Review by Dave Martin and all photos by Carol Henson (aka LadyGigger), for Jace Media.
MoFest is held across the August Bank Holiday Weekend and is now in its eleventh year.
Three days of live bands, free camping, a real ale bar, and wonderful food.
Day one, Friday August 22nd.
Sheffield band Sour Tusk had the unenviable task of starting the festival off – never easy.
They play hard and heavy rock original songs with a vintage Rock and Roll Vibe and also incorporate a bit of punk into their set. Nic drums and lead vocals, Jake guitar, and Neil bass and it didn’t take long to get the crowd going.
They played two covers which had them all singing along: terrific versions of Proud Mary, and Gay Bar.
Nic had a good strong voice and for a three piece they were loud and really had a good time up there they did a stellar job of getting everyone ready for a good day of music.
Set List
Mission from God, Pretty Ugly, Roll with the Punches, Hail Hail Rock and Roll, Drinking Man, Desert Punk, Proud Mary, Crazy. Under my Skin, Monster in Me, Gay Bar.
Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sourtusk
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3KglgUQgzSeXecFliL2fxt
Second band of the night and led by our good friend Rob better known as Greyfox Growl, the wonderful Greyfox Conspiracy.
Their debut album launch will be at the Patriot Club on December 12th.
Rob has a distinctive raspy growl to his voice, hence the nickname. The other part of the name is when he spent time on a North American reservation and they named him Grey Fox – I think that is pretty cool.
Right from the first song Freight Train you can immediately hear that growl I mentioned, Grey Fox demanding to see hands in the air clapping and threatening to come out there if they didn’t, and you don’t argue with him.
The crowd, well most of them, responded.
There were some powerful anthems and he brought some theatre on Preacher Man holding a huge bible above his head getting down on his hands and knees to pray and then jumping into the audience blessing some of them on their foreheads.
A true showman, Twist of Fate was the song that showed the real power in his vocal ability and there was an homage to one of his heroes on the song Crazy Horse, complete with a native American Indian dance.
Their new single Backs to the Wall is available September 5th, which we also heard.
At the beginning the hall was pretty empty but people outside obviously liked what they were hearing and by the end of their set it was fairly full: a testament to just how good this band are.
Links:
Website: https://www.greyfoxconspiracy.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreyfoxConspiracy
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3WYAwGb7HaG6w9vkf7myfF?si=9yc97Vt4S5K8bIztzzd3eQ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreyfoxConspiracyOfficial
I had heard a lot about the next band, Electric Black: very popular judging by all the tee shirts being worn tonight. This four-piece from Hitchin, Hertfordshire incorporate indie, classic, and hard and heavy rock in their set
A very charismatic band fronted by Ali Shiach with a terrific drummer Matt Butler who just loves being out there headbanging to everything they play.
Completing the rhythm section is Ryan Trotman and finally the blistering axe work of Jonny Bryant for the full lineup.
I was really impressed with these guys; highlights for me an impressive cover of Creedence’s It Ain’t Me, a blues rock song Put it down on me and the song Down for the good time.
But I really enjoyed everything they played: the deep basslines from Ryan and the blazing riffage and solos from Jonny, the acrobatic stickwork of Matt and not forgetting the soulful tones of Alis. The room was rammed for them, and they stormed it.
Website: https://electricblack.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElectricBlack
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@electricblackuk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/electric_black
Last band of the night who we have seen and covered a few times before, the very loud and exciting Blind River.
Formed from the bands Godsized, The Earls of Mars and Pig Iron these five rockers never fail to deliver riff driven hard and heavy songs.
The ear-piercing vocals of Harry Armstrong two excellent guitarists Chris Charles and Dan Edwards, deep often doomy bass lines of Will Hughes and finally the hard-hitting drum beats from Mark Sharpless.
Every time I see Harry he just blows my mind: the power and energy of this man – I really don’t know where it comes from, but I could do with half of it!
He is relentless, all night screaming roaring, but absolutely brilliant in everything he sings. This band have always reminded me of early Soundgarden, but maybe that’s just me?
Getting the ball rolling with two crackers Going Nowhere, and Made of Dirt.
The booming bass sound plays such a big part in this band bringing that grungy doomy sound that all the fans love Snake Oil, Horsehead, they played it all, and of the course the big fan favourite and also flooding the hall with the tee shirt logo Can’t Sleep Sober.
By the end of the set Harry was totally exhausted, giving it everything he had all night for the fans. But he made time to honour Mo who is the reason that this Festival exists more about him and the history later.
Set List.
Going Nowhere, Made of Dirt, Second Hand Soul, Snake Oil Acid Tongue, Punkstarter, Horsehead, Freedom Dealer, Home, Can’t Sleep Sober, Learning to Lose.
Website: https://blindriver.bandcamp.com/merch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlindRiverUK
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blindriveruk/
A great first night: four incredible bands and even more to come tomorrow.
Bring it on.
+ There are no comments
Add yours