How to book live music
Fees from real GX Index bookings, the acts you can book and the licence rules for a Maidstone venue, 1 Maidstone acts to hear and 10 Maidstone venues listed, all in one guide.
Updated 15 November 2026
Booking live music in Maidstone costs about £1,202 for a 3–4 piece wedding band and £325 for a solo act in a pub or bar - the South East medians from 58 and 33 fees on the GX Index. Book 2-4 weeks ahead for a regular night in Maidstone, while tribute shows, Kent weddings and anything in December go 8-12 weeks out. In a venue licensed for alcohol and open for sales, live music to 500 people or fewer between 8am and 11pm needs no extra licence - you still need TheMusicLicence.
| What it costs · £1,202 3–4 piece wedding bandSouth East median · 58 fees |
| When to book · 2-4 weeks aheadBook 2-4 weeks ahead for a regular night in Maidstone, while tribute shows, Kent weddings and anything in December go 8-12 weeks out |
| Licensing · 500 people or fewer8am-11pm, alcohol-licensed and open: no extra licence |
| Venues listed · 10 Maidstone venues1 acts with a profile |
1 Maidstone acts have a GigXchange profile and 10 Maidstone venues are listed - browse the acts, then see who already books live music here.
Each figure is the act's own - message them for a quote for your date.
What acts in and around Maidstone are paid, act type by act type - each bar is a live median with its fee count and the middle 50% of fees, from the South East region where it has 20+ fees, otherwise UK-wide.
| Pub or bar · solo actmiddle 50% £200–£330 · South East · 33 fees | £325 |
| Pub or bar · duomiddle 50% £300–£500 · South East · 23 fees | £300 |
| Pub or bar · 3–4 piecemiddle 50% £120–£550 · South East · 76 fees | £250 |
| Pub or bar · 5+ piecemiddle 50% £360–£525 · South East · 69 fees | £425 |
| Private party · 3–4 piecemiddle 50% £583–£1,463 · UK · 540 fees | £915 |
| Corporate · solomiddle 50% £281–£474 · UK · 199 fees | £388 |
| Wedding · 3–4 piecemiddle 50% £962–£1,442 · South East · 58 fees | £1,202 |
| Wedding · 5+ piecemiddle 50% £1,696–£2,250 · South East · 27 fees | £2,206 |
Check any Maidstone quote against what bookers paid, what acts list and the Musicians' Union minimum.
| Solo act, pub or barPaid £325 middle 50% £200–£330 · South East, 33 fees Acts list £150–£500 172 acts · solo acts MU minimum – the MU publishes no solo rate |
| Duo, pub or barPaid £300 middle 50% £300–£500 · South East, 23 fees Acts list – no duo hire page yet MU minimum £334+ 2 × £167.16, pub or club, up to 3 hours |
| 3–4 piece band, pub or barPaid £250 middle 50% £120–£550 · South East, 76 fees Acts list not yet published covers bands, all line-ups MU minimum £501+ 3 × £167.16, pub or club, up to 3 hours |
| 5+ piece band, pub or barPaid £425 middle 50% £360–£525 · South East, 69 fees Acts list not yet published covers bands, all line-ups MU minimum £835+ 5 × £167.16, pub or club, up to 3 hours |
| Party band, private party (3–4 piece)Paid £915 middle 50% £583–£1,463 · UK, 540 fees Acts list £300–£1,000 34 acts · party bands MU minimum £668+ 3 × £222.88, function, up to 4 hours |
| Wedding band, 3–4 piecePaid £1,202 middle 50% £962–£1,442 · South East, 58 fees Acts list £300–£1,000 28 acts · wedding bands, all line-ups MU minimum £668+ 3 × £222.88, function, up to 4 hours |
| Wedding band, 5+ piecePaid £2,206 middle 50% £1,696–£2,250 · South East, 27 fees Acts list £300–£1,000 28 acts · wedding bands, all line-ups MU minimum £1,114+ 5 × £222.88, function, up to 4 hours |
For a pub or bar gig on the GX Index, a solo act was paid a median of £325 (South East, 33 fees), and a 3–4 piece band £250 (South East, 76 fees). For a band, the Musicians' Union minimum is counted per musician: £167.16 a player for up to 3 hours, from April 2026. Live music for pubs covers the room, the PA and the licence, and how to get gigs in Maidstone shows the same fees from the act's side.
