Review and Images By Paul McWilliams
The venue is still ringing after Firevolt Festival’s Day One, and for good reason. So we move on to Day Two where passion and power collide, reminding everyone why Firevolt has become a pilgrimage for music lovers across the UK. From the moment the first notes broke the Saturday morning calm to the final roar of Reef’s triumphant headline set, it was a day where no band left the stage without leaving their mark.
This wasn’t just a festival—it was a living, breathing community of rock and metal, and Day 2 proved that when the music is this good, you don’t just hear it—you feel it reverberate in your bones.
The Heavy Souls – Shaking the Ground Awake
The honour of opening fell to The Heavy Souls, and they took the job like a mission. Their set wasn’t an easing-in—it was a detonation. Within minutes, the early risers who might have been nursing sore heads from Friday night were jolted back to life. Thunderous riffs and chest-punching rhythms made sure no one could stand still.
“The Heavy Souls didn’t just open the day—they set it ablaze.”
Their sound, rich with grit and groove, resonated across the field like an industrial machine fired by pure passion. By the time they left the stage, Day 2 already felt unstoppable.
Kit Trigg – Swagger and Soul
Kit Trigg carried that fire forward, layering slick, blues-driven guitar lines with a swagger that drew the crowd closer. His music was less about brute force and more about style, groove, and feel—a perfect follow-up to The Heavy Souls’ sledgehammer opening.
The riffs rolled with ease, hooks digging in deep, and his melodies made heads nod and hips sway in equal measure. Kit didn’t just play; he performed, striking that rare balance between precision and personality.
Juliets Not Dead – Relentless Drive
When Juliets Not Dead stormed the stage, the energy spiked. This was a set full of grit and attitude, with musicianship so tight it felt like every note had been sharpened to a blade. Relentless drive is the best way to describe it—the kind of performance that sweeps the crowd up and doesn’t let them go until the last chord fades.
“Juliets Not Dead showed that ferocity and finesse can walk hand in hand.”
For many, this was the moment when the afternoon went from fun to feral, and the pit began to bubble.
Brave Rival – A Standout Moment
Every festival has that one act you walk away raving about, and for many at Firevolt, Day 2 belonged to Brave Rival. The combination of their bass-heavy, groove-laden riffs and powerhouse vocals was electrifying. It wasn’t just a performance; it was a takeover.
Their singer’s voice—rich, soulful, and brimming with fire—commanded the entire field. It’s no exaggeration to say the audience was transfixed. Brave Rival sounded like a band ready to headline their own festival in the near future.
“Brave Rival didn’t just win the crowd—they owned it.”
Marisa and the Moths – Hooks with Heart
From there, Marisa and the Moths kept the momentum sky-high. Their music brims with catchy hooks, but it’s the emotional charge behind every lyric that makes them stand apart. Marisa’s stage presence is magnetic—fiery yet approachable, fierce yet fun.
The set felt like a rollercoaster of intensity and release. The crowd sang along with choruses that felt tailor-made for festival fields, and the connection between band and audience was undeniable.
Tailgunner – Heavy Metal Thunder
When Tailgunner arrived, it was like stepping into a time machine to the golden age of heavy metal. Twin guitars soared, the rhythm galloped, and fists punched the sky in unison. Their music is rooted in classic metal, but the delivery was so fresh and ferocious that it never felt dated.
“Tailgunner brought the nostalgia, but they played it with the fire of a band writing tomorrow’s history.”
This was pure escapism—metal as it should be, loud, fast, and utterly uncompromising.
Blaze Bayley with Absolva – Iron Legacy
There are moments in festivals where you sense the gravity of rock history, and Blaze Bayley’s set was exactly that. With the ever-mighty Absolva backing him, Blaze tore through Iron Maiden classics as well as his own fierce originals.
Hearing those Maiden anthems sung with such conviction was spine-tingling, but what really shone was Blaze’s own catalogue, delivered with the intensity of a man who has nothing to prove but still gives everything.
“This wasn’t nostalgia—it was living, breathing heavy metal glory.”
The Absolva boys deserve huge credit too; their playing was precise, powerful, and utterly unstoppable.
The Quireboys (with Luke Morley) – Stories and Spirit
Then came a true crowd-pleaser. The Quireboys rolled onto the stage like old friends walking into a pub, armed with songs that feel timeless and stories that keep you laughing between them. With Thunder’s Luke Morley on guitar, the sound had extra weight, and every hit felt bigger, brighter, and bolder.
Spike’s gravelly charm and banter had the audience eating out of his hand, and when those choruses hit, it was like stepping back into a golden era of rock ’n’ roll.
Reef – Headliners Who Stole the Night
Closing Firevolt Day Two was the mighty Reef, and under moody stage lighting, they delivered a headline set that surprised and delighted in equal measure.
I’ll admit—like many, I only knew a handful of their songs going in. But from the first note to the last encore, Reef proved why they deserved that slot. Their performance was magnetic, their energy infectious, and the connection they built with the crowd undeniable.
“Reef weren’t just the headliners—they were the revelation of Firevolt 2025.”
Every track landed with weight, and by the end, the entire field was united in one final, euphoric celebration of music.
Verdict – A Day to Remember, a Festival to Treasure
Day 2 of Firevolt Festival wasn’t just about the music—it was about the journey each band took us on, from the raw fire of The Heavy Souls to the triumphant close of Reef. It showcased every shade of rock and metal: soulful, ferocious, nostalgic, and forward-looking.
As the final notes faded and the crowd drifted away under the night sky, one thought lingered: What would Firevolt Day Three bring. It’s a family gathering for those who live and breathe this music.
“Firevolt Day 2 proved one thing above all—rock and metal aren’t just alive, they’re thriving.”
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