| Doors 7:00pm
Olby’s Soul Café, Margate
Boogie soul rock ’n’ roll from Lockport, New York
| Doors 7:00pm
The Centre, Birchington
Plus support from Spencer Mackenzie Blues
Live music in Thanet doesn’t get better than this. Rockin’ Roots Events is bringing world-class blues, soul, roots and rock acts to stages across Margate and Birchington — artists who sell out venues across the UK and Europe, right here on the Kent coast. Whether you’re a lifelong blues or rock devotee or just discovering the power of live music, a night with Rockin’ Roots Events in Thanet is something you won’t forget.
Rockin’ Roots Events is bringing world-class blues, soul, roots and rock to the Kent coast — and Birchington is on the calendar.
From Chicago blues legends to rising Americana stars, from British soul to Southern rock — if it’s got grit, groove and feeling, it’s what we do. Rockin’ Roots Events has been bringing the best of the blues and roots world to Kent for years, and now we’re bringing it to the Thanet coast.
We programme artists who have dedicated their lives to the music. If you love real music played by real musicians, this is your home.
Olby’s Soul Café is one of the most characterful live music rooms on the Kent coast — an intimate, atmospheric venue in the heart of Margate where blues, soul and rock feel completely at home. The room is small enough that there is no bad position in the house, and the proximity to the stage gives every show an intensity that larger venues simply cannot replicate. Whether the artist is playing a stripped-back acoustic set or a fully electric blues assault, the space amplifies everything that makes live music in Thanet special.
Rockin’ Roots Events brings its Thanet programme to Olby’s for an exciting act that suit the intimate setting best. Handsome Jack, who headline our Autumn in Kent season at Olby’s, are exactly that kind of band: a hard-driving blues rock duo from Buffalo, New York who have toured relentlessly across North America and Europe and built a devoted following on both sides of the Atlantic. A night at Olby’s is live music in Margate at its most honest and direct.
The Centre on Alpha Road is Birchington’s main community events venue — a flexible, welcoming space right in the heart of the village that has hosted live music, theatre and community events for many years. For Rockin’ Roots Events, it gives us the capacity to bring slightly larger acts to Thanet — bands who fill a room with energy and volume in a way that suits a proper live music crowd. The Centre is within easy walking distance of Birchington-on-Sea railway station, making it one of the most accessible live music venues anywhere in Thanet.
The Commoners, who open our Thanet season at The Centre, are a high-energy UK rock and soul act with a growing national fanbase and a reputation for performances that leave audiences wanting more. They are exactly the kind of act that thrives in a room like this: a crowd on their feet, music up loud, and the atmosphere that only a live music night in a community venue can generate. Birchington may be a small village on the Kent coast, but on a show night, live music in Thanet punches well above its weight.
Birchington-on-Sea is well placed for music fans across Thanet and East Kent. The venue sits just minutes walk from the Birchington-on-Sea railway station close by, on the line from London St Pancras, Margate and Ramsgate. There’s parking nearby and plenty to enjoy in the village before and after the show.
From the intimate soul café setting of Olby’s in Margate to The Centre in Birchington, Rockin’ Roots Events is bringing touring artists to rooms with real character across Thanet. We’re building a growing calendar here — and as our programme expands, expect more shows across Margate, Birchington and nearby coastal towns. In the meantime, see all our upcoming live music in Kent.
New shows sell fast. Join the Rockin’ Roots mailing list and get advance notice of Kent gigs before they go on general sale.
Where are Rockin’ Roots Events’ Thanet shows held?
Our Thanet shows are occasional, put on when the right artist and room come together. Current shows are at Olby’s Soul Café in Margate and The Centre in Birchington-on-Sea. Both offer something distinct — Olby’s is a characterful, intimate music café in the heart of Margate, while The Centre is a community venue in Birchington with room for a bigger crowd. Both are accessible by public transport from across Thanet and East Kent, and within easy reach of each other for anyone making a full evening of it.
The choice of venue is matched to the artist. Olby’s works best for acts that thrive in an intimate setting — where every note lands close and the atmosphere becomes almost conversational between artist and crowd. The Centre suits bigger bands with more presence and volume. Between them, live music in Thanet has a home across different moods and audiences, and the mailing list is the best way to hear when the next Thanet show is announced.
Where is Olby’s Soul Café in Margate?
Olby’s Soul Café is at 3–5 King Street, Margate CT9 1DD, in Margate Old Town, about a ten-minute walk from Margate station and close to the seafront. It sits in the creative and independent end of town, surrounded by galleries, shops and the broader cultural scene that has made Margate one of the most interesting destinations on the Kent coast. The venue is intimate — it holds a relatively small crowd — which means arriving early pays off for a good position near the stage.
Doors usually open at around 7pm. Margate town centre has plenty of pubs and restaurants within walking distance, making it easy to build a full evening around a show at Olby’s. The café itself has a warm, down-to-earth character that suits the kind of music we programme there perfectly. Live music in Margate does not get much better than a sold-out night at Olby’s Soul Café.
How do I get to Olby’s Soul Café by train?
Take the train to Margate: about 1 hour 20 minutes from London St Pancras on the high-speed service, or direct from London Victoria via Chatham and Faversham. Olby’s is about a ten-minute walk from the station. Check National Rail for timetables before you travel.
