Written By: CRAIG BAILEY
Photos By: NICK ASHTON
So that time of year has arrived where we dig the tents out of the loft, hope that nothing has nibbled on them (unless of course you opt to stay in a palatial Purple Palace) and head to a field to get our festival fix.
One of the first of the summer, and one of the very best is LoveRocks Festival in Ferndown, Dorset. Over the past few years this festival has become must and so it was that a sizeable proportion of the ERB team descended on the land of cream teas and Scrumpy.
The brainchild and passion project of Jim Love, LoveRocks takes place at his camping and caravan park, so upon arrival there is no mad scrum to secure a postage stamp patch of grass to put your tent up. You have your allocated pitch for your tent, camper van or whatever so the first stage of the weekend unfolds nice and calmly. Added to this are the permanently sited toilet and shower blocks which mean there is no need to be donning a haz-mat suit whenever nature calls. With temperatures hitting 30°C the ability to have a shower was so welcome. Add to this the superb organisation from the whole team onsite, the food and drink and the general vibe of the whole weekend it is an event that draws people back year after year. You arrive here and spend the first day catching up with so many old friends, so it is smiles, laughter and hugs all the way.
And then there is the music. LoveRocks boasts lineups that many, more major festivals, would be envious of. Jim and the team curate a smorgasbord of stunning acts covering Blues, metal and hard rock. What LoveRocks does so well is how they pace, what is the best part of 12 hours of music on the Friday and Saturday. The bands are intermixed so that some bands styles just give you that little breather at points during the day.
What about the music I hear you say, so let’s get into that shall we? But before we start, I will put forward a little disclaimer. Being the only scribe covering the weekend it was always going to be unlikely I would catch every band. So, where I may have missed a band, I will draw on the comments of those that did catch them.
Thursday evening had for us 5 bands with the first up being Irish four piece XIII Doors. These guys kick started the weekend in fine style with a cool combination of soulful melodic hard rock / metal from their Into The Unknown album. The goodly sized crowd who had made the effort to get in early really got into tracks like Lead The Way and the hugely anthemic See How You Have Come So Far.
Next up were the infeasibly young Zac And The New Men. I had seen these lads from Swansea a couple of years ago and then they were very raw, whereas now there is a polish that comes from confidence. They have a sound that puts me in mind of the Stereophonics if they had bulked up at the gym. Their music carries with it an infectiousness of youth that even when the bass player leaps from the bass drum and stacks it, not a beat was missed. To then rise with a look of “I meant that” made it even more impressive.
Local lads The Outlaw Orchestra returned to LoveRocks and bought their whiskey fuelled bluegrass outlaw country rock. A summers evening with a drink in hand is the perfect way to take in the bands slide guitar driven hard rock meets country twang.
Finnish band Shiraz Lane were one that I didn’t see but heard as I was catching up with people at the beer tent. From what I heard the guys laid down some high quality melodic rock that those Scandinavians do seem to write so well. The cheers we could hear from those down the front indicated that plenty of people where thoroughly enjoying them.
South Of Salem closed out Friday night with a blast of pyro, lights and massive melodic riffs. This is a band were born to play the bigger stages and Joey is clearly becoming ever more comfortable fronting this juggernaut. The band crashed through absolute fan favourites such as Cold Day In Hell, Jet Black Eyes, Static and Pretty Little Nightmare to set everybody up for the remainder of the weekend.
Possibly my find of the weekend was the first band up at the very un-rock n roll hour of 11.30am of a Friday. With their bluegrass tinged bluesey sound, Alabama Crow were perfectly apt for the many red necks (along with many other parts of the anatomy) in the goodly sized crowd that had gathered. This may have been due to it being just too hot in the tents or because these guys, despite some tech issues for guitarist Paul, played a Buckfast-fuelled blinder of a set with Mother’s Vigilante being a brilliant highlight.
Mikey Ball & The Company were a band I didn’t see but ERB’s Juliet Hurwitt, who knows a thing or two about high quality blues, thoroughly enjoyed them. If that was the case then we can assume they were pretty damn good.
