Review: Maid Of Stone 2026 – Day 2

Mote Park, Maidstone – July 18^th, 2026

Reviewer – Phil Honley

Photographers – Phil Honley & Dan Mann

Häxan opened proceedings on day two and it was yet another baking but pleasant day. Always enjoy seeing this South-Wales powerhouse rock trio featuring Sam Bolderson (vocals/guitar), Harriet Wadeson (bass), and Jess Hartley (drums). Great set and although still early doors and many gathered sporting varying degrees of hangover, the band got everyone joining in on the chorus. As they said it was very easy as the lyrics went something like gravedigger followed by gravedigger.

Häxan

Untamed Silence, another band flying under my radar but very good indeed. Hailing from Whitby they are driven by the soulful vocals of Debbie Wade, on guitar Dave Jones, bass provided by Nige Bennion, and on drums Ryan Smith. They are now on my watch list and I will hopefully get to see them again real soon.

Untamed Silence

Xander & The Peace Pirates, excellent as always. No Mike Gay on second and slide guitar today as I believe he is on tour with Rumours Of Fleetwood Mac. However, not sure if he plans to return to The Peace Pirates but a very talented replacement has been found in the meantime. Apologies but didn’t catch his name. 

I was really surprised by the number of people I spoke to who had never seen Xander & The Peace Pirates. I will always remember the first time I saw them which was on this hallowed ground at Ramblin’ Man in 2017.

Check out the bands latest video for ‘We Cry‘. Unfortunately they didn’t include this cracker in the set list on the day which was a disappointment but I guess sacrificed because of a limited set.

Xander & The Peace Pirates

Nothing to dislike about Kit Trigg, he has a strong following and he is certainly a crowd pleaser.

I first saw this young man in 2018 and the really annoying thing is he still looks so damn young. When I saw him at Dingwalls in 2018 he was supporting a band I have not seen since but am looking forward to seeing again this week, Black Pistol Fire.

Kit Trigg

Feel free to disagree but to me Girlschool have always been the female Motörhead ever since they formed in 1978 and they do exactly what it says on the tin. In fact they do it extremely well with founding members, Kim McAuliffe on lead vocals/guitar and  Jackie Chambers on lead guitar and most recently Olivia Airey on bass. Larry Patterson replaced an unwell Denise Dufort on drum duties. They went down a treat.

Girlschool

Another dilemma but managed to catch both Rattlesnakes on the Firestarter Stage and LN on the VIP area stage.

Rattlesnakes didn’t put out anything other than standard rock’n’ roll but were OK. LN on the other hand offer something a little different with their stage presentation, especially out front and in your face the very photogenic LN Hirst. Very interesting acoustically and they were due to be on the Firestarter stage a little later. 

Rattlesnakes

The passing of Phil Campbell in March of this year at just 64 years of age was very sad, however, it was very noble of Phil Campbell’s Bastard Sons to continue to carry the torch.

They started with David Bowie’s ‘Heroes‘ and when your set includes a very respectable cover of ‘Ace Of Spades‘, what more can you ask for in a festival environment……excellent. 

Phil Campbell’s Bastard Sons

LN Hirst is a rising Newcastle-based pagan and Norse metal singer and songwriter known for her theatrical performances. She combines aggressive, tribal beats with an operatic to banshee vocal range…. not my words but characterises her perfectly. Having put in a very enjoyable acoustic set on the VIP stage she then graced the Firestarted Stage. The band offered us something a little different and Saturday up to that point had been pure rock. LN Hirst and her band went down really well and are well worth checking out if you are not familiar with their style.

LN

What can I say about Danko Jones? In view of the true aim of the Maid Of Stone weekend to be a family affair, plus the nearby kid’s playground, a strict ‘no swearing on stage’ rule was in force and had generally been adhered to. It is my own personal opinion but for Danko Jones, they should have enforced a ‘no speaking whatsoever’ rule as he just lets himself down as soon as he starts speaking. He was clearly aware of the no swearing rule as  he wanted to know how he was going to play the next song as it included swear words…..my advice….don’t play it.

Danko Jones

Managed to catch a little of both Battle Born on the Firestarter Stage and Ally Dickaty of Virginmarys flying solo on acoustic on the VIP stage.

Battle Born were very energetic but just another rock outfit, Ally Dickaty was putting in a very good shift but Virginmarys are incomplete without Danny Dolan.

Battle Born

This was the first time that I had seen Doro and she was fabulous. I did, however recognise Johnny Dee, having seen him drum for Tyketto on numerous occasions. As the ‘Metal Queen’, Doro and her band delivered a solid set of both Doro & Warlock songs to an appreciative crowd.

Doro

The Virginmarys have recently completed an intimate unplugged tour of the UK showcasing all the songs from their new album, ‘Beyond The House Of Fires‘. The band was originally a three piece but more often than not it is just Ally Dickaty and Danny Dolan playing as if their lives depended on it, especially Danny Dolan who ended the set covered in his own blood. 

The Virginmarys

When you have been knocking out the hits and 24 studio albums over a period of fifty years you deserve the label British Heavy Metal Legends, and a deserved headline spot at one of the best summer music festivals in the UK. Saxon, the band most are here to see.

Biff Byford is still performing at the highest level as the front-man and still only 75 years of age. Byford is now the only original member touring as original guitarist Paul Quinn hasn’t toured since 2023 and has been replaced by Brian Tatler. Nigel Glockler has been in and out of the band since 1981 but he can still hit those drums ‘kin hard. Nibbs Carter has been whacking the bass for nearly forty years and even Doug Scarrett has been on guitar for thirty years. All said and done these guys can still rock and the two numbers that are guaranteed to send a tingle up the back of my neck are and will always be on the set list, ‘747 (Strangers In The Night)‘ and ‘Dallas 1 PM‘.

What a way to bring the Saturday to a close………can’t wait for tomorrow.

Saxon

©All photographs are copyright of Phil Honley – Gigsnapz & Dan Mann – RPR Photography. They may not be altered or used without express permission.