Whittles @ Tokyo, Oldham, Manchester
4th – 6th July 2025
Sunday 6th July Part Three
Review and photographs by Linda McDermott
It’s been a brilliant weekend so far, packed with a cracking mix of bands from across the rock genre, each bringing their best and winning over new fans in the process. The weather’s been a bit hit and miss, but as they say, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes (or something like that!). The bar staff have been spot on, and the food vendors haven’t missed a beat, with pizza, burgers and paninis delivered quickly and all getting a well-earned thumbs-up.
Now it’s the final day of SOS Fest, and there’s still plenty of top-notch music to come, so let me tell you all about it.
Thankfully, the rain held off, for the first band of the day, but they knew it would! It was a good omen for Fortune Teller, a six-piece full of charm and charisma. They kicked things off with confidence, drawing in the early crowd with ease. Their track Beyond Winter’s Day stood out, a slow, melodic number that built beautifully and showcased their music.
The band had real stage presence, bouncing off each other and connecting with the crowd like seasoned pros. Theresa’s smile was nothing short of infectious, and by the time they closed with the epic tale of Savage Seas, their debut single, they had firmly won the audience over. A great start to the day.
https://www.facebook.com/fortuneteller.metal
The Fortune Teller
Next up were For the Forsaken, and frontman Dan immediately stood out, not just for his gravel-soaked vocals, but for his choice to ditch the usual rocker black for a striking all-white outfit. This felt like a bold statement, and one that suited the band’s confident attitude. Their heavy rock sound was raw and emotional, with Dan’s distinctive, gritty voice giving them a real edge.
The whole band had energy, with Jack throwing in his own take on the moonwalk mid-set, according to him, it’s now officially his move! Lyrically, their songs come straight from the heart, they are raw, honest, and clearly drawn from lived experience. I love Serenity, Pain, and Bring the Fire, like all their music there’s a real emotional weight behind the words, speaking of struggle, growth, and resilience in a way that hits home. I can’t wait for a For The Forsaken album which I hope is just around the corner.
https://www.facebook.com/theforsakenband
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Bring the Fire
Scotland’s own Blackfyre Rising were next up, a solid rock band I last caught at Rockinburgh, in Edinburgh and they were great then. With their self-titled EP freshly released last month, the crowd were treated to a full run-through of its tracks, including The Cycle, I’m Alright, and Tempest, each delivered with power and polish. Lead singer James kept the energy high and the banter flowing, offering some questionable but crowd-approved wisdom: “You can’t have a hangover if you don’t stop drinking.”
One of the standout moments came with another song from the EP, Spellbound Woman, a track James wrote about his wife, it kicked off hard with a driving beat and didn’t let up. They closed their set with Play It Dirty, bringing the crowd into the action for some audience participation. A cracking performance from the band.
https://www.facebook.com/blackfyre.rising
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Back inside for The Black Hounds, who wasted no time in delivering a heavy, in-your-face set that hit like a sledgehammer. From the first riff, they had the room onside, with heads banging, and plenty of satisfied faces among the heavier metal crowd. Drawing from both their All Kingdoms Fall and Colossus albums, they mixed things up nicely, showcasing the pounding, riff-driven sound that defines them. No frills, no filler, just straight-up heavy rock from a band who know exactly who they are.
https://www.facebook.com/TheBlackHounds
All Kingdoms Fall
There’s no getting away from it, this is a cracking festival, with a lineup that genuinely has something for everyone. And then along come Liberty Slaves, a band that, without even trying, make you grin from ear to ear. They’re a fantastic bunch, full of humour, energy and brilliant rock ’n’ roll swagger. Their songs are upbeat and catchy, driven by Ryan’s gravel-edged vocals that fit the vibe perfectly.
From Heavens Above and Ain’t That A Bitch, through to The Struggle Is Real and Never Enough, the feelgood tunes just kept coming. The crowd were loving it, laughing, cheering, and properly getting into it. Now, I wasn’t going to mention this… but I must. At one point, Ryan decided to test the strength of the wee picket fence running along the front of the stage, however, it failed spectacularly, and he ended up in the crowd. But fair play to him, he styled it out like a pro. Without missing a beat, he bounced back up, made his way back on stage, and carried right on singing, earning a massive cheer and cementing his place as one of the coolest frontmen of the day.
https://www.facebook.com/LibertySlaves
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Heavens Above (live)
Video by Cecil Paul Studios
Hailing from Newcastle, Crowley are a five-piece with serious presence and even more potential. Fronted by Lidya, a phenomenal powerhouse of a vocalist the band filled the room with pure energy. Every song was delivered with passion, and Lidya didn’t just sing, she commanded the stage. Backed by Eliza, Ruth, Kim and Saverio, the band delivered a heavy, bass-driven sound that gave their set real weight and atmosphere. The room was packed, and rightly so, they’ve got everything it takes to make a big impact on the rock scene.