To follow Mikey Ball was The Hot One Two. Now these guys were as nervous as hell as they were a little unsure as to what kind of reaction they might receive (if you know then you know, doesn’t need me to go over old ground) Anyway, their fears were unfounded as the crowd showered them with love and appreciation as they careered through high quality tracks like Demon Daze, Godforsaken Blues and Is It Hot? (yes, it really was by now) The guys spent the weekend at the festival and it was a pleasure to spend time catching up with them and we will look forward to the new album later in the year.
I missed Crowley as a result of the long queue at the beer tent. Their heavy modern hard rock really travelled across the site so at the very least I was able to listen and enjoy their fast and furious set. It was good to see that a band that ERB Magazine had as a ‘Ones To Watch’ are beginning to make their mark.
The Bad Day will always get a nod of approval from myself as there is not a lot better than listening to Nick’s guitar and Sam’s harmonica duelling on the bands working class Americana tinged blues.
Any day when Gorilla Riot are playing is going to be a good day and this day was a very good day. I have seen the band multiple times over the years and this was possible the most energised and ‘on it’ that I can recall. When you have the coolest of tracks like Bad Son and Wrong Side Of Town in your locker, a sun soaked festival crowd will lap it up and sing along in full voice. These guys will be headlining the second stage at Maid Of Stone so be sure to catch them there.
There were a sizeable number of King Kracken t-shirts in the crowd so I am sure they will have thoroughly enjoyed the Welsh five piece’s set. Unfortunately the timing of their set coincided with the need for me to nip back to the tent for something to eat.
I have totally lost count of the times I have seen The Karma Effect of the past 3 years or so. I have written a number of reviews and online posts so I find myself wondering what to write that I have not said before. That notwithstanding, these guys are good, no scratch that, these guys are very good. You know that will it be impossible to not be dancing to gems such as Steal Your Heart and Wild Honey and singing your heart out to Testify.
Bad Touch are the masters to The Karma Effect’s apprentices. When Stevie sashays onto the stage along with the band you know you are about to be completely entertained. Tonight was no exception, even after a hellish journey from Norfolk (Look out for the bands next album – “7 Hours In A Car With No Aircon”). This is a band at the top of their game, energised by their new guitarist Pete Lance and with Stevie’s voice sounding as good as I have heard it in a long time. Mixing the classic tracks from old and new albums this was a set that had even the most heat and sun affected persons up on their feet.
Now you remember how I mentioned that line up at LoveRocks is seemingly perfectly paced, well I bring you to the case in point. Now I think a goodly proportion of the crowd were unfamiliar with The Cold Stares, but at the end of a long hot day they were completely perfect in a ‘lets take it down and chill out kind of way’. This three piece are a particular fave of mine so it was wonderful to take in the band’s easy, laid back electric blues with a beer in hand as the days temperature cooled. You could see the nods of appreciation throughout the crowd at the sublimely understated guitar playing of Chris Tapp who has a voice that is like melted chocolate poured over gravel.
So having once again woken up feeling like a boil in the bag rice (those people in the Purple Palace are soooo smug) it was time to head out for another days music, cider and fun.
It was a nice relaxed start to the day with North Wales / Shropshire 3 piece Cry For Mercy. Theirs is a really cool blend of blusey hard rock with some very smart guitar playing from Andy Cutty. Even approaching midday, the temperature had risen, but from nowhere, and I mean nowhere as there was not a cloud in the sky, came the very lightest of rain fall. Everyone in the crowd was looking at each other with a “can you feel that?” look on their face. It lasted no more than 30 seconds but that did not stop the stage crew, mid song, leaping into action like a F1 pit crew to move monitors back under the cover of the stage.
Tempus Frayed were a band that a lot of people had underlined as one they wanted to see and the third band at LoveRocks that had been an ERB Magazine ‘Ones To Watch’ (The Karma Effect being the other). This was another band where the band members were all early 20’s and this was reflected in their sound having a wicked pop sensibility to their overall alt rock sound. Hailing from Suffolk you could hear some slight lyrical phrasing similarities to some ginger fella whose name I cant quite remember. People mentioned Busted and McFly when they spoke of how much they enjoyed their hugely entertaining set. This is a band I think we will see more of over the coming years climbing ever higher up the billing.
Leadfeather were another band that I did not see directly but their look is very early ’70s classic rock and that was very much what sounded out across the festival site. People I spoke to said that the London band were seriously good with vocalist Apostolos having an impressive voice.
