Maid of Stone Festival 2025 Review | Mote Park, Maidstone | Ultimate Rock Weekend

Our second festival of the year took us just down the road from home to Maidstone in Kent and our first time at Maid of Stone. We had a fabulous weekend in the (for the most part) sunshine and saw some truly brilliant performances from the bands.

Friday Highlights: Rock Kicks Off with a Bang

So, let’s start at the beginning, and what an opening set from Hillbilly Vegas on the Inferno Stage! The southern rockers from Oklahoma got a rapidly growing crowd into the festival spirit from the off. I sat down with vocalist Steve Harris afterwards for a chat, which you can see below

Classic rockers Leadfeather had the honour of opening proceedings on the Firestarter Stage before the mystery of who would be the secret surprise band was answered on the Inferno Stage. The crowd were thrilled to see Kris Barras’ Hollow Souls make their debut live appearance. Kicking off with ‘Borderline’, driven by the killer bass of Leighton Allen, the high energy set never let up, and included a great cover of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Rock ’N’ Roll’. Barras has put a fine band together, with drummer Joe Harris and vocalist Phoebe Jane completing the line up. He also played the VIP Acoustic Stage later in the day and spent a lot of time afterwards posing for photos and chatting to fans.

Manchester duo We Three Kings kept the party going with their all-out rock and roll. For a duo they certainly make a fabulous racket! We loved their stage presence too, and the addition of “Bonsey” the skeleton. Rich and Pete told me Bonsey’s origin, along with lots of other stuff when we had a lovely conversation on Saturday.

Back to the Inferno Stage and Myke Gray and his band ran through a selection of songs that Gray wrote for Skin, Jagged Edge & Red White & Blues.

On the Firestarter Stage, a large crowd had gathered for power trio Muddibrooke. Their blend of alt-rock won them some new fans and cemented their popularity amongst the crowd.

At the same time that Muddibrooke were tearing it up, show openers Hillbilly Vegas were charming a large crowd on the VIP acoustic stage, showing us that they are just as comfortable with acoustic guitars as they are with electric!

What can we say about the Quireboys – and Spike – that hasn’t already been said? The crowd was buzzing as they were introduced and they burst on stage to a huge roar. Spike was on fine form; “yee-haw”-ing, waving his mic stand about, and commanding the performance with that distinctive gravelly voice and cheeky sense of humour. The band themselves were on fire, and in particular keyboardist Willie Dowling and bassist Nigel Mogg, who flew around the stage like a whirlwind. This was the set of the day for us so far – and we were only half way through!

We got some more excellent southern rock from Tom Kilner on the Firestarter Stage before ‘The Heat is On’ blasted from the PA of the Inferno Stage and Swedish metallers H.E.A.T exploded on to the stage. We have seen these guys a few times in recent years, but this was probably their best performance yet. Vocalist Kenny Leckremo never stays still, and looked incredible dressed head to toe in black leather and chains – enough to make us all feel even hotter as the sun blazed down! Their set was superb, and even included a (now very poignant) tribute to the UK and Sabbath with a snatch of ‘War Pigs’ and which saw Leckremo draped in a Union Flag.

As the evening set in, both stages welcomed two more bands. On the Firestarter it was 3-piece A’Priori, who drew a decent crowd considering H.E.A.T were still performing. We liked their mix of guitar, drums and keys, which gave their sound an individuality. The Firestarter Stage closed with the dirty blues of Manchester’s Gorilla Riot – who had two fantastic backing singers!

The Inferno Stage had two co-headliners, and first up was blues guitar virtuoso Joanne Shaw Taylor. Last time we saw her was at the Indigo O2 in front of her own crowd, but she looked equally as happy – and went down just as well – with the Maid of Stone festival audience.

The big draw of the day – judging by the t-shirts in the crowd – were California’s Dirty Honey. We loved seeing them back in 2023 in Hyde Park supporting Guns ’N’ Roses and so were looking forward to a powerhouse set – and they did not disappoint. Coming on to AC/DCs ‘Rock ’n’ Roll Damnation’, Marc LaBelle had the crowd in the palm of his hand from the off, encouraging call and response during ‘Gypsy’ and introducing the next one: “We’re Dirty Honey from LA. This one’s called California dreaming. Not that one!”.

