Clear Skies Bring Out The Stars For Local & Live Music Festival 2025
Thousands of music fans flocked into the centre of Tunbridge Wells over the August Bank Holiday weekend for four days of the best local talent the town has to offer.
Centred on Calverley Grounds, the annual festival fired up on Friday evening with a set by Americana-style solo singer, songwriter Scarlet Rosetta. From there the excitement ramped up to a crescendo of lights and action under the town’s darkening skies.
Local & Live is celebrating 20 summers of free music in the town and has grown to become Tunbridge Wells’ biggest annual free event. It was founded by local impresario Paul Dunton who reflected that: "I never imagined it becoming so big or so popular. When we began with a few acts on the Pantiles bandstand, it was just a collection of friends trying to share their music with the town."
The organisers are dedicated to keeping the event free thanks to the support of the town’s local businesses, like headline sponsor Maxipay Accounting Services, who help fund the hefty cost of staging the event. In return, Local & Live stimulates activity in the town centre at a time of the year when the holidays would otherwise make things quiet for its shops.
The whole weekend was graced with perfect weather that drew all generations to the park for the picnic atmosphere that has come to define the festival during the day. Then, once again as the light faded, enthusiastic festival-goers packed in front of the stage for the program culminating with local legends The Varlies on Saturday and rising young stars The Polygons on Sunday.
Sticking with the ‘Local’ theme, the food village in the park was populated by some of the best food and drink suppliers in the area. In essence, Local & Live is the town’s very own music festival in miniature with no need to leave the event except to sleep. "This year I met festival goers who had come from far beyond Tunbridge Wells to be at the festival," says Dunton. "Some as far as the Midlands."
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Come Monday it took a different approach as it dispersed for it’s own fringe day, taking up residence in The Sussex Mews, The Forum, The Trinity Theatre gardens and Sankey’s restaurant. Fans were spoiled for choice with a constant stream of artists playing live at free access venues.
"I know it sounds like I’m repeating, myself," said Dunton after the event, "but this really feels like it was the best yet."
• To find out more about Local and Live, click here.
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