KK’s Steelmill Wolverhampton.
Review by Dave Martin(we bleed music) and all photos by Carol Henson aka LadyGigger for Jace Media Music.
DAY ONE
Myself and Carol, LadyGigger have been off the media radar for about two years now due to Carol’s ongoing health conditions. Some of you might remember us when we were Webleedmusic, I’m afraid we had to pull the curtain down on that venture, and to be honest we didn’t expect to be back in the saddle reviewing and photographing again.
But it was lovely when we were contacted and asked if we wanted to cover this great event, and it has gone full circle for us because Glen at Jace Media was the first person and company we worked for before we went independent. So, it’s poignant that for ever how much longer we continue in the media that we shall end where we started.
Anyway, back to business! New Wave of Classic Rock Livefest is back, formed in 2017 it started off as a Facebook group and has developed into a collective of grassroots music concerts with two CD compilations of bands that have played and still continue to entertain us and ran by a fantastic group of people who are all like minded music fans.
The resident MC friend and lunatic, the legend or should that be Leg End, the one and only Pete K Malley. Pete has the unenviable job of introducing the bands and entertaining us with his witty retorts, 1 out of 2 isn’t bad Pete. X.
Seriously though this man is a true professional and we are honoured to call him a mate. Today is special because there are only two bands that we have never seen, in fact most of them we have known throughout our media journey and have a great relationship with.
First of these and starting the festival off are Ransom. Their tag line is Bringing the Stadium Rock Experience to a Venue Near You! and I can tell you they certainly do that, the energy of Matt and the boys is there for all to see.
He sums the attitude of the band up in just a few words. After their first two songs Matt calls out to the crowd “You are the reason we are here nothing else matters”.
A well-known DJ after hearing the debut album Back to the Boozer called them just another pub band, the guys jumped on this with humour and brought out t-shirts with that sentiment on it. Speaking to Matt, he told me this year has been one of the best times in his musical career. They have played so many festivals and gigs and made so many fans. I think that DJ might be eating his words now. I can’t think of a better band to open this event and get everyone in the mood for rocking and ready for a day of blistering music.
Set List
Vindication, Strap Yourself in, Even Nuns Watch Porn, Lil Green Eyed Monster, Enter the Dragon, Locked Down in London, Predator,. Hell, Fuck Yea, Back to the Boozer.
Links: Website: https://www.ransom.rocks/ / Facebook / Ransom | Spotify / Ransom (@ransom.rocks) • Instagram photos and videos
Second band of the night: Unknown Refuge. I admit they were unknown to us, my bit of homework I did find out about them, was that they hail from Bolton, and their frontman bassist and Founder member is Alex Mancini, two guitarists Jack Tracey and Harry Skinner and their drummer is Morgan Devaney.
In 2021 they released their debut album From the Darkness and their new single Shellshock is out now. Alex announced very early this was their penultimate gig and speaking later I was told they are going on hiatus for a while. Very versatile musicians with a mix of a slow doomy vibe and then speed it up into classic metal. I do hope they continue as a band.
Facebook / Website: UK Hard Rock/Metal | UNKNOWN REFUGE / 𝐔𝐍𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐔𝐆𝐄 (@unknownrefuge) • Instagram photos and videos / (9) Unknown Refuge – YouTube
A man we have known now for many years and we can honestly call a friend is up next: loved watching him climb the music ladder throughout that time and his popularity just grows and grows, the blues rock meister Jack J Hutchinson. Currently on his Battles tour, which is the title of his new album.
Along with his two band members Drew on drums and the ever-smiling Charlie on bass.He gave us songs old and new and his brand-new single Days All Gone which was released just yesterday.Jack is a virtuoso guitarist who mixes the old school blues and rock together brilliantly, it was great seeing him today, [been too long man].
Although we have seen and I have reviewed the next band many times, this is the first time we will see them with their newish lead singer Russ Grimmett, along with good friends Fred Hale and Andy (Moose) Muse on guitars, Mark Thomas bass, and Steve Byrne on drums. They are hailed as the world’s most popular British southern rock band: Sons of Liberty
These festival favourites and stalwarts of the current heavy rock scene, play both southern and modern rock and always get a crowd dancing. Russ soon had them raising their fists and shouting hey! hey! hey! Fred and Andy trading off each other on guitars throughout their set. Russ was great, interacting all the time with the crowd: he got the middle section where most of the big fans were to all jump together at the count of four and it turned into a mini–Southern Rock Mosh.
He also had them bizarrely singing “Give me Alligator” umpteen times on the wonderfully titled Beef Jerky Boogie. A great set as always and wonderful to catch up again after so long.
Set List
Time to Fly, Light the Fuse, Tertulia Time, Beef Jerky Boogie, Rich Man Poor Man, Damaged Reputation, Turn this Tide, Walk With You, Ruby Starr.
