McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Ashford Presents Outlet Summer Sessions
Published: 13/07/2023
McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Ashford is delighted to celebrate local musicians from across the region as they announce the first ever Outlet Summer Sessions, taking place on 27th & 28th August.
The free, two-day live event will showcase the best musical talent that Kent has to offer. Ashford Designer Outlet has partnered with ‘cene Magazine to bring this festival first to life, with a curated line-up spanning from Balearic beats of deep house DJs to the creative, original tracks of Kent’s freshest home-grown music makers. Set in amongst the living walls at the Outlet, families and music lovers alike can take in the free festival as it runs towards sundown each day, sipping on cocktails from the pop-up bar and grabbing a bite to eat from their favourite restaurants on site.
Outlet Summer Sounds follows a year of the Centre's long-term commitments to to the local arts industry, kicking off with the the Jasmin Vardimon Company’s virtual reality experience of the timeless Lewis Carroll classic, Alice in Wonderland, based in the Centre itself. More recently, Ashford Designer Outlet also played host to an exhibition of uplifting art with ‘Under the Rainbow Events’, a local organisation dedicated to supporting South East creatives through pop-ups.
Peter Corr, Centre Manager at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Ashford adds: “We can’t wait to welcome guests this August Bank Holiday to join us for the first ever Outlet Summer Sessions. Kent is an area so rich with talented musicians and artists, so it's great to be able to celebrate this wonderful and diverse talent on stage here at Ashford.”
The Outlet Summer Sessions is a free-to-attend, non-ticketed event. Music will begin at 1pm and end at 7pm on Saturday, and go from 12pm to 6pm on Sunday.
THE LINE-UP:
Little Suspicions
Smooth and unbelievably polished for a band who only formed in 2020, Little Suspicions have taken the indie sound to a different place, with alluring strings and oh so tempting vocal hooks. There’s something of the 70s pop about them, but it’s expertly harnessed to produce painfully cool modern belters. Check out their new track Giving up the Ghost and you’ll see what we mean.
Rudie Edwards
Dover’s Rudie Edwards has a voice that will make you stop and stare – it’s incredible. Packed with soul-filled nostalgia, her tracks are influenced by her upbringing in Kent and display an amazing range. Having signed to Atlantic Records and bagged half a million plays on track Worst Ways, Rudie will headline her own show in London at The Fiddler on 17th September.
Sam Sure
We have been fans of Sam Sure since we first saw him perform at Lounge on the Farm back in 2009. Touring internationally and even supporting Rudimental and Ed Sheeran, Sam has produced some amazing pop tracks, including the seven million plays Hunger and ‘cene’s personal favourite Sirens. Working on new project Uncool Sam, we are so happy to have him at Outlet Summer Sessions.
Fennie
Ashford local Fennie came to our attention with the release of his 2019 banger Waves, which was followed by a string of sell-out shows and opening for global music star Jason Derulo in Maidstone. His self-described ‘afro-swing sound’ always gets the party started.
SKIES
Folkestone duo SKIES. Alie Cotter (lead vocals/guitar) and Jericho Tozer (drums/vocals/synths), have carved out a brilliant live reputation for their unwavering talent for writing catchy pop-punk, rock and emo songs. A packed schedule of festivals this summer (Kendal Calling, Smoked & Uncut, Priory Live) will end with this appearance at Outlet.
Samuel Ashton
The most chill guy you are likely to meet, Samuel Ashton is an acoustic soul artist who can hold an audience in the palm of his hand. All he needs is a guitar and his rasping tones and you will be hooked. His 2022 track Breathe Easy will take your breath away.
David Ellis
Faversham’s David Ellis channels the great songwriters of the 60’s and 70’s. The former Razorlight guitarist is inspired by the likes of Joni Mitchell and Donovan to explore the spiritual nature of mankind and attempt to bring humanity back to its senses with poetic lyrics and chilled outlook.
James Wood
James Wood is described as one of the country’s most exciting new singer-songwriters, who’s early demos have led to a record deal with Run On Records (The Coral, The Royston Club). He is a former member of The Gallerys, a successful band with several UK tours and supports gigs with bands like Madness and The Rifles. His solo music showcases a magical balance between happiness, nostalgia and melancholy.
Bruno The Boombox
Having previously worked with The Boombox on another event, we know the energy and the talent that Bruno brings to the stage. With an unbelievable knowledge across all musical genres, we know DJ Bruno will have something for you.
Jeff2Jeff
Two old skool house heads with a long-standing friendship and a shared love of DJing and producing music have come together in the past year to produce tracks that have mixed their way into becoming a Top 10 selling artists on Beatport. Regulars in the booth at HouseNationUK, Jeff2Jeff have their New EP Rose Yard coming soon.
Nancy Okai
Margate singer-songwriter Nancy Okai has been making music since her debut EP ‘Daydreams’ was released back in 2012. Producing songs of love, loss and joy, Nancy’s music is influenced by a wide range of artists including Lianne La Havas, Daughter and Matt Corby to name a few.
Having worked with Nancy previously, we know the soul and passion that she brings to the live setting. One not to miss.
Argyle
Having released their 2021 EP At The Albion Rooms, Argyle continue on their journey of producing a beautiful blend of Indie, Folk and Rock singles that energise and capture your imagination. We are delighted that Jake and Steve could join us for a chilled set at Outlet Summer sessions 2022.
ONA
During a conversation with Tonetic Records, the label of Margate’s Arts Education Exchange, ‘cene was introduced to ONA and we were instantly captivated. Their cover of UMI’s Remember Me was incredible while ONA’s own work from debut EP NIGHTMARE’S & DAYDREAMS, is not to be missed.
Casey Dale
DJ, producer and long-time friend of the magazine, Casey Dale heads to Outlet Summer Sessions to deliver one of his always-popping sets.Casey is known for his intimate knowledge of the local music scene as one of the driving forces behind the BBC Introducing in Kent radio show. He was also the mastermind behind the popular Kent Sessions - as part of the Dominic King Show on BBC Radio Kent - where he would get up-and-coming acts to come in and perform live. He is the perfect addition to the line-up.
