Where – Wanlockhead, Dumfries, Scotland
When – 27th – 29th June 25
Saturday 28th June Part Two
Photographs and Review by Linda McDermott
Waking up to day two of Wildfire Festival in Wanlockhead, I was relieved to see the clouds had lifted and the day looked brighter. After a solid breakfast, I took the short stroll up to the heart of the festival at the inn, passing a few locals, of the woolly variety, who clearly have right of way in this lovely little village. With the first band set to hit the stage at 11am, a decent crowd had already gathered, many looking impressively fresh despite last nights afterparty. And with that, day two was ready to deliver more great music.
Crusaders kicked off the day with a fierce thrash metal assault packed with guts and grit. Their powerful tribute to their late singer Bobby, the track Warrior, struck a deep emotional chord while hitting hard musically.
As you would expect, their set was packed with rousing anthems and relentless energy, they had the crowd head banging and foot tapping away from the first drumbeat. Their debut single, V for Vendetta, was a blistering highlight that kept the punters moving.
This was a very strong start to the day, Crusaders set the tone with a raw, no-nonsense performance that proved they were a perfect fit for the festival.
https://www.facebook.com/CrusadersUKband
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V
Webb, a three-piece alt metal band made up of Ryan, Luca and Nigel, delivered a standout set packed with contrast and character. Ryan, in a dramatic long black leather coat and wielding a red guitar, matched the intensity of opener ‘You’re Going Down.’ Tracks from their debut Deadly Sins and Virtues hit hard, blending heavy riffs with melodic moments. In my humble opinion it’s an album worthy of your attention. They finished with ‘Stay Alive’ which was a head banger that show Webb’s musical and vocal skills perfectly, thoroughly impressive.
https://www.facebook.com/WebbOfficial
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Stay Alive
Dacara were up next, making their Scottish debut, and what a first impression. Fronted by Emma, a powerhouse vocalist who stood out in a bold lime green outfit among a sea of black band tees, they brought heavy melodic vibes in full force. This young, energetic four-piece didn’t hold back, delivering big riffs, slick melodies and an impressive vocal range. There was no shortage of movement either, with plenty of high-energy they were bouncing around the stage, clearly having fun. Dacara have the sound, the presence, and the spark, and are definitely ones to watch out for.
https://www.facebook.com/DacaraUK?
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Røt
Wrex were another band I hadn’t seen or heard before, so when they stepped on stage, I’ll admit it, I assumed George would be on guitar while Mae handled all the vocals. How wrong I was and it’s not often I say that! From the very first note, their stage presence had me hooked. This band are alive. They share the vocals with a seamless chemistry that works, and their energy was something else, jumping, kicking, running all over the stage like their lives depended on it. And just when you thought they’d covered every inch of the stage, they launched into the crowd with even more fire. Wrex didn’t just play a set; they left a mark and for me, I didn’t want them to finish. New favourite band? Absolutely.
https://www.facebook.com/wearewrex
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Take a Walk
Bright Black brought a blast of heavy alt hard rock to their first show in Scotland. Fronted by vocalist Talzz who had some serious presence, their set was bold and full throttle, with thick riffs and pounding rhythms that had heads nodding and feet tapping. ‘Close to the Edge’ stood out with its driving beat, and rhythm with the bass player stepping into the crowd to take things up a notch.
We were also treated to a preview of their new single, Bitter Pill which is out this Friday. It continues their hard-hitting riffs and energy so remember to check it out. I have to say, the standard of bands playing at this festival is first class.
https://www.facebook.com/BrightBlack22
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Overdrive
Alabama Crow are a brilliant, entertaining rock band with a fantastic attitude that spills straight into the crowd. They’ve clearly built a strong following, with the tent packed out for their set. As always, Billy turned up in his trademark fancy pants, hopefully without any wardrobe malfunctions this time.
