Words by: SAM LUCAS and STEVE LUCAS
Photos By: STEVE LUCAS
This was the first visit to this event and venue for both of us, and as we’d heard very good things, the bar of expectation was high. The day before the event came with a bit of bad news – The Karma Effect had pulled out of the event due to illness. They are a cracking band and add quality to any lineup that they are on. But there’s no shortage of talent amongst the other 9 acts, so we knew we were in for a treat.
Let’s start with the venue itself. It’s a split-level affair with a balcony, three bars and, thankfully, fully functioning aircon. It was 30 degrees outside – we’d have melted without it. The balcony was given over to the bands to setup their merch stands, which meant you could still keep an ear on what was happening on stage while browsing. Service at the bars was efficient and there was something to tickle every palate. It has a small courtyard in which we found an excellent burger van.
The event was sold out, so we had visions of being crammed in like sardines, but it never felt like that. There was space to move around, and we always found a good spot to watch the bands from.
So as far as the venue is concerned, it ticked all of our boxes.
Right, let’s crack on with some music. Our openers were Chris Payn and the Parade. They were another first for both of us. Having listened to some of Chris’s repertoire before the event, we were both unsure what to expect. Great vocals were definitely on the menu and were delivered in massive portions. The band’s sound took us a bit by surprise – It was full on rock and roll. Three guitars, keyboards, bass and drums created a heavier wall of sound than we were expecting. Some of their recorded catalogue was a bit synth-rock for our tastes. So, hearing them live was a brilliant surprise. Their latest release Breakfast is a great example. The recorded version doesn’t purvey the drama of the entry of the guitars that you get from the live performance.
As well as being a terrific vocalist, Chris is an accomplished frontman and did a cracking job of getting the crowd engagement going. When a band’s repertoire isn’t that well known, it’s sometimes a good idea to throw in a well-known cover to help with that engagement. The inclusion of the Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter was a master stroke. The band did a great song justice, and you could feel the difference in the audience. It was like a collective affirmation from the undecided of OK, these guys are good. Chris also performs as a solo artist and we will be keeping an eye out for one of those shows, as well as more gigs with his full band. You should too.
A great way to start the day.
Mikey Ball and the Company were next up. They are more of a bluesy alt rock band than the preceding band, so straight away, we had a change of vibe. That’s what you want from a good rock festival isn’t it? After the polished look of our openers, we got a t-shirt and jeans band with more of a raw sound. Frontman Mikey has a gravelly, sometimes strained quality to his vocal style and it fits the music perfectly. A tight rhythm section laid down driving beats for the up-tempo tracks and subtlety when the pace slowed. The set included some tracks we remembered from previous live sets, such as Warning Sign and One More Night. But we also got our chance to hear their latest offering No Time to Lose live for the first time. As a band, they have great energy and their sets are an interactive experience. All four members play the whole set with smiles on their faces and that transmits to the audience. They clearly love what they do and want to savour each moment they get doing it. We think that’s a sign of a band comfortable in its own skin that doesn’t take anything for granted. It wasn’t our first exposure to this band. I sincerely hope it won’t be our last.
Next come a band we’re seeing for the third time at a festival in as many months; Molly Karloff. This powerhouse trio blend punk and grunge influences and assault your senses with unapologetic ferocity. From the intro of She Said, you feel your heart rate increase a bit, and it stays there for the whole set. One slight diversion from the usual full-frontal approach was to celebrate a fan’s birthday. The fan in question happens to be a friend of ours (Kym) and she was given the important task of holding singer Simon’s microphone for their performance of Breaking Out. She wasn’t fazed at all and continued sipping her G&T throughout from her position at the very front. It was a nice touch, and I know it was hugely appreciated. But if you thought it might mark a dip in intensity, you’d be mistaken. The song was delivered, like all of their songs, with the same attitude we’ve come to expect. Bassist Tyler Bryant is a blur around the stage, and is a nightmare to photograph, but remained inextricably linked to Jowie Adkins, who made a return to drum duty. It’s easy to see why these guys are in demand on the festival circuit. Their energy is infectious and when you combine that with their undoubted musical ability, you get the perfect package. We regard this band highly and recommend you check them out.
Okay… draw breath for a second and brace yourself for the unbridled chaos that came from The Rattlebacks. These guys have installed a new singer recently (Alex Martucci) and have some new music in the works. The introduction of a new band member seems to have filled the whole ensemble with an energy level that is off the scale. Dare we say that at times, the explosion of energy on stage detracted from the musicality of the performance, particularly with the vocals. Having said that, the entertainment level could not be questioned. Their set was an amazing spectacle. And don’t get us wrong, these guys are talented musicians. Lead guitarist, Max Horn dazzles with his soloing ability and shared some of his talent from the balcony, alongside an inflatable ‘mannequin’ wearing a Rattlebacks t-shirt. The rest of the band are musically tight and also great to watch. They are constantly swapping stage positions and only narrowly avoided running into each other a few times. Hearing tracks from 2024’s debut Sidewinder album, like Open Your Mind, get the Alex Martucci treatment was great to see and hear, and bodes well for the future. Having spoken to a couple of the guys recently at Download, we know how fired up they are and it was clear from what they said that the chemistry is right. We enjoyed their set and will happily buy tickets to see them again. Plenty of people we spoke to thought they were amazing, but for us, and a few others we spoke to, a bit more control might not be a bad idea. As with all reviews, this is just an opinion, and we are definitely still fans.
