With brighter days and warmer weather, it’s time to get your music juices flowing and your foot tapping at the coast! From popular festivals to one-off concerts, the coast is alive with the sound of music and has something for every taste imaginable.
Dreamland is Partyland
Party the day and night away at Dreamland with some of the biggest names in music performing open air on the Scenic Stage or undercover in Hall by the Sea - Rudimental, Madness, Nile Rodges, Paloma Faith and Status Quo to name just a few.
Live Music at Dreamland
Big names, bigger hits
The Beatles, Status Quo and the Stereophonics have all graced the stages of Isle of Thanet venues. Discover which big act will be next to take to the stage? Not to be outdone, your foot will be tapping along to performances at small intimate venues including Tom Thumb Theatre, a converted coach house. Ramsgate's reopened Granville Theatre plays host to big name shows - The Magic of Motown, Luther Live, The Magic of the Beatles, Lost In Music and more.
A Folking Good Time
For one glorious week in August (9th - 16th), Broadstairs is filled with the sound of folk music. A huge event on the Isle’s calendar, Broadstairs Folk Week welcomes hundreds of musicians playing in beer gardens, church halls or on stage. With over 400 events crammed into one week – including concerts featuring top folk musicians; ceilidhs and dances for all ages plus; workshops for all abilities in music, song, and dance.
Headline concerts in 2024 feature Oysterband, Le Vent du Nord, Daphne’s Flight, Kathryn Tickell & the Darkening, Jim Moray, Tim Edey, Jim Causley, Richard Digance, Banter, the Monster Ceilidh Band, Alden Patterson, Jez Lowe, Hill Top Ceilidh Band, Bird in the Belly, Tarren, Harmonia, A J Clarke, Zulu Tradition, Brown Boots Boogie Band, Teilhard Frost, Wychbury, Bonfire Radicals, Good Habits, Amy Hollinrake Trio.
Bonfire Radicals. Credit Grant Harper Photography
All the Rave
Ramsgate Music Hall, an intimate venue with a 130 capacity and winner of the NME award for Best British Small Venue, has a thriving programme of artist performances from emerging to headliners. It's all about the blues in February with Broadstairs Blues Bash hosting over 100 FREE top quality acts.
Gryff Rhys at Ramsgate Music Hall. Credit Dik Ng
Countryside Stage
The grounds of Quex Park hosts an array of concerts during 2024 kicking off with Got the Love featuring the likes of 2000s acts Blue, Vengaboys and Ultrabeat. Whilst The Ibiza Orchestra sees a 26 piece orchestra perform or grab your headphones for a silent disco. The Sausage and Cider festival mixes djs, live acts and local bands, alongside some of the best tribute acts. It is also the setting for Festability, Kent’s leading accessible music festival.
Margate Mixer
Soul and Ska, the town is awash with musical offerings. Get those heels moving and the seasons a grooving with Skagate followed by the ever-popular Margate Soul Festival, now in its 22nd year. With a new Sunset stage location for 2024 and gigs across the town at spots include Olby’s Soul Cafe, the Imperial Bar, and The Sun Deck.
If that is not enough, listen out for music events popping up in hotels, pubs and places around the town. On Sunday's throughout April - September, Cliftonville's Oval Bandstand is alive with music performances.
Rock out
Enjoy a wide variety of live music performed by artists from across the UK at Rosslyn Court, this could inspire you to join one of their music workshops?
Rosslyn Court Music Workshop
Play that funky music
Get the decks spinning and post-festival party pumping after browsing the racks of Vinyl Head, not just home to a great record collection but also host to performances. Take a look through the hundreds of records at Howling Sounds, Cliffs, or head to Where Else? for grassroots music.
On the big screen
If you look closely you may just spot Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate appearing in the latest music videos. From our beaches and hotels to attractions, many have popped up on screen including for Emilie Sande, Shaun Mendes and The Libertines.
There’s plenty to inspire a visit to the FestivIsle of Thanet, and being just 75 minutes by Southeastern highspeed train from London makes for the perfect reason for a day, night or weekend visit.