Links: Website: https://www.sonsoflibertyband.com/ / Facebook / Sons of Liberty (@sonsoflibertybanduk) • Instagram photos and videos / Sons of Liberty | Spotify / (9) Sons of Liberty – YouTube
Ashen Reach: This is a band since their debut album Homecoming four years ago have carved a solid place for themselves in what they call modern metal. Kyle Martyn Stanley – Vocals, Paddy Cummins – Lead Guitar & Vocals, Jess Stanley – Drums, Joe O’Sullivan – Rhythm Guitar. Kyle has a powerful vocal with a little bit of death metal growl once in a while, they have acquired a large fanbase going by the t-shirts I have seen today, and the pyro was working overtime for them.
Unfortunately, due to Joe being ill they were here today as a trio but they delivered a set loud and proud and the crowd loved it; the biggest in the hall so far today and I think the band were a bit stunned by the huge response they received, but these Mersey metallers deserved every bit of it. They might call it modern metal but I just call it bloody good music.
Set List
Broken Column, Heir to the Throne, Ghosts, Divide, Neophobia, The Dark, Lost, Homecoming.
: Website: Welcome to ASHEN REACH / Facebook / Ashen Reach (@ashenreach) • Instagram photos and videos / Ashen Reach – YouTube / Ashen Reach | Spotify
Next a band we have also covered many times over the years: Doomsday Outlaw. They play laid back rock with a heavy groove, Phil Poole, vocals- Indy Chanda, bass and backing vocals- Alez D, guitar and backing vocals- Rowan O’Sullivan, guitar and backing vocals- Nic Rudd, drums.
The great vibe these guys bring is infectious: Phil forever prancing and gyrating swinging his mic and enjoying every moment. I love a guy who can laugh at himself and Phil describes the song Turn Me loose as one of the many songs he writes about him being a total knobhead.
One of my favourite songs of theirs If This is the End, is dedicated to Phil’s father: no longer with us and to anyone who has lost someone close, was sung absolutely beautifully with pure emotion.
Amping it up for Blues for A Phantom Limb and Phil bouncing about through nearly the whole song. I enjoyed every moment of their set and they had the crowd dancing till the end.
Website: Doomsday Outlaw / Facebook / (9) Doomsday Outlaw – YouTube
The penultimate band of the night Collateral, I have reviewed these guys endless times and I remember interviewing Angelo back at the beginning of their career. In 2019 the band won a competition out of 200,000 entrants to support Jon Bon Jovi on his Runaway to Paradise Mediterranean cruise, and they won it. This experience opened so many doors for the guys.
The flamboyant Angelo Tristan (lead vocals, guitar), Louis Malagodi (guitar), Jack Bentley-Smith (bass) and Ben Atkinson (drums). Right from the first three opening songs Glass Sky, Sin in the City, and Lullaby, Angelo had the huge crowd singing along and clapping. “I’ve missed this” he said, “it’s good to be back”, referring to the summer break the band had taken.
It had been a few years since we had seen them back in Milton Keynes and it was great seeing how far they had come. Angelo is the perfect front man any band could hope for: charisma, brilliant voice and totally commands a stage. If you haven’t seen them these guys are the full package. They play AOR (adult oriented rock) with style and panache and mixed the set with old favourites and many from their latest album ‘Should’ve Known Better’.
A musical exhibition of pure rock and class.
Links: Website: HOME | Collateralofficial / Facebook / Collateral | Spotify / (9) Collateral – YouTube / Collateral (@collateralrocks) • Instagram photos and videos
Headliners tonight: a duo I have wanted to see for so long and tonight that happens, changing the whole mood, their style is what I like to call Punk n Roll punk with a vintage sound – The Virginmarys.
Blue haired singer and guitarist Ally Dickaty and Danny Dolan Drums, man for just a duo they create a hell of a sound: thunderous drumming and blistering axe playing. Ally has that rasp to his voice which is perfect for this style of music,
I have seen many drummers in my time and Danny is up there with the best of them – crushing the skins with incredible power and his rudiments were outstanding. Ally sounded so honoured to be asked to play at this iconic venue, and he made a great point, explaining maybe they are not the kind of guys who fall into the classic rock genre, but punk, blues, rock n roll – it’s all music man!
I read that Ally describes one of his biggest influences as Neil Young. I can well believe this because he really knows his way around a guitar, I was really impressed with his axe work. They played a nineteen-song set list and for those who didn’t stick around to see them you missed out on one of the acts of the night in my opinion.
Set List
NYC, Portrait of Red, Lies Lies Lies, Off to Another Land, Northwest Coast, Running for my Life, Into Dust, Sleep, The Meds, Lights, Future, Lost Weekend, Where are you Now, Motherless Land, Look out for my Brother, Nettle, Just A Ride, Killer, Bang Bang Bang.
: Website: The Virginmarys | band / Facebook / The Virginmarys | Spotify / The Virginmarys (@thevirginmarys) • Instagram photos and videos / The Virginmarys – YouTube
An absolutely great day meeting old friends and hearing some great sounds, roll on tomorrow for e of the same
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