KK’s Steel Mill Wolverhampton.
Review by Dave Martin and all photos by Carol Henson aka LadyGigger for Jace Media Music.
DAY 2
Welcome back to KK’s Steel Mill for the final day of this brilliant festival.
Yesterday there were only two bands we had never met or seen before, today is the total reverse as there are only two that we know or seen perform, so it should be an interesting day as we have always tried to champion the up-and-coming grass roots musicians.
Hereford rockers Kinstrife start the event off today; formed in 2013 the band are as follows: vocals and rhythm guitar Mike Hoskins, Alan (Tiga) Kaye lead guitar, fellow founder member David Richards on bass, and Simon Richards on drums. Their influences are a list of 80’s rock bands: Saxon, Whitesnake, AC/DC, so I’m expecting to see some serious headbanging going on.
Mike has a cool growl to his voice and for the first band of the day the hall was full of people, showing the popularity of this band. Rise and Fall with its deep heavy bass intro had a few heads going, they had a small technical problem early on but the excellent crew soon sorted it out during the break. Mike looked around the crowd and was surprised how many people he had seen at their gigs before.
Unconditional is a lovely slow melodic number which had a great groove to it. These guys play some great harmonics and you can definitely hear the eighties sound there.
I just love Mike’s vocals, reminiscent (to me anyway) of Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and I’m sad to hear that he is stepping down at the end of the year due to health and heavy touring. He is the nucleus of this band with his wonderful sonorous tones, and will be very difficult to replace. I wish him all the best.
Ground Hammer had some excellent guitar solos and I can also hear a bit of a grunge vibe there.
First time seeing them: it won’t be the last.
Set List
Intervention, Rise and Fall, Fear, Unconditional, Ground Hammer, Queen of Broken Hearts, Make Me.
Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KinStrifeuk Big Cartel: https://kinstrife.bigcartel.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kinstrifeband/
I reviewed the next man, Tom Kilner, way back when he played HRH Blues on stage 2. The crowd are in for a taste of whiskey-infused southern blues, Americana, country, and blues rock all played in his inimitable style. Also pleased to see the piano organ for the first time. Cosmic Sounds and Devils Gate had the medium-sized crowd swaying to the laid-back country sound but the next song, Do Something About It changed the whole atmosphere, turning up the volume for some Rock Roll with that Kilner country vibe and there was some serious dancing going on now. No More next from his latest album Borrowed Time.
His songs are toe tapping, hand clapping, solid blues and he and everyone else had a great time.
Set List
Cosmic Sounds, Devils Gate, Do Something, No More, Home, Ride With Me, Other Side, Light it Up, Get Back Up.
Links: Website: https://www.tomkillner.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TomKillnerBand Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomkillner/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6QQxDM1gbgGFNt7Rk8uwXi
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2OyZRVqvZbMtAZa0RwifPg
The next band Jayler were a late addition as Ollie Brown had to pull out due to illness; they have played a few times at a local-ish venue to us: The King Billy in Northampton, and I have heard great things about them. This Midland teenage powerhouse has only been together two years after lead vocalist/guitarist, James Bartholomew and Tyler Arrowsmith met at an open mic session in Tamworth: both only sixteen they immediately noticed the musical chemistry they had. They put their two names together and became JAY-LER.
They were together in a musical college and decided to expand and recruited multi-instrumentalist Ed Evans and a little later Ricky Hodgekiss Bass/ Keys. And the band we have tonight were formed. The moment they started their set I was immediately impressed, the confidence, and amazing voice of James for one so young was phenomenal, in fact the whole band played like they had been together for ages not just two years.
High octane classic 70’s rock and just two songs in Acid Rain and No Woman and I definitely can see these young men having a great future in this industry. Down Below is vintage blues rock with attitude; James has the mannerisms of a young Robert Plant and the swagger of Jim Morrison.
His huge vocal range just has to be heard and he had the crowd clapping and dancing till the end.
All the lads are multi-instrumentalists and their excellent musicianship on that stage today should be applauded. I loved everything about them, they raised the bar high today and I can say they are one of the highlights of the festival for me. I can happily see the future of rock music is in great hands with this young up and coming band. And the huge crowd and response they received shows just how popular they are already, and long may it continue.
Set List. Acid Rain, No Woman, Down Below, When You Go, The Getaway, Lovemaker, The Risk.
Links: Website: https://jayler.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaylerband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaylerband/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2cqlQm5f8HXjQ7LCMVsZ7f
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Guvz2Fvj99W7_8b0zH3Gw
Another band I am excited to see for the first time are The Hot One Two, this Cambridge five piece was founded in 2017 by bassist Nick Blackburn, lead guitarist Nick Manners and drummer Joe Chivers; a year later they added veteran session rhythm guitarist Kev Baker and their charismatic frontman Simon West: and the band was complete. They signed with TowerRok Band Management in 2022 and in 2023 they released their critically acclaimed concept album “Superbia,” which explored the seven deadly sins.
They play classic 80’s rock with a modern twist: fast and furious, heavy and just up my street. Simon has a really powerful voice with great range. The hall was once again rammed, and deservedly so, as these guys were really bringing it, and there was some serious head banging going on in the crowd. I love the energy they bring and you can see they enjoy every moment on stage. The star of this band is without a doubt Mr Baker dashing around like roadrunner on speed, forever pushing his tongue out and pulling some of the most amazing gurning faces I have seen in a long while.
Not taking anything away from the rest of the band they were tight and exciting, and really entertained Waited a long time to see these guys do their stuff and it was well worth the wait.
