Brimming with confidence after a successful summer of festivals and a well-received debut single, Standing On Giants are towering above the Kent music scene. Chris Price reports.

A cardinal sin for any headliner is to fail to get the crowd moving, but Standing On Giants are confident they are up to any bill-topping task.

The four-piece Kent indie rockers are the main act of Switch On The Music this weekend, a six-hour music festival in support of national anti-violence event Peace One Day.

Taking place at Maidstone’s Whatman Park, the idea is to give a platform to young musicians, singers and bands under the age of 21. But despite their youth, Standing On Giants are more than comfortable in their lofty position on the line-up.

“One thing we rarely fail on is getting people up on the floor dancing,” said bassist Alex Gettinby.

“Our lead singer Simon always looks like he is enjoying himself on stage and that is quite infectious. He always gets amongst the crowd.”

The band self-released their debut single, The Signs, last month and have followed it up with an EP of the same name. Produced at Alex’s home studio in March and April, it was mixed and mastered by Angus Wallace, who has worked with The Prodigy and Ian Brown. Alex had worked with Angus before, during his time with another Kent band, The Soundcasters, and had kept his contact details.

Consequently, the band’s fanbase has noticeably grown over the summer, even with frontman Simon Briley taking a three-week break in Jamaica.

“I half expect him to come back with a funny accent,” joked Alex.

The band hail from all over the county. Singer Simon, 21, is from Addington, near West Malling, while bassist Alex, 27, was born in Chatham, spent his teenage years in Dartford and now lives in Mottingham. Guitarist Antony Grant, 21, is from Kemsing, near Sevenoaks, and drummer Daryl Crowley, 21, lives in Orpington.

The Signs is the band’s second EP, having released No A Medias last summer, which can still be downloaded on iTunes. Alex also produced that EP, before he was a member of the band, being recruited as a replacement to their previous bassist nine months ago.

“We built a rapport in the couple of days they spent recording at my studio and I was looking for a new challenge myself,” said Alex.

“They knew I was a musician and asked me if I wanted to play bass. They are fun guys to hang around away from the music as well.”

Standing On Giants’ influences are wide-reaching at best. Ant is a fan of ex-Red Hot Chilli Peppers guitarist John Frusciante and Jimi Hendrix, while Darryl never stops going on about the Foo Fighters. Simon is into commercial indie like Two Door Cinema Club while Alex sights his day job as a recording engineer on classical record label Meridian as a big influence.

They have been in sessions for kmfm with DJ Adam Dowling, who had them on his Lazy Sunday Afternoon earlier this year to promote their single.

“I absolutely love Standing On Giants,” said Adam. “They are a really energetic and passionate band, and I know they’ll do really well.”

Standing On Giants headline Switch on the Music at Maidstone’s Whatman Park on Saturday, September 10. They are on at 5.40pm. Admission free. Call 01622 602157.