What a first day, and as everyone disappeared back to their tents, thoughts were turning to the impending thunder and lightning storms that were forecast for the night. Still, these rockers weren’t about to let a bit of rain put them off!

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Saturday Showstoppers: Rain Can’t Dampen the Spirit

Day two, and it was ponchos at the ready as the rain made an unwelcome appearance over Mote Park. These fans weren’t deterred though as they gave Jack J Hutchinson and then Big River a warm welcome as they opened proceedings on the Inferno and Firestarter Stages respectively. Planet Rock royalty Paul Anthony then introduced Fury to the Inferno Stage. The self-proclaimed “most exciting band….. in the Galaxy!” Put on a great show of traditional metal with a twist. Their 4-part vocal harmonies sounded great and sets them apart from a lot of their contemporaries.

We last saw Bobbie Dazzle back in May at Call of the Wild, and were excited to see the band back on a festival stage. And what a show they gave us! Sian and her “Dazzle Band” mesmerised the crowd with their blend of 70s glam, prog and disco in a set that included a poignant song written by Sian and her late father.
Darren Redick of Planet Rock introduced an act with “different vibes” next to the Inferno Stage, and Rosalie Cunningham lived up to her billing. Her sound segued beautifully from Bobbie Dazzle’s performance, with some great Hammond Organ and 70’s inspired psychedelia.

Things were about to get real as Kim Jennett and her band exploded on to the Firestarter Stage. She held the audience from the moment she came on and kicked into opening number ‘Psycho’. They have a great sound – classic metal but with a modern twist. Kim herself is a fabulous performer, putting every ounce of energy and feeling into the songs. We can’t wait to see more of her in the near future.

Next up on the Inferno Stage, Paul Anthony introduced a band we are very familiar with. Welsh rockers Florence Black kicked the crowd into another gear in what was their second appearance in three years at Maid of Stone, and they absolutely killed it in a set that included ‘Bed of nails’ and ‘Zulu’. They even inspired the thrilled crowd to open up a little circle pit!

Just before 4pm there were two superb performances starting. On the Firestarter Stage Flint Moore were tearing it up with their unique blend of folk and hard rock. This is another band with a totally unique sound – and they looked fantastic too! Meanwhile over on the VIP acoustic stage, a large crowd had gathered to see how horror-rockers South of Salem sounded unplugged and sat down – and wow! Did they deliver!? We have been a fan of the band since we saw them at Stonedead a few years ago, and to see them (or 4 of them) in this intimate setting was a real treat. Joey said that he was out of his comfort zone, but you wouldn’t know it as songs like ‘Hellbound Heart’ took on a whole new life.

Guitar sensation Sophie Lloyd was next on the Inferno Stage, and she drew a very large crowd, eager to see her skills in action and to see which guests would join her, and they were not disappointed on either front. Coming out on her own and playing the theme from Top Gun, she threw her sunglasses into the crowd and the set began with a bang. Good friend Marissa Rodruiguez provided vocals for the majority of her set that included original numbers such as ‘Runaway’ and ‘Hanging On’, as well as instrumental covers from ‘Thunderstruck’ to ‘Enter Sandman’. The crowd were also treated to an appearance from Inglorious’ Nathan James and Chris Robertson from Black Stone Cherry, who joined Sophie for ‘Let it Hurt’.

The Firestarter Stage was next to host Revenant, and their take on southern rock went down well with the crowd before the Raven Age blew the place apart on the Inferno Stage. We had been looking forward to seeing them after shooting them at the Lafayette back in November 2023, and with them coming off the back of some huge support slots with the likes of Iron Maiden, they were a well oiled machine. They look great and make a spectacular noise, with songs like ‘Forgive & Forget’ and ‘Nostradamus’ hitting hard.

In Search of Sun were next on the Firestarter Stage. Their blend of funk-infused metal was a refreshing surprise and got the crowd singing along from the off as Beth Blade and the Beautiful Disasters serenaded the VIP area.

