Rockinburgh Festival – Rockin’ for Tots.

Date – 27th/29th Sept 24

Day – Friday 27th September

Venue – La Belle Angéle, Edinburgh

Photographs and Review by Linda McDermott

Festival season isn’t quite over yet and this weekend saw me heading to Edinburgh for the three-day Rockinburgh Festival, all in aid of charity.

The weekend is organised by Andy and Gill Cowe who have set up ‘Rockin for Tots,’ to support various neonatal units and bereavement charities. You can find out more information about the charity and how to donate at the following website. https://rockinfortots.co.uk/about/

There are twenty bands playing at La Belle Angéle Night Club over the weekend, which is in the Cowgate part of the city, tucked up a side street. La Belle hosts a great variety of events and gigs over the year, so check out their website for more details of further events. https://la-belleangele.com/calendar/

So, on with the day which started at six o’clock with four bands on the bill.

Bands

Killbolt

Medusa Touch

Big Iron

Certain Death

First up are Killbolt from the Scottish Borders who have the unenviable task of warming up the crowd as the festival gets underway. The four-piece band delivered an impressive meaty performance and got a great reception from the audience. The guys have been writing new music and added a couple of the new songs to their set in the shape of ‘Homemade Prison’ and ‘Far off Places’ which fitted in perfectly. They kept the pace up throughout their thirty-minute slot finishing with my favourite song ‘Here Comes The Pain.’

Killbolt were a great band to start the festival off and although they haven’t released any tracks yet, their music has undeniable draw with a tight and cohesive sound, so much so that I’m hoping they release an EP in the not too distant future.

Medusa Touch say that they deliver ‘good old fist pumping, singalong head bangers that will always leave you in a good mood,’ and that’s exactly what they did!

The band, clearly passionate about 80s rock music, delivered an energetic and memorable performance, playing a fantastic set of songs that had the crowd fully engaged. Their mix of tracks from their album ‘Insaniteyes’ and a couple of their single releases along with their lively stage banter created an interactive and enjoyable atmosphere. The band’s connection with the audience was evident, as they kept the energy going throughout the set that earned them cheers and applause from those gathered.

Next to the stage was Big Iron who have been together for just over a year and have quickly become an undeniable force on stage. Each member of the band brings a unique energy, making them an infectious and captivating group to watch. They blend skill with creativity in a way that keeps the audience hooked, singing, amongst others, their latest single ‘Tiny Little Pieces’ and my favourite, ‘Daiquiri’ as they tore through a cracking set, full of energy.

Singer Ollie’s stage presence makes it hard to take your eyes off him as he bounces all over the place, but it’s not just him, the whole band radiate a sense of fun and enjoyment, which clearly reaches out to their audience, making their ability to grab and hold the attention of a room very impressive.

Big Iron are supporting the brilliant Black Spiders on the 10th of November at Stereo in Glasgow, go and support them if you want a good night out. Check out their socials for ticket details.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bigironisbig

Video

Daiquiri

Last, but certainly not least is local band Certain Death who explode onto the stage with electrifying energy, instantly holding the audience by the throat! From the first note, they unleashed a relentless barrage of heavy, hard-hitting tunes that had my attention. With two lead vocalists, they brought a fresh, dynamic edge to the night, trading off intense, face-melting vocals that had me asking myself, where have they been hiding. Each song hit harder than the last, creating an infectious atmosphere that kept the room alive and engaged until the very end.

Despite never having seen them before, I was impressed by their raw energy and stage presence, their ability to keep the momentum high throughout the set was impressive, and the crowd responded with unwavering enthusiasm. This band

doesn’t hold back, they deliver a full-throttle, no-nonsense assault on the eardrums which is loud, raw, and unapologetic.

Just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, they ended their set with a surprise invitation, encouraging the crowd to join them on stage. A few enthusiastic fans took them up on the offer, and the band launched into a raucous rendition of “You’ve Got to Fight for Your Right to Party.” The stage became a chaotic scene of bouncing fans and band members, wrapping up an unforgettable night with a bang.

I may never have heard of Certain Death before, but after tonight, they are impossible to forget.

Video

Here for the Beer

With all that said, it brings day one to a close. Four great bands, bringing their own brand of rock music that was appreciated by the crowd, each one different, each one as entertaining as the last.

Bring on tomorrow!