Despite not having an album out yet, they treated us to a strong mix of older and newer material. Silver Star, their most recent single, was a standout, it opened with a moody, slow head nodding beat and melody, but with the vocals controlled. In contrast, Pyre showcased a different side of the band’s sound, giving Lidya the space to really show what she can do, and she absolutely delivered. I really hope there’s an album in the works, because more people need to hear what Crowley have to offer.
https://www.facebook.com/crowleybanduk
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Silver Star
Sometimes a band comes along and shifts the mood just right, and Ashley Sherlock did exactly that. This blues rock three-piece brought their own laid-back swagger to the festival stage, adding a touch of soul and groove to the day. Playing songs from the debut album Just A Name, they moved through the set with ease, building a warm connection with the crowd. Third in was Trouble, a smooth, foot-tapping number that had plenty of people nodding along, followed by Time, which kept the bluesy vibe rolling with rich tones and strong songwriting. It was a welcome change of pace, and a reminder of how well this festival embraces variety.
https://www.facebook.com/Ashleysherlockmusic
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Realise
Then it was back inside for Jack J Hutchinson, who kept the bluesy vibe going. With his trademark fedora firmly in place, Jack and the band wasted no time getting stuck in. With a back catalogue stretching all the way back to 2013, he had plenty to choose from, but this set leaned into his most recent release, Battles, from last year.
He opened with Don’t Let the Fuckers, a track that says exactly what it needs to in the title, before rolling into Constellations, the album’s first track, with its upbeat tempo and infectious groove. The crowd were right behind him, fully caught up in his fantastic guitar work and soulful, blues-infused vocals. There were smiles all round both onstage and off. Jack’s got a real flair for emotional guitar work, and he closed out with Call of the Wild from The Hammer Falls album. A perfect end to a brilliant set.
https://www.facebook.com/jackjhutchinson
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Constellations
I saw Black Lakes just last week, and they were phenomenal then, so even with only seven days in between, I was looking forward to catching them again. I was lucky to get right to the front, as their fans had already claimed their ground early. The band made their entrance dressed head-to-toe in black, standing with their backs to the crowd, facing the drums, setting a dark, dramatic tone before a single note was played. And then the music hit, and the energy lifted to another level.
Black Lakes wasted no time cranking things up with their signature blend of heavy rock and alt-metal. What struck me immediately was the lack of instruction, no need to tell the crowd to sing, because the fans were already belting out Verity in Flames from the very first line. It was honestly magical. The rest of the set powered on with massive tracks like Burn, White Cliffs, and Hurricane, all taken from their incredible debut album Dead Gods, go check that out. The music was intense, the lyrics raw and emotional, all wrapped up in a thunderous sound packed with power and purpose.
They closed with the album’s title track, Dead Gods, and I couldn’t help thinking there won’t be many more chances to see Black Lakes in venues this size. A band on the rise with performances this tight and this moving. Just awesome.
https://www.facebook.com/Blacklakes
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White Cliffs
What can I say about The Hot One Two that I haven’t already said? These guys are just brilliant. With their upbeat, riff-filled rock tunes and infectious energy, they bring music to the masses, and you’ve got no chance of standing still. First it’s a foot tap, then a sway, and a nod of the head and before you know it, you’re singing every chorus like you’ve known the songs for years.
They’re hard at work on album number two after the success of Superbia and treated us to a cracking set of fan favourites along with a few singles made for the festival stage. We also got a first taste of what’s to come with two brand new tracks, Reaper, their next single out in August, and Alive Again, both absolute belters that promise big things for the next album.
Before the end, the band paused to lead a singalong of Happy Birthday for Bev, who was right down the front singing her heart out. They wrapped up with Tie Me Down, a massive crowd-pleaser, and as always, I walked away thinking, I’ll never get tired of hearing these guys play.
https://www.facebook.com/thehotonetwo
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Tie Me Down
And that’s me done for the weekend. What a cracking few days, great bands, top tunes, and just a brilliant atmosphere all round. One thing that really stuck with me was how many of the bands took a moment to say thanks, not just for being there, but for sticking with them, buying the merch, singing the songs, and just being part of it. You could really feel how much it meant to them.
They were also full of praise for festivals like this, the smaller ones that give them a proper stage and the chance to be heard. And honestly, as someone who just loves rock music in all its glorious forms, I’m just as grateful. So a massive thank you to the bands, the organisers, and everyone behind the scenes for making it happen. It’s weekends like this that remind you why we love it so much.
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