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The tour

An old RAF hall became the venue for the last night of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Kent Introducing July tour.

The tour, which began in Canterbury, has also visited Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone before ending in Chatham. It features four bands playing one venue a week. Each band had the opportunity to headline one night, usually their home town.

A diverse lineup

Acts on the tour included Tom Williams and the Boat, The Sketch, Los Salvadores and Monday Street. Mike Reds from The Sketch described the choice of bands as ‘varied.’

“You’ve got us who are like modern punk rock synth type stuff, folk rock and old school punk with mandolins!�

A local music community

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Kent Introducing presenter James Bursey believes that the tour is vital to the success of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Kent Introducing, the Sunday night show he co-hosts with former Blast reporter Tom Kirkby.

“The tour is a way of getting out there in the community and getting our name out there so that people know we exist and vice versa. We’re very lucky; occasionally people in the music industry come down to watch the gigs from London.�

A downsized Tom Williams and the boat

Finding a new venue

However, members of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Kent Introducing team are all concerned that Kent lacks a substantial music venue. Tom Kirkby is convinced that there are potential buildings that could solve the issue.

“There are so many places that could potentially be places, for example the ABC cinema. [In Tunbridge Wells] It depends on if the council wants to support that.�

Mania in Maidstone

Despite the concern over a lack of places for bands to play, the recent tour has been declared a success. The penultimate gig at Maidstone’s Zebra bar welcomed over one hundred revellers and thrilled that evening’s headliners, Los Salvadores.

“The scream that went up at the end was deafening: It just makes it so worthwhile.�

How to get involved

Bands get involved in the tour by sending in their music to be considered for the Kent Introducing play list, usually by email or post. James, Tom and producer Jacob Rickard then choose who they would like on the tour.

As the internet has become a vital tool in promoting music, the show also features pages on social networking websites so that bands and listeners can easily get in touch with the show.

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Kent Introducing broadcasts every Sunday evening from 8pm. The tour takes a break during August but will return in early September.