Almost 20,000 rock fans will descend on Maidstone for the second this weekend. The two-day event brings rock and country music to the County Town on a massive scale.

With four stages belting out music every day and a line up that features the likes of Whitesnake, Procol Harum, Thunder and Europe, Ramblin’ Man is one of the biggest festivals around.

This year it is under the ownership of new music event company Spirit of Rock, a division of RFS Entertainment.

Director Chris Ingham said: “It’s time to create a music festival that appeals as much to the foodie as it does the rock music fan in us all. Let’s have classic rock, southern rock, prog, blues and country music stages alongside great outdoor barbecue food, fine bourbon whiskies and barrels of real ale in the heart of Maidstone’s beautiful Mote Park.”

The event will see Thin Lizzy will play their only UK show of the year.

The Irish rockers appear on Saturday when they will join by headliners Whitesnake plus Hawkwind, Uriah Heap and Procol Harum.

It will be a rare chance to see the band, whose hits include The Boys Are Back In Town, Jailbreak and Don’t Believe A Word, as they play a select few dates to mark the 40th anniversary of their Jailbreak album and the 30th anniversary of the death of singer Phil Lynott.

The Thin Lizzy line-up of singer Ricky Warwick, guitarists Scott Gorham and Damon Johnson, and Darren Wharton on keyboards, will be completed with Judas Priest drummer Scott Travis and Aerosmith guitarist Tom Hamilton.

Scott Travis said: “Thin Lizzy are undisputed legends and to be a small part of their lineage is a humble honour for me. It’s going to be a blast.”

'Phil Lynott’s legacy lives on, and celebrating that legacy is what is in store at Ramblin’ Man'

Scott Gorham added: “We will only do half a dozen or so dates to keep them special. Phil Lynott’s legacy lives on, and celebrating that legacy is what is in store at Ramblin’ Man.”

A founding member of Aerosmith and co-writer of songs such as Sweet Emotion and Janie’s Got A Gun, Tom said: “I’m really psyched to be playing these shows with Thin Lizzy during my downtime with Aerosmith this summer. It’ll be great to rock out to their classic songs on stage.”

Prog rock band Family and rock rebels Whiskey Myers will also play on the Saturday.
Family emerged from the hippie era, and were a firm fixture at festivals and in the charts in the 1960s and 1970s.

The line-up includes guitarist John “Charlie” Whitney and the raspy vocals of Roger Chapman, while Whiskey Myers sing what some describe as rebel music.

Headliners on the Sunday will be Black Stone Cherry. Since releasing their self-titled debut album in 2006, the four-piece from Kentucky have become arena-fillers.

Drummer John Fred Young is the son of Richard Young, founder member of cult southern rockers the Kentucky Headhunters and their songs include White Trash Millionaire and Blame It On The Boom Boom.

John Fred said: “We feel a connection to British audiences. Each time we go back, we keep doing bigger and bigger places. It’s nuts for four dudes from Kentucky to be able to do this.”

DETAILS

The Ramblin’ Man Fair is in Mote Park, Maidstone, on Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24. Glamping and camping are both available.

For tickets and further details visit ramblinmanfair.com