| See full Maidstone rate breakdown | |
| Submit your venue's rates |
Booking an act in Maidstone takes 6 steps, from knowing your room to agreeing the brief and the terms in writing - the timing for Maidstone is under the steps.
| Describe the room before anything else. The capacity, the stage space, the PA and where they load in are the first things an act asks about. The right act for a small bar is the wrong act for a big room. |
| Name your budget early. Check it against the three columns in the price table. On the GX Index, a solo pub act was paid a median of £325 (South East, 33 fees) and a 3–4 piece wedding band £1,202 (South East, 58 fees). Acts who fit the range reply, and the rest save you a message. |
| Check your licensing — In a venue licensed for alcohol and open for sales, live music to 500 people or fewer between 8am and 11pm needs no extra licence - you still need TheMusicLicence. The rules for Maidstone are below. |
| Book 2-4 weeks ahead in Maidstone — Book 2-4 weeks ahead for a regular night in Maidstone, while tribute shows, Kent weddings and anything in December go 8-12 weeks out |
| Hear the act first. Profiles carry audio and video, and the open mic nights in and around Maidstone are a cheap way to hear acts in a real room. |
| Put the booking in writing - the date, arrival and set times, the fee and any deposit, who brings the PA, and what happens if either side cancels. If an act drops out late, a Gig Rescue call-out invites available acts who take last-minute work. |
| When to book in MaidstoneBook 2-4 weeks ahead for a regular night in Maidstone, while tribute shows, Kent weddings and anything in December go 8-12 weeks out. Summer brings outdoor concerts to Mote Park, and wedding season from May to September takes many function bands at weekends. Open-stage nights early in the week are a quick way to meet acts with free dates. |
Choose an act for a Maidstone room on three checks - their live audio, their reviews and their tech rider - then on what already fills rooms in the city.
Audio, reviews and the tech rider - the same three, every time.
| Step 1 · Listen to Their AudioAsk for live footage, not a polished studio track: that is how they sound in your room. Every Maidstone profile shows audio, video and gear. |
| Step 2 · Read Their ReviewsLook for patterns, not one-offs: repeated late starts or no-shows are the warning sign. GigXchange reviews are two-way and follow a real booking. |
| Step 3 · Check Their Tech RiderThe rider says what kit they bring, what you supply, their arrival time and soundcheck length. A ready rider is the mark of an act that gigs. |
Not booking for a venue? A party, a wedding or a company event in Maidstone uses the same acts, but it needs a different brief and a different kind of booking: see live entertainment in Maidstone, corporate entertainment in Maidstone and wedding bands.
Maidstone is Kent's county town, and its pubs book what a mixed local crowd will stay for. The Flower Pot has rock, blues and acoustic acts - Drakes and Nellie Gerkins run open-stage nights that bring through new players - the Hazlitt Arts Centre on Earl Street sells tribute shows, pop and folk. Heavier bands tend to head for Medway. Mote Park is the outdoor stage in summer, and countryside weddings keep party bands busy.
| Rock & bluesThe Flower Pot is the regular home for rock and blues bands, a real-ale pub where the music is the point of the evening. A four-piece playing classic rock and blues standards fits, and so does a harmonica-led duo. |
| Tribute & MotownThe Hazlitt Arts Centre programmes tribute shows through the year, a sign of how well they sell locally. Pubs and clubs can reach the same audience with a Motown or soul covers act on a Saturday. |
| AcousticOpen-stage nights at Drakes and Nellie Gerkins are where local singer-songwriters play first. A venue wanting a regular acoustic night can find its opening acts there, and village pubs such as The White Horse in Bearsted suit the same players. |
| Metal & alternativeHeavier acts in this part of Kent look to Medway, where the Casino Rooms in Rochester puts on rock and metal bills. A Maidstone venue booking the genre is offering something the county town mostly lacks. |
In a venue licensed for alcohol and open for sales, live music to 500 people or fewer between 8am and 11pm needs no extra licence - you still need TheMusicLicence. Maidstone Borough Council has the final word on your premises licence. Below: the licences, then what changes in 2027.
