The battle plan has landed, the clash-finder panic can officially begin, and Maid of Stone Festival 2026 has revealed its complete set times for Saturday 18 July at Mote Park in Maidstone, Kent.
And blimey, butt โ they havenโt exactly eased us into the weekend gently. Saturdayโs bill is stacked with British heavy metal royalty, hard-rock heroes, rising talent and enough riffs to rattle every window between Maidstone and Cardiff. ๐ธ๐ฅ
With Saxon closing the Inferno Stage, Doro bringing the metal thunder, Danko Jones supplying the rock โnโ roll swagger and Phil Campbellโs Bastard Sons preparing to unleash some serious Motรถrhead-flavoured noise, this is shaping up to be one gloriously loud day in the park.
Doors open at 11:00am, so get there early, grab your bearings, locate the bar and prepare for nearly ten hours of beautiful amplified chaos. ๐บ๐ค
โธป
โก Inferno Stage Set Times
The Inferno Stage is where the big guns will be firing throughout Saturday, beginning with Welsh rockers Hรคxan and ending beneath the mighty wings of Saxon.
11:45 โ Hรคxan
Opening a festival stage is never an easy job, but Hรคxan are more than capable of waking up the early arrivals.
The Welsh trio have built a reputation for delivering catchy, energetic hard rock loaded with powerful vocals, sharp riffs and huge choruses. Anyone still nursing Friday nightโs festival beverages may find themselves unexpectedly revived before lunchtime. Proper job. ๐๐ฅ
13:05 โ Xander & The Peace Pirates
Next up are Xander & The Peace Pirates, bringing their distinctive mixture of blues, soul and melodic rock to Mote Park.
Expect slick guitar work, heartfelt songwriting and a performance offering something slightly more soulful before the afternoonโs heavier artillery begins rolling into position.
14:25 โ Girlschool
Then itโs time for genuine British heavy metal history.
Girlschool remain one of the most important and enduring bands to emerge from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Their connection with Motรถrhead, their influence on generations of musicians and their catalogue of hard-rocking anthems make this an essential Saturday set.
Expect leather, attitude, enormous riffs and absolutely no messing around. ๐ค
15:50 โ Phil Campbellโs Bastard Sons
Former Motรถrhead guitarist Phil Campbell and his Bastard Sons hit the stage at 3:50pm, and things are likely to become very loud, very quickly.
The bandโs live performances are built around thunderous guitars, gritty vocals and pure rock โnโ roll spirit. There may also be a familiar Motรถrhead-shaped surprise or two waiting in the set, so this is definitely not the moment to wander off searching for chips.
Unless theyโre loaded chips. Then we understand. ๐
17:20 โ Danko Jones
At 5:20pm, Canadian rock machine Danko Jones arrives to turn Mote Park into one enormous, sweaty rock club.
Danko Jones gigs are fast, loud, cheeky and packed with swagger. The man can deliver a killer riff and a brilliantly entertaining rant with equal precision, making the band one of the most dependable live acts on any festival bill.
Expect pumping fists, shouting voices and enough confidence to power Kent for several weeks. ๐๐ค
18:50 โ Doro
The undisputed Queen of Metal takes control at 6:50pm.
Doro Pesch has spent decades carrying the flag for traditional heavy metal, both through her solo career and her legendary work with Warlock. Her voice remains instantly recognisable, and her connection with metal audiences is the real deal.
This will be one of those festival sets packed with raised horns, emotional singalongs and fans loudly declaring their loyalty to heavy metal as though taking part in some enormous denim-covered ceremony.
21:00 โ Saxon
Saturday night belongs to Saxon.
One of the defining bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Saxon will headline the Inferno Stage from 9:00pm with a catalogue capable of flattening Mote Park.
From roaring motorcycles and mighty eagles to denim, leather and the power of heavy metal itself, Saxonโs songbook is practically festival ammunition. Their recent resurgence has introduced the band to a new generation while longtime fans remain as passionate as ever.
Expect classics, crowd chants, flying hair and possibly several thousand people suddenly believing they are operating heavy machinery.
When Saxon hit that first riff, Maidstone is going to feel it. ๐ฆ โก
โธป
๐ฅ Firestarter Stage Set Times
While the Inferno Stage hosts the established heavyweights, the Firestarter Stage offers a brilliant chance to discover rising bands and catch some fierce performances in a more intimate festival setting.
