By David O’Neill
Steelhouse started in 2011 as a two-day event over the last Friday and Saturday in July and is unashamedly marketed as a classic rock festival. However, there has always been a wide variety of musical styles and bands on the bill.
As it has grown in popularity and reputation, so have the bands on offer. Whilst still classic rock at its heart, as epitomized by Saxon headlining twice, there has been room on the bill for reggae (Skindred), AOR (Europe), punk (The Wildhearts – this year will be their third appearance), glam rock (The Darkness), blues (King King) as well as artists with international reputations (Black Stone Cherry, Myles Kennedy, Mr Big, Uriah Heep, Living Colour, Airbourne and Thunder to name but a few) and a healthy smattering of up and coming artists, such Those Damn Crows (who, it could be argued, Steelhouse helped break into the mainstream) Kris Barras, Scarlet Rebels, Stone Broken and many more.
This year is no exception, and the Steelhouse team has once again worked exceptionally hard to continue on the breadth and depth of talent on show. I have been to the festival since 2015, having only missed one year due to a holiday (2019) and the pandemic year (2020). I can say there is always a great atmosphere, the campsite is close to the arena, and everyone is very friendly, although you may get asked if you want a cwtch (a “hug” for you heathen non-Welsh speakers).
Friday is going to kick off with hard rocking Yorkshiremen Asomvel who have been together since 1993! These may not be known to you now, but I can assure you that within the first three tracks you’ll know exactly who their influence is! Riffs that rip your ears off and stamp all over them and vocals as gritty and raw as roadrash. Could be one of the highlights of the weekend!
After that ear bashing there is a completely different vibe with the alt-rock female fronted Marisa And The Moths who have been making waves at various festivals over the past few years supporting the likes of Kris Barras and Those Damn Crows. Likened to Lzzy Hale and Amy Lee, it will give you an idea of her vocal style.
There is not a lot that can be said about the return of the original lineup of Wolfsbane to the live music scene and where else is better to mark their return to the ÜK festival scene than on top of the hallowed Steelhouse mountain. I was lucky to talk to Blaze Bayley as part of our ‘Small Stages Big Sounds’ podcast at the end of last year and he was really fired up for it, so watch out.
Never ones to lie on their laurels, Steelhouse have thrown another curveball in American goth shock rocker Wednesday 13 and his band. The penultimate band for Friday is definitely one that may divide the assembled regular attenders at Steelhouse. Having been involved with Joey Jordison early in his career he has continued with the goth rock image and his latest album ‘Mid Death Crisis’ was released in May this year. He does remind me of Alice Cooper and so it may be very well received.
Friday’s final act is the irrepressible Ginger Wildheart and his latest incarnation of the Wildhearts. They were definitely one of the highlights in 2018 when another band (which shall remain nameless) failed to show up because of the weather. With the latest album ‘Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts’ coinciding with some very favourable reviews and a prolonged period of good health for Ginger it is likely to leave the assembled crowd feeling very impressed with the Friday line up before they adjourn to the obligatory attendance at the final disco hour.
- Steelhouse takes place at Hafod y Dafal, outside Ebbw Vale, over the weekend of 25 – 27 July.