Emerging artists take to stage at Introducing gig

Three artists from Thanet are performing at a special BBC Introducing in Kent gig on Saturday as part of a grassroots festival to celebrate live music.

Rapper Jake St Ange will be joined by Red Eye Rascal and Mariella at the Ramsgate Music Hall from 19:30 BST.

Everywhere at Once is taking place over the Glastonbury weekend at venues across the UK, while the Somerset festival takes one of its regular years off, known as "fallow years", to allow the land to recover.

BBC Radio Kent Introducing presenter Casey Dale said: "The organisers thought 'let's celebrate our independent local venues and really get into the heart of the local scene'."

He added: "It's artists who are brand new all the way through to people who are established.

"The music hall is an incredible venue, and we want to exhibit the incredible range of genres."

Also appearing at other events across the country include Rizzle Kicks, playing at Patterns in Brighton, Becky Hill and Tom Grennan.

Sam Head, manager of Ramsgate Music Hall, says: "I think grassroots venues are struggling hard right now, so to have a feel of community is really important.

"This is great for up-and-coming bands, for them to know how it should be," she said.

"But I think the important thing to say to people, who aren't coming out to watch live music lie this, is that they're missing out.

"There is so much good stuff to take in," she added.

Supported by The National Lottery, the festival is delivered by the Music Venue Trust, Save Our Scene and the Association of Independent Promoters.

Mark Davyd, chief executive of the Music Venue Trust, said: "This is a hugely significant moment for the grassroots music sector. Seeing hundreds of venues come together across one weekend shows the true strength and scale of the network that underpins live music in the UK.

"Together, this sends a clear message - live music doesn't just happen in major cities or festival fields – it happens on our high streets, in our towns, and in the spaces communities rely on," he said.

"This is what solidarity looks like in action, and it sets a powerful benchmark for what we can achieve when venues move forward together."

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