Phrases: Adrian Hextall
Footage: Adrian Hextall MindHex Media
2.5 days of tune, a gap three-band set on Friday evening, and two complete days on Saturday and Sunday. It’s honest to mention that rock tune is firmly again in Maidstone. Maid of Stone Pageant returned for its 2nd 12 months, and in contrast to the ‘tricky 2nd album’ that bands steadily face when seeking to make a decision ‘what subsequent?’, it sort of feels that the workforce at Maid of Stone have their attractions firmly set at the long term. We will handiest hope that they may be able to draw in the similar caliber of artists once a year going ahead. For a small competition with a 5,000-head capability, the development nonetheless manages to pick out up the likes of Mr. Large, Dwelling Color, Wolfmother, Gun, and fashionable upcoming acts like South of Salem, who can be making their method to the highest of the invoice over the following few years, I’m positive.
Friday, July nineteenth
The Friday evening opened with one of the most more recent, fashionable acts that give us a way of the place the rock tune scene is heading nowadays. When the individuals who put Glastonbury in combination say, “there are not any rock acts available in the market,” effectively, they’re obviously now not having a look very onerous. With simply the Phoenix Level being applied at the opening evening, White Raven Down kicked off complaints with an impressive set. Frontman Stu Bailey, having a look like he’d simply completed servicing his pickup truck, engaged the group from the beginning and gave the set a well-received, blue-collar-based vibe that resonated effectively with the sizable crowd, maximum of whom had been most likely campers searching for a excellent evening out earlier than the weekend’s match began in earnest. The 3-piece, with Luke Chappell (Bass) and Tom Mrazek (Drums) offering the groove, introduced an impressive band—one to be careful for.
Ever-reliable Blaze Bayley arrived on degree subsequent with Absolva as his common backing band to accomplish songs from his time in Iron Maiden. Whilst many of us knock that generation, as Steve Harris has not too long ago identified, it was once due to Blaze that Iron Maiden was once ready to stay going all the way through the ones years. Blaze, lest we disregard, was once additionally the folk’s selection to exchange Bruce Dickinson on the time, and whether or not you favor the 2 albums he did with them or now not, repeat are living performances give the songs new existence. An independent view would say, to those ears anyway, that there are in truth some actual bangers in there, and the power they had been delivered with confirmed the fervour that each Blaze and the band have for them. There’s a explanation why ‘The Clansman’ remains to be performed by way of Iron Maiden to these days—it’s merely a vintage.
The night was once rounded off with a headline set from Scottish rockers GUN. With their new album ‘Hombres’ charting as extremely because the band did within the overdue 80s and early 90s, it’s honest to mention that the band is really again and right here to stick. Dante Gizzi has honed his voice over the previous couple of years and is, for my part, turning in their vintage tracks simply in addition to former vocalist Mark Rankin did again within the day. For the ones people who had been there at the start, it’s an ideal feeling listening to the ones songs introduced simply as we have in mind them.
Saturday, July twentieth
Returning refreshed and with a fuzzy, heat feeling suggesting that the weekend was once going to be successful—now not handiest because of the good invoice but additionally since the climate stories instructed “scorchio” right through, with nary a cloud in sight. The day began with some tunes from the Firestarter degree, set as much as show off the most productive of the most productive of the brand new bands at the scene. Whether or not you realize them or now not, a large number of effort and time went into deciding on the bands that performed in this degree over the weekend, as someplace in there would be the headliners of the longer term—those to exchange the pensioners who proceed to hawk their wares, shadows in their former selves, headlining fairs seeking to persuade folks that they’ll be as excellent as they had been 4 many years in the past. Quelle marvel, they aren’t. We’d like the artists at the Firestarter degree if fairs like this are to have a long term 5-10 years down the road.
Spyder Byte opened the weekend and the degree, with singer Daniel Laurence giving it his all as though his existence relied on it. That’s the item about up-and-coming artists—the starvation stays. They’re now not going in the course of the motions, and who doesn’t wish to kickstart a sunny day with some very good Mötley Crüe-esque glam rock?
