Ross Harding at Faversham Old Brewery: A Dark, Soul-Stirring Blues Experience

Review by Jess Bea

South African dark blues preacher Ross Harding brought the spirit of the crossroads to Faversham Old Brewery for an evening of raw, brooding blues, hosted by Rockin’ Roots Events. This was no ordinary blues performance; it felt like stepping into a world where the music is darker, the atmosphere heavier, and the line between the blues and something almost otherworldly begins to blur.

Although the brewery wasn’t packed to capacity, that turned out to be something of a blessing. Rather than losing any of its impact, the performance took on an intimate, almost hypnotic quality. There was a sense that everyone in the room was being drawn into Harding’s world, with nowhere to hide from the sheer intensity of what was unfolding on stage.

Harding is a commanding performer. His dark, sultry, gravel-edged vocals have a haunting quality that sends shivers through the room, carrying an emotional weight that goes far beyond simply singing the blues. There’s a rawness to his delivery that feels both deeply personal and steeped in the traditions of the genre. He doesn’t just perform the music; he inhabits it.

And then there’s the guitar work. Combined with some impressive foot-pedal work, Harding builds layers of sound that give the performance a remarkable depth. The music shifts between brooding restraint and heavier, more visceral moments, pulling you further into its spell. There’s something wonderfully primal about the way he builds that sound, as though he’s reaching down into the very foundations of the blues and dragging something ancient into the light.

His rendition of Seven Nation Army was a particular highlight, giving the familiar song a darker, blues-soaked edge that really hits you in the core. In Harding’s hands, it becomes more than a recognisable riff; it takes on a menacing intensity that feels perfectly suited to his musical world.

This is the darker side of the blues: the blues of lonely crossroads, whispered bargains, and shadows lurking just beyond the edge of the light. You can almost imagine yourself standing at that legendary crossroads, waiting for the devil to appear and offer you the deal of a lifetime. And if he turned up sounding anything like Ross Harding, with that voice and that commanding presence, you might find yourself thinking twice before walking away.

There is a real sense that Harding is part of a blues revival that looks beyond the polished and the predictable, embracing something grittier, heavier, and more visceral. His sound draws you towards the darker, more atmospheric corners of the blues, while his stage presence gives the music a character entirely its own.

It was a genuine privilege to experience Ross Harding live. He commands both the stage and the attention of the audience with an intensity that is difficult to manufacture and impossible to ignore. Even in a smaller crowd, the connection between performer and audience felt powerful, making the evening all the more memorable.

If you like your blues raw, dark, soulful, and delivered with a commanding presence, Ross Harding is an artist worth seeking out. This was a reminder that the blues doesn’t always need a packed room to make a lasting impression. Sometimes, all it takes is one voice, a guitar, a few well-placed pedals, and a performer who knows exactly how to reach into your soul and give it a shake.

A dark and captivating night of blues at the crossroads — and one that lingered long after the final note.