Almost 20,000 festivalgoers are expected to descend on Maidstone’s Mote Park for an event which is a first for the town.

The Ramblin’ Man Festival, which will bring rock and country music to the town centre on Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26, will be one of the biggest events Maidstone has seen in recent years.

It will be on the same scale as the Radio One Big Weekend which brought the same number to the park in the summer of 2008.

The event, which is organised by The Rock Collective - Abbie Marshall and Gary Turner - will also see glamping in the park for the first time in its history.

Ms Marshall said: "We came to Maidstone and we thought ‘wow’ - Mote Park is a fantastic location. We never get a park like that in a town centre. We usually have a huge problem with transport, but it has amazing transport links, and people are right in the centre of things if they want to have a wander around."

She added: "The glamping is a first for us. This is a new festival in Maidstone and we don’t know how it will be received by local people but this is a long term thing for us and we very much want to work with local people on it. We have worked alongside the council with this, and they have been supportive since day one.

"Mote Park is our home now; the park is absolutely fantastic. We want to make sure local people embrace it."

Hotels in the area have sold out and tickets are selling like hot cakes.

It will bring some of the biggest names in rock and country to the town, including Scorpions, Marillion and Camel, American blues artist Seasick Steve, who already has a Kent following, heavy metal band Saxon and American rockers Blue Oyster Cult.

Other acts announced include The Temperance Movement, Blue Pills, and Jess & the Bandits. The festival will also include food stalls, a beer festival and music cinema.

It will have several stages and different areas, with two camping areas - glamping will be within the Mote Cricket Club area, while other camping will be at the Hop Farm in Paddock Wood - and will take 10 days to set up.

Ms Marshall said the first day, which starts at 11am, will be “full-on” with the second day, the Sunday, more “chilled” with more country blues acts.

The company, which is partnered with Team Rock for the event, has offered discounts for people living close by, and will make donations to national and local charities.
For tickets and more information visit http://www.ramblinmanfair.com/