30TH MAY 2026
DOORS 7PM
THE OLD BREWERY STORE, FAVERSHAM
FROM £20.00
Stray are coming to Faversham — and if you know the name, you already know why this matters. One of British rock’s great unsung bands, formed in 1966 and still delivering sixty years on, they bring their About Time tour to The Old Brewery Store ahead of their headline slot at Iron Maiden’s Eddfest at Knebworth in July 2026.
Stray — Sixty Years of British Rock
Stray formed in 1966 in Acton, West London, by school friends guitarist Del Bromham, vocalist Steve Gadd, and bassist Gary Giles. Their debut album in 1970 marked their entry into the hard rock scene, followed by critically acclaimed releases including Saturday Morning Pictures in 1972, featuring innovative artwork by Hipgnosis. The band built a reputation for relentless touring, playing over 300 gigs annually in the UK and Europe during the early 1970s — sharing stages with the biggest names of the era and earning a fierce cult following that has never let go. Their music blended blues-rock, progressive rock, and hard rock at a time when British rock was defining itself for generations to come. Six decades on, Del Bromham remains the band’s backbone — guitarist, vocalist, and the driving force behind one of the most enduring stories in British rock.
Still Loud. Still Stray.
In 2023, Stray released their twentieth studio album, About Time, on Talking Elephant Records — their first new material in thirteen years, delivering thundering rhythms, wah-wah solos, and Deep Purple-esque organ layers. The band toured the UK extensively in 2024 to promote the album, and in 2025 toured again as special guests to British Lion. And 2026? Stray are confirmed to play Iron Maiden’s Eddfest at Knebworth in July 2026 — hand-picked by Steve Harris himself, a nod to a relationship that goes back decades. Iron Maiden covered Stray’s “All in Your Mind” from their 1970 debut album, and Stray previously supported Maiden on their Dance of Death World Tour in 2003. Before Knebworth, they’re coming to Faversham — and The Old Brewery Store is the place to catch them up close.
Career Highlights
★ Six Decades Active — Formed 1966, still recording and touring in 2026
★ Twenty Studio Albums — Most recently About Time (2023, Talking Elephant Records)
★ Iron Maiden Connection — Covered by Maiden, supported Maiden on the Dance of Death World Tour 2003
★ Eddfest Knebworth 2026 — Hand-picked by Steve Harris to perform at Iron Maiden’s 50th anniversary festival
★ 50th Anniversary Celebration — Sold-out show at London Borderline, November 2016, featuring all original members
★ Cult Status — A dedicated following built over six decades of uncompromising British rock
What the Press Say
★ “Over 50 years of British rock. Still loud. Still Stray” — Stray official website
★ “Their debut album features the best of ‘heavy’ from the early 70s — the riffage of Sabbath and Budgie, progressive leanings and the sonic of Deep Purple”
★ “Del Bromham is the show of this band — his guitar playing is relentless, with mind-boggling time signature shifts, power chords, manic solos and dark heavy riffs”
★ “Stray’s blend of heaviness and melody resonated with fans of contemporaries like Black Sabbath and Deep Purple
An Evening Not to Be Missed
Stray are playing Knebworth in July. Before that, they’re playing Faversham. That tells you everything you need to know about where this band is right now — back, loud, and on the kind of run that a band of their calibre fully deserves. The Old Brewery Store is an intimate room, and for a band with sixty years of history and a catalogue this deep, that intimacy is going to make for something genuinely special.
This is a working band with a new album, a Knebworth slot, and a point to prove. Get there.
THE VENUE : AN AUTHENTIC SETTING FOR LIVE MUSIC
Located within the historic site of Shepherd Neame — Britain’s oldest operational brewery, founded in 1698 — The Old Brewery Store carries more than three centuries of history in its walls. With its industrial charm, vaulted ceilings, and a character that no purpose-built venue can replicate, it provides the perfect atmospheric backdrop for a night like this.
With a capacity of 250, the room strikes that rare balance between grand and intimate — big enough to create real atmosphere, small enough that you’re never far from the stage. Whether you’re at the front of the room or grabbing a pint of locally brewed Shepherd Neame at the bar, you’re guaranteed an immersive experience in one of Kent’s most unique live music spaces.