Licensing is local - your council has the final word on your premises licence and any event notice.
| England and WalesLive music in a licensed venueBetween 8am and 11pm, live music to an audience of 500 or fewer needs no entertainment licence while the venue is open for alcohol sales - amplified or not. Unamplified live music needs none in those hours, at any audience size. Conditions added on a licence review can still apply. GOV.UK - Live Music Act guidance |
| UKYou still need TheMusicLicenceThat is permission to hold the event, not copyright. Playing or performing music in public needs a music licence from PPL PRS. PPL PRS - TheMusicLicence |
| England and WalesOne-off events: a TENFor an event outside your licence: fewer than 500 people at all times, including staff, up to 7 days. Give the council at least 10 clear working days' notice (a late TEN: 5). One premises can have up to 15 a year, 21 days in total. GOV.UK - Temporary events notice |
| England and WalesKeep the neighbours on sideYour council can act if noise becomes a statutory nuisance. Agree finish times and volume with the act in the contract. GOV.UK - Noise nuisances |
| EnglandBusiness rates: a 20% cut from April 2027Pubs, social clubs and live music venues get 20% off their business rates bills from April 2027, on top of the 15% relief on 2026/27 bills. The cut runs for 2027/28 and 2028/29; live music venues with a rateable value of £1 million or more stay on the 15% relief. GOV.UK - Business rates for pubs and venues |
| UKMartyn's Law: expected in spring 2027The 2025 Act covers premises where 200 to 799 people may be present at the same time, staff included (standard tier), or 800 and over (enhanced). A public event with entry checks where 800 or more people are expected at once is in scope too, unless it is held at premises already in the enhanced tier. The SIA expects the duties to start in spring 2027 and will confirm the date. GOV.UK - Martyn's Law and the SIA |
| Read the full UK live music licensing guide | |
| Check your venue in the licensing checker |
Each part of Maidstone books differently, so start with your own area. 10 Maidstone venues are listed here, and the gig calendar shows what other rooms are programming.
| Town centrePubs and bars between the High Street and the River Medway. Drakes, Nellie Gerkins and The Flower Pot each put on live acts, and the weekend audience walks from one to the next. |
| Earl StreetThe Hazlitt Arts Centre and The Market House are both on Earl Street, among the restaurants. Theatre audiences eat and drink here before and after shows, which suits an early acoustic or jazz set. |
| Bearsted & Tonbridge RoadThe White Horse is in Bearsted, the village on the eastern edge, and The Walnut Tree is on Tonbridge Road to the west. Both are locals' pubs where a covers band has a ready audience. |
| Medway & AshfordCasino Rooms in Rochester and The Factory Bar And Grill in Gillingham serve Medway, and Revelation in Ashford stages concerts inside a church. Bands from those three places also take Maidstone dates. |
| Drakesc. 60 capacity · See the venue |
| The Flower PotSee the venue |
| The Market HouseSee the venue |
| The White HorseBearsted · See the venue |
| Harmony HQTown Centre · See the venue |
| Nellie GerkinsTown Centre · See the venue |
Three routes Maidstone venues use to book an act - GigXchange, an agency or an online marketplace - set side by side on cost to you, the contract, how your payment is protected and how fast you can confirm. What an agency takes per booking.
