KENT BLUES & ROCK FESTIVAL

KENT BLUES & ROCK FESTIVAL
BOURNEFEST 2025 !!!!!

We are massively excited to announce the lineup for KENT BLUES & ROCK FESTIVAL 2025 will consist of 6 exciting bands.

Here are the expected timings :

Ally Venable Band 9pm to 10:30pm
Hioppies & Cowboys 7:20pm to 8:30pm
Big Wolf Band 5:50pm. to 6:50pm
The Della Grants 4:20pm. to 5:20pm
Richard Clarke Band. 2:55pm. to 3:50pm
Big River. 1:30pm to 2:25pm

Doors open 1pm

🔥 KENT BLUES & ROCK FESTIVAL (Bournefest 2025): NEW LOOK, BIGGER LINEUP, EARLIER DOORS! 🔥

Get ready, Kent! Bournefest 2025 is back with a fresh, electrifying new look, and we’re pulling out all the stops to make this the biggest and best Kent Blues & Rock Festival yet! We’re celebrating our exciting new branding by adding even MORE incredible music and opening the doors earlier at 1:00 PM!

Join us at The Appleyard (The Bourne Music Club) in Sittingbourne on Saturday, October 18th, 2025, for a full day of non-stop, top-tier blues, rock, and roots music!

We’re thrilled to confirm a phenomenal lineup of 6 awesome, quality bands – all for one amazing ticket price! You asked for more, and we delivered!

Here’s your full, powerhouse lineup for KENT BLUES & ROCK FESTIVAL 2025:

ALLY VENABLE BAND (USA):

Headlining all the way from Texas, the critically acclaimed blues-rock guitar phenomenon and vocalist will ignite the stage with her dynamic presence.

HIPPIES & COWBOYS (USA):

From Nashville, prepare for their unique blend of raw rock ‘n’ soul, masterfully fusing Southern rock, blues, and classic rock influences into an unforgettable sound.

BIG WOLF BAND (UK):

This explosive, dynamic, and raw blues-rock machine from Birmingham is a consistent favourite, recently lauded as a Top 5 UK Blues Band – expect pure energy!

THE DELLA GRANTS (UK):

Delivering spectacular, guitar-based Blues/Rock, their tight performances and compelling songwriting always earn rave reviews and captivate audiences.

RICHARD CLARKE BAND (UK):

Bringing their signature blend of blues, R&B, soul, and pop, the Richard Clarke Band adds a rich, versatile layer to the festival’s diverse soundscape.

PLUS: KENT’S OWN BIG RIVER! Your new favourite ’70s-inspired blues-rock powerhouse, guaranteeing big riffs and soulful grooves to kick off the day.

Held indoors at The Appleyard. Bournefest promises an electric atmosphere with top-tier sound production, delicious food, and refreshing drinks available throughout the day. It’s the perfect setting to immerse yourself in world-class Blues, Rock & Roots, surrounded by fellow enthusiasts.

This is your chance to be part of Sittingbourne’s premier music event, experiencing the very best in live music from both established international acts and phenomenal UK talent

Don’t miss a single minute of the action! Secure your tickets now and get ready for an unforgettable day of pure musical passion!

Texas blues-rock singer/songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire, Ally Venable, entertains wherever she goes.

With her signature glitter dresses and black knee-high boots, Venable comes off of the ropes swinging dazzling crowds on tour or throughout the festival circuit.

“Venable pulls off a stunner of gritty and/or sultry blues rock tunes embellished with lots of tasty guitar solos.” – Guitar Player Magazine.

A Kilgore, Texas native, Ally began singing at church at four and picked up the guitar at age 12. By 13, she started her own band and through her early influence of Stevie Ray Vaughan captured the passion and yearning for more in the blues genre.

Early releases No Glass Shoes (2016) and Puppet Show (2018) started her fanbase, charting radio play, and several East Texas Music Awards. It was 2019’s #2 Billboard Blues charting Texas Honey and rocking sets on Ruf’s European Blues Caravan tour that propelled her internationally.

“Ally is the future of blues and the crossover music of American roots-rock.” – Mike Zito.

In what silenced many musicians during the pandemic, Venable now in her 20’s, released another Blues Billboard charting album, Heart of Fire (2021), which challenged her to write not only about love but the unguarded honesty of feeling pain.”On this album,I really wanted to create a tone of overcoming your struggles and persevering through them,” she explains. Mentor and featured artist on this album, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, lends his guitar skills on XM Bluesville’s charted song, “Bring on the Pain.”

In 2022, Guitar World Magazine named Ally #2 on the top 15 Young Guns Making the Gibson Les Paul Cool Again, and she received the Road Warrior award from the Independent Blues Music Awards. Along with Ally’s own tour domestically and in Europe, her band has supported Buddy Guy and Kenny Wayne Shepherd throughout the US, as well as Colin James in Canada. She has performed as a featured artist on the Experience Hendrix Show at the ACL Live at Moody Theater in Austin, Texas. Venable’s recent spring 2023 release produced by Grammy award winning producer, Tom Hambridge, includes a duet with the iconic Buddy Guy and a song featuring powerhouse guitarist Joe Bonamassa debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Charts & has remained in the top 100 since the release date.

Hippies And Cowboys are a powerhouse rock ’n soul band hailing from Nashville, TN, bringing back the grit, groove, and raw energy of classic Southern rock with a modern twist. Their electrifying blend of blues, soul, and rock ’n’ roll channels the timeless influences of legends like Sam & Dave, The Blues Brothers, Booker T. & The MG’s, Otis Redding, and Marvin Gaye, while embracing the stadium-sized swagger of Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, and Tom Petty.

