Where – Vauxhall Holiday Park, Great Yarmouth
When – Nov/8th Nov 2025
Day Three: Saturday, 8th November 25
Review and Photographs by Linda McDermott
It’s the last day of Hard Rock Hell at Vauxhall Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth, and despite three full-on days of music, laughter and late nights, the stamina of the rockers here is nothing short of heroic. The festival may be winding down, but you wouldn’t know it. With drinks in hand, obviously to help with the hoarse voices after all the singing, everyone’s ready for one final blast of live music before the lights go out for another year.
Velour Fog were tasked with opening the day, and they wasted no time shaking things up. This young four-piece brought something completely different to the HRH weekend, a mix of rap, rock and groove that added a fresh edge to the day. Their set had great drive and attitude, with the vocalist pacing the stage and spitting out verses while the band kept things tight behind him. Their take on The Joker went down a storm, adding a twist that really worked for them.
Next up were Welsh alternative metal outfit Edit the Tide, who made sure the energy levels stayed high. Playing songs from their debut EP, they hit hard with melodic riffs and hooky choruses that grabbed the crowd straight away. ‘Ambience’ stood out with its pounding rhythm and moody edge, while their latest single, Dancing With Shadows, sounded huge live. They’ve got a great mix of intensity and melody, backed up with plenty of cheeky banter between songs that kept things light-hearted. A new discovery for me and definitely one I’ll be keeping an eye on.
Video
Dancing With Shadows
When a band like Gipsy’s Kiss hits the stage, you can feel the history in the room. Celebrating an incredible 51 years, they proved that classic rock never loses its spark. With six seasoned musicians on stage, they delivered a masterclass in old-school rock, complete with thumping basslines and singalong moments. It was pure nostalgia with a shot of fun.
4FoxSake were next to keep things rolling, pulling from their debut album Light the Way and earlier EPs for a lively, engaging set. Their brand of rock is catchy and upbeat and packed with riffs that the crowd enjoys. The band have great chemistry on stage, and their version of 4 Non-Blondes’ What’s Up was a smart choice, as it got everyone singing, winning over those who hadn’t seen them before. It’s always good to see a band with both solid original songs and the ability to bring the crowd in on a familiar classic.
If there was ever a moment when the room needed lifting, Junkyard Drive from Denmark were the perfect cure. Bursting onto the stage with explosive energy, these five hard rockers were absolutely on fire from the first note. The riffs were big, the choruses bigger, and the crowd fed off it completely. If they came here to impress, mission accomplished.
Video
Tearaway
Things keep moving at a pace, and it has to be said that everything behind the scenes is running like clockwork. The crew are on it, the changeovers are seamless, and the sound engineers deserve real credit for how sharp and balanced everything sounds. Each band is being showcased at their best, and it really shows.
Next up are Fallen North, who keep the momentum going with tight musicianship and a gritty edge that hits just right. With punchy songs, big choruses, and a confident stage presence, they make a strong impression on the crowd, many of whom are hearing them for the first time but are soon drawn in by their no-nonsense rock delivery.
Swedish outfit Black Paisley followed, showing off their polished sound and knack for writing classic-style rock with a modern edge. Their new album material got an early airing and went down well with the audience, who were clearly enjoying every note.
Video
Set Me On Fire
On Stage Two, White Heat turned up with a set packed full of classic rock tunes. The five-piece eased the crowd in before letting rip with some powerful riffs, smooth transitions, and some great guitar solos. Their solid musicianship and tight rhythm section gave the songs real punch, and What Is Mine stood out as a proper crowd-pleaser. It was a confident, well-delivered set from a band who clearly love what they do.
By the time The Hellfire Club hit the stage, the room was filling up fast. The Brighton hard rockers came in swinging with a set full of swagger and grit. Loud, raw, and full of spirit, they gave the crowd everything they had, and the reaction said it all, with hands in the air and grins all round.
Next were Hard Buds, who’d travelled twelve hours to be here, and from the moment they stepped on stage, they made sure it was worth every mile. “Are you ready for some rock and roll? ” they yelled, getting a huge cheer back. Drawing from classic influences like Sabbath and AC/DC, they delivered a full-throttle set of proper hard rock that hit the mark perfectly. They had the rockers in the room fired up as they sang song after song. Fantastic stuff.
Video
Fire
District 13, a three-piece with a powerful sound, kept the tempo driving with riff-heavy tracks and plenty of attitude. Their tight musicianship and strong vocals made for a big punchy set that proved they were here to impress.
Video
Emotive Addiction
Wig Wam was a band many had been waiting for; even after three days of non-stop music, the crowd was still up for more. The Norwegian glam rockers were on fire, delivering a fun, flamboyant show full of singalong moments and cheeky humour. Their style is pure entertainment, and even those unfamiliar with the songs were quickly swept up in it.
Although I’m ok with a bit of nostalgia, for me, it’s more about discovering new music, and We Three Kings fill that slot brilliantly. The two-piece from Manchester absolutely smashed it with their fuzzed-up punk rock sound that grabs you by the throat. Rapid, raw and ridiculously catchy, they owned the stage from the first chord. With a new album due early next year, they gave us a taster of its tracks with Nothing Without Me and Your Love Is My Disease, the latter released today. There’s no filler with these guys, just tight, hook-laden tunes and non-stop drive. Pure brilliance.
Video
Nothing Without Me
And then it was the grand finale, Royal Republic, the ultimate band of the weekend. They are chaos of the best kind. It’s hard to believe they’ve been together 15 years; their performances are as fresh and full of life as any new act. Their mix of styles, which they jokingly admit has been confusing people for years, just works. They kicked off with My House and Love Cop, setting the tone for their performance. Singing Back from the Dead, Adam grinned, saying, “That’s as close to heavy metal as you’re going to get! ” ” They’re so entertaining it’s impossible not to smile while watching them. Between songs, the banter flowed, with the chemistry between the band and crowd engaging.
Their antics never stopped their full set. They sang Boomerang, an acoustic song at the front of the stage, while telling everyone it was a photo opportunity. They invited a fan, Alice, up to play cowbell when Adam, full of charm, wandered through the crowd to sing a song. They joked about their old dreams of being a cool heavy metal band who turned out to be a pop band before bursting into a Metallica song, much to everyone’s delight. Royal Republic are a class act, they are tight, fun, and absolutely flawless live. If ever your mental health needed a reset, they are probably your best
bet. No one wanted them to finish, no one wanted to leave the venue because Royal Republic are addictive, infectious and moreish, but finish they did, leaving everyone on a high.
And just like that, the weekend ended. What a fantastic four days it’s been at Hard Rock Hell with a mix of established favourites, new discoveries, fun, laughter, banter, and plenty of memories to take home. Speaking to regulars who’ve been coming for over a decade, the verdict was unanimous: this year has been one of the best yet. Roll on the next one!
Video
Ain’t Got Time
+ There are no comments
Add yours