Side by side, feature by feature
GigXchange · Encore| Post a gig & receive bids | Yes — free listingNo — request quotes |
| Hear before you book | Full audio + video + live clipsSample clips |
| Verified reviews | Two-way verifiedClient-side only |
| Secure deposit / payment | StripeAgency invoice |
| What it costs | 0–5% booker fee20% of the fee (from the act) |
| Digital contract | Auto-generatedVia agency |
| Original music acts | All genres welcomeMostly covers / function |
| Best for | All venue types — post and compareWeddings, corporate |
Side by side, feature by feature
GigXchange · GigPig| Post a gig & receive bids | Yes — free listingNo — browse only |
| Hear before you book | Full audio + video + live clipsVideos |
| Verified reviews | Two-way verifiedTwo-way |
| Secure deposit / payment | StripePlatform payment |
| What it costs | 0–5% booker fee£15/gig or from £199/mo |
| Digital contract | Auto-generatedNo |
| Original music acts | All genres welcomeMixed |
| Best for | All venue types — post and compareRegular pub slots |
Side by side, feature by feature
GigXchange · Alive Network| Post a gig & receive bids | Yes — free listingNo — request quotes |
| Hear before you book | Full audio + video + live clipsPromo videos |
| Verified reviews | Two-way verifiedClient-side only |
| Secure deposit / payment | StripeAgency invoice |
| What it costs | 0–5% booker fee~20% on top of the act's price |
| Digital contract | Auto-generatedVia agency |
| Original music acts | All genres welcomeCovers / function |
| Best for | All venue types — post and compareLarge corporate events |
Side by side, feature by feature
GigXchange · Lemonrock| Post a gig & receive bids | Yes — free listingForum posts |
| Hear before you book | Full audio + video + live clipsExternal links only |
| Verified reviews | Two-way verifiedNo reviews |
| Secure deposit / payment | StripeCash / bank transfer |
| What it costs | 0–5% booker feeFree |
| Digital contract | Auto-generatedNo |
| Original music acts | All genres welcomeOriginal-heavy |
| Best for | All venue types — post and compareNetworking / discovery |
Three steps, and most bookers finish them in an evening: post the date and budget, compare the acts who reply or invite one you have found, then confirm with a contract and a held deposit.
| 01 | Step 1Post a gig or search actsSay what you need - date, set times, budget, genre and any tech - or search Maidstone acts by genre, fee and free date. A posted gig reaches every verified act in and around Maidstone. |
| 02 | Step 2Shortlist and checkHear each act live on their profile, read their two-way reviews and check their tech rider, then message the ones you like before anyone commits. |
| 03 | Step 3Confirm, sign and payAgree the fee in chat and both sides sign the digital contract. You pay 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately. Both sides review after the night. |
Artists in MaidstoneLocal
Browse and compare live acts in Maidstone. Find the right act for your Maidstone venue or event.
Browse Maidstone artists and bands
Compare styles, set lengths and fees
Message and book direct — no middlemen
Two-way verified reviews
Free to browse — 5% only on protected payments
| Browse Maidstone artists | |
| Post a gig | |
| Find out more | |
| Post a gig |
Maidstone GigsLive
Upcoming gigs in Maidstone — the local directory. What's on in Maidstone — see what other rooms programme.
One-off gigs at indie venues and community stages
Sorted by date, refreshed continuously
Free and ticketed shows both listed
Every gig links its venue
| Maidstone gigs | |
| UK gig directory | |
| Find out more | |
| Join free |
Maidstone VenuesLocal
Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in Maidstone. Capacity, backline and booking contacts for Maidstone venues.
Grassroots venues, pubs and stages
Capacity and backline specs where known
Re-verified on a rolling cycle
Claim your venue to keep it current
Maidstone Open MicsWeekly
Scout new talent — Maidstone open mic nights. Hear acts live before you book — Maidstone's open mic nights.
Weekly open mic nights across Maidstone
Filter by night of the week
Scout acts in a real room before committing
The grassroots pipeline to paid bookings
| Maidstone open mics | |
| UK open mic finder | |
| Find out more | |
| Join free |
Guides & RatesFree
What to pay and how to book in Maidstone. Everything you need before you book in Maidstone.