Anticipation was growing as the crowd awaited the Inferno Stage’s penultimate band of the day. ’Neighbor’ signalled the entrance of Ugly Kid Joe, and wow! What a treat we got as they blasted through a classic set that had singalongs, laughter, the whole crowd clapping and generally having a blast. For us, they were probably the band of the weekend. Whitfield Crane is the ultimate frontman, commanding the crowd with humour and self-deprecation. His voice seems to get better with age, evident on ‘Goddam Devil’ where he showed his impressive vocal range. Other highlights of the set included him getting parents to put their children on their shoulders for ‘Cats in the Cradle’ and the now obligatory blast through ‘Ace of Spades’. Meanwhile the band were tight and energetic, and none more so than guitarist Chris Catalyst who leapt about the stage while tearing it up. By the time they got to the closer ‘Everything About You’, Crane barely needed to sing it as the crowd were in full voice. A masterclass!

Closing the Firestarter Stage were Beaux Gris Gris And The Apocalypse. We knew nothing about them before their set, and were converted by the time they had finished – along with a large portion of the crowd. Singer Greta Valenti looked incredible and was a commanding presence on the stage as her band tore through their set.

And just like that day two was (almost) over, as Black Stone Cherry were welcomed to the Inferno Stage by Paul Anthony. The crowd was huge for them, and rightly so, as the intro of AC/DC’s ‘Hells Bells’ faded out they launched straight into ‘Me and Mary Jane’. It seemed like every person in the crowd knew the words, as they sang along with Chris Robertson and co. With Klaus from Ugly Kid Joe sat watching from the photography pit, they tore through an 18-song set that included ‘Again’, ‘Like I roll’ and ‘Peace is Free’, which closed the show and saw everyone happily retreating to their tents.

Sunday Finale: Epic Close to a Rock Extravaganza

The final day on what had so far been an epic festival started with a bang and the massive sound of Absolva. These were another lot we first saw at Call of the Wild, and they were just as good today. Usually found backing Blaze Bayley, they are a force to be reckoned with in their own right and they did a great job waking everyone up!

We were told that there were two changes to the bill today, starting with local band Karobela, who stepped up after Queen Horizon had to pull out, and what a great job they did! Their indie / alternative sound with a heavy edge went down well with an appreciative crowd, and singer Lauren Diamond commanded the stage with attitude and a great voice.

Another Tennessee band graced the Inferno Stage next. Parker Barrow’s country-tinged rock kept the crowd there just as the rain started again. Their twin guitar sound works really well, and singer Megan Kane looked and sounded fantastic.

One of our favourite bands of recent years were up next on the Firestarter Stage, and The Heat Inc. absolutely delivered with a set of high energy punky garage anthems. The band Paul Simonon called “proper good” are exactly that, and they’ve come a long way since we first saw them three years ago at London’s Water Rats supporting the awesome Desperate Measures NZ. I sat down for a chat with Jon from the band afterwards, where we discussed topics ranging from their performance to their inclusion on a film soundtrack and on a Ramones tribute album.

Marissa Rodruiguez made her second appearance on stage, following her guest spot with Sophie Lloyd the day before. She was here with her Moths and ready to rock Mote Park – and rock it they did. They had a lot of fans in the audience, who really showed their appreciation by clapping and singing along from the opener ‘Needy’ to closing number ‘Who Are You Waiting For?’. It was really lovely to see Marissa later in the day mingling with the crowd and giving time to young female fans.

Over on the Firestarter stage we had the second line-up change, as Beth Blade And The Beautiful Disasters stepped in for Battle Born. This was their second appearance of the festival, having gone down a storm on the VIP acoustic stage on Saturday.

Having chatted to the gorgeous Sari Schorr on Saturday, we were eager to see her on stage, and she absolutely nailed her performance. Introduced by Paul Anthony, she burst on to the Inferno Stage dressed in silver sequins and was clearly loving every minute. She has a great, soulful voice, perfect for her style of blues-driven rock, powered by a superb band and the dirty guitar of Ash Wilson. Kicking off with ‘The New Revolution’, she played a superb set that included another cover of Led Zep’s ‘Rock ’N’ Roll’.

The sun was well and truly out again as alt-rock band Less than Hollow took to the Firestarter Stage. Having previously supported Sleep Token, Florence Black and Puddle of Mudd they are used to big crowds, and they gave a commanding performance.

