Chloe Slater |India Krattinger
The Music Workshop, Folkestone, Kent
21st February 2026
Fresh from visiting Sunderland, and more recently Margate, Chloe Slater brought her sold-out Southern Youth UK Seaside Tour to Folkestone for a stripped-back acoustic set. Bournemouth-born Chloe was in great spirits and good voice as she performed a solo set in the intimate surroundings of The Music Workshop. Slater, fast approaching her 23rd birthday, played to a packed house, including many of her devoted ‘icons’ who were word perfect, even on her unreleased material.
Supporting Chloe at one of Folkestone’s newest venues, for her second Kent gig in three days, was local singer-songwriter India Krattinger. Cat-loving Krattinger played a twenty-minute set that included her first release, the “nearly one year old” Broken Love Affair, as well as new, as yet unreleased tracks, Too Far Gone and Perennial.
India’s melancholic shoegaze proved to be the perfect prelude to the main event, with plenty of support of her own in the tightly packed crowd. Krattinger’s songs of tormented love and sorrowful disappointment resonated around the room, closing out the succinct set with her second single, March.
Chloe Slater, who’d enjoyed India’s performance with the rest of the audience as she supped on a pint at the back of the venue, took to the stage shortly afterwards at 8:40pm. Slater’s 13-track set was a real crowd pleaser that included two new songs and one very special cover.
On stage, perched upon a wooden stool with her acoustic guitar in hand, Chloe opened with a song from her five-track 2024 EP, Price On Fun. In her short-sleeve button-down check shirt, black and grey stripy tie (complete with ‘Not Youth’ badge), jeans and Dr Martens Mary Jane’s, Slater was clearly in her element. She may have dropped out of uni, but she’s certainly found her calling on stage, playing out her set with oodles of charisma and plenty of confidence.
A small, brief wobble caused in part by someone blowing bubbles in Chloe’s direction as she sang her debut single – Sinking Feeling! was the only misstep in a very pleasing, good humoured set. Slater took time out to explain to the crowd how she’d loved pretending to be Daisy Edgar-Jones in the video for her next track, Harriet. “I saw her at Glastonbury, but couldn’t approach her in case she thought I was that weirdo”. There was no such feeling from the avid supporters in the front row as they sang along word for word.
Slater’s first new track of the night followed one from her second five-track EP, We’re Not The Same. Dubbed by her as her first love song, The Underground sounded like a single waiting to happen. Chloe’s distinctive turn of phrase and lyrical dexterity were exemplified as she sang out, “London smells of coffee and Co-codamol and wine. Rats are raised from nine to five and drink from five to nine. But you kissed me on the escalator, we were standing on the right side, London isn’t really Notting Hill or Bridget Jones”.
Slater later celebrated the fact that this, her Southern Youth UK Seaside Tour, was her first where she had not had to perform in the capital, something she was clearly happy about. “We’ve come to you”, shouted a voice in the crowd. Chloe followed up her new song with the viral track that propelled her into the limelight, the Molly Mae inspired 24 Hours, before she went on to address the “shitty Labour Government….and the genocide in Gaza” with her last single release – War Crimes.
Chloe’s only cover of the night was the Phoebe Bridgers classic, Motion Sickness. “Where is she?” Chloe asked whilst tuning her guitar. “In my basement” said one of the younger audience members. “She’s in your basement? Give her back” said Chloe, “we’re all mourning the loss, and she’s just in your basement. Well, I’m going to sing it for her, this is Motion Sickness”. Slater’s sympathetic cover was received very well, although she didn’t want to dwell too long in the moment and quickly upped the mood and the tempo with follow on tracks Sucker and set highlight – Tiny Screens.
Slater closed out her gripping performance with Imposter, a track she debated about releasing because she thought it was too much like a Coldplay song, another new track, Southern Youth, and a firm fan favourite, Fig Tree. There was no encore, just a dedication and heartfelt love to her audience and finally an invite to meet her at the merch table at the back.
Chloe’s solo performance in the close confines of the Music Workshop showcased her undoubted talent in an event space that was lucky enough to play host to an artist that is surely destined for far bigger and far more illustrious venues.
~
You can find Chloe Slater online here: They’re also on
Facebook and X as @chloesl8tr
You can find India Krattinger on Instagram
All words by Andrew Lockwood. More writing by Andrew Lockwood can be found at his author’s archive.
All photos by Aaron Thompson. AMP Photography
A Plea From Louder Than War
Louder Than War is run by a small but dedicated independent team, and we rely on the small amount of money we generate to keep the site running smoothly. Any money we do get is not lining the pockets of oligarchs or mad-cap billionaires dictating what our journalists are allowed to think and write, or hungry shareholders. We know times are tough, and we want to continue bringing you news on the most interesting releases, the latest gigs and anything else that tickles our fancy. We are not driven by profit, just pure enthusiasm for a scene that each and every one of us is passionate about.
To us, music and culture are eveything, without them, our very souls shrivel and die. We do not charge artists for the exposure we give them and to many, what we do is absolutely vital. Subscribing to one of our paid tiers takes just a minute, and each sign-up makes a huge impact, helping to keep the flame of independent music burning! Please click the button below to help.
John Robb – Editor in Chief
