Review by Tim Marcus with photos from Sam Conquest Photography
We’re back on site this morning for a lively (and unexpectedly early) start to day two of the Loverocks Festival. Catching quite a few people by surprise as they’re not scheduled to kick things off on the second stage today until 11:30am, are Newcastle based rockers Crowley, who for reasons perhaps best known to themselves and the organisers are underway at 11:10am.
Comprising of vocalist Lidya Balaban, guitarists Eliza Lee and Ruth Cranston, bassist Kim Fellows, and drummer Sav Montore, Crowley, formed in 2022 deliver a short thirty minute set of dark, heavy rock, with an added tinge of punk. It’s a fast paced set, their slowest song being their second single, “Something Wicked”, which given what has gone before, has a surprisingly melodic opening vocal.
The set is brought to a conclusion with a song that we’re told is about setting fire to someone who’s done you wrong! Nuff said.
Opening proceedings on the main stage today are a local band, from just down the road in Bournemouth, four piece classic rockers Skinny Knowledge.
Whilst their style is described on their own website as alternative rock, to my ears, during the course of their short set today, they come across to me as a pop rock band, influenced perhaps as well by the sounds of some of the “Hair bands” of the 1980s. Easy and pleasant enough to listen to however nothing in what I heard that makes them stand apart from the many bands out there delivering this kind of music.
We’re back to the second stage for our next band and whilst not necessarily my “cup of tea” they grabbed my attention because they were just that little bit different. It’s a short set from this band who have a number of other festival appearances lined up for this year including Wildfire and Planet Rockstock. Their style to me comes across as the New Romantics meet Pop Rock. In fact my camera carrying better half suggested to me that they reminded her a little of The Cult.
Easy enough to listen to, and visually good to watch even if it isn’t your favoured genre, my favourite track from the set was one called “Beautiful Mess”, a song they tell us has not yet been recorded and has only been played live a handful of times. These rising stars, who are clearly on an upward trajectory, were also shortlisted for a Glastonbury appearance this year and have recently announced that they’ll be special guests to Hannah Wicklund, another rising star, when she returns to the UK this autumn after a successful stint supporting Greta Van Fleet on their UK arena tour.
Next we’re back to the main stage for another band I’ve not come across before. Following a sound check, which in itself was enjoyable to listen to, after briefly leaving the stage, described as a no nonsense two piece rock and roll band, We Three Kings return to it, to the tune of the Christmas Carol of the same name.
That however is where the serenity ends as we’re hit straight between the eyes for the next forty five minutes by this hard driving, guitar riff driven duo comprising guitarist/vocalist Rich, and drummer Dave (not forgetting “Bonesy” on bass). A very enjoyable set which for me, in terms of the sound, sits somewhere inbetween Queens of the Stone Age and Wolfmother. At times the guitar playing even had me in mind of some of Rush’s earlier, heavier material. A band I had little knowledge of prior to today but definitely one I’d be happy to stand and listen to again.
We’re back to the second stage next for a band we’re seen performing festival sets a couple of times before. With Peterborough’s four piece Austin Gold, you know exactly what you’re going to get; fun loving, melodic and upbeat classic rock.
They kick things off with “Brand New Low” and also include a song I recall fondly from the last time I saw them, “Mountain” before wrapping up their set with “Never End”. As I said, with Austin Gold you know exactly what you’re going to get and once again this afternoon, they didn’t disappoint.
It’s a quick return to the main stage for what’s probably the first of today’s “bigger” bands and as they tell us as soon as they hit the stage, “We’re Carbellion from Wisconsin.
We play American heavy rock!” They certainly look the part and deliver as promised. Formed some twenty years ago and described on their own website as “post grunge rock”, the sounds we get from them are hard and heavy as Brandon Bauer (guitar), Cameron Kellenberger (vocals), Brent Nimz (drums), Jamie Damrow (lead guitar) and Steve Sheppard (bass guitar) give us a set comprising mainly their own material however included in what we hear is also a cover of T.Rex’s 20th Century Boy. I have to say that in terms of genres, grunge is something that completely passed me by so the description of “post grunge” I’m afraid leaves me none the wiser.