12:30 โ Untamed Silence
Untamed Silence will launch Saturdayโs Firestarter action at 12:30pm, making them an ideal first stop for anyone eager to support new music from the very beginning of the day.
13:50 โ Kit Trigg
Kit Trigg take over at 1:50pm, promising energetic rock, gritty guitars and the kind of hungry live performance that can convert casual passers-by into instant fans.
15:15 โ Rattlesnakes
Rattlesnakes arrive at 3:15pm, just as the festival day begins hitting full speed.
This slot clashes with the closing portion of Girlschoolโs set, meaning some tactical movement may be required. Stretch those legs and prepare for the legendary festival sprint, mun.
16:45 โ LN
LN perform on the Firestarter Stage at 4:45pm before also appearing acoustically for VIP guests earlier in the afternoon.
That gives festival-goers the opportunity to experience two different sides of the act across the day.
18:15 โ Battle Born
At 6:15pm, Battle Born bring their heroic, fantasy-fuelled heavy metal to the Firestarter Stage.
Expect swords-in-the-air energy, huge melodies and the musical equivalent of charging into battle while riding a dragon across a flaming mountain. Completely sensible Saturday evening behaviour. ๐โ๏ธ
19:55 โ Virginmarys
Closing the Firestarter Stage are The Virginmarys, whose raw alternative rock and emotionally charged performances have earned them a fiercely loyal following.
Their 7:55pm slot finishes shortly before Saxon begin, meaning fans should have enough time to catch the full set before marching towards the Inferno Stage for the headline spectacle.
That is tidy scheduling right there.
โธป
๐ค VIP Acoustic Stage
VIP ticket holders will also be treated to two stripped-back performances on the VIP Acoustic Stage.
15:15 โ LN
LN appear at 3:15pm, providing VIP guests with an intimate alternative to the full-volume action taking place elsewhere.
18:15 โ Virginmarys
The Virginmarys will perform acoustically at 6:15pm before heading across to close the Firestarter Stage later that evening.
This should provide a fascinating contrast, allowing fans to hear the songs stripped back before experiencing them with the amps properly unleashed.
โธป
๐ Saturday Schedule at a Glance
Inferno Stage
- 11:45 โ Hรคxan
- 13:05 โ Xander & The Peace Pirates
- 14:25 โ Girlschool
- 15:50 โ Phil Campbellโs Bastard Sons
- 17:20 โ Danko Jones
- 18:50 โ Doro
- 21:00 โ Saxon
Firestarter Stage
- 12:30 โ Untamed Silence
- 13:50 โ Kit Trigg
- 15:15 โ Rattlesnakes
- 16:45 โ LN
- 18:15 โ Battle Born
- 19:55 โ Virginmarys
VIP Acoustic Stage
- 15:15 โ LN
- 18:15 โ Virginmarys
Doors Open
11:00am
โธป
๐บ The Riff Reportโs Saturday Survival Plan
Saturday at Maid of Stone is going to be a marathon rather than a gentle stroll through the park.
Arrive early enough to catch Hรคxan, keep yourself hydrated, protect your ears and leave enough time between stages to grab food without sacrificing half a set.
The afternoon run of Girlschool, Phil Campbellโs Bastard Sons, Danko Jones and Doro is particularly dangerous for anyone hoping to sit down. Once that sequence begins, there may be no escape until Saxon finish demolishing the place later that night.
Comfortable boots are essential. Festival fashion is lovely, but nobody looks glamorous limping through a field while holding a ยฃ12 tray of noodles.
โธป
๐ฅ A Proper Celebration of Heavy Music
Maid of Stone has created a Saturday lineup that perfectly balances rock history with the future of the scene.
Youโve got genuine legends like Saxon, Doro and Girlschool standing alongside exciting newer acts across the Firestarter Stage. That combination is exactly what a rock festival should be about: celebrating the bands who built the foundations while giving tomorrowโs heroes somewhere to turn the volume up.
The festival takes place from 17โ19 July 2026 at Mote Park, Maidstone, with Saturday now looking like one of the loudest days of the entire weekend.
So charge the phone, screenshot the set times, gather your festival crew and prepare to spend Saturday surrounded by riffs, leather, pints and people shouting the word โSaxonโ at increasingly dramatic volumes.
Maid of Stone Saturday is ready. Are you? ๐ค๐ฅ๐ฆ
Who is the must-see act on your Saturday schedule? Drop your picks in the comments and let the clash debates begin! ๐ธ๐ป
