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Welcome to the Native Oysters Band website

Picture of the band
The band

Formed originally as a community street band for the Whitstable Oyster Festival parade, the Native Oysters have evolved to become a funky, electrifying experience with tight, powerful horn arrangements and creamy, soulful vocals from traditional second-line classics through Americana, 70s funk, right up to full on hip-hop and R&B, all given the Delta city treatment, Whitstable style.

Founder members, saxophonists Ivan Thompson and Katy Windsor have been the driving force, along with drummer Alan King, adding along the way, lead singer and trumpeter, David Migden; helicon player Russ Kennedy; tuba player, Tom Pascoe and guitarist Steven Higgs. All members share a passion for New Orleans music creating a musical experience never to be forgotten.

Native Oysters Band past and continued exploits:

Festivals

  • Vicars Picnic, Yalding
  • Faversham Hop Festival
  • Folkstone Charivari
  • Margate Jazz Festival
  • Whitstable Oyster Festival
  • Brogdale Cider Festival
  • Broadstairs Folk Week
  • Maidstone Fringe Festival
  • Broadstairs Dickens Festival
  • Farriers Arms Beer Festival, Mersham
  • Whitstable Beer Festival
  • Hutstock

Pubs and regular smaller music venues:

  • Old Neptune, Whitstable
  • The Lighthouse Arts & Music Pub, Deal
  • Olby's Soul Cafe, Margate
  • Market Inn, Faversham
  • The Chambers, Folkstone
  • Three Mariners, Hythe
  • Fez, Margate
  • The Anchor, Faversham
  • Churchill Tavern, Ramsgate
  • Tickled Trout, Wye
  • Harper's Bar, Broadstairs
  • The Rock Lodge, Whitstable
  • Prince Of Wales, Hoath
  • Cin Cin Wine Bar, Deal
  • Red Lion, Hernhill
  • New Inn, Whitstable
  • The Swan, West Malling
  • Follies, Folkstone
  • The Chapel, Broadstairs

Acoustic

  • Queen's Park Bandstand, London
  • Whitstable Oyster Parade.
  • Sea Sunday Parade, Whitstable
  • Folkstone Charivari Parade
  • End Of The Pier Show House Band, Greenwich, Ramsgate, Whitstable
  • Saxon Shore half marathon
  • Faversham Market
  • Westgate Gardens, Canterbury
  • Channel Radio
  • Deal Town Hall

Larger venues

  • Quarterhouse, Folkstone. Supporting Hot 8 Brass Band
  • Pizza Express Music Room, Maidstone
  • Astor Theatre, Deal
  • Whitstable Umbrella Centre
  • The Thatched Barn, Farthingloe
  • Landmark Centre, Deal
  • Folkstone Harbour Arm
  • Folkstone Bandstand
  • The Tabernacle, Powys Square, London
  • Kent University
  • Annie's Jazz Club, Southend, Essex
  • West Reservoir Centre, Green Lanes, London

What our fantastic clients say!

"An absolutely wonderful gig. Great to hear the new tunes. This band should be more widely regarded as nothing less than a National treasure!"

 Will Vine

"The Native Oysters were fantastic on Sunday, thank you so much. Everything we had hoped for and in fact even better! Everyone said how brilliant you were and you pitched it exactly right for our crowd. One couple had just got back from New Orleans and said they heard nothing there like your quality. That first dance will remain with me for ever. I'm delighted that we finally got you to play for us and thank you so much for your patience through all that nonsense of rearranging dates.  Lots of love from us both."

 Mark and Hannah

"Great gig down the jolly old Market Inn. You guys rock with amazing talent & beautiful beats. Thank you!"

 Tanya Gibson

"I just wanted to say a massive thank you to you all for playing at Jess and James' wedding, despite getting drenched. I can't tell you how many people said how amazing you where and have been the talk of the town. When I asked J&J what their favourite moment of the day was, they replied 'the band, as it was such a lovely surprise and made the walk in the rain unforgettable"

 Teresa Utting