Maid of Stone Festival @ Mote Park, Maidstone 19th July 2026
Welcome to the third and final day of Maid of Stone Festival.
The sun was out in full force and seemingly on a personal mission to leave everyone’s hairline looking like it had been through a toaster. Rock ’n’ roll is one thing, but sunburn is a whole different headline.
Sunday got off to a flying start with Velvet Rush taking centre stage on the Inferno Stage. Frontwoman Sandra Lian kicked off the day with all the swagger, attitude and energy of classic ’70s rock ’n’ roll, delivering a performance that left you wanting more.
The Firestarter Stage continued its phenomenal run of artists throughout the day. Special mentions have to go to Aethoria and Chez Kane, who absolutely tore the stage apart. The ladies certainly made sure the final day finished on a high.
For me, though, Anchor Lane were the standout performers, not just on the Firestarter Stage, but of the entire weekend. The three-piece from Scotland delivered a set packed with energy, hooks and nostalgia.
It genuinely transported me back to being 16 again. It was that feeling of hearing Green Day or Foo Fighters for the very first time, when something just clicks and you know you’ve found a band you’ll be following for years. Safe to say they’ve gained a very loyal fan from Kent.
Over on the main stage, Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts were another highlight. Channelling hints of Cheap Trick while still carving out their own identity, they had the crowd eating out of the palms of their hands.
A special mention has to go to their new drummer, who unintentionally became part of one of my favourite backstage moments of the weekend. While borrowing a bit of electricity to charge his phone in the press tent, he entertained us with stories from his pre-rock-star life, including the fact that he used to be Dakota Johnson’s dog walker.
Not everyone’s CV includes “future rock drummer and celebrity dog walker”, but here we are. Thanks for the laughs about your moustache, and for being humble enough to sit on the press tent floor because there weren’t enough chairs. Chris… maybe invest in a few more next year?
Hannah Wicklund absolutely wowed the crowd, not only with a stunning stage outfit but by bringing Erin Clare out on electric flute – a sentence I never expected to write, but one I’m very glad I did. It added a unique dimension to her already electrifying blues-rock performance.
The Wildhearts also put on a fantastic show. Considering everything Ginger Wildheart has been dealing with recently, he absolutely gave it everything and proved exactly why the band continue to command such loyal support. Although, if we’re being honest, backstage his beloved Border Collie, Maggie, was stealing just as much attention as anyone on stage.
Now… this is where my unpopular opinion comes in.
The Almighty just didn’t do it for me. In fact, I couldn’t shake the feeling that some of the older bands across the weekend may need to consider hanging up the banners. Maid of Stone absolutely excels when it comes to showcasing fresh talent, particularly on the Firestarter Stage, where every band seemed to bring something different and exciting. By comparison, parts of the main-stage line-up simply lacked that spark.
I missed Uriah Heep, so I can’t fairly comment on their performance. The jury’s still out on whether they can prove me wrong.
One thing that can’t be questioned is Chris Wright’s ability to put on a festival. Maid of Stone continues to grow, the organisation is excellent, and the atmosphere is exactly what you want from a rock festival. Massive thanks go to Chris and everyone involved.
That said… a few extra drinks and a few more chairs in the press and photographers’ tent wouldn’t go amiss. My back would certainly appreciate it.
A quick shout-out also goes to The Trailing Bean, whose iced coffees kept photographers, bands and festival-goers alive all weekend. They always seemed to have a queue, so perhaps another coffee vendor or two next year wouldn’t be the worst idea.
Facilities across the site were excellent. There were plenty of toilets; they stayed impressively clean throughout the weekend, and the food selection was as good as ever. A special mention has to go to Bollywood Box, serving up some of the best curry and samosas you’ll find at any festival.
Maid of Stone continues to prove why it’s becoming one of the UK’s best independent rock festivals. It champions established names while giving tomorrow’s bands a stage on which to shine – and, for me, those newer bands stole the weekend.
I’ll definitely be back.
Watch this space.
WORDS: JESS BEA PHOTOS: ROBERT SUTTON
FULL SUNDAY GALLERY