Find a band in Maidstone
Live median fees on the GigXchange Index
Licensing essentials for venues
The artist-side guide — see both sides
| Maidstone rates | |
| Licensing | |
| UK gig rates | |
| Find a band | |
| How to get gigs (artist side) | |
| Find out more | |
| Join free |
More resources for booking and programming live music in Maidstone: what acts are paid, which venues already book music, where the open mics run and how other bookers plan their nights.
| Live Music in MaidstoneThe full Maidstone scene — venues, audiences, programming patterns, the working-musician calendar. | |
| How to Get Gigs in MaidstoneThe artist-side view — what musicians are looking for, how they choose venues, what makes them come back. | |
| Find a Band in MaidstoneBrowse Maidstone acts by genre, budget, and availability. Profiles with audio, video, and verified reviews. | |
| Maidstone Rate BenchmarkWhat Maidstone acts actually charge by gig type. Median fees from the live GigXchange Index. | |
| Open Mics in MaidstoneOpen mic nights near Maidstone — a great way to scout new talent before committing to a paid booking. | |
| Maidstone Gig CalendarUpcoming gigs across Maidstone — see what other venues are programming and where the gaps are. |
| Live music in Maidstone | |
| Find a band in Maidstone | |
| How to get gigs in Maidstone |
| Venues in Maidstone | |
| Open mics in Maidstone | |
| Upcoming gigs in Maidstone |
| NYE Bands & DJs | |
| Awards Night & Black-Tie Bands | |
| Festival Season Bands | |
| Summer Wedding Bands | |
| Valentine's Day Bands |
| How to book a musician in the UK | |
| Live music licensing in the UK | |
| Booking platforms compared | |
| What changes for venues in 2027 |
Share what you charged or paid — anonymous, under a minute. 3 rates unlocks 30 days of UK fee trends.
| Add your rate |
Free venue account, no card on file. Membership is free, and we are keeping it free permanently for the first 250 sign-ups. Open alpha — you are early.
How to Book Live Music in Maidstone
Fees from real GX Index bookings, the acts you can book and the licence rules for a Maidstone venue, 1 Maidstone acts to hear and 10 Maidstone venues listed, all in one guide.
Last updated: 15 November 2026
Booking Live Music in Maidstone: the Short Answer
Booking live music in Maidstone costs about £1,202 for a 3–4 piece wedding band and £325 for a solo act in a pub or bar - the South East medians from 58 and 33 fees on the GX Index. Book 2-4 weeks ahead for a regular night in Maidstone, while tribute shows, Kent weddings and anything in December go 8-12 weeks out. In a venue licensed for alcohol and open for sales, live music to 500 people or fewer between 8am and 11pm needs no extra licence - you still need TheMusicLicence.
Who You Can Book in Maidstone
1 Maidstone acts have a GigXchange profile and 10 Maidstone venues are listed - browse the acts, then see who already books live music here.
Maidstone Bands and Musicians, and the Fees They List
1 Maidstone act shows a fee range on their profile. Each figure is the act's own - message them for a quote for your date.
Ready to book an act in Maidstone?
What Live Music Costs in Maidstone
What acts in and around Maidstone are paid, act type by act type - each bar is a live median with its fee count and the middle 50% of fees, from the South East region where it has 20+ fees, otherwise UK-wide.
Before you agree a fee, check it against the GX Index from GIGXCHANGE: real fees UK bookers paid acts, taken from the South East region wherever 20 or more fees back a figure, otherwise from the whole UK. Each row says how many fees sit behind it, and the figures refresh every night.
- Pub or bar · solo act £325 median · 33 observationsmiddle 50% £200–£330 · South East
- Pub or bar · duo £300 median · 23 observationsmiddle 50% £300–£500 · South East
- Pub or bar · 3–4 piece £250 median · 76 observationsmiddle 50% £120–£550 · South East
- Pub or bar · 5+ piece £425 median · 69 observationsmiddle 50% £360–£525 · South East
- Private party · 3–4 piece £915 median · 540 observationsmiddle 50% £583–£1,463 · UK
- Corporate · solo £388 median · 199 observationsmiddle 50% £281–£474 · UK
- Wedding · 3–4 piece £1,202 median · 58 observationsmiddle 50% £962–£1,442 · South East
- Wedding · 5+ piece £2,206 median · 27 observationsmiddle 50% £1,696–£2,250 · South East
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Band in Maidstone?
