Robert J Hunter is coming to Kent — and for anyone who loves blues and Americana delivered with grit, soul, and the road in its bones, this is a show you will not want to miss. On Saturday 12th December 2026, Rockin’ Roots Events is proud to bring the Alderney-born singer-songwriter and his band to The Oast in Rainham, Kent, for an unmissable winter evening of live music. With a brand-new album, Here to Stay, released in 2026 and years of relentless UK and European touring behind them, Robert J Hunter and his band arrive in Rainham as one of the most compelling acts on the contemporary blues and Americana scene. And opening the night, we are delighted to welcome the wonderful Eddy Smith — a special guest performance from one of the UK’s most distinctive Country Soul and Blues voices.
There are blues and Americana artists, and then there is Robert J Hunter. Armed with a gruff, powerful voice and the wild thud of an overdriven, foot-stomping guitar, he delivers a raw and soulful sound that is unmistakably his own. The Robert J Hunter songbook takes listeners on emotional, deeply personal journeys, echoing the spirit of Bruce Springsteen, Free, Jackson Browne, Rory Gallagher, The Band, The Eagles and Tom Petty — but the voice, the attack, and the storytelling are pure Hunter.
Born and raised on the small Channel Island of Alderney, Robert J Hunter has spent the last decade carving out a name for himself on the UK and European touring circuit — and the miles show in the music. His band has become a road-worn, well-oiled machine: super-tight, fiercely dynamic, and impossible to ignore. Their genre-bending blend of blues, rock ‘n’ roll and Americana continues to win new fans and captivate audiences night after night.
Robert J Hunter’s new album, Here to Stay, lands in 2026 — the natural next step from a string of acclaimed releases including Loser, Stir All Night, Suitcase Blues and Good People. Those records secured national radio play on BBC Radio 2, BBC Introducing and Planet Rock, and built the foundation for a band that now sounds entirely comfortable in its own skin. Here to Stay is the sound of a group that has put in the hours — together — and arrives ready for whatever comes next.
This is Robert J Hunter at his best: blues and Americana with grit, heart, and undeniable authenticity. Songs built from the ground up, with arrangements that breathe, dynamics that earn their pay-off, and a frontman whose voice carries the weight of every line he sings.
★ “An incredibly exciting act on the blues scene, you’re going to really love them.” — Whispering Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2
★ “These strident blues rockers sound like they’ve come off a year-long tour and gone into the studio to record this album without even going home to change their socks.” — Hugh Fielder, Classic Rock Magazine
★ “Incredible strength in the diversity of his songwriting coupled with sheer hard work.” — Blues in Britain Magazine
★ National radio play on BBC Radio 2, BBC Introducing, and Planet Rock
★ Extensive UK and European touring, building a loyal road-tested following
★ Released catalogue including Loser, Stir All Night, Suitcase Blues and Good People
★ New album Here to Stay released 2026
★ Praised by Whispering Bob Harris, Classic Rock, and Blues in Britain
We are thrilled to welcome Eddy Smith to Kent as special guest on the Robert J Hunter Rainham bill, opening the evening with a performance that is the perfect set-up to what follows. Captivating audiences with his unique, husky voice and tasteful piano accompaniment, Eddy has been making his mark on the UK’s growing Americana scene and is now widely recognised as one of the major male vocalists on the Country Soul and Blues circuit. His infectious melodies and soulful songwriting have drawn comparisons to Joe Cocker, JJ Grey and Marcus King.
With his band — the multinational five-piece Eddy Smith & The 507 — Eddy has earned festival-favourite status across some of the UK’s most prestigious stages, including The Isle of Wight Festival, Black Deer, The Long Road, Americana UK Festival, Cambridge Folk and The British Country Music Festival. The band has opened for George Thorogood & The Destroyers at Birmingham Symphony Hall and sold out their headline show at London’s iconic Jazz Cafe.
★ “Joe Cocker and Andrew Strong rolled into one.” — FortyFive Vinyl Cafe
★ “The soul in Eddy’s voice is where I want music to be at.” — Huey Morgan, BBC 6 Music
★ “A sure hand with southern-fried Soul.” — Blues in Britain
A genuine treat to open the night — get there early. You will not want to miss this set.
A Saturday evening in December. Robert J Hunter — one of the most exciting voices on the British blues and Americana circuit — with a brand-new album under his arm. A special guest in Eddy Smith whose voice has been compared to Joe Cocker. And one of the best small rooms in Kent for live music — right in the heart of Medway. This is the kind of bill that doesn’t come round often, and the kind of room that makes nights like this unforgettable. You already know what to do.
The Oast is one of Rainham’s most iconic buildings — constructed in the early 1870s by the Wakeley Brothers, it has overlooked Rainham station for over a century. Originally built for drying hops, it was saved from sale in the 1970s and converted into a thriving community centre run entirely by volunteers. That history gives the place a character that purpose-built venues simply can’t manufacture — exposed brickwork, a sense of occasion, and the kind of intimate atmosphere that puts you right in the room with the music.
The venue sits directly adjacent to Rainham Station with parking at the rear — easy to get to, easy to get home from. For a show like this — Robert J Hunter on a December Saturday night — it is the perfect setting. There is also plenty of local public car parking nearby.