Evening services back toward London run late enough to cover most show finish times. If you are travelling from elsewhere in Thanet — Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Birchington or a surrounding village — Margate is a few minutes away by train on the same Southeastern line, making live music in Thanet easy to reach from anywhere on the Kent coast.
Where is The Centre in Birchington-on-Sea?
The Centre is on Alpha Road, Birchington-on-Sea CT7 9EG, in the middle of the village, a short walk from Birchington-on-Sea station, with its own car park. It is one of the main community venues in Birchington — a flexible space that has hosted live performances, events and activities throughout the year for many years. The car park makes it practical for those driving in from across Thanet.
Birchington-on-Sea is a quieter, more residential part of Thanet compared to Margate — the kind of place where a live music night in a community venue feels exactly right. The Centre’s layout works well for a standing live music crowd, and the atmosphere on a show night is exactly what you would hope for from live music in Thanet at its most community-rooted and unpretentious.
How do I get to The Centre by train?
Take the train to Birchington-on-Sea: around 90 minutes from London on the fastest service, or about five minutes from Margate. The Centre is a short walk from the station. From Ramsgate the trip is slightly longer. Check National Rail for times on the night of your show.
Evening services back toward London and across Thanet continue after show finish times on most weekday and weekend evenings. If you are travelling from Margate or elsewhere in Thanet, the short train hop to Birchington is easy and removes any need to worry about parking or driving home. The venue car park is also available for those who prefer to drive to live music in Thanet.
What kind of music does Rockin’ Roots Events promote in Thanet?
Blues, rock, soul and roots by touring professional artists from the UK, Europe and North America, from Delta and Chicago blues to electric blues-rock and soul. Every act has a serious back catalogue and a proven track record of selling out venues across the UK and Europe. The range within roots music is wide: one show might be raw Delta blues, the next a hard-driving electric rock act, or a polished soul artist with a voice that fills any room.
What every artist has in common is that they have genuinely earned their place on stage. We have worked in this world long enough to know the difference between an act who looks right on paper and one who actually delivers on the night. Our audience has come to trust that distinction, and it is the foundation of everything we do. Live music in Thanet through Rockin’ Roots Events is chosen with that standard in mind every single time.
How do I get tickets for live music in Thanet?
Book advance tickets online through Gigantic from the Buy Tickets button on each show, from £20 plus a booking fee. Door tickets, when any are left, cost more, and many shows sell out. Tickets are e-tickets delivered to your inbox — there is no need to print anything, just show the confirmation email at the door.
We strongly recommend booking early. Shows at Olby’s Soul Café in Margate sell out quickly given the intimacy of the room. If a show does sell out, joining the mailing list is the best way to hear about any returned tickets. Booking ahead is cheaper as well as the only way to be sure of a place before you travel.
How do I find out about new shows in Thanet?
Join the Rockin’ Roots Events mailing list on this page. Thanet shows are occasional, and subscribers hear first when one is announced, before general sale. Subscribers are occasionally offered priority booking access on the most in-demand shows, which matters particularly at a small venue like Olby’s Soul Café where tickets can move within hours of going on sale.
We only send emails when there is something worth knowing: new show announcements, on-sale alerts and occasional news about our artists and shows. There are no weekly roundups or filler emails. The mailing list is the most direct and reliable way to hear about Rockin’ Roots shows in Thanet and at all our venues in Kent and beyond. If you enjoy a show and want to know what is coming next, signing up before you leave is the smartest move you can make.
Do you promote shows at other venues in Kent?
Yes. Rockin’ Roots Events’ regular venues are The Old Brewery Store in Faversham, The Oast in Rainham and Bromley Blues Club at Bromley Little Theatre. Margate and Birchington are among the other Kent venues we use when the right artist and room come together. See the full events calendar on this site for everything coming up across all venues throughout the season.
Many people who come to our Thanet shows also make the trip to other venues across the year — Faversham and Rainham are within an hour of Margate and Birchington by road or by rail. The mailing list covers all venues in one place, so you will not miss a show worth the journey. If you enjoy a night at Olby’s or The Centre, the shows at The Old Brewery Store in Faversham have a very similar feel: a great artist, an intimate room, and an audience that genuinely shows up for the music.
What should I expect at a Rockin’ Roots Events show in Thanet?
Doors usually open at around 7pm, most shows have a support act followed by the headliner, and shows typically finish by about 10:30pm, with both venues a short walk from their stations. The rooms we use for live music in Thanet — Olby’s Soul Café in Margate and The Centre in Birchington — are set up for listening: the sound is well managed, the sightlines are clear, and the audience is there for the music. Approximate stage times are posted in advance and sent to ticket holders.
Merchandise is usually available from the artist on the night. Being so close to the stations makes it simple to get home without a taxi. A night out at live music in Thanet with Rockin’ Roots Events is designed to be straightforward from beginning to end — everything is taken care of, and all you need to bring is yourself and an appreciation for music played with real conviction.
If you are new to Rockin’ Roots Events or visiting Thanet for the first time, you will find everything you need on this site: full artist information, stage times, ticket links and venue details. Our shows are welcoming to first-timers — whether you are coming alone, with a partner, or as a group, the Thanet venues are relaxed and easy to navigate. Live music in Thanet should be something to look forward to from the moment you book — and with Rockin’ Roots Events, it always is.
Blues, Soul & The Spirit of Rock 'n' Roll
All Our Upcoming Live Music in Kent and Beyond