成人快手

The birth of Local and Live

The festival, based at the Pantiles bandstand, was chiefly organised by Kent based musician and professional golfer Paul Dunton. He conceived the idea in 2006.

Paul Dunton compered the event

鈥淚t officially started three years ago with an event called Bandstand/400 to mark the town鈥檚 landmark year. We had about 22 local bands and a little bit of sponsorship. It lasted two days. After that we got more sponsorship and I decided on the name Local and Live.

鈥淟ast year we had 37 acts over three days and this year I decided to add the Friday evening. It鈥檚 given me a clear idea of how many acts that we can stage.鈥�

The third Local and Live has been a clear success for the Local and Live organisation, as large crowds gathered to enjoy performances by over fifty acts over the three and a half day event.

A free event

As Local and Live is a non profit event, all of the acts that appeared offered their services unpaid as did a notably large number of volunteers.

Joshua Stroud, a 20 year old student and musician from Tunbridge Wells decided, along with his mother Jane, to volunteer over the weekend due to his belief in the local music scene.

鈥淚t is quite difficult to get gigs. Anything you can have to showcase your music is fantastic. Here you have a passing trade. People come, hear the music and think 鈥榯his is interesting.鈥�

Kent's Unsigned

Some of the acts featured over the weekend included those championed by presenter and producer Phil Harrison on the 成人快手 Radio Kent show Kent鈥檚 Unsigned. These acts included headlining acts The Rox, The Original Sinners and Sevenscore who each performed last on Friday, Saturday and Monday respectively.

Nick Stephens appeared with his band

Paul Dunton, himself a seasoned performer favoured by Kent鈥檚 Unsigned, performed on Saturday and Monday.

A suitable dedication

The event was also a fitting tribute to sound engineer and musician Ollie Nicholls, whose life ended suddenly earlier this year. Nicholls was integral to the setting up of Local and Live predecessor 鈥楢n Evening with Paul Dunton and Guests.鈥� He also operated the sound single-handedly at Local and Live 2007. The Local and Live musicians tent will therefore be named after him at future festivals.

鈥淥llie was a true gentleman with a great sense of humour and he touched the lives of so many people and his memory will live on forever. The Local & Live 2008 compilation CD will feature tracks from his debut solo Album.鈥� Dunton says.

Sponsorship and donation

Both the Local and Live compilation CD and the festival鈥檚 accompanying programme were given distributed without charge at the event, although donations were encouraged. The audience was also invited throughout the weekend to become a 鈥楲ocal and Live Angel鈥� by donating 20 pounds towards next year鈥檚 event in return for a tee shirt and a dedication both onstage and in the following year鈥檚 programme.

A variety of ages took to the stage

As well as donations, the festival relies heavily on sponsorship and through bigger sponsors this year, was able to raise the budget of the festival to around 拢7,500. Last year the festival made a loss. If the festival makes any kind of profit this year, it will be put towards the 2009 event.

High praise and high hopes

Alan Bullock, of sponsors Insafe believes that Paul Dunton deserves much of the credit for Local and Live.

鈥淲ithout Paul, Local and Live Music Festival would not exist. It is Paul鈥檚 idea, vision, passion, incredible drive, skill and good old fashioned hard work that makes it happen.鈥�

Although Paul Dunton believes that the festival has reached it鈥檚 full capacity with 52 acts, he, as well as many others, is convinced that Local and Live will make a triumphant return in 2009.