Where – Wanlockhead, Dumfries, Scotland
When – 27th to 29th June 25
Friday 27th June Part One
Photographs and Review by Linda McDermott
The hills are alive with the sound of music, and on this occasion, that was certainly true. With a sold-out festival and hundreds of rock fans arriving, more than ready for a weekend packed with energy and music from 32 bands, Wanlockhead Inn in Scotland, the highest pub in the country, played host to it all. You don’t need a sign to tell you it’s that high, as I could barely see a thing through the thick cloud cover. The weather might have been a wee bit dreary, but the crowd more than made up for it. Spirits were high, the beer was flowing, and everyone was raring to get the party started.
Kicking things off in fine style were the band aptly named Wild Fire, a five-piece from Galashiels who lived up to their name from the first note. Blending tracks from their back catalogue with new material, they had the packed tent cheering and head banging to every song. I’ve always been a fan of Scattered and Rapture from their Rapture EP, but it’s their latest material that really shows how far they’ve come, they are heavier, bolder, and full of confidence with their latest songs.
They closed their set with the absolute belter Blood is Blood, with fantastic riffs, and the bass thunderous. Credit to the whole band for being tight and on it, but Lewis on bass really stood out here, he’s clearly pushed himself, and its paid off. It’s not often the bass catches your ear like that, but in this track, it drove everything. A first-class performance and a brilliant way to launch the festival into full swing.
They’ve got a headline show coming up at MacArts, Galashiels on the 19th of July and it’s going to be a fantastic show so get a ticket before they’re gone.
https://www.facebook.com/WildFireScot
Video
Scattered
Next up were Rattlesnakes, a five-piece who were completely new to me, but it didn’t take long to see why they’re on the festival lineup. Fronted by a powerhouse of a vocalist, Rowena owned that stage from the off, what a voice. Their brand of high-speed rock filled the tent, and they had the crowd attention.
Tracks like Firestarter, Love Me Harder, and Selfish Soul from their Deeper Shades of Torment EP went down an absolute storm, with fists in the air and plenty of movement down the front. They closed out their set with a cover of W.A.S.P.’s I Wanna Be Somebody that hit the spot perfectly. A fantastic set and a brilliant discovery for me. They have an extensive tour this year so check out their Facebook page for more details.
https://www.facebook.com/Rattlesnakesofficial
Video
Mercy
In the words of Bunny and the Badfire, “Here we fuckin’ go.” This alt-rock band kicked off their set with a bit of swagger and a touch of funk, easing us into their sound with a track that warmed the crowd up nicely before shifting up a gear. From there, it was full throttle. With songs that carried a definite Aerosmith meets Run-DMC vibe, they had the tent buzzing.
Highlights for me were Needle Getting Pushed, Jazz from Hell, and IXXI, big tunes that worked the crowd and showed off the band’s range. Bunny looked like he was having the best time on stage, and that energy spread right out into the crowd. By the end, they had everyone singing along to the choruses and completely caught up in their performance.
https://www.instagram.com/bunnyandthebadfire
Video
To The Bone
https://youtu.be/se6mevarfW8?si=dNWpPqsnE0HbJiFs
Wailing Banshee took to the stage with a bit of extra pressure, as the youngest rocker in the tent, who was less than a year old, was watching her dad play guitar. No doubt about it, the band had to deliver, and they absolutely did.
Another female-fronted band, and once again, what a voice. Her vocals gave the whole set a solid backbone, pulling everything together and driving their sound forward. With a set full of heavy riffs and thumping bass lines, they powered through a string of great tracks that kept the crowd entertained.
One standout was Worlds Apart, the title track from their upcoming EP. It got a huge reaction, telling me they have a hit on their hands. The energy kept building with Under the Sun, which gave the crowd the chance to join in with a classic “whoa, whoa, whoa” chorus. You can’t beat that kind of singalong, it’s what gets you involved and makes festivals. By the end, dad and the band did his daughter proud.
https://www.facebook.com/wailingbansheeofficial
Video
Lord of the Flies
I hadn’t seen Bad Actress since WinterStorm in Troon a few years back, so I was really looking forward to hearing how they’d come on, and I wasn’t disappointed. From the moment they stepped on stage, they brought the glam and high energy with full force.
With the drummer now stepping up as lead singer, they launched into a lively set packed with great songs, bouncing around the stage and clearly having the time of their lives. That energy spilled straight out into the crowd, who were more than happy to join in. You really can’t go wrong having these guys on your line-up given their spirit, enthusiasm, and solid tunes, what more do you need?
