We start with some upbeat, feel-good melodic rock from Atlas whose keyboard-heavy vibe is a treat for lovers of that 80s sound. They bound onto the stage and immediately we are transported to AOR heaven where the choruses are big, the harmonies are luscious and melody is king. Drawing on each of their full-length releases, the band showcase the best of their songbook in a punchy set that establishes the bar for the rest of the day. Heartbreak Remedy are a more down to earth, gritty prospect whose bluesy hard rock quickly gets under your skin. Theirs are tales of life at the bottom of the heap looking up to the stars. Many of us can relate to the down-trodden Working Man Blues, while 21 Kings reminds us of a carefree youth when anything was possible. Yet, like all good blues, misery makes for great songs and even if you’ve not heard the band before you can quickly pick up on their groove. There is no such introspection when Sweet Electric hit the stage and the gold lamé bundle of energy that is Brad Marr launches into Heir To The Throne. From then on it’s a non-stop cowbell fest celebrating the best in party rock. It really is impossible to suppress a broad grin as the band blast through the best of their hard rockin’ debut album The Monsters Are Rising. The pace doesn’t dip for a second as guitarists Mike Schneider and Dactah Keule trade riffs and solos a-plenty and Brad goes walkabout in the crowd, much to everyone’s bemusement. The band will be back in the UK towards the end of September and again in November so book your ticket for the party bus now. Next up we have some more melodic rock, this time from Sam Millar and his band who are altogether a more polished affair. You can picture The Killing Floor being played over the opening sequence to an episode of Miami Vice in a land where the sun always shines, the cocktails are free and the boys are prettier than the girls. This is another unashamed throwback to the AOR of 80s and a more carefree time.

Juliet’s Not Dead continue to grow in stature with their modern take on hard rock winning over fans at festivals large and small this summer. Since changing their name, they have not so much re-branded as developed a maturity in their sound which culminated in the chart success of the This World Is Ours album. Today we get a set favouring the best of the new with a smattering of older Twister songs to please long-term fans. The passion and energy are there for all to see as the audience sing and dance along throughout their set. In contrast, Victory Or Die deliver straight forward, no frills rough and ready rock ‘n’ roll. This is biker-friendly rock cast unapologetically from the same mold as Motörhead. The riffs are gritty and the vocals are raw, yet there is still an underlying swing to the likes of New Rock Revolution. Hang The DJ triggers that headbanging muscle memory while set closer The Bone Trap rattles round your skull kicking and screaming. The energy continues with noiseniks MOSKITO whose brash sound combines elements of punk, scream and semi-rap vocals. The band have attracted the attention of some heavy hitters in the industry since the release of their debut album in 2023 with an appeal reaching beyond the traditional rock audience. They have an in-your-face cockiness which sits well with their cross-genre blend of DIY sounds and angry vocals. Continuing the punk ethic, albeit with roots more firmly grounded in rock, Slyder Smith & The Oblivion Kids return to RockWich once again. Unlike last year’s laid-back Americana, this year’s set is decidedly more energetic not least due to the addition of Adam Bam Bam McNaughton on drums. The underlying storytelling remains, but there is a greater degree of attack to the live performance compared with the recorded versions of the likes of Pleasure Victim and Nobody’s Listening that provides an added spark.

As we reach the early evening what better way to revitalize the crowd and start the serious partying than the Takeaway Thieves? Their sleazy swagger is custom built and designed to please from the first notes of 13 Feathers to the final chords of Lose It. This is dirty, feel-good rock ‘n’ roll played from the hip and aimed firmly at your dancing shoes. Vocalist Peter Mcloughlin strikes up an instant rapport with the crowd as Ben Gibson grinds out the riffs, while across the stage guitarist Neil Hunter and new bassist The Rev lock into a groove as they compete to throw the best rockstar poses. Tracks from the 2024 sophomore release Diamond Point slot into the set seamlessly and show that the band’s song writing has continued to develop while still retaining that trademark unpolished grittiness. No wonder then that they attract the biggest crowd of the day so far. Next up we head to the Wild West for a masterclass in bluesy slide guitar from Troy Redfern. Accompanied by a drummer stage front, Troy lays down some foot tapping tribal rhythms as he conjures up the spirits of the indigenous people of North America on Native before the preacher man comes to Sanctify us with a funky backbeat. Making a welcome return across the Irish Sea, Trucker Diablo are here to drink beer, raise hell and take everyone along for the ride. Undaunted by some early technical issues, they plough into their set like a relentless juggernaut stopping for no one. Their sound is riff heavy, driven by the twin guitars of Simon Haddock and Tom Harte and backed by a formidable rhythm section in the form of Jim McGurk and Terry Crawford. Yet the songs are also catchy with singalong choruses that quickly take up residence in your brain. There is a moment of quiet beauty too when Tom performs a solo acoustic version of Where Angels Fly, followed by a snippet of Bark At The Moon in tribute to Ozzy before the mayhem of Drink Beer, Destroy and Dig closes the set in style.  Riding high on the success of a support slot with The Dead Daisies, Dan Byrne is on fire this evening. Although the stage is smaller than at recent gigs, he and his band give everything they’ve got as they tear into Hard To Breathe and Hate Me. Dan’s voice is better than ever, if that is possible, and he has the quiet confidence to draw the crowd in from the very first note. Yet he doesn’t forget how he got here, and he thanks the audience gratefully for their continued support. We are treated to a couple of new songs in the form of Saviour, which has a dirty stoner riff and singalong chorus, and Cherry & Leather which is an up-tempo rocker. Dan has just announced a headline tour in March/April next year, so get your ticket now before it’s too late.

RockWich has come a long way since its inception. Although the festival remains small by comparison with others catering to the new rock scene it is, in their own words, perfectly formed. The team behind the event work extremely hard to bring both new and established names to the stage, and they are rewarded with a loyal audience who turn up year after year. The 10^th anniversary of the festival was a resounding success which hopefully will inspire Col, Mik and the team to continue building this hidden gem in the summer gig calendar.

Full photo gallery available here:

https://www.nickashtonphotography.co.uk/-/galleries/festival-season-2025/rockwich-24-08-25

Find out more about the festival here:

www.rockwich.net/

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