29th June continued GGS’s tradition of Summer Festivals, this being our best and biggest yet. It seems the quality of musicians every year continues to climb. It is always welcoming to have a new year seven band full of energy, talent and confidence to compliment the established bands in the older years. The heat of the day was perfect for performers to grace the stage and melt in their various attire ahead of a crowd of a few hundred people. Both junior band and senior band performed sets, while other solo and band performances ranged anywhere from jazz to country to metal, our stage hosting a wide variety of performances and genres, a very encouraging sight. The day included stalls selling various things including food, drinks and jewellery; combined with the comradery between the musicians, crowd and staff, there really was a true festival atmosphere, always something to look forward to in the Summer Term, especially without the mud slides of Glastonbury. It is always a promising sight to see so many eager musicians with a plethora of instruments and talent; especially as one of the oldest performers, knowing there will be people to continue building the legacy of the GGS music department is as important as knowing there are countless people to perform with every time there is a gig. On that note the staff and music department must not be forgotten - all performers are cheered for their efforts in preparing and performing, however the festival would not be possible without the toil of the staff, who also find the time to rehearse and perform. Hopefully, we can see an even bigger Summer Festival in 2025 as the Gravesend music scene continues to grow. Zak Seagers 12AJS