Well, how about a cover of ABBA’s Does Your Mother Know? It went down an absolute treat, with a tent full of rockers showing off their dance moves and loving every second. Brilliant.
https://www.facebook.com/badactressband
Video
Good Times
Saffron Gorman, all the way from Northern Ireland, was another new name for me, and I’m glad that’s now changed. I love that more women are stepping forward in the grassroots rock scene, it shakes things up and brings a fresh dynamic.
From the first song, it was clear this band meant business. Saffron’s voice is fantastic, strong, gritty, and packed with emotion. Their set was full of heavy tracks with a proper head banging beat, and the crowd were absolutely loving it.
They played a few tracks from their debut album Paint Me Like the Bitch I Am, which is well worth adding to your downloads if you haven’t already. Another great find at this festival and one I’ll be keeping an eye on for sure.
https://www.facebook.com/saffron.gorman
Neon Fields brought a completely different vibe to the day, and it worked beautifully. This three-piece electronic rock band added something fresh to the mix, with great melodies and a sound that leaned into the emotional side of things. There was definitely a bit of a Sleep Token feel to their set, moody, powerful, and full of feeling.
Ed’s voice is haunting, rich, and carries each song with such emotion that you can’t help but stop and take it all in. The way the music ebbs and flows around the vocals pulls you in and holds your attention right to the end. It’s hard to describe, but it felt like a bit of musical witchcraft, and I salute it.
https://www.facebook.com/neonfieldsband
Video
Cage of Lions
Shiraz Lane, the brilliant Swedish rockers I last caught at Call of the Wild a couple of years back, were another highlight of the day. These guys know exactly how to work a stage and get a crowd going with great rock tunes.
With three albums under their belts, they had plenty songs to choose from, and the set they delivered was a belter. Heads were banging, devil horns were raised, and the energy didn’t dip once. Their sound has that late ’80s vibe, big, gritty, and full of swagger, and Hannes nailed those high notes like it was nothing.
They closed with I Will Fly You to the Moon and Back, to a tent packed with people singing every word. It was brilliant, it was uplifting, and it left the whole place on a high. If they’d been the headline act, no one would have complained, but the good news was, there was still more to come.
https://www.facebook.com/ShirazLane
Video
Dangerous
Zac and the New Men were up next, with music that sits somewhere between classic and modern rock, but you can’t quite put them in a box, and I really like that as they’ve carved out their own sound, and it’s one that sticks with you.
Dressed like they’d stepped straight out of the ’70s, long before they were even a twinkle, they didn’t just play the stage, they stepped right into the crowd, bringing the music closer and making the whole thing feel more personal. It was a brilliant touch that pulled everyone in.
With their album Reinvent Me and a strong run of singles already out, I’d recommend giving them a listen because they might just end up being your new favourite band. And just to top it off, their setlist was printed on special T-shirts made just for the festival. Clever boys!
https://www.facebook.com/zacandthenewmen
https://www.instagram.com/zacandthenewmen
Video
Birdcage
This House We Built are always excellent, and tonight was no exception. As headliners, they nailed it. These lads have a knack for writing proper tunes with big guitar riffs and a sound that fills every corner of the tent. They’re quickly building a solid reputation with their performances up and down the country, and it’s easy to see why.
Musically, they’re tight, sharp, and full of energy. Vocally, Scott absolutely nails it, but he’s also completely nuts, in the best possible way. He owns the stage, climbing, bouncing, and leaping across every inch of it, feeding off the crowd and giving it everything.
With their self-titled album already out and a new one in the works, the set was packed with both fan favourites and fresh material, including their latest single Addiction. One of the standout moments came with Fly Me Up to the Moon, a slower, more melodic track that had the whole tent swaying and singing their hearts out during the chorus. I looked around and couldn’t help but smile, everyone completely in the moment, swaying and voices raised. A brilliant way to end the first day of the festival.
https://www.facebook.com/thishousewebuilt
https://www.instagram.com/thishousewebuiltofficial
Video
Addiction
What a way to kick off the weekend. Day one delivered everything you could want from a rock festival, big riffs, brilliant vocals, unforgettable moments, and a crowd that was up for absolutely everything. From fresh discoveries to firm favourites, each band brought something different, and the atmosphere in that tent just kept building. If this was just the start, then the rest of the weekend had a lot to live up to. There was even an after-show party lined up, with Scotland’s Rock Radio DJ Alan Henderson on the decks, but I’ll be honest, I had nothing left in the tank. It was time to grab a drink, rest the feet, and soak it all in. Day one, done, and done in style.
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