However left to my ears to make comparison with things I am familiar with I would suggest that their sound is a kind of Clutch meets Motorhead. Whatever way you’d describe it, it was certainly enjoyable with the band giving it their all and leaving nothing behind.
Next up is a collaboration I’ve not seen before although I’m familiar with the individuals within it and that’s Oli Brown and The Dead Collective. Comprising of Oli himself on guitar and vocals, Wayne Proctor (ex King King) on drums and Sam Wood (Wayward Sons) on guitar, they describe themselves as an alternative rock trio.
To my ear however they come across as a blues rock power trio (albeit this power trio have no bass player on stage and instead present us with two lead guitarists) and in my humble opinion were probably the most exciting act of the weekend. Oli has a wonderful vocal range, spanning soft and melodic to screaming and powerful. That, along, with his guitar playing, has me picturing him as an English Myles Kennedy.
Wayne’s drumming is immense, it has to be, as he has to hold the thing together with two lead guitarists letting loose in front of him. Like Oli, Sam Wood’s playing is sublime and the chemistry between this trio, as is evidenced by the constant smiles and grins exchanged throughout the set, is clear for everyone to see and is simply a joy to watch and take in. This is definitely a trio I want to see again and if you’ve not seen them, then I’d highly recommend that you do.
The special guest spot this evening is filled by a band for whom the NWOCR genre could’ve been invented; The Dust Coda. Formed back in 2013, this quartet hit us straight between the eyes with a set of soulful modern day classic rock.
I say “soulful”, as front man John Drake has that quality to his vocal and it’s there for us to hear in spades. Accompanied by fellow founding member, Adam Mackie on lead guitar, they kick things off with “Limbo Man” taken from the band’s 2021 album “Mojo Skyline” followed by “Dream Alright”, and “Breakdown”. At this point John explains to us that if he’s appearing a little weary.
It’s because he’s literally just got off of a flight from Singapore to come straight to Loverocks. “Love Sick” is next followed by “Sweet Love is Gone” a track from the first album; a song which starts with some soft guitar and vocal, one of my favourite tracks from the set and one that adequately demonstrates the soulful side of this band of classic rockers. We also here “Jimmy 2 Times” and “Call Out The Dogs” before they give us a track from their very first album, “Down in The Valley”, and then bring this powerful set to a conclusion with “Road to Hell”.
The Dust Coda are a band we’ve seen regularly at festivals such as this over the past three or four years and if they keep on delivering sets this good then I’m more than happy for that trend to continue.
The final band to take to the stage today are headliners, The Treatment. The Treatment are a Cambridge based hard rock band formed back in 2008. Two of its original members still remain with the band today some 16 years on, guitarist Tagore Grey and drummer Dhani Mansworth.
Taking to the stage to intro music from AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell”, they’ve since been joined by second guitarist Tao Grey, front man and lead vocalist Tom Rampton, and most recently back in 2020, bassist Andy Milburn. They kick things off with “Let’s Wake Up This Town”, the opening track from their recently released album “Wake Up The Neighbourhood”.
They then launch into the second track from the album “Back to the 70s”, perhaps a commentary on their musical inspiration and influences? “Let it Begin”, the first single and opening track from their 2016 album “Generation Me” follows. “Eyes on You”, “When Thunder and Lightning Strike” (not tempting fate but this set sees the first rain of the festival!) are next followed by “Vampress”. They continue to rock the field with “Hold Fire”, “On the Money” and “Bite Back”.
We’re then on to “Running with the Dogs” and “Wrong Way”, before Tom introduces us to a new song, from the latest album, “This Fire Still Burns”: It’s an up tempo hard rocking song which for me typifies what The Treatment are about and perhaps sends out a message about their desire to keep rocking. We’re now into the home straight of this headline set which is rounded off with a trio of great songs, “Let’s Get Dirty”, “Get the Party On”, and “Shake The Mountain” (a song perhaps more appropriate to Steelhouse than Loverocks but great to hear all the same).
Another great day at this wonderful little festival has come to an end but the good news is that there’s still so much more laying in store for us tomorrow when I’m particularly looking forward to seeing Blue Nation, These Wicked Rivers and The Answer as well as no doubt discovering a new band or two that I haven’t come across before.
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