The amps are warming up, the festival pints are calling, and Maid of Stone Festival 2026 is ready to unleash three glorious days of rock ’n’ roll chaos at Mote Park in Maidstone, Kent. 🍻🔥
Running from Friday 17 July to Sunday 19 July 2026, the Planet Rock-backed festival is kicking things off with a packed Friday schedule spread across the Inferno Stage, Firestarter Stage, and the intimate VIP Acoustic Stage.
Doors open at 1:00pm, giving fans just enough time to get through the gates, find the bar, inspect the food situation, and begin the traditional British festival debate over whether the clouds look “a bit dodgy.” ☁️😂
Friday’s line-up is stacked with blues-rock firepower, southern swagger, melodic rock brilliance, and enough enormous choruses to leave the whole of Kent shouting themselves hoarse.
🎤 The Temperance Movement Bring Friday to a Massive Close
Taking the top slot on the Inferno Stage are The Temperance Movement, who hit the stage at 9:40pm.
Known for their soulful vocals, blues-heavy grooves, and emotionally charged live performances, the band are the perfect choice to close the opening night. Expect huge melodies, gritty guitar work, and the sort of crowd singalong that starts beautifully before becoming increasingly enthusiastic and slightly out of tune.
Basically, proper festival magic, mun. 🤘
Before the headliners arrive, the Inferno Stage will host an absolutely cracking run of bands throughout the afternoon and evening.
🔥 Inferno Stage — Friday 17 July
1:45pm — Cassidy Paris
Australian rocker Cassidy Paris gets the main stage action underway with her energetic blend of melodic rock and modern attitude. She may be opening the stage, but do not make the mistake of treating this as background music while hunting for chips.
Get down early, support the opening bands, and start the weekend properly.
3:10pm — Anthony Gomes
Blues-rock guitarist Anthony Gomes follows with a set likely to contain enormous solos, swaggering riffs, and enough guitar heroics to make every air guitarist in the field throw their shoulder out.
4:35pm — The New Roses
German rockers The New Roses arrive with their road-tested mix of classic rock hooks, southern influences, and leather-jacket confidence.
Expect big choruses, crunchy guitars, and songs designed to sound particularly good with a cold pint raised above your head.
6:00pm — FM
British melodic rock favourites FM take over at 6:00pm, bringing decades of experience and a catalogue packed with polished hooks.
This should be one of Friday’s loudest singalong sets, especially once the long-time fans near the front get going.
7:30pm — A Thousand Horses
American southern rockers A Thousand Horses step onto the stage at 7:30pm with a sound full of country grit, rock muscle, and smoky bar-room atmosphere.
They are tailor-made for an outdoor festival crowd as the sun begins to drop and the evening properly starts cooking.
9:40pm — The Temperance Movement
Then it is headline time.
The Temperance Movement will close the Inferno Stage with a set expected to balance raw emotion, blues-rock power, and those massive vocal moments that make strangers throw their arms around each other like they have been mates since primary school.
⚡ Firestarter Stage Delivers Rising Talent and Blues-Rock Grit
The Firestarter Stage offers another strong run of acts, giving fans the chance to discover new favourites and catch some seriously talented performers away from the main-stage rush.
Festival clashes are always the enemy, of course. You create the perfect schedule, feel smug for roughly six minutes, and then realise two bands you desperately want to see are playing at the same time.
Classic festival behaviour. 😈
🔥 Firestarter Stage — Friday 17 July
2:35pm — Regional One
Regional One open the Firestarter Stage and get the smaller-stage action underway.
These early festival slots are often where future favourites are discovered, so get in there before everyone starts claiming they “knew them before they got massive.”
4:00pm — Devere
At 4:00pm, Devere continue the afternoon with another chance for fans to explore beyond the biggest names on the bill.
The Firestarter Stage is built for discovery, and this is exactly the kind of set that could end up becoming one of the weekend’s unexpected highlights.
5:25pm — Sam Morrow
American artist Sam Morrow brings his blend of roots rock, country grit, and bluesy swagger to the stage at 5:25pm.
Expect a rough-edged performance packed with groove and the kind of songs that sound like they were written during a long night in a roadside bar.
6:55pm — Morganway
British Americana band Morganway arrive at 6:55pm with soaring harmonies, emotional songwriting, and a live sound capable of turning an afternoon crowd into instant believers.
Their set should provide a brilliant contrast to some of the heavier guitar action happening elsewhere across the festival.
8:35pm — Crow Black Chicken
Irish blues-rock trio Crow Black Chicken close the Firestarter Stage at 8:35pm.
Known for dirty riffs, powerful grooves, and a raw live energy, they should deliver the sort of set that sends the crowd stumbling towards the main-stage headliner with huge grins and ringing ears.
🎸 VIP Acoustic Stage Offers Something More Intimate
Those with VIP access can also head to the VIP Acoustic Stage, where the volume may be slightly lower but the quality certainly will not be.
Acoustic sets at festivals often provide some of the most memorable moments of the weekend. There is nowhere for the songs to hide, the connection feels more personal, and you can sometimes hear the singer without somebody behind you shouting about where they left their cider.
🎶 VIP Acoustic Stage — Friday 17 July
4:00pm — Jack J Hutchinson
Blues-rock guitarist and singer Jack J Hutchinson appears at 4:00pm with a stripped-back performance that should showcase the strength of his songwriting and vocals.
6:55pm — Juliet’s Not Dead
At 6:55pm, Juliet’s Not Dead take over the VIP Acoustic Stage for another intimate session before the evening’s biggest sets begin.
🕐 Full Friday Set Times at a Glance
Inferno Stage
- 1:45pm — Cassidy Paris
- 3:10pm — Anthony Gomes
- 4:35pm — The New Roses
- 6:00pm — FM
- 7:30pm — A Thousand Horses
- 9:40pm — The Temperance Movement
Firestarter Stage
- 2:35pm — Regional One
- 4:00pm — Devere
- 5:25pm — Sam Morrow
- 6:55pm — Morganway
- 8:35pm — Crow Black Chicken
VIP Acoustic Stage
- 4:00pm — Jack J Hutchinson
- 6:55pm — Juliet’s Not Dead
📍 Maid of Stone Festival 2026 Information
Festival: Maid of Stone Festival
Dates: Friday 17 July to Sunday 19 July 2026
Location: Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent
Friday doors: 1:00pm
🤘 The Riff Report Says…
Maid of Stone is not easing anybody gently into the weekend.
Friday delivers everything a rock festival opener should have: rising artists, seasoned road warriors, blues-soaked guitar solos, melodic-rock anthems, southern swagger, and a headline set capable of sending everyone back to the campsite buzzing.
The Inferno Stage provides the giant choruses, the Firestarter Stage offers potential new discoveries, and the VIP Acoustic Stage gives lucky ticket holders a chance to experience something a little more personal.
So charge the phone, check the set times, drink some water between pints, support the early bands, and try not to spend the entire day sprinting between stages like a panicked roadie carrying the wrong guitar.
Maid of Stone 2026 starts here — c’mon, butt! 🔥🎸🤘