It was third time lucky appearing at this festival as Derby-based blues rockers These Wicked Rivers finally made it to Maid of Stone. Having seen and shot these guys a few times, we were really looking forward to their set – and what a set they gave us! Having ‘Delilah’ as their intro music was a stroke of genius, and it was glorious to see thousands of rockers singing to the Tom Jones classic at the top of their voices. We loved their “living room” stage set, even if one of the lamps kept getting blown over! From opener ‘Force of Nature’, though songs like ‘Black Gold’ and a down and dirty ‘Horse to Water’ to closer ‘Don’t Pray For Me’ (with a coda / refrain of Neil Young’s ‘Hey Hey My My’) they mesmerised the crowd – and us. “We made it!” Proclaimed John Hartwell. And they certainly did!

Our contender for “band of the day” at this year’s Call of the Wild back in May were up next on the Firestarter Stage – and they did it again! Yorkshire four piece This House We Built are fast becoming one of our favourite bands. They rock hard, are clearly having an absolute ball, and connect so well with their audience. Songs like ‘Addiction’, ‘Fair-weather Friend’ and ‘Fly Me Up to the Moon’ are glorious classic rock. Vocalist Scott Wardell is a powerhouse performer and oozes passion. As at Call of the Wild, the crowd were in full swing for their cover of John Farnham’s ‘You’re the Voice’ – which had everyone singing at the top of their lungs. We urge you to catch this band live.

Stone Broken are about to go on hiatus for a while, and this was their penultimate gig. Introduced by Paul Anthony, who proudly told the crowd that he was the first person to play them on the radio ten years ago, they put on a great show to a very enthusiastic crowd. We’re sure that when they return to the circuit, they will be welcomed with open arms.

“You’re in for a treat” was the announcement before Birmingham Trio Blue Nation hit the Firestarter Stage. “We know!” Shouted someone from the crowd… and a treat it was. Neil, Luke and Nick had great chemistry and stage presence, showcasing their own take on blues-rock and wearing their influences from Cream to Brit-Pop on their sleeves.

As early evening drew in, anticipation was high for the penultimate band on the Inferno Stage, and glam legends Sweet put on an incredible show. Andy Scott, as the only surviving original member, has surrounded himself with some incredible musicians who are able to recreate their classic sound. Every single person in the crowd had a smile on their face throughout their set. From Hellraiser and Teenage Rampage to iconic closers Blockbuster and Ballroom Blitz, this was a masterclass in entertainment. Veteran frontman Paul Manzi is a perfect fit and breathes fresh life into the songs while retaining their unique character. What a band. What a set!.

And so we were down to the last two bands of the weekend, and headlining the Firestarter Stage were Empyre. They had a large following in the crowd and the front of the stage filled quickly. Their atmospheric, dark, moody rock was a total contrast to Sweet, but they went down brilliantly with an appreciative audience. We really liked the twin guitar harmonies and the baritone voice of Henrik Steenholdt. I had a great – and often bizarre – chat with Henrik and guitarist Did earlier in the day, which you can see below!

Before we knew it we were at the end – almost! We – and everyone else – had been looking forward to the headliner all weekend, and what an incredible show Michael Schenker gave us. Celebrating his years with UFO, he reminded us not only what a superb guitar player he is, but also what great songs came from that era of the band. From opener ‘Natural thing’ to ’Too Hot to Handle’ it was hit after hit. By the time fourth number ‘Doctor Doctor’ was blasting from the speakers, everyone was in full flow and fine voice. The band were superb too, with vocalist Erik Grönwall bounding around the stage – in contrast to Schenker who didn’t steal the limelight, but got on with the job. What a way to close an epic weekend.

A Rock Family Reunion at Maid of Stone

We had a great time at Maid of Stone, and will definitely be back. We loved the huge variety of rock styles that were represented over the course of the weekend, and the mix of new, established and legendary bands. There really was something for everyone. We enjoyed seeing some favourites like Quireboys, This House We Built, The Heat Inc, Ugly Kid Joe and These Wicked Rivers, whilst at the same time discovering new bands that will fill our playlists, like We Three Kings, Sari Schorr and Kim Jennett, and being treated to bands on the VIP acoustic stage sounding somewhat different but equally as compelling – we’re talking about YOU, South of Salem!

The crowd were brilliant – friendly, chatty and there for a good time, and it’s always great to hang with a bunch of insanely talented and dedicated photographers and press colleagues.

Here’s to Made of Stone 2026!

Maid of Stone Festival 2025 Review | Mote Park, Maidstone | Ultimate Rock Weekend @ RockNews

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