Chart-toppers Billy Ocean, Peter Andre and Blue have all shared the stage at the Rochester Castle Concerts over the last weekrle Concets.

But yesterday was the turn of Medway’s young musicians to showcase their talent in the Castle Gardens.

Under Siege, a showcase for talented youngsters in Medway, has taken place at the end of the Castle Concerts since 2008.

Auditions were held at the start of June with 10 bands and 15 soloists taking part. After a lot of decision making, judges picked 11 soloists and seven bands to perform this weekend.

Some returned for a second year running, including: 15-year-old singer-songwriter Zak Warren; indie-rock band New Old World who toured across the south of England last year; Hollowbody who play electric church music; and soloist Anisha Kalsi whose influences include artists such as Ben Howard and Florence and The Machine.

Under Siege is part of Medway’s Festival of Music and gives gifted young people the chance to play for up to 4,500 people.

Its future was uncertain this year after Training Them Live, the community project that ran the gig, closed down.

But the University of Kent and MidKent College stepped in as Medway Council’s new partners.

See Friday's Medway Messenger for more photos.