1991, Clutch have released 12 studio albums featuring songs such as Hot Bottom Feeder, The Regulator, Electric Worry and The Mob Goes Wild. Their appearance at Ramblin' Man Fair will be a UK festival exclusive.

"We are very flattered to have been asked to do three sets at Ramblin’ Man 2020," said lead singer Neil Fallon. "We plan to make each set as distinct as possible. The first set, on Friday, will be the barn burner, Saturday will be more of a semi-acoustic set, and for Sunday we plan to invite many friends to jam out to the end. Then, we will sleep."

Chris Ingham of festival organisers Spirit of Rock said: “Ramblin Man Fair is committed to developing the festival headliners of tomorrow and, wherever we can to, innovate the established format of the rock festival. It’s wonderful then that we can kill two birds with one stone and announce Clutch - the band of the moment in rock terms - and our residency concept together.

"Three sets in three musical styles on three stages over three days - what better way is there for both Clutch and Ramblin Man Fair to lay out their collective visions?”

Acts joining the line-up include Nashville-based A Thousand Horses, who play the Outlaw Stage on the Saturday, who have a new single, Livin’ My Best Life, out and a third studio album due in the spring.

Tom Kiefer’s Cinderella, who play the main stage on the Saturday, were one of the defining American rock acts of the 1980s, selling more than 15 million albums worldwide with hits from Don’t You Know What You Got (Til It’s Gone) to Gipsy Road.

UK five piece The Quireboys, who have toured with Guns 'N' Roses and The Rolling Stones, play the main stage on the Sunday.

To book tickets for the festival, go to ramblinmanfair.com

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