I knew little of The Rattlebacks but by the end of their set I was converted. Firstly as a result of their commitment, anybody that wears PVC trousers in 30°C heat like bassist Jack did has got to be committed. Every single band member was all over the stage and they did not let up, even when you could see they were on their last legs. Vocalist Josh has a hell of a voice which really stood out on tracks from their Sidewinder album. For me my other find of the weekend and a band that I will look to see sometime soon.
Beth Blade And The Beautiful Disasters were a late replacement to the bill and the lady in question and her band bought their usual fire and fury, especially with the classic Jack & Coke and the new single Never Let Go. The band will also be at Maid Of Stone so be sure to get down the front for that one.
A band that has gone from strength to strength over the past 12 months or so are Muddibrooke. I have always been a fan but this set was as good as I have ever seen them. Harriet is now a lot more confident as the front person and has a real wit to her humour. Her voice has grown to having a deep resonance to it with a saw blade edge. Anna provides some gorgeously understated bass lines and Morgan really does provide a huge foundation with his drumming. Harriet’s and Anna’s vocals combined beautifully, especially on songs like Float, adding a beautiful ethereal layer to the song. If this song alone signposts the direction of the forthcoming album then it could well be something very special. The band can now count my partner Trudy as a convert and that is a tough club to get into so they must be doing something right.
Next to take to the stage was Scarborough’s This House We Built, and they smashed it. Their ’80s styled radio friendly rock style was just what the assembled needed and they got it in spades. This is a band who know exactly what people want. You taking a picture? No problem, vocalist Scott will strike a pose for you (thank you mate) all whilst banging out stunning songs like Fly Me Up To The Moon. Even when things go wrong they turn it into a triumph. After turning the mic stand to the audience to Scott managed to topple it forward to the front of the stage. As he attempted to catch it he ended up lying on his back, mic stand on top of him, but not once did he miss a guitar note or vocal. This and Andy’s shorts splitting, made for an interesting and massively entertaining time. I will certainly look forward to seeing them soon at Maid Of Stone.
Having seen SKAM only a couple of weeks before I didn’t feel too bad about nipping off to cook up a storm back at camp. If my friend Cher is saying that they were the best she has ever seen them, and she has seen a hell of a lot, then it sounds like I may have missed something very good. Them’s the breaks I guess.
New Yorker Sari Schorr will be well known to those that follow the UK blues scene. In recent years she has played extensively throughout the country and has built a significant reputation with her powerful and emotive vocals. I have seen Sari a number of times over thattime and will never tire of hearing songs like Ain’t Got No Money, Demolition Man and especially Damn The Reason. It was clear that as Sari’s set progressed the crowd’s appreciation grew, especially after spilling a bottle of water she was on her hands and knees with the stage crew mopping it up. This was a fantastic lead in to the culmination of the weekend with a performer that has a voice that can make even a field feel like a small intimate club.
So as we came to the end of the weekend you could feel the sense of anticipation heighten. Those of us who witnessed The Commoners at Maid Of Stone last year were expecting something very special here at LoveRocks XIII and the band from Toronto did not disappoint. With a summer solstice sunset as their canvas, they painted wonderous musical colours with their North American roots rock and roll. There will always be the comparisons to the Black Crowes but to just pigeonhole them so would be unfair as with rousing anthems like Devil Teasin’ Me and The Way I Am they have something that is very unique and their own. A true highlight was to see vocalist pick up a beautiful Gibson Les Paul which was the twin of guitarist Ross. This guitar belonged to Jim Love and to see the pride and emotion written across his face as his own guitar graced, his own stage, as part of such a special performance was something to remember. The Commoners left us on a high and already waiting for next year and LoveRocks IX.
So as Jim took to the stage to say “thank you” to the amazing team that the LoveRocks organisation have assembled, he announced the dates for next year as 18-20th June 2026. Your scribe, like many many others will be here once again as this is a weekend that is unlike any other. It is festival for people who love music and live music in particular, but what makes it work so, is the fact it is organised and created by people who have that exact passion. Then you add into the mix the people, not just those who you see down the front regularly, but those you see only here and in that I count people like the bar staff and vendors.
LoveRocks…the best of times, with the best of music, with the best of people. Till next time!!