Maidstone has a strong tradition of local radio and a thriving live music scene. Read on to find out what makes Maidstone such a great destination for music fans…
Music in Maidstone
Radio stations in Maidstone thrive simply because the locals love their music so much. There is a lively and eclectic music scene, so if you’re vising for the weekend you’re bound to find a gig that’s up your street. Some of the highlights include:
- The Maidstone Choral Union and the Maidstone Wind Symphony, which team up to perform classical musical concerts – often in an atmospheric locations like the All Saints Church.
- The popular Hazlitt Theatre often features lives bands from the town as well as touring bands.
- The Pizza Express Music Room is where to catch a jazz or soul musician, tap your toes to a swing band or catch a cabaret perforce.
- The Maidstone Fringe Festival is a five day music festival and one of the highlights in Maidstone’s calendar. This year’s event welcomes over 100 bands to Maidstone, who will play from 2-6 May. The whole town takes on a festival atmosphere, so it’s a great time to visit.
Maidstone Museum, Kent, England
Visiting Maidstone
There are lots of very reasonably priced hotels in the area, including the new Maidstone Premier Inn, near the famous Maidstone Studios and the town’s best sights. It’s easy to get to as well: you can drive there – Maidstone is just 40 miles from London – or hop on a train, getting off at either the Maidstone West or Maidstone East railway station.
Maidstone Studios
Maidstone is home to Maidstone Studios – the UK’s largest independent TV studio facilities. The site is used by major bands to film music videos and was borrowed by Radio 1 during their One Big Weekend extravaganza.
Hospital Radio Maidstone
Hospital Radio Maidstone is something of a local treasure. It began life in 1963, when music fan Graham Norton decided to play a few records to the patients. It went down so well that he started to accept requests which he played back-to-back.
The hospital channel has grown into a modern, professional radio station which attracts regular studio guests and covers local issues and news.
The station is often involved with the Maidstone River Festival, which showcases some of Kent’s most exciting up-and-coming bands. And to raise even more money for the hospital, it has a Mobile Disco which can tour the area, taking the station’s top DJs and sound systems around Kent.
KMFM Maidstone
This is the local station for Maidstone and the surrounding areas, and broadcasts from the studios of its sister radio station; KMFM Medwey.
Originally the public service broadcasting arm of Maidstone Hospital Radio, it has gone through various reincarnations and rebrands, and was sold to the KM Group in 2006. It has started to feature more and more music over the years, and is now primarily a music station playing a combination of top 40 hits, dance music and R&B.
Fact: the first ever song to play on KMFM radio was ‘Start Me Up’ by the Rolling Stones.
