STONEDEAD FESTIVAL

THE ULTIMATE

FESTIVAL 2021 RECAP

It’s a Saturday morning at the Newark showground and after a year of silence brought on by the pandemic, with the dedication from the organisers, the bands, and the fans, Stonedead festival has finally returned to shake the ground once more.

The initial line-up for the day festival, attempting to carry on the legacy of the legendary Monsters of Rock festival was announced back in late 2019 but due to obvious setbacks regarding three national lockdowns, it has had to be rescheduled a number of times now. While the initial line-up featuring American hard rockers Tyketto and New Wave of British Heavy Metal legends Tygers of Pangtang was forced to change due to problems surrounding Coronavirus, the team at the festival were still able to put on a great day of rock icons in the British sun.

This is the festivals third year, with previous bills featuring headliners former Deep Purple frontman Glenn Hughes in 2019 and hair metal giants Skid Row in 2018. It has now become tradition that every year is hosted by Krusher, the man behind some of the most iconic album covers of all time, including Ozzy Osbournes Diary of a Madman, Blizzard of Oz and Bark at the Moon amongst other metal greats. Throughout the day, Krusher would go on to introduce the bands and tell stories from his crazy life in the industry… although crazy might be an understatement.

First to grace the stage on this very sweaty day in Newark was the winners of the opening poll Dead Man’s Whiskey. The band not only had to face off a pandemic to play this slot but also a whole cast of formidable names in the New Wave of British Classic Rock movement such as Gin Annie, Revival Black and the Howling Tides. Nevertheless, the five-piece outfit London delivered an epic and emotional set with singer Nico Rogers tearing up during their performance of Make You Proud. Ultimately, the song initially written for the Rogers’ mum sent a shockwave through the crowd, demonstrating they are a force to be reckoned with in this new classic rock scene.

It is no secret that festivals this year have struggled working their events around Covid-19, Stonedead is no exception here. Unfortunately, on the day of event, it was announced a member of The Treatment tested positive for the virus and so had to cancel their appearance. Luckily, heavy metallers Absolva were able to stand-in on short notice as the festival organisers were dead set on keeping their promise of a nineband bill. Blasting through their discography of five studio albums, the group made sure their presence was noticed.

One act on the day I was very much looking forward to seeing was Myke Gray and it was finally his time to come on stage. With a backcatalogue stretching his career through Skin, Jagged Edge and a brief stint in UFO, Gray could easily deliver a two-hour set. Sticking to his 45-minute slot, the guitarist walked out donning his well-known black and white costume from his recent solo outings and began to shred through classics from his days in Skin including House of Love, Look but Don’t Touch and even Raised on Radio. All amazingly complimented by a spitfire flyover from the Newark Air Museum, located just next to the showground.

Now it was time for the set that die-hard Iron Maiden fans have been waiting for as former vocalist Blaze Bayley walked on stage. A few hours beforehand he rode down to the showground on his motorcycle for this summer exclusive performance celebrating the 25th anniversary of his time in one of the biggest metal bands of all time.

With the pandemic finally easing down (touch wood!), Kris Barras has found himself very busy making up for lost time. With a busy summer period playing at Steelhouse Festival on the day headlined by The Darkness while also finding time to work with his video production company Ignite Productions, producing the last few Inglorious music videos, this set will mark his last gig before headlining out on tour across the UK with Kentucky southern rockers Black Stone Cherry, followed by a headline tour in early 2022.

The blues-rocker has recently become a lot heavier in his live performance as he then goes on to play his brand new song Dead Horses which came out shortly after the festival. This new sound and style from the band works very nicely and I for one am very excited to see where it can lead. Massive Wagons are no stranger to the Newark Showground, having previously played in the 2018 bill for the then Stonedead festival. Covering the slot for Swedish rocker Heat who couldn’t make the show due to complications with international travel at this point, Baz and the boys from Lancaster tore through a high octane set filled with hits from their 2020 album House of Noise as well as the single they released for Record Store Day 2021, Changes. Returning for their first show back since the pandemic was Scottish legends Gun. Travelling all the way down from Glasgow for the show, they also ran into complications with Covid-19 as their long-time drummer Paul McManus tested positive just a few days before. Coming in to save the day was a young stand-in drummer who in turn blew the crowd and even the band away as vocalist Dante Gizzi announces, “We’ve only had one rehearsal”. Opening with She Knows from their 2017 album Favourite Pleasures, they then went through a host of hits from their 32-year career including Don’t Say It’s Over, Steal Your Fire and even their cover of the Beastie Boys song Fight for Your Right. Finally, ending their set with their 1989 single Better Days, dedicating it to end of this tough 18 months we’ve all been through.

Bradford locals Terrovision were next to fulfil the sub-headline slot with one of the most energetic performances of the day. While going through their classic setlist many classic rock fans have become familiar with after seeing the band in support of Thunder and at festivals like Download and Ramblin’ Man Fair. Just before starting their song Ð’ya Wanna Go Faster from their 2001 record Good to Go, lights went out from a power cut, wanting to make the most out of this longawaited gig, bass player Leigh Marklew shouts “they’re making us play in the dark”. Lights came back on quickly, allowing Terrovision to finish off their set in style and make way for the headliners of the night.

While initially the headliners for the day festival were supposed to be Black Star Riders, allowing them to finish off their tour for their latest album Another State of Grace which got cut short due to (you guessed it!) Covid. The virus struck one last time as on the Monday before the festival the band featuring Thin Lizzy’s Scott Gorham announced they would be unable to make the gig as a member had tested positive for the virus. In their place came Prog rockers Uriah Heep, fresh from headlining the Friday at Steelhouse festival just a month before.

Bringing out the band featuring founding member Mick Box came Krusher came to introduce them. “The first time I saw Uriah Heep, they changed my f****ing life, I hope they do the same for you tonight,” he announced as they opened with Grazed by Heaven, the opening track to their latest studio album Living the Dream from 2018. Through a technically proficient performance filled with classics from the early years of the band, they closed the day with the 1972 single Easy Livin’, putting an end to an amazing day of music at Newark and making all of the hard work from the organisers over the last few months’ worth it.

Stonedead Festival will return on August 27, 2022, early bird tickets have already sold out so it is set to be another ground-breaking year.