They weren’t just hot, they were volcanic.
Set List. The Fray. Rolling Stone, Demon Daze, Playing With Fire, God Forsaken Blues, You’ve Got It, Is It Hot? Tie Me Down.
Links: Website: https://www.thehotonetwo.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehotonetwo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehotonetwo/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3O3OR2vjvM6JV1GnIDMfEP
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbCD3cpLjU96DFOi28US6wQ
I must apologise to the next band Black Lakes, it was time to get us both fed and watered and I met a lot of people outside in the merch area, with all the chats etc I missed your set, but LadyGigger stayed behind and did get some photos, hearing the feedback later from people they really enjoyed what you did.
Set List: H.A.T.E., Avarice, The Divide, Fragments, Vapour, Burn, Dissident, White Cliffs, Dead Gods, Verity in Flames.
Links: Website: https://www.blacklakes.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Blacklakes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacklakes.uk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BlackLakes
Next a band from my home town London, The Karma Effect.
They describe themselves as the bastard lovechild of Black Crowes vs Aerosmith, with a step-sibling called Greta Van Fleet. Their intro walk on was Indeed Aerosmith’s Heart’s Done Time; after hearing a few of their songs I am also getting Free, The Faces and a lot of vintage 60’s influences.
They have a very vintage rock sound and this quintet comprises Henry Gottelier guitar/vocals, Robbie Blake guitar, Liam Quinn bass, Seb Emmins keyboards, and Ash Powell on the drums. I mentioned Free earlier and Henry has a thunderous growl not unlike Paul Rodgers, I can hear and see why they are so popular, they bring the sounds of Rock n Roll, Blues and Vintage Rock to the party.
They did anthemic numbers getting the crowd to sing along and the influences kept flooding through their set, Mr Big, Extreme, all played with great style and finesse. They have just finished their Promised Land tour, their biggest yet, so if you haven’t seen them yet I thoroughly recommend you catch them next time, you will not be disappointed.
Set List. Hearts Done Time, Livin It Up, Doubt She’s Coming Back, All Night Long, Wrong Again, See You Again, Wild Honey, Testify, Steal Your Heart, Promised Land.
Links: Website: https://thekarmaeffect.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekarmaeffectuk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekarmaeffectuk/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2D1hmJmCscHyl2PzaIu9J1
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtPP37V7qiX5cCeR3dfpebA
Penultimate Band of the night Dead Man’s Whiskey, didn’t get a set list but these guys know how much we love them, we have been around them since the early days and they never fail to entertain a crowd. There is nothing I can say about them that I haven’t said in countless reviews and interviews over the years, I reviewed them both for Jace early on and with WeBleed.
Nico is a great frontman, and the rest of the band Billy Kons Lead Guitar, Elliott D’Alvarez Rhythm Guitar, James Titley Bass and Charlie Gray Drums and they always bring 110%. From Carol and myself guys it’s been so much fun watching you from the start and seeing your big progression over the years. It has been too long since we have seen you so like the crowd, I’m just going to enjoy your set.
Links: Website: https://deadmanswhiskey.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeadMansWhiskey
Instagram:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/78GPTwHpBkuef6qShIYYE8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DeadMansWhiskey
Just before the final performance of the night there was a raffle where all the NWOCR organisers came up onto the stage and Richard Brindley announced that next year’s event is going to be bigger than ever bigger bands and more capacity.
To get early bird tickets to next year’s events, click here and scan the QR code: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10163059956247323&set=gm.1255524782035548&idorvanity=1036478853940143
Headliners tonight: local Wolverhampton band Gin Annie.
We have so much history with these guys from the first gig at Leicester Rocks, to album launches, interviews, reviews, but it would be a sin not to review them tonight. The band are their front man David Foster, his bouncing guitarist and cousin Byron Garbett, bassist Phil (The Hammer) Burrows, and their drummer Lewis Turner. We will also be seeing their new guitarist Marc Bradley do his stuff for the first time tonight.
Before their set David asked everyone to applaud all the bands who had appeared this weekend and to all the staff of KK’s and of course all the brilliant sound crew and NWOCR team.
Kicking off their set with the single Perfect Nightmare, coincidentally the video for this was recorded here at KK’s and directed by blues musician Kris Barras. This is a riffage apocalypse coming at you from every angle and a terrific opener. New Bad Habit was next with Byron’s guitar intro ringing through the hall. This song gave an opportunity for Marc to show off his axe work with some dynamic solos and David had the hands clapping very early in the set.
Rain was next, thunderous drumming and riffage a-plenty; the rhythm section of Phil and Lewis driving this anthemic number.Continuing with Dyin to Live Again and another single from them Last One Alive, I was impressed with Marc’s interaction with the crowd; raising his hands and getting the audience going all the time. David and the guys finished the night off brilliantly and it was just wonderful seeing them again after all this time: they are much more of a tighter unit now and a rawer sound.
Set List. Perfect Nightmare, New Bad Habit, Rain, Dyin to Live Again, Jealousy Love Ain’t Here, Next 2 Me, Fallin, Until You’re Mine, Devil In Me.
Links: Website: https://www.ginannie.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@GinAnnieUK
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginannieuk/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0t8FDT35kSVXDaLB5lmK8t YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ginannieofficial6434
What a fantastic weekend of music, fun and meeting old and new friends, thank you to Richard, John, Peter Helen and all the NWOCR and KK’s team
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