From their early recordings in the legendary studios — such as FAME in Muscle Shoals, East Avalon, and Noise Block—to their explosive live performances, Hippies And Cowboys have quickly become one of the most talked-about rising acts in the Southern rock revival. Their debut album, Live at Fox and Locke (2023), captured the raw energy of their live show, earning critical acclaim and setting the stage for their breakout. The follow-up EP, Fork in the Road, solidified their reputation with a gritty, hard-hitting collection of songs that showcase their deep Southern roots and undeniable musicianship. Hippies and Cowboys has also been the house band at Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk on Broadway in downtown Nashville for numerous years which has allowed them an extensive repertoire of songs and abilities.

Hippies And Cowboys have taken their high-energy show across the country, playing at major festivals like Pilgrimage Festival and Bristol Rhythm & Roots Revival. They’ve shared the stage with rock and country royalty, opening for acts like Goo Goo Dolls, Blackberry Smoke, Atlanta Rhythm Section, and even Bon Jovi at the grand opening of his Nashville bar. Their relentless touring schedule and electrifying performances have built them a loyal following, earning them a reputation as one of the most exciting live bands on the circuit. In 2025, they are slated to perform at Chinook Festival, Pilgimage Festival, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Revival, WEFest, and much more with plans to tour Europe in October 2025.Their rise hasn’t gone unnoticed—Hippies And Cowboys have been featured in Rolling Stone, People Magazine, and Paste Magazine, solidifying their place as a band to watch in the evolving Southern rock landscape. As they continue to carve their own path, Hippies And Cowboys are proving that the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll is alive and well, and they’re here to take it to the next level.

Formed in Birmingham in 2014, by acclaimed guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Jonathan Earp and bass player Mick Jeynes, explosive, dynamic, raw, emotional, and hardworking are just some of the words used to describe the Big Wolf Band. With Tim Jones on drums, Justin Johnson on guitar and Robin Fox on keys they form one formidable blues rock machine.

Big Wolf Band are on the rise making the Top 5 of the best blues bands in the UK via the UK Blues Awards in 2023 and 2024, receiving multiple nominations in various categories. Big Wolf Band have cemented there place as one of the best live bands on the scene.

Big Wolf Band have garnered airplay from Paul Jones on his Radio 2 show, Planet Rock, HRH radio, FM radio across Europe, Australia and the USA and a wide range of international podcasts and internet radio stations. They have also had some amazing reviews of their albums across the globe.

Big Wolf Band started their biggest headline tour in 2024 extensively touring the UK and Europe. “Rebel’s Journey” the third Big Wolf Band studio album was released worldwide on 19th April 2024 to much acclaim with multiple reviews to back this up and the album itself reached Number 1 in the Amazon Best Selling Blues Chart, Amazon Hot New Releases and most recently Number 1 in the IBBA chart for May 2024. Several tracks being added to Joe Bonamassa’s Spotify Playlist “Cutting Edge Blues” and “Ultimate Blues Rock.” They are still touring extensively across the UK.

UK Blues Band of the Year Finalist 2024

UK Blues Band of the Year Finalist 2023

UK Blues Challenge Finalist 2022

Multiple Award Nominees in 2023 and 2024 UK Blues Federation Blues Awards

The Della Grants are an English band whose self-penned songs seamlessly bridge the gaps between Blues, Rock, and Americana. Since their inception in 2014 The DGs have made a name for themselves among industry professionals and fellow musicians alike; for their song writing ability and on-stage performances.

Richard Clarke Band:

“The guitar spoke to me, and I was hooked from the moment I picked it up.

”Richard Clarke is a London-based blues artist, known for his intricate guitar work and stirring vocals, with nearly two decades of experience performing across Europe.He began playing professionally at the age of 15, cutting his teeth in local venues on the outskirts of London. His talent soon gained recognition in the UK blues scene, earning nominations for UK Blues Male Vocalist and Guitarist of the Year in 2013.

Over the next decade, he continued to refine his craft, taking his infectious personality and energetic performances across Europe, including a prestigious show for royalty in the UAE. Most recently, he toured Central Europe as a founding memberof Connolly Hayes, a UK Blues Emerging Act of the Year 2024 nominee before leaving the band in October 2024 to pursue a solo career.

Influenced by blues legends John Mayer, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and BB King, Richard delivers a signature blend of blues, R&B, soul, and pop.

His live performances combine melodic guitar work with infectious grooves, wooing audiences across intimate venues and major festivals.

2025 sees Richard step forward as a solo artist with four original tracks produced by Adrian Hall.

The new EP showcases his musical range, opening with the upbeat “Good Thing” before easing into a soulful re-release of “Sleeping Easy.” The heartfelt “Don’t Know Where I Went Wrong” strips everything back, before the funk-infused “Something’s Going On” rounds off the collection.

Backed by an accomplished lineup featuring bassist Sonny Winslow (Connor Selby), drummer Jonny Brister (Jake Shears), and Paul Jordanous (Rag ‘n’ Bone Man) on keys and trumpet, Richard is excited to bring his new materialto the UK and European stages in the year ahead.

BIG RIVER

This powerhouse trio prides itself on delivering a compelling blend of blues and rock energy, infused with the raw, authentic spirit of their Kentish roots. Known for their dynamic live performances and soulful, high-energy sound, Big River brings a fresh yet timeless approach to the genre. Expect driving rhythms, captivating guitar work, and powerful vocals that resonate with every listener.

Whether they’re tearing up a festival stage or igniting an intimate club, Big River Band guarantees a memorable and electrifying experience. Don’t miss your chance to see Kent’s Big River Band live – they’re a force to be reckoned with!