Words and Photos: Nick Ashton
If you want to start a day of heavy rockin’ as you mean to go on, then who better than Ransom to raise the spirits of those who made it through the early doors? The band seem to have been everywhere this festival season – I’ve already caught them several times this summer – and it’s easy to see why. Their get on, rock hard, get off approach never fails to raise a smile. Frontman Matt Fielder was born to be on stage and, regardless of the size of the crowd, he always puts on the best possible show. The band back him to the hilt too, grinding out no nonsense riff n’ roll across a short but punchy opening set. The party atmosphere continues with Aussie rockers Ablaze who are over here for a run of dates in the UK and Europe. While somewhat more polished than some of their Antipodean cousins, their sound is still one big hard rocking celebration of heavy guitars and singalong choruses. They also share the drinking ethic, with several songs dedicated to the demon alcohol and vocalist Danny Slaviero sharing a bottle of Captain Morgan rum with band mates and the front row of the audience alike. They are certainly worth looking out for next time they make it to these shores. The same applies to Scunthorpe’s Ace of Kings whose gritty, grungy riffs push all the right buttons. They are clearly up for it and so too are the crowd, who take to the band from the outset. Making the most of their allotted time, they grind out some catchy, hard rocking tunes, bang some heads and make some new friends along the way.
This House We Built are another band who have been hitting the festival circuit hard this summer, and you can easily see why as they kick off a set of groovy hard rockin’ tunes. Frontman Scott Wardell is a bundle of energy who never stops, both onstage and off, for the whole day. His infectious enthusiasm, coupled with rock solid performances by the rest of the band, elevates the set and draws in everyone in the room. It’s near impossible to stand still or resist singing along to the catchy choruses, even if you don’t already know the songs. In Search of Sun continue in a similar high energy vein with their funky, edgy vibe exploring a modern genre-fluid take on metal. They can rage hard but there are also deft touches to the melodies which can lead you in unexpected directions. As such they have cross over appeal beyond the classic rock sound of many of the other bands on today’s lineup. A wider audience should also beckon for Amongst Liars if there is any justice. It’s been a while since the band hit the road and today they are absolutely feral. The anger in the songs hits harder than ever as they rage against social injustices and corrupt politicians. I’ve seen them many times before but there is a raw, dangerous energy present this afternoon which demands attention. This is a simultaneously exhilarating and coruscating experience that grabs you by the throat and won’t let go.
Was the return of Rockin’ The Bowl worth the wait? The answer is a resounding yes. Despite all of the difficulties behind the scenes in the run up to today, the event went off without a hitch thanks to the hard work and dedication of the RTB team and the volunteers who gave up their time to make sure that the festival was a hit. A date has been confirmed for next year (12 September 2026) at the same venue so keep an eye out for lineup and ticket announcements.
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