We didn't sleep well at the Travelodge due to the heat in the room, the fan doing little to bring the temperature down. We enjoyed the breakfast buffet, though. A right good feed to set us up for the day.
The weather was already scorching as we walked to the park. Arriving after ten for an eleven o'clock opening, we rested against the metal sheeting that surrounded the event space and ate our Greggs sandwiches, chatting with the other fans beside us. By the time the gate opened (late, around 11:15 am), the queue stretched the whole length of the park. The security supervisor urged his staff to keep us moving, keen to avoid angry confrontations. The staff member who scanned our tickets didn't have wristbands for weekend VIPS, so he had to find some. Not a good start if the aim was for a swift entry.
The space around the main Inferno stage was already filling up with the campers who'd been allowed in on time. We collected our VIP packs, and I picked up my pre-ordered event T-shirt. Then, we met up with Bob's pals. After that, we mostly did our own thing, catching up with each other from time to time in the VIP section. This area had been changed this year to separate the VIP band stage from the bar, the only areas now covered with tents. The space had more benches and tables than last year, but no posh recliners. The VIP urinals were too close together, so in practical terms, only two could be used simultaneously. First world problems.
Hillbilly Vegas on the Inferno Stage
The sun was so hot you could smell the varnish melting off the wooden VIP benches. I ended up using my event T-shirt as a scarf to protect my neck. I headed over to see Lead Feather, approaching the barrier to avoid standing in the direct sunlight. Lead Feather were good, but I preferred their intimate set from the night before. It felt more personal.
Lead Feather opening the Firestarter Stage.
If looks could kill... I thought she might snap!
Secret Set: Kris Barras's Hollow Souls
Myke Gray
The first act I'd been eager to catch was The Quireboys. I'd never seen them before, but remembered their hits fondly. Spike is like a hybrid of Rod Stewart and Vince Neil, with a hint of Freddie Starr, as he prowls the stage. His voice is no longer what it once was, but he makes up for it with his stage presence. The crowd really gets going when he plays the well-known songs, singing along loudly. Luke Morley of Thunder was helping out on guitar. His drummer usually plays with Squeeze, and Nigel Mogg is a rock legend. In fact, watching their set reminded me of the Legend slot at Glastonbury. They brought the party to Maidstone.
The Quireboys
Spike
The food and drink prices were initially a shock. A fiver for a pint of syrupy cola felt like a rip-off, but there were free water stations, so I managed to stay hydrated. I loved the freshly made duck wraps and had one each day. Only a tenner each!
H.E.A.T. were the first band to blow me away with their performance. Even from the food stall area, well away from the stage, they sounded dynamic, powerful, riff-heavy and musical. The front man has an incredible vocal range and comes across as more articulate and intelligent than most rock singers. He had a layer of self-awareness that pricked any pomposity about their performance. I thought they were brilliant, and it was a shame I'd chosen their set time to eat. I'd have enjoyed being in their crowd.
H.E.A.T.
An unfortunate camera angle
The rest of the day was less exciting. Joanne Shaw Taylor was okay. Gorilla Riot did well with an appreciative crowd on the Firestarter stage (I loved how they finished on a cover version of AC/DC's Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be). The final act of the day, Dirty Honey, didn't move me, except to leave at the end of their set.
Gorilla Riot
Dirty Honey
The first day had remained dry, and I'd avoided sunburn. The warm, dry spell was not going to last, however. This warning appeared on the screen (and online).
I can imagine the scenarios. Tap at the window. "Hey, Stranger, can I sit with you in your car, please?" Actually, the festival is so friendly, the response would have been, "Come on in, bud. Squeeze up, hun. Want a beer?"
I made sure to remember to bring my poncho the next day.
Three of us were heading down to the Maid of Stone Festival, which had been extended to a full day on Friday, necessitating a trip down on Thursday. This gave us a free night. Handily, two of the acts from the festival were appearing at Leo's Red Lion in nearby Gravesend.
The venue is situated in a predominantly industrial area and hosts various music events throughout the year.
Inside, the historic nature of the place becomes immediately apparent from the multitude of framed photographs on the walls. Many, many bands have played there. I took a few snaps.
As the amphitheatre wasn't open yet, promoter Terry invited us to a quick tour of the various stages, giving us a potted history of the bands that had played there over the years. He's a lovely guy who, along with some like-minded friends, has turned his love of music into a business, putting on shows for up-and-coming bands, as well as returning veterans.
The Amphitheatre seating area was a massive decking construction, a bit uncomfortable on the bum after a while (we didn't know to bring cushions), exposed to the sky. That didn't matter tonight as the temperature was warm until late.
The first act of the evening was Lead Feather, performing as a three-piece, the drummer not required for their acoustic set. I had never heard any of their work (they only formed in October 2024), but I was impressed by them. The guitarist was highly skilled, evoking Slash's vibe in his brooding intensity, rarely interacting with the audience or his bandmates. The singer had a David Coverdale-like intensity to his vocals, and the bass player doubled up on acoustic guitar and keyboard duties. They gave a laid-back and intimate performance that the crowd enjoyed.
After a short interval, Gorilla Riot took over the stage. Wow, they were good! Putting both the heat and the amp into amphitheatre, the six-piece band (comprising two guitarists, bass, drummer, and two backing singers) played some really cool tunes, while bantering caustically with each other between songs, with the lead singer especially enjoying ribbing his bandmates in a good-natured way. The music was superb, boding well for their headlining slot on the Firestarter stage.
Videos courtesy of Robert Hutton
Afterwards, as the only non-drinker, I had the pleasure of driving Bob's car back to the hotel (I'm on his insurance solely for this purpose). Only, my experience with electric hybrid automatics is minimal, and the first thing I had to do was reverse with a car parked directly behind us. Fortunately, the driver of the vehicle behind noted my hesitancy and reversed to give me buffer room to pull out without hitting him. The rest of the journey was a breeze after that (although one tyre did touch the kerb when I reverse-parked into a space - naughty, naughty).
Ticket Price: £12 x 3 plus Booking Fee: £3.60 and Venue Donation: £1.00 = £40.60 From Good Show.
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