A music festival which would have been celebrating its 10th anniversary this weekend is set to continue despite lockdown, by going virtual.

The Maidstone Fringe Festival would have been held in pubs, clubs and restaurants, as well as al fresco in Jubilee Square, this week and over the bank holiday weekend, but with lockdown restrictions in place it had to be called off.

But in its place will be the Virtual Maidstone Fringe Festival, running from tomorrow until Sunday, May 3, by organisers Makes Some Noise, with many of the acts which would have played ether staging live streams or specially pre-recorded performances.

Organiser Clive Austen said there had been getting requests for virtual performances and online content. "In response, a number of artists have agreed to do live Facebook streams during the period the weekend the festival would have physically taken place."

Links to all of the live streams will be on the website maidstonefringe.com.

They include on Friday, May 1, pre-recorded performances by headliner Will Varley; Oskar Vilcrow and William Harper, with live shows from Sophie Harmsworth at 6pm; King Size Slim at 7pm; Lew Lewis at 8pm and David James Rumsey at 9pm.

On Saturday, May 2, Upcdownc will give a pre-recorded show, while live streams come from Daniel Keane at 3pm; George Hutton at 4pm; Pip Bowers at 6pm; Natalie Bouloudis at 7pm and Mikey Price at 8pm.

And on Sunday, May 3, Nina Clark will give a live stream at 3pm, followed by a pre-recorded slot from Dead Kites at 4pm and Ian Ingles live at 5pm.

Make Some Noise is also launching the first of what is hoped to be a monthly outing on new Maidstone Radio Station wearemaidstone.com, with a pilot programme tonight at 9pm, hosted by festival organiser Clive, with tracks from artists who were due to play the event including Rare Devices, Karobela, Funke And The Two Tone Baby, The Ovines and David Migden & The Twisted Roots.

There are also plans to feature profiles of artists that Make Some Noise have been working with on maidstonefringemagazine.co.uk which will include listings for live music in Maidstone.

For more music news across Kent during lockdown click here.