Check any Maidstone quote against three figures: what bookers paid, what acts on GigXchange show on their profiles, and the Musicians' Union minimum. The table sets them side by side for seven common bookings.
| Booking | GX Index: bookers paid | GigXchange acts list | MU minimum, whole line-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo act, pub or bar | £325middle 50% £200–£330 · South East, 33 fees | £150–£500172 acts · solo acts | –the MU publishes no solo rate |
| Duo, pub or bar | £300middle 50% £300–£500 · South East, 23 fees | –no duo hire page yet | £334+2 × £167.16, pub or club, up to 3 hours |
| 3–4 piece band, pub or bar | £250middle 50% £120–£550 · South East, 76 fees | not yet publishedcovers bands, all line-ups | £501+3 × £167.16, pub or club, up to 3 hours |
| 5+ piece band, pub or bar | £425middle 50% £360–£525 · South East, 69 fees | not yet publishedcovers bands, all line-ups | £835+5 × £167.16, pub or club, up to 3 hours |
| Party band, private party (3–4 piece) | £915middle 50% £583–£1,463 · UK, 540 fees | £300–£1,00034 acts · party bands | £668+3 × £222.88, function, up to 4 hours |
| Wedding band, 3–4 piece | £1,202middle 50% £962–£1,442 · South East, 58 fees | £300–£1,00028 acts · wedding bands, all line-ups | £668+3 × £222.88, function, up to 4 hours |
| Wedding band, 5+ piece | £2,206middle 50% £1,696–£2,250 · South East, 27 fees | £300–£1,00028 acts · wedding bands, all line-ups | £1,114+5 × £222.88, function, up to 4 hours |
- GX Index: the median fee and the middle 50% of fees bookers paid, from the region where 20 or more fees back the figure, otherwise UK-wide. Refreshed nightly. Full UK rates.
- Acts list: the typical lowest and highest fee that acts of this type show on their GigXchange profiles (the median of each), UK-wide, for any kind of gig. What acts ask for, not what bookers paid. Shown from 20 acts.
- MU minimum: the Musicians' Union national gig rate per musician in a group, from April 2026, multiplied by the line-up - £167.16 each for a pub or club engagement of up to 3 hours, £222.88 each for a function of up to 4 hours. A fixed published rate, re-checked each April.
What a Maidstone Pub or Bar Pays for Live Music
For a pub or bar gig on the GX Index, a solo act was paid a median of £325 (South East, 33 fees), and a 3–4 piece band £250 (South East, 76 fees). For a band, the Musicians' Union minimum is counted per musician: £167.16 a player for up to 3 hours, from April 2026. Live music for pubs covers the room, the PA and the licence, and how to get gigs in Maidstone shows the same fees from the act's side.
Check a quote against the GX Index before you agree it.
6 Steps to Book the Right Act in Maidstone
Booking an act in Maidstone takes 6 steps, from knowing your room to agreeing the brief and the terms in writing - the timing for Maidstone is under the steps.
- Describe the room before anything else. The capacity, the stage space, the PA and where they load in are the first things an act asks about. The right act for a small bar is the wrong act for a big room.
- Name your budget early. Check it against the three columns in the price table. On the GX Index, a solo pub act was paid a median of £325 (South East, 33 fees) and a 3–4 piece wedding band £1,202 (South East, 58 fees). Acts who fit the range reply, and the rest save you a message.
- Check your licensing — In a venue licensed for alcohol and open for sales, live music to 500 people or fewer between 8am and 11pm needs no extra licence - you still need TheMusicLicence. The rules for Maidstone are below.
- Book 2-4 weeks ahead in Maidstone — Book 2-4 weeks ahead for a regular night in Maidstone, while tribute shows, Kent weddings and anything in December go 8-12 weeks out
- Hear the act first. Profiles carry audio and video, and the open mic nights in and around Maidstone are a cheap way to hear acts in a real room.