With a mix of sharp banter and great tunes, they had the audience in the palm of their hand. Their set featured tracks from their EP, singles, and some new material, all delivered with confidence. I especially loved their latest release Inside Fire. Asking around afterwards, Alabama Crow were easily one of the festival favourites amongst those at the festival.
https://www.facebook.com/AlabamaCrowBand
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Open for Business
We’re now halfway through the day and there’s no let up on the great music blaring out from the tent. Attic Theory took to the stage with a confident set drawn from their debut album, ‘What We Fear the Most’ which was released last year. This five-piece delivered a strong dose of melodic rock that hit the right balance between grit and emotion. Their songs had weight but were easy to connect with, and the band’s chemistry on stage was clear. The final track was a real crowd moment, with the lead singer taking the melody while the audience joined in, belting out the “whoa whoa whoa” with full voice.
https://www.facebook.com/AtticTheory
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Paper Mâché
Pyroclast brought storytelling at its finest, weaving epic tales into every song they delivered. This was their first festival appearance under the Pyroclast name, and they made it count. Frontman Mark had been battling a sore throat for three weeks and was still unsure if he was fully recovered, but you’d never have known, and the crowd made sure he knew they were enjoying the performance.
When it came to The Judge, the audience stepped up, singing the chorus to help him through while the rest of the band continued with their intense music. With everyone fully engaged, Mark announced their final song, that was met with a chorus of boos from a crowd that clearly didn’t want their set to finish. However, all good things must come to an end and the band wrapped up in fine style, with a clear look of relief on Mark’s face as he made it to the end without losing his voice.
https://www.facebook.com/pyroclastrocks
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The Judge
Black Lakes are without doubt an incredible band, destined for big things with their powerful brand of heavy rock that tackles a wide range of themes. Blasting through a nine-song set, they delivered fan favourites from both For All We’ve Left Behind and Dead Gods without missing a beat.
From the explosive opener Verity in Flames through to White Cliffs, and closing with Dead Gods, it was a treat to be part of a crowd that clearly loved every minute. The band’s energy and stage presence only added to a performance that truly hit the mark. I personally can’t wait to see them again this coming weekend at SOS Fest.
https://www.facebook.com/Blacklakes
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Burn
The next assault on the eardrums came from the heavy hitters that are Ashen Reach, who are a force to be reckoned with. Their set was packed with crushing riffs, pounding rhythms and a stage presence that demanded attention.
The band knew exactly how to work the crowd, and the front-row headbangers didn’t miss a beat, throwing themselves into it with everything they could muster. Blending intricate melodies with unrelenting power, Ashen Reach delivered a performance that was both brutal and beautifully tight. There’s no doubt they walked away with a few new fans under their belt.
https://www.facebook.com/ashenreach
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The Dark
With another full-on day and with lots of people extremely hydrated I wondered if people were running out of steam and had anything left to give. Then Black Spiders took to the stage, and I at least was ready for their performance, especially as I hadn’t seen them since Firevolt 2023.
These guys know their guitars and their grooves, mixing tight playing with plenty of attitude. and make no apologies for being one of the best uplifting, entertaining bands on the grassroots circuit. Without wasting too much time on banter, they tore through fifteen songs in what felt like minutes. At the band’s cheeky request, the crowd shouted “fuck you Black Spiders” with middle fingers raised before they blasted into another tight, hard-rock anthem.
Their raw energy and flawless delivery had the tent buzzing until the very last note. Black Spiders reminded everyone why they’re such a beloved fixture on the scene, closing the day with fire, passion, and a whole lot of attitude.
https://www.facebook.com/theblackspiders
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Never Enough
Well, that’s another day done for me, with today’s lineup delivering a fantastic mix of rock styles, with every band bringing their own energy and passion. It was brilliant to see the crowd and bands mingling, sharing laughs and good vibes all day long. I enjoyed the day from start to finish just as much as yesterday, and I’m buzzing to see what tomorrow’s final lineup has in store. With an early start at 11am, it’s time to get some rest and be ready for another round of great music even though there was another after party.
If you are after tickets for next year, and why wouldn’t you be, follow Wildfire Festival on Facebook for the latest news.
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