The remainder of the day at the degree featured The Sizzling One Two, who additionally appear to be making waves nowadays, Crowley, who I might have enjoyed to have noticed (however unfortunately clashed with one of the most major phases), as did Blind River (who I really like), however I made it again later within the day for Till 9, whose gritty logo of steel made for a welcome alternate of tempo. The 3-piece truly, and I imply truly, understand how to ship a heavy set. Whilst the vocal paintings was once gravelly, Paul Pudge Johnson (who additionally doubles up on bass) was once very transparent, not like a large number of steel bands who appear to wish to scream and vomit their vocals to a receptive target audience. Tom Spendlove on guitar attempted an international document try for the collection of jumps off the screens (perhaps), and whether or not he were given it or now not is still noticed, however I misplaced rely after the primary dozen or so. Mark Greenwood hammered away on the biscuit tins behind the degree, and the outcome was once this kind of sizzling, sweaty affair that will have long past down a typhoon within the vintage days of the Astoria in London. We’d like extra of this someday.
For me, the spotlight of the day at the Firestarter Level was once the rightful headline set from Ward XVI. Should you don’t know the band, they’re 2/3 of the way in which thru a trilogy of albums about asylum inmate Psychoberrie and the way they arrived on the aforementioned Ward XVI. Album 3, the only to near out the trilogy, is anticipated to be launched someday in 2025, and I, for one, am stoked. Their units are theatrical masterpieces and produce the similar ranges of outrage, horror, and greater than somewhat gore that you simply’d be expecting from a mixture of an Alice Cooper display and the well-known London Dungeon. Knives, chainsaws, evening terrors, blood and guts strewn around the degree, and a bloodied head of a teddy undergo touchdown someplace within the target audience for probably the most extraordinary of crowd souvenirs… all in an afternoon’s paintings for Ward XVI. Catch them are living when you’ll.
The remainder of Saturday was once then break up between the Inferno and Phoenix phases. A VIP house for the ones with posh tickets incorporated additional seating, their very own bar, and a couple of unique acoustic units from bands to offer the punters one thing somewhat bit particular. For me, company favorites Daxx & Roxane were given the ball rolling at the Phoenix degree with a cast set, reminding me and an overly receptive crowd that this band will have to had been large by way of now and deserve extra. That they persevere and proceed to accomplish and ship units like that is hugely encouraging. Everybody loves resolution, and those guys have it in spades. Once I returned to the similar degree later within the day, When Rivers Meet (for the document, we now have too many ‘River’ bands available in the market now—it’s extraordinarily complicated) gave us a sun-drenched, vigorous set with Grace and Aaron Bond, the husband-and-wife duo who play off every different completely, carving out a excellent slice of rock and Americana. Once more, on a sunny Saturday afternoon, it’s the easiest repair for a crowd absorbing the heat in addition to various of the advantageous beers, ales, and ciders on be offering across the area web site.
Wayward Sons and The ones Rattling Crows closed out the Phoenix Level on Saturday, and a clean-shaven Toby Jepson (having a look 10 years more youthful minus the beard) and Co. proved past a doubt what time and enjoy can ship relating to songs and likewise a are living efficiency. If, as rumored, Little Angels do reform in 2025, then I do hope that Wayward Sons don’t disappear, as the 2 bands provide markedly other songs and the tune scene is and can be a greater position with each in life.
The similar can also be mentioned for The ones Rattling Crows. Having made an enormous affect on what would have in the beginning been the NWoCR scene, the band has stepped out of the shadow of the also-rans and cast their very own trail at the again of serious tune, cast are living displays, and any person serving to them in finding the proper improve slots on larger excursions to assist cause them to visual to a much broader crowd. Their set and slot as Phoenix Level headliner was once a worthy and richly deserved one, and judging by way of the group, it went down a typhoon as effectively.
Over at the major Inferno Level, the day had began with chart-botherers Scarlet Rebels. Their newest album (having up to date this assessment to mirror the timing) has simply hit the highest 10 in the United Kingdom and is every other band with a richly deserved document of each studio and are living output. If this had been the overdue 80s or early 90s, they’d be combating along Def Leppard for chart placements and an target audience. Simply on par with the standard of tune from the boys from Sheffield.