- Put the booking in writing - the date, arrival and set times, the fee and any deposit, who brings the PA, and what happens if either side cancels. If an act drops out late, a Gig Rescue call-out invites available acts who take last-minute work.
When to book in Maidstone
Book 2-4 weeks ahead for a regular night in Maidstone, while tribute shows, Kent weddings and anything in December go 8-12 weeks out. Summer brings outdoor concerts to Mote Park, and wedding season from May to September takes many function bands at weekends. Open-stage nights early in the week are a quick way to meet acts with free dates.
Choosing the Right Act for a Maidstone Room
Choose an act for a Maidstone room on three checks - their live audio, their reviews and their tech rider - then on what already fills rooms in the city.
Listen to Their Audio
Ask for live footage, not a polished studio track: that is how they sound in your room. Every Maidstone profile shows audio, video and gear.
Read Their Reviews
Look for patterns, not one-offs: repeated late starts or no-shows are the warning sign. GigXchange reviews are two-way and follow a real booking.
Check Their Tech Rider
The rider says what kit they bring, what you supply, their arrival time and soundcheck length. A ready rider is the mark of an act that gigs.
Booking Live Entertainment in Maidstone: Bands, Singers and DJs
Not booking for a venue? A party, a wedding or a company event in Maidstone uses the same acts, but it needs a different brief and a different kind of booking: see live entertainment in Maidstone, corporate entertainment in Maidstone and wedding bands.
What fills rooms in Maidstone
Maidstone is Kent's county town, and its pubs book what a mixed local crowd will stay for. The Flower Pot has rock, blues and acoustic acts - Drakes and Nellie Gerkins run open-stage nights that bring through new players - the Hazlitt Arts Centre on Earl Street sells tribute shows, pop and folk. Heavier bands tend to head for Medway. Mote Park is the outdoor stage in summer, and countryside weddings keep party bands busy.
Rock & blues
The Flower Pot is the regular home for rock and blues bands, a real-ale pub where the music is the point of the evening. A four-piece playing classic rock and blues standards fits, and so does a harmonica-led duo.
Tribute & Motown
The Hazlitt Arts Centre programmes tribute shows through the year, a sign of how well they sell locally. Pubs and clubs can reach the same audience with a Motown or soul covers act on a Saturday.
Acoustic
Open-stage nights at Drakes and Nellie Gerkins are where local singer-songwriters play first. A venue wanting a regular acoustic night can find its opening acts there, and village pubs such as The White Horse in Bearsted suit the same players.
Metal & alternative
Heavier acts in this part of Kent look to Medway, where the Casino Rooms in Rochester puts on rock and metal bills. A Maidstone venue booking the genre is offering something the county town mostly lacks.
Know the kind of act you want? The hire guides cover tribute acts, rock bands, blues bands and soul & R&B bands - or compare every performer type.
Licensing & Rules in Maidstone
In a venue licensed for alcohol and open for sales, live music to 500 people or fewer between 8am and 11pm needs no extra licence - you still need TheMusicLicence. Maidstone Borough Council has the final word on your premises licence. Below: the licences, then what changes in 2027.
Between 8am and 11pm, live music to an audience of 500 or fewer needs no entertainment licence while the venue is open for alcohol sales - amplified or not. Unamplified live music needs none in those hours, at any audience size. Conditions added on a licence review can still apply. GOV.UK - Live Music Act guidance
That is permission to hold the event, not copyright. Playing or performing music in public needs a music licence from PPL PRS. PPL PRS - TheMusicLicence
For an event outside your licence: fewer than 500 people at all times, including staff, up to 7 days. Give the council at least 10 clear working days' notice (a late TEN: 5). One premises can have up to 15 a year, 21 days in total. GOV.UK - Temporary events notice
Your council can act if noise becomes a statutory nuisance. Agree finish times and volume with the act in the contract. GOV.UK - Noise nuisances
Pubs, social clubs and live music venues get 20% off their business rates bills from April 2027, on top of the 15% relief on 2026/27 bills. The cut runs for 2027/28 and 2028/29; live music venues with a rateable value of £1 million or more stay on the 15% relief. GOV.UK - Business rates for pubs and venues
The 2025 Act covers premises where 200 to 799 people may be present at the same time, staff included (standard tier), or 800 and over (enhanced). A public event with entry checks where 800 or more people are expected at once is in scope too, unless it is held at premises already in the enhanced tier. The SIA expects the duties to start in spring 2027 and will confirm the date. GOV.UK - Martyn's Law and the SIA
Booking privately rather than for a venue? A genuinely private event usually needs none of this — see GigXchange for organisers.
