Review by Dave Martin and all photographs by Carol Henson (aka Lady Gigger)
The final day of this wonderfully run festival and, I know it is a Sunday, but the turnout today was pretty poor, such a shame.
Each and every one of these bands travel miles and miles to bring you a couple of hours of entertainment. Instead of sitting at home in front of your tv’s, come and support live music.
Harry from Blind River summed it up on the first night saying that you don’t have to pay five or six hundred quid to watch someone on a big screen, you can support grass roots music and enjoy your favourite songs for the price of a meal out.
That is so true, people! If you don’t use these venues and festivals, you will lose them.
I have a mantra, keep music live and alive.
The opening band today, Angel Underground.
Their first song Hard to Live had that Quo boogie rock vibe. This and American Beauty were real toe tapping tunes. I’m really impressed with the front man, he hasn’t stopped gyrating around the stage since the beginning.
Then the whole set changes and they start playing their true love of old school punk. Valley of Death, Die by The Sword: original songs but with that classic punk sound which everyone here loved, myself included.
Echoes of Sham 69, and the Pistols were heard, and it was clever how they blended classic rock with the punk sound: their version of Billy Ocean’s Red Light was inspirational. A great start to the day.
Set List
Hard to Live, American Beauty, Don’t Look Back, She’s Gone, Valley of Death, Girl, Into the Sun, New CAR, Soul Force, Die by the Sword, Now I Know, Red Light.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aurockband
Another band keeping the heart and soul of punk alive were up next: The Insurance Men.
The Damned’s Neat Neat Neat, and the anthemic Rockaway Beach: two classic crowd pleasers begin their set; another excellent version of Misirlou, and an homage to Ozzy and Lemmy with Paranoid, and the song Motorhead.
Ever fallen in love, the Buzzcocks big hit was also very popular with the crowd singing along, as was Blitzkrieg Bop.
The love and passion that these guys have for punk is impossible to miss. They played a huge set and kept people on the floor, well done lads.
By the way, their excellent drummer’s true profession is a standup comic.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090128687407
Totally changing the whole atmosphere for a late afternoon with some mellow blues and Rock and Roll were The Black Jack Blues Band.
A double bass, blues harp, guitar, and drums. I wondered if this more mellow music will bring more people out of the camping area.
Sadly not.
Two songs in and a few people were dancing slowly together enjoying the mood music, some good old-fashioned rock and roll with Let the Good Times Roll changed the mood to jitterbugging, and there was also a four-part harmony A Capella tune which had everyone clapping in time then Flip Flop and Fly had them jiving,
A good combination of blues, jazz and rock and roll.
SmashTag next, and they played a full song for their soundcheck Word Up.
There were only about twenty people in the room watching them, as all the rest were sitting outside listening and chatting.
The people who did stay and watch were dancing and singing along to everything they did and the lead singer’s face showed just how much the band appreciated that.
Hard rock covers delivered with a passion, Killing in the Name ofbrought loads in from outside and congrats to the band for keeping them there with classics like GNR’S Paradise City andWelcome to the Jungle and the big crowd anthem favourite Zombie. One word describes this band, Knockout.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmashTag.rockhttps://www.facebook.com/SmashTag.rock
Two bands to go and Metalworks are a bit of a legend – especially around Camden, London, as they have been playing every week there for thirty years.
Fronted by Steff and guitarist Tony Parsons who played in a very early Iron Maiden line up. Tony left a few years ago due to other commitments but often guests, and tonight we are lucky to have him here again.
They play all the classic rock numbers; you name it they play it: Judas Priest, Metallica, Led Zep – in fact their set list was so long it would take up so much of the page to list it all.
The room was packed out for them; there were a couple of Ozzy homages Paranoid (of course) and Crazy Train.
The band were awesome but I’m afraid to say that Steff their singer was very flat on many of the songs. It was more shouting than singing at times and I wasn’t the only one who noticed it, so please don’t shoot the messenger.
Despite that they did exactly what they came to do and kept everyone on the floor dancing and singing all night so big props to them.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metalworksband
Final band of this festival: a Wasp tribute Electric Circus, and these guys go all out to emulate the Los Angeles band.
First off, they get the prize for the best drumkit of the fest (see pic); they sport customised costumes and makeup and a huge backdrop bringing to you the full Wasp atmosphere.
They have actually supported the mean man himself, former Wasp axeman Chris Holmes on his tour in 2016. They are not just any old covers band, you get the full experience.
A lot of the audience had to go outside to listen to them as they were so loud.
It had been a long three days and not being massive Wasp fans, we decided to let the fans enjoy their set and headed for home.
A big thank you to Mark Holland, the hard-working promoter for letting us cover this for you.
The festival was originally called Reaper Fest, and when Maurice McCombe (the man who started it all) passed away in 2018 in honour of him MoFest was born and Mark took the reins. Since then he has tirelessly, year after year, delivered a wonderful array of bands and entertainment.
He is very modest and says he is just a fanboy winging it.
In our time in this industry, we have covered major bands and names, Birmingham Resorts, the Palladium, and huge festivals.
But it all starts with grass roots and without it the industry would collapse.
And Mark, throughout this weekend we saw what you had done and how you had looked after all the bands, and how much everyone loves you.
You should be very proud, because you are a top promoter and Mo would be very proud of how you have kept the legacy going.
We look forward to covering many more gigs for you.
Links:
Website: https://www.melbourn-rock-club.com/
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