REAL GONE GOES OUT: Bowling For Soup – Dreamland, Margate, Kent 25/6/2026

When Bowling For Soup played in Brighton on their ‘Together Again! You’re Welcome’ tour, the show became notable for three reasons: the tour marked the last time guitarist Chris Burney would visit the UK as a touring musician; the band managed to hit the Sussex coast just as Storm Dennis hit and it was interesting to see fans of all ages and sizes struggling to navigate the seafront and actually get into the venue (at one point, it wasn’t even a guarantee it would be safe to leave once the gig was over), but most importantly – although nobody knew this at the time – this would be the last big night “out out” for many, since everything went into a lengthy pandemic lockdown just a few weeks later.

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REAL GONE GOES OUT: Skunk Anansie – Dreamland, Margate, Kent 19/6/2026

It’s a few days away from the Summer Solstice, and thankfully, after days of torrential rain, the sun appears high in the sky over Dreamland, despite it being rather late in the day. Du Blonde has not long finished a rather sprited but ragged set, and Skunk Anansie have arrived on stage at the huge outdoor venue.

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REAL GONE GOES OUT: Lande Hekt – Ramsgate Music Hall, Ramsgate, Kent 9/4/2026

On a musical level, Lande Hekt’s solo albums provide a welcome jolt of nostalgia. The bulk of the material takes on a big, jangly approach which evokes strong memories of the early 90s, and Lande’s finest songs are an equal match for The Sundays’ best. With some superb music offset by some sometimes very personal narratives, they’re recordings that also retain a contemporary heart. In the live setting, the singer-songwriter abandons a band set-up in favour of a solo approach, which allows the lyrical elements to take centre stage. The very intimate Ramsgate Music Hall really suits the scaled back delivery with Lande reworking fan favourites and new tracks for voice, guitar and occasional loop pedal.

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REAL GONE GOES OUT: The Utopia Strong – Ramsgate Music Hall, Ramsgate, Kent 18/10/2025

It’s approximately 8:45 on a Saturday night in Ramsgate. A crowd are gathered outside of the Music Hall, and in the venue’s lobby area, various people are milling around in a frighteningly compact space. Even before getting to the gig area, there’s a feeling that this is one of the Music Hall’s busiest nights.

Everyone’s out to see The Utopia Strong – a trio made up of Kavus Torabi (Knifeworld/Gong/Cardiacs), Michael York (Current 93) and 80s snooker legend Steve Davis – who’ve just released a new album. ‘Doperider’ has been well received by those occupying the more “cult” corners of the online press, and those who’ve seen the band before know how special the live experience can be, so this is a night that has a lot riding on it even before the musicians take the stage.

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REAL GONE GOES OUT: Sleeper – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent 20/9/2025

When Sleeper reunited in 2017 to appear as special guests on the brief Star Shaped Festival tour, it was billed as being for four shows only. Eight years, two new albums and several dozen live shows later, they’re still with us, and tonight, Louise Wener and her band kick off their thirtieth anniversary tour in Margate.

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