KKS Steelmill – 01/10/22 & 02/10/22
There is a musical movement that is taking the U.K. rock scene by storm at the moment, so much so, last weekend a two day festival was held in its honour. The ‘New Wave Of Classic Rock’ scene was started by a few guys discovering and sharing new music and now we have a NWOCR festival, plus a NWOCR compilation album with a second on its way and talk of another festival next year too.
But what’s it all about? Rock is dead isn’t it? Well, I can categorically say after experiencing a fantastic weekend at KK’s that Rock is absolutely NOT dead! In fact, it is alive and kicking.
The two day festival kicked off with Shape of Water, who played an interesting set of Alt/prog rock, they had some great songs and really got the crowd going, which I should mention was pretty full from the get go. Not a band I’m familiar with, but I’ll definitely be listening to more of them.
I love Takeaway Thieves and they certainly didn’t disappoint, great sounding guitars and the vocals were really on point. They really have a Quireboys/Faces vibe to them and I really like that, just something a little bit different.
The afternoon is flying, the first two bands were great and now it’s time for Daxx & Roxanne, a band I’d not really listened to before. This Swiss four piece went all out and delivered some mighty fine rock and roll. Bastette is on next with slight change in musical direction, again delivering a great show as always.
Former Revival Black frontman Dan Byrne surprises the crowd next with an impromptu acoustic performance of Hemispheres, my favourite track on the latest Revival Black album. What a song and what a performance. Dans vocals are absolutely stunning and it was lovely seeing Dan back onstage. I can’t wait to see more Dan Byrne acoustic material when he joins the Kira Mac tour later this year.
Next up is my Saturday highlight. Doomsday Outlaw were absolutely magnificent. Personally I think they should have been much higher up on the bill. Guitar that would make Angus Young proud, they well and truly stole the show for me! They blew the roof off. Right from the opening riff of ‘In Too Deep’ I was hooked! They’re releasing their new album ‘Damaged Goods’ and believe you me, Doomsday Outlaw are going to be very busy next year! Definitely ones to watch out for.
Ryders Creed had a tough job following that! A really polished band, who for some reason I just didn’t really connect with. They performed a ‘perfect’ show, but for me, perhaps it was a little too perfect. When there’s four guys on stage, there is absolutely no need for backing track harmonies, it just turned me off completely.
I really enjoyed Dead Mans Whiskey, I’d seen Monster Truck the night before and these guys had that kind of vibe. Southern, blues infused, all out rock and roll.
The band who I was most looking forward to seeing were up next, Scarlet Rebels. They well and truly delivered, as always. Frontman Wayne had a few issues with some over eager pyro, almost melting the lovely finish on his guitar! You got a feeling that the entire crowd were here for the Rebels. They really are a class act. They were mid flow in their set when they were told to finish, much to the annoyance of the crowd. I don’t know why they were pulled off early, having seen the running order, I know they were scheduled to play another 10 minutes and catching Wayne just after he’d come off, it was evident that he was just as annoyed and surprised as the rest of us!
The Dust Coda were the final band to play the Saturday night, did they really need to change the drum kit? Perhaps that’s why the Rebels had their set cut short? Well, I had thought that, but Sundays headliners had their own drum kit too! Strange given that any of the top three or four bands could have headlined, there are no egos on this stage, so keep the basic kit the same for the day!
Anyway, onto the Dust Coda, I had seen them supporting Smith/Kotzen a few months ago, but this set was something else. They impressed me last time, but they have come on leaps and bounds. I have to mention Breakdown, what a song!! And I was hugely envious, yet again, of Adam Mackie’s Les Paul – such a stunning, sweet sounding guitar. What a great band to close the first day of the festival!
Day two begins with an electrifying opening set from Liverpool metal band Ashen Reach. They really know how to open a show, they were the first band in Steelhouse history to get a pit going and the crowd today, although smaller, were just as enthusiastic. Staples ‘Homecoming’ and ‘Prey’ are quickly becoming fan favourites and this is a band who in the next few years are destined for great things.
Ward XVI are next and these are the ‘shock rock’, theatrical band of the weekend! Think of an Alice Cooper style show, and your in the right ball park of what to expect. The band were on fire, I loved the performance and the showmanship but I thought the vocals were a bit pitchy in places. Also, given the theatrical nature of the ‘show’, it might be an idea for the band, when they are setting up onstage not to do it in costumes, as it ruins the ‘big reveal’ at the start of the show!
Revival Black follow Ward XVI and then a band I have heard so much about, Twister. Compare Pete K Malley has been talking to me about them all weekend and they were excellent. Well and truly deserving of the hype. From the opening song ‘Secrets’, I was hooked!
Another band I was really looking forward to seeing is up next, Empyre. Having just announced their signing to K-Scope the week before the festival, they were on fire! There is something about Henrik’s voice that is magical Did’s guitar, especially on the newer stuff is heavy! Waking Light even had the crowd starting to headbang, which is unheard of at an Empyre gig!! There’s a new album on the way and from what I’ve heard so far, I can’t wait to hear it. Definitely one of my festival highlight bands!
These Wicked Rivers again are an amazing live band and I absolutely love the ‘lounge’ stage set. Blues southern infused rock at its best, I can’t get enough! Following These Wicked Rivers, is a band I have heard so much about, but I have never seen. SKAM were incredible. I really liked them and given they’re a three piece, they make an almighty noise! Vocalist Steve Hill is such a great frontman and I loved his chatter between songs too. They played a deep cut, a song called ‘weapon’, a request from one of their longtime fans, showing just how personable this band is. What a lovely gesture! They even played a little bit of Sabbath towards the end of their set. This is a band I must see more of.
The NWOCR team all get onstage and are individually thanked, Richard Brindley announces the next festival and talks about the Volume 2 album before the final set of the weekend. Bad Touch play an incredible set, nearly an hour and a half! I really like Bad Touch, they’re a cross between the Black Crowes and AC/DC. Great mix!! I loved their rocked up version of Alanis Morrisette’s ‘Hand in My Pocket’ and what a way to finish, ‘Come a little Closer’, this band didn’t take their foot off the gas once! A brilliant way to close the festival.
What a fantastic weekend at an incredible venue. KK’s Steelmill is perfectly suited to a festival such as this. The sound as I have said many times is amazing, the stage is out of this world and the pyro is ‘red hot’ – just ask Wayne from Scarlet Rebels! We can’t forget the incredible pedigree this venue has and of course it’s connection to Judas Priest guitar legend, KK Downing, who you will quite often find at the bar drinking a pint of KK’s Ale! He popped in Sunday morning, and just hours after he left, Judas Priest Superfan, Glen Pilon arrives at KK’s on a heavy metal pilgrimage!
Despite Glen missing KK Downing by a matter of hours, I’m pleased to report that he hung out, watched the final few bands and he left a fan of some of the greatest new rock music there is! Mission accomplished! I can’t wait for the next festival which is taking place in a March next year and I’m really looking forward to hearing the new Volume 2 compilation album. If you missed this years festival, you should really try and catch next years. There really is something for everyone and you will leave having discovered some amazing new music! Thank you to Richard and the team. See you next year!