Sizzling photographs South of Salem proved past a doubt why each primary tune e-newsletter is touting them for larger issues. Best improve slots with the likes of W.A.S.P. have accomplished their popularity no hurt in any respect, as they’re pulling in each the more youthful target audience in addition to the ones longer within the enamel however nonetheless attending fairs. A fiery set, encumbered with pyro, jumps, and hooks that would land Jaws on a excellent day, left the group battered, bruised, and able for extra. With the solar nonetheless beating down, The Virginmarys may have opted for a laid-back vibe and a slower set, however no, as an alternative, they went all out and cranked the day up every other equipment. It was once beginning to really feel like a type of best possible competition days the place the entirety falls into position, the place the entire bands have a task to play in the easiest jigsaw puzzle.
Canadian rockers Danko Jones took the slot that most definitely will have to have long past to ‘70s rockers Blue Öyster Cult. A lot to my dismay, the mythical American band needed to cancel their look on the final minute because of sickness, which means that Danko was once promoted to one of the most final two major slots on Saturday evening. While you’ve been going so long as he has, you get used to objects converting at the day, and that’s simply what he did. One of the thrilling are living acts on this planet, Danko Jones blasted the Maid of Stone crowd with a wall of sound that no person noticed coming and left everybody choosing up items of what remained in their eardrums in a while. Everyone knows the pandemic wasn’t excellent for any person, however many people have overlooked this sort of vibe for a ways too lengthy. It was once nice to look a packed Inferno degree with such a lot of previous faces in addition to new ones, all being transformed to the tactics of Danko. There’s one thing truly particular about the way in which Danko can flip an off-the-cuff observer right into a lifelong fan. With the solar nonetheless up, if handiest simply, the set persevered to construct the anticipation of the primary match of the day.
For individuals who had caught it out, headliners Wolfmother arrived, and Andrew Stockdale and Co. delivered a collection of absolute brilliance. For a band that peaked early on of their profession and hasn’t hit the similar heights since, they nonetheless understand how to ship, and perhaps, simply perhaps, a brand spanking new full-length free up will see them go back to the charts with a brand new album. The set completed at 11:00 p.m. at the dot, leaving everybody questioning what that they had simply witnessed.
Sunday, July twenty first
Returning as soon as once more to the Firestarter degree on Sunday and feeling fairly jaded after Saturday evening’s antics, (one isn’t as younger as one was), I used to be nonetheless prepared to look what the brand new youngsters at the block had to supply. Kicking off the day had been ‘Hell On Top Heels,’ who you’ll believe by way of the title that they play a definite logo of rock that Motley Crue could be happy with. Within the sizzling warmth and blinding solar, the sound and magnificence wasn’t for everybody, and sadly, they misplaced a large number of the sooner crowd to the Phoenix Level after a couple of tracks, however they nonetheless deserve some credit score for turning up, hanging on a courageous face, and giving it their all.
Because the day improved, I headed off to the Phoenix Level once more for a extra laid-back solution to the afternoon with Tygers of Pan Tang (the British legends) and Gin Annie earlier than returning for my ultimate set of the weekend from headliners Atack, who delivered a masterful efficiency and left me questioning simply how the heck they haven’t risen to bigger heights of their profession. From the again catalog of subject material to more recent songs which are making their approach into the set now, they’ve were given greater than sufficient to stay any crowd engaged. They deserve your improve.
A handy guide a rough stroll over to the Phoenix Level once more, and I arrived in time for the set from Cardiff’s best, King Kraken, whose self-released debut album, ‘MCLXXX,’ has been a favourite of mine this 12 months. I’d even argue it’s most definitely my album of the 12 months up to now. They hit the degree with energy and keenness, blasting out a collection that was once sufficient to ship shockwaves in the course of the county. Should you get a possibility to look them are living, you’ll perceive why.
Into the general phases of the weekend, and with a mixture of disappointment that it was once nearly over but additionally a way of triumph in seeing a a success weekend of tune, I took within the ultimate 3 bands at the Inferno degree—FM, Rock Goddess, and naturally, Mr. Large, who closed out the competition with a headline set for the ages. It’s this sort of disgrace that this would be the ultimate probability to look the band are living after such a lot of years at the highway and that it’s below tragic instances, however it was once a becoming farewell to one of the constant and well-loved are living acts of the previous couple of many years. A excellent competition, and right here’s to subsequent 12 months and past. Maid of Stone is right here to stick.
https://maidofstonefestival.com/
About Writer
