Unfest is an annual free local music and arts fringe festival, hosted in and around venues across Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Unfest continues into the night, downstairs in the Forum Basement (located at the Sussex Arms)

Free Entry

Hell Drivers are a guitar‑led rock band from Tunbridge Wells, delivering high‑energy original music shaped by grit, melody, and a deep love of classic rock. Formed in 2012 and reborn in 2023, the band have returned with a run of packed shows, new singles, and a growing festival presence. Their upcoming album Mild True Bitter Love arrives this September via Kent & Sussex Records.

Kharma and the Devil are a long-standing, pub-favourite covers band from Tunbridge Wells.

After writing their own material for their main stage set at Local and Live in 2024, they have gone from strength to strength, releasing their first EP earlier this year.

Drawing on influences from the likes of the Rolling Stones, Pearl Jam, the Doors, the Black Crowes, the Who, Foo Fighters and more, expect a high energy set full of foot-stomping riffs and memorable hooks.

Formed during lockdown by The Royal Oak livestream tech. team The Airstreams are something of a Local and Live ‘supergroup’.

Featuring Peter Taylor (The Harveys, The River Flows), Nigel Bent (Higgs and The Bosons, Coney Island Maybe), Jules Blythe (The Ladyboys, Coney Island Maybe), James Connick (Old Mercia, The River Flows) and sometimes Tim Carter (Kharma and The Devil, The Goodness)

Sisters Heather and Megan have been performing as The Tilston Sisters for a few years now. They started performing live as a duo, but for bigger gigs – like Local & Live – they’re able to call on some excellent musician friends to form a full band. So for The Forum this year there’s a rock vibe with a bit of country thrown in from time-to-time! Expect lyrics with heart and soul, sweet harmonies and a lot of toe tapping