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Music in Kent Band Montage A thick green slab in the shape of Kent whaps onto your screen with enough force to shudder your monitor when you log onto Music In Kent, a living and breathing database perhaps unequaled by any other county (no doubt someone else will let us know if that is not the case).

Southlife spoke to Ron Cass, bass player with Joking Apart who became the third man in a partnership that had begun two years ago when Jan Smurthwaite and John “Shaggy” Simpson, vocalist and drummer respectively of The Houseplants, began their chosen task.

The site, which celebrated its third birthday in January, currently features information on 80-100 bands (no MP-3s but that is coming) and some 22,500 gigs in Kent and neighbouring areas. They are registering 30-35,000 page hits a month. The team, based in Maidstone, are also working together with David Langton, the local representative of the Performing Rights Society to produce an A-Z guide of music venues and promoters, which will be available free. If successful, the idea could roll out around the country.

Ron says of their band list: “We’ve got a fair amount of rock bands, some heavier than others, some doing their own material, mostly doing covers. We’ve got a few orchestral and brass bands and a couple of punk and tribute bands.” The site is spreading by word of mouth, forums are developing and bands and businesses get a free listing. The Bottleneck Blues Club, with premises in Rochester and Maidstone, regularly features major bands from the US and UK and sells tickets for both venue through the website.

Ron says karaoke and tribute bands are making a comeback as venues see them as a safe bet. But Music In Kent are keen to keep it live and original and hope soon to promote their own gigs. “MIK want to keep building, adding features and functionality. The more we can offer to bands the better.”

John May

Images from Top: In-diference, Sweet FA, The Royal Family, Lee of Sam Eagle & the Eagletts, Bliss.


A thick green slab in the shape of Kent whaps onto your screen with enough force to shudder your monitor when you log onto Music In Kent, a living and breathing database perhaps unequaled by any other county (no doubt someone else will let us know if that is not the case). Southlife spoke to Ron Cass, bass player with Joking Apart who became the third man in a partnership that had begun two years ago when Jan Smurthwaite and John “Shaggy” Simpson, vocalist and drummer respectively of The Houseplants, began their chosen task. The site, which celebrated its third birthday in January, currently features information on 80-100 bands (no MP-3s but that is coming) and some 22,500 gigs in Kent and neighbouring areas. They are registering 30-35,000 page hits a month. The team, based in Maidstone, are also working together with David Langton, the local representative of the Performing Rights Society to produce an A-Z guide of music venues and promoters, which will be available free. If successful, the idea could roll out around the country. Ron says of their band list: “We’ve got a fair amount of rock bands, some heavier than others, some doing their own material, mostly doing covers. We’ve got a few orchestral and brass bands and a couple of punk and tribute bands.” The site is spreading by word of mouth, forums are developing and bands and businesses get a free listing. The Bottleneck Blues Club, with premises in Rochester and Maidstone, regularly features major bands from the US and UK and sells tickets for both venue through the website. Ron says karaoke and tribute bands are making a comeback as venues see them as a safe bet. But Music In Kent are keen to keep it live and original and hope soon to promote their own gigs. “MIK want to keep building, adding features and functionality. The more we can offer to bands the better.” John May Images from Top: In-diference, Sweet FA, The Royal Family, Lee of Sam Eagle & the Eagletts, Bliss.