Here we are again, two perfect days of festival frolics already delivered and Sunday is the final day. Another raft of talent awaits us all on another glorious British Summer’s afternoon and evening…… Let’s go!

- First up today, on the Inferno Stage, are Velvet Rush from Hamburg, and from the very start, they have the crowd under their spell! The band have a real 70’s Hard Rock feel but with a bang-up-to-date edge. There’s a whiff of Psychedelic influence in amongst it all too…. very powerful stuff! Sandra Lian is centre stage, and everywhere else too!, a really engaging performer, along with the rest of the band as well. Ones to watch out for we’d say. A great ‘quality’ start to Sunday!

- Local Indie/Rock band Queen Horizon from Folkestone open up the Firestarter Stage today. The band have been going since 2022 and have a very eclectic mix of musical tastes and inspirations, which leads to their hard to define sound, ultimately leaning towards Pop melody with a strong guitar presence. The inclusion of electric violin shapes the sound even more, into a very engaging set.

- Tuk Smith and the Restless Hearts brought the ‘feel-good factor' to Maidstone!…. just the perfect band for an early Sunday afternoon slot on the Inferno Stage. We’d first seen Tuk & Co. at Planet Rockstock in November last year. Nashville based and fronted by Tuk himself (formerly of The Biters), they are best described as an ‘American Rock and Roll band’, but with all the influences of some of the great 70’s bands in the mix. A very enjoyable set. If you can, catch the band around the UK this July.

- Here we are again, clash time, with Parker Barrow on the Acoustic Stage in VIP and Square Wild over on the Firestarter…….. how can this happen! The only thing to do was split the loyalties and see both (with some help from a trusted confident!)…….

- Parker Barrow are the real deal! The Nashville based Blues infused Southern Rock Band are back in the UK…… this time, it’s just Megan Kane (songbird voice) and Alex Bender (acoustic guitar) performing on the acoustic stage, but the whole band are there in support. It’s a wonderful and emotional set, with many highlights, especially ‘Where the Bluebird Goes’, which was so perfectly delivered by Megan and Alex, that the writer was in tears. There’s too many comparisons to make with some of the really legendary performers of the 70’s but suffice to say, Megan is up there with them all. If you haven’t already, catch this band on their remaining UK dates, and at Planet Rockstock in late November too. These guys are destined for greatness.

- Square Wild are a true enigma to be reckoned with! …… lead by the force of nature that is Lucy Shevchuk. This genre-bending and hard-hitting band from Manchester are a Rock band but everything else too! Great fun and engaging and capable of winning over any crowd, which they did ably here. A minor mis-hap at the start (broken bass string) didn’t derail them at all, and they got on with the show as always. It was a really enjoyable set and Square Wild gained some more fans today for sure. Make sure you catch them on tour through out this year, and at Nene Valley Rock Festival in very early September too.

- Heavy Pettin are a Rock Band out of Glasgow from the very early 1980’s, having navigated themselves through early success, Eurovision dabbling and then more recently re-invention. They delivered a solid set of older and newer material to an appreciative crowd. Catch them on their tour later this year supporting the new album ‘Rock Generation’ due in October.

- Having seen Silveroller at LoveRocks in June, anticipation was high for today’s set. The band are routed in classic sounds of the Rock, Blues, Soul era of the 1970’s, but do it in a contemporary way like no-one else. They celebrated their recent new record contract with Frontiers Records by signing the Contract on stage! ….. congratulation from everyone and the new material is much anticipated. It was a great set, with the highlight being ‘Come On, Come In’. They didn’t have enough time on stage to truly expand into their potential but when they play and tour again soon we’ll see that for sure. They are a really refreshing band in today’s Rock scene. Indeed, the WRC took the opportunity to interview Silveroller after their set and this will be on the website very soon.

