Words by: Chris James
The venue was already buzzing long before the first band took the stage. There was a strong early turnout for a full lineup, and it promised to be one of those nights where every act brought something different.
Gripper Lee were first on, cutting a strong image with beards, black outfits and bowler hats. They describe themselves as “reminiscent of classic 1980s post punk and goth, delivered with plenty of energy and attitude,” and I’d have to agree. For me, their sound sits somewhere between punk and rock, with nods to The Stranglers — frontman Richie even named them as his favourite band — and maybe a touch of The Clash too. There were moments that leaned towards The Cult, and did I hear the slightest hint of Sabbath creeping in? They delivered an engaging performance and the crowd loved them; plenty of applause, cheering, and a warm response that set the tone for the rest of the night.
Photo credit – Helen Hurworth
Hayday were up next, and the whole night shifted into ’80s glam metal mode. Leather trousers, cowboy hats and pointy guitars replaced the bowler hat aesthetic from earlier, and lead guitarist George Hayday delivered a high octane performance that really stood out. Their sound sits somewhere between Poison and Guns ‘N’ Roses, and their closing cover of Poison’s Ain’t Nothing but a Good Time slotted neatly alongside their own material, including their new single Breakout.
Brisan brought another change of gear — a little more reserved than the glam of Hayday, but they still rocked just as hard. After a couple of songs, they really hit their stride; the vocals soared and the melodies began to shine through. I found myself warming to them more and more as the set went on. The Carlisle crowd clearly felt the same, giving them a great response and even demanding an encore before they left the stage all too quickly. I’d like to hear a longer set from these guys — it feels like there’s more depth to uncover if they’re given the time.
Photo credit – J C Galliano Photography
StOp sToP closed the night, and these guys were fantastic; they brought huge energy to the stage from start to finish. A highly entertaining set with lots of banter with the crowd. Jacob A.M. (bass and vocals) and Danny Spasov (drums and vocals) owned the stage from the moment they started. Jacob didn’t stop moving all night; while giving an amazing bass and vocal performance, he filled every inch of the stage with an incredible dynamic presence. Danny deserves equal credit — he’s a fantastic drummer and entertainer, driving the whole set with power, precision and personality. Even from behind the kit he connected with the crowd, adding vocal moments and a real sense of character that lifted the performance even further.Their set included Raised on Rock ’n’ Roll, Let Me Fill Your Void, Turned My Life Around, a cover of Highway to Hell unlike any version I’ve heard before, and later a mash up of Proud Mary with Thunderstruck. These guys really know how to entertain.
Photo credit – Afryca Soler