Not sure your venue is covered?
Where to Programme in Maidstone
Each part of Maidstone books differently, so start with your own area. 10 Maidstone venues are listed here, and the gig calendar shows what other rooms are programming. How Maidstone compares on the UK gig calendar.
Town centre
Pubs and bars between the High Street and the River Medway. Drakes, Nellie Gerkins and The Flower Pot each put on live acts, and the weekend audience walks from one to the next.
Earl Street
The Hazlitt Arts Centre and The Market House are both on Earl Street, among the restaurants. Theatre audiences eat and drink here before and after shows, which suits an early acoustic or jazz set.
Bearsted & Tonbridge Road
The White Horse is in Bearsted, the village on the eastern edge, and The Walnut Tree is on Tonbridge Road to the west. Both are locals' pubs where a covers band has a ready audience.
Medway & Ashford
Casino Rooms in Rochester and The Factory Bar And Grill in Gillingham serve Medway, and Revelation in Ashford stages concerts inside a church. Bands from those three places also take Maidstone dates.
Venues listing live music in Maidstone
Booking further afield? The nearest guides cover Hastings, Chelmsford and London.
Booking Platforms Compared for Maidstone Venues
Three routes Maidstone venues use to book an act - GigXchange, an agency or an online marketplace - set side by side on cost to you, the contract, how your payment is protected and how fast you can confirm. What an agency takes per booking.
| Feature | GigXchange | Encore | GigPig | Alive Network | Lemonrock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post a gig & receive bids | Yes — free listing | No — request quotes | No — browse only | No — request quotes | Forum posts |
| Hear before you book | Full audio + video + live clips | Sample clips | Videos | Promo videos | External links only |
| Verified reviews | Two-way verified | Client-side only | Two-way | Client-side only | No reviews |
| Secure deposit / payment | Stripe | Agency invoice | Platform payment | Agency invoice | Cash / bank transfer |
| What it costs | 0–5% booker fee | 20% of the fee (from the act) | £15/gig or from £199/mo | ~20% on top of the act's price | Free |
| Digital contract | Auto-generated | Via agency | No | Via agency | No |
| Original music acts | All genres welcome | Mostly covers / function | Mixed | Covers / function | Original-heavy |
| Best for | All venue types — post and compare | Weddings, corporate | Regular pub slots | Large corporate events | Networking / discovery |
How to Book Live Music on GIGXCHANGE
Three steps, and most bookers finish them in an evening: post the date and budget, compare the acts who reply or invite one you have found, then confirm with a contract and a held deposit.
- 01
Post a gig or search acts
Say what you need - date, set times, budget, genre and any tech - or search Maidstone acts by genre, fee and free date. A posted gig reaches every verified act in and around Maidstone.
- 02
Shortlist and check
Hear each act live on their profile, read their two-way reviews and check their tech rider, then message the ones you like before anyone commits.
- 03
Confirm, sign and pay
Agree the fee in chat and both sides sign the digital contract. You pay 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately. Both sides review after the night.
Booking Live Music in Maidstone: FAQ
The questions Maidstone bookers ask most - the first answered with this page's live fees.
Ready to Book Live Music in Maidstone?
Free venue account, no card on file. Membership is free, and we are keeping it free permanently for the first 250 sign-ups. Open alpha — you are early.