- Hannah Wicklund is an American singer-songwriter in the Blues/Rock genre, from South Carolina, and what a revelation it was! The band delivered a wonderful set and Hannah’s singing was glorious. Maid of Stone got to experience some flute playing too, of course not to everyone’s taste but took the performance to another level. Hannah’s latest album ‘War on Women’ was showcased, and ‘Piece of my Heart’ by Janis Joplin was an inspired cover. A great set!

- Another clash, Brave Rival on Acoustic in VIP and Anchor Lane over on Firestarter, with the writer choosing Brave Rival and ‘roving reporter’ covering Anchor Lane. Brave Rival, as a four piece can Rock out with the best, but also deliver a calming acoustic set with as much panache, and they did this admirably today. A fine selection of their songs to an appreciated crowd. Let’s hope that they can return to Maid of Stone as the Rock version next year!

- Anchor Lane are from Scotland, and have built a solid reputation and following over recent years. They have a style that is a blend of traditional Hard and Modern Alternative Rock, but with a Bluesy infusion. They delivered a dynamic show which included a mix of old and new material, the latter coming from their most recent album ‘Call This A Reality?’. Great stuff.

- The Wildhearts played a ‘deep set’ on Inferno, with a mix of some classics and also new material. The love in the arena was plain to feel, given Ginger’s health diagnosis, but this didn’t take anything away nor diminish the show in any way, moreover it added to the event. The Wildhearts are dear to many people’s hearts and are an institution as well. They left the loyal crowd happy and content…. another bitter-sweet moment at Maid of Stone this year.

- Aethoria, hailing from Suffolk, and as a five piece, are a relatively new band, having formed in 2025, and can be best described as a newer type of Alternative Rock with big nods to Heavy and Prog. Their debut album 'Fool’s Gold' is set for release in late August this year and they have a prestigious opening slot at Stonedead Festival later in August too. Today they delivered a heavy but melodic and intense set, working with the crowd to win them over. A really excellent debut at Maid of Stone.

- The Almighty are the Sunday co-headliners, along with Uriah Heep. The Almighty gave us their ‘heavy punky riffing’ anthems one by one, for the full 90 minutes. The dedicated ‘Almighty fans’ are out in force in the arena and at the front, chanting what we all love to hear! It was a start to finish pummeling with no let up and the band, as always, gave it their all on that stage.

- Chez Kane on Firestarter is a real breath of fresh air with her 1980’s inspired Melodic Rock. Chez and her band lifted the audience with catchy songs and soaring vocals, all delivered with real class and professionalism. It was a fun 40 minutes or so and a fitting end to all of the superb bands who graced the Firestarter stage this weekend. Top job and thanks!

- Uriah Heep are the Sunday night headliners and the last up for Maid of Stone 2026. The mighty Uriah Heep have been a band for nearly 60 years now!, with their first album released 56 years ago! They are true legends and the grand pioneers of Progressive Metal. It was a really well crafted set and classy too. All the big numbers were played, and we were even treated to 'The Magician’s Birthday'. They delivered 13 songs in total (2 for the encore) and as would be expected, was a real masterclass in playing and atmosphere. A truly fabulous end to really fantastic festival!. Thanks!

Last but by in no means least, Wrinkly Rockers Club presented two well deserved awards today at Maid of Stone:

- Firstly, to Chris Wright in person and for Maid of Stone, via the WRC poll, as winners of 'Best Festival 2025’.

- Secondly, to Uriah Heep (Mick Box himself), again via the WRC poll, as winners of 'Best Rock Performance 2025’ at the London Palladium on Wednesday 26th February 2025.

Massive congratulations to both of them!

That’s it, all over for another year……. but 2026’s Maid of Stone really delivered, it was brilliant, and it goes from strength to strength as it grows. It’s great that Planet Rock are involved too, giving the Festival even more exposure.

Chris (Wright) and his entire team do a fantastic job, and many thanks go to them all for their effort and commitment.

Let’s do it all again next year!, same place, on Friday 16th to Sunday 18th July 2027…. and tickets are now available in the usual locations online.

Review: Oz (Martin Osborne)
Photos: John Bull, Bruce Biege and Oz