Thieves of Liberty are next, and in the spirit of full disclosure, these guys are mates of ours. We are big fans, so we’ll try to keep it objective. Vocalist James had some time off last year for an operation and they are making up for lost time. Maybe the impact of that enforced hiatus is a realisation of the fragile nature of being a musician. We think that’s reflected in their performances. There is both energy and enjoyment in their approach on stage. There’s no lack of passion, but there’s a sense of fun. From the start of Too Much these experts in classic rock had hands clapping, bodies moving (we won’t call it dancing – it would be an insult to dancers everywhere) and voices singing along. There was an intensity to the previous band that wasn’t there when The Thieves were on stage – in a good way. It was a bit more of a relaxed, let’s have some fun feeling. They perform their music with precision and there is no lack of visual entertainment. From a guitar duel between Liam and Kieran in the middle of the audience and James taking a solo-playing Liam for a walk around the audience on his shoulders during Shangri-La. Cracking music, expertly performed with smiles on faces on stage and off. These guys are firm favourites of ours and we can’t recommend them highly enough.
Beth Blade and the Beautiful Disasters were the next to hit the stage. The only female fronted band on the lineup. It has been a while since we’ve seen Beth; not from a lack of trying, we just couldn’t get our diaries to sync. As a result, we were both really looking forward to getting our ‘fix’. They didn’t disappoint. Beth is a great musician with fantastic stage presence. Together with bandmates Craig (Guitar), Stevo (Bass), and Sam (Drums) they make a great team. Their music is a blend of classic rock, blues, grunge and just about every other stop on the rock n roll train line features in there somewhere. What that means is they don’t sound like anyone else. They mix styles and deliver each one brilliantly. From the anthemic opener Hell Yeah, through the emotional Limerence, and the classic call and response of I Ain’t Got Nothing (If I Ain’t Got Rock And Roll) to the adrenaline rush of Jack and Coke. All are superbly delivered. Beth’s personal story as a survivor of domestic abuse undoubtedly influences her as a musician. And some artists might let that define them with an air of intensity. But you don’t get that from Beth. You get a beaming smile and an energetic performance. This lady is powerhouse of a musician and an inspirational human being. We really must make sure we organise our diaries better. We can’t go such a long time without another dose of Beth Blade and the Beautiful Disasters.
Next up were Juliet’s Not Dead. That’s a tough job; but they did it brilliantly. Vocalist/guitarist Steve Stoker is a superb frontman. Whether he’s anchored behind his mic stand or roaming around engaging with the audience, he possesses a captivating quality. Maybe it’s the mop of multi-coloured hair, the expressions he makes with his hands or the clear emotion in every word he sings. In terms of style, they’re a modern twist on classic rock, with perhaps a slight essence of high energy borrowed from pop punk. Ably assisted by Niall (bass), Jack (Drums) and Dan (guitar), the band delivers knockout blow after knockout blow. Highlights for us were the powerful Monroe and the action movie that is Fist Fight at the Waterside. This band is a well-oiled machine, relentless in its pursuit of the next massive song. It’s difficult to imagine them doing an easy-going song. It’s not in their DNA. But that doesn’t wear you down. They command your attention and you feel involved from beginning to end. They really are a terrific outfit, and our advice is to take any and every opportunity you get to see them.
Now, our penultimate band were a group we were seeing for the first time. We’d done a bit of research and knew they were based in Germany and had an Australian frontman. We genuinely had no idea what to expect. The verdict: Sweet Electric were epic. Talented musicians performing great rock songs with a comic twist to their live performances. Frontman Brad Marr has personality in spades. He builds great rapport with the audience from the start. Dressed in gold trainers, black shorts, gold jacket and gold baseball cap, he’s not trying to blend in. He’s also not be taken seriously. It’s all a laugh. Drinking song Somewhere in the Middle typifies their set and style of music. We were quite shocked that of all songs to cover, they picked electronic dance track Party Rock Anthem and turned it into their own; but we are not complaining, it was epic. Don’t be fooled. These are serious musicians that have got so good at their craft, they’re able to add a layer of comedic dust to their shows. It’s easy to be distracted by Brad’s shenanigans, bouncing around the stage taking the occasional (okay – frequent) sip of beer. But guitarists Michi and Mike are seriously talented. Bobo on drums had a new partner in the engine room – their Italian bassist was making his debut with the band. You wouldn’t know it. This was a top-notch performance from a top-notch band. Add into the equation that they had driven from Germany for a 45-minute festival slot and were driving straight back after the show. That’s commitment. These guys are funny, but they are no joke and they acquired at least two new fans.
Finally, we come to our headliners. Like Chris Payn and Mikey Ball who got us going earlier, South of Salem are south coast natives. So, this was very much a hometown show for them. We’ve seen them a few times and the set is now familiar. The coffin lids lit up at the back of the stage and the dancing girls have become established parts of the event. And it is an event. Being the headliner entitles you to have the stage set up for you.
Add the dramatic intro music used throughout the set, the black eye make-up and you get the full gothic experience. Frontman Joey Draper is an expressive and engaging artist. Wielding a microphone with a bloody dagger attached to it is just more evidence of their commitment to the image. South of Salem aims to be more than a band; it’s a way of life. Musically, every song is an anthem. We had Jet Black Eyes, Vultures, Hellbound Heart, a cover of Savage Garden’s To the Moon and Back and finished things off with Cold Day in Hell. The band has been through some lineup changes over the last year or so and that can be destabilising. But Joey was able to reassure fans that work on their third album is now complete. Let’s take that as a sign that the immediate future is settled and look forward to the new music.
This was a well put together and well-run event at a cracking venue. We loved it. All nine bands were top quality entertainment. Lovers of this fantastic emerging rock scene keep supporting it, and it was easy to see why it was sold out for the 7th year running. That doesn’t happen by accident. Promoter Jodie Bowie deserves an enormous amount of credit. Roll on next year. Take our advice, click here to get your tickets for 2027 as soon as you can. They won’t be around be for long.