Review: Firevolt Festival, 2025 - Day 1

Whitebottom Farm
August 2025

Four years ago, a festival appeared with a stellar line-up of many of the top NWoCR bands of that time. A line-up so great that it was quickly derided as impossible and some kind of con.

It wasn’t. Instead, it was the birth of an intimate gathering that has become a crucial part of my summer every year since.

So much so that this year, my wife joined me for the first time, and we drove past the stunning weir that marks the entrance to Whitebottom Farm around midday on Wednesday to help as part of the setup and marshalling team before the music started Thursday evening.

I love being a small part of the crew. It takes me away from the day job and a day building fencing and putting up lights and signs (all to John “Stret” Stretford’s detailed eye), followed by welcoming people on site in their motorhomes and getting them safely parked up in a deluge, leaves me more than ready for a Firevolt tradition, the Thursday long weekend party.

This has grown since that first festival, when we were each served a bowl of stew and answered the quiz on bits of paper. It included a meet-up for those who had attended alone, a high-tech phone quiz, an air guitar contest, DJ sets, and more live music each year. The onsite food traders and bars are open, and the evening is now an integral part of the whole event.

This year, the clever innovation was “an audience with” that featured the band We Three Kings first playing a few raw and loud songs, then being interviewed by festival compere Paul Cash from Radio Wigwam amongst others, before more music and questions from the audience. The music was dynamic, and the 2/3 kings able to play instruments or sing, making as thick a soundscape as most bigger bands, and the interaction between band and audience was educational and illuminating.

To close out the evening, a set from the Screaming Conrods delivering some cracking covers, which went on to feature a surprise guest cameo from Kira Mac, giving an early listen to some superb new material, and then a final DJ set from Radio Wigwam sent us back to our beds around midnight, full of anticipation for the first day of the festival proper.

This year, the festival layout has changed, enabling more vans on-site, and the Marquee second stage has instead become a large outdoor main stage with a viewing bank alongside in a great natural amphitheatre. As the weekend progresses, the closeness of the two stages definitely increases crowd sizes for each set and, in turn, makes the interactions between bands and punters far more energetic and lively.

The honour of christening that new stage went to Rare Breed from nearby Mossley, who had won their opportunity to perform at a Battle of the Bands competition. Seizing the opportunity with both hands, their set grew in confidence as they performed a set of bluesy, soulful rock. From opener “Pieces”, which noticeably pulled people from the bar and food area towards the stage to set closer “Howlin”, the potential was clear, and they left the stage to much deserved applause and many new fans.

A third stage was added this year to showcase new bands, but as my only criticism of the new format, it was distant from the hub of the event, and therefore, difficult to get to if you wanted to catch all the bands back at stages one (the Bludsucker stage) and two (the Trooper stage).

We popped down to check it out, though, and enjoyed a few songs by the Flint Guitar School led by Mark Robinson. We caught very well-performed covers of “Creep” and “Sweet Child of Mine” and would have loved to have hung out longer.

Back at the Trooper Stage, and any remaining sleep in the eyes was utterly blown away by the Dutchmen of SonicWhip. This is what Firevolt is for me. Stret’s contacts and knowledge allow him to introduce me to new music that doesn’t appear on my usual playlists. The trio of Florian and Merton Bevelander (drums and guitar) and Kevin Clarence (Bass), were a constant blur of motion from the off, and after some superb numbers such as “Get Me Away” and “Breathing Out” they made sure anyone somehow not paying attention turned away from the bar with a storming “Let There Be Rock”.

I knew I would love the next set back at the Bludsucker stage, and as always, Leicester’s SKAM delivered. With Matt Gilmore attempting to win “sh1t shirt Friday” and laying down rock-solid bass whilst gurning and striking poses, drummer Neal Hill sending thunder across the country park, and Steve Hill ripping out riffs aplenty, their set flew by. Alongside their own material, such as “One Track Mind” and “No Lies”, they treated the responsive crowd to a medley of “Baba O’Reilly”, “Tom Sawyer”, and “War Pigs” before Steve took off for a wander around the crowd to get up close and personal.

Back at Trooper and my favourite set of the day, and Fury. I had heard much but never seen the band perform and was utterly blown away. The combination of co-lead vocalists LNyah Ifill’s and Julian Jenkin’s contrasting vocals and stage presence, and Julian’s guitar (the man rips out shreds with ease), is captivating, and I was immediately a fan. Today, they were missing Becky Baldwin on bass as she was away touring with Delilah Bon, but the spot was ably filled, and the rhythm section ensured the powerful set never lagged. From “Interceptor” through “Hell of a Night” to “Road Warrior,” I didn’t stop grinning and moving. Two new fans created guys. Loved every second!

Next on the Bludsucker stage were Roadwolf, who I can confidently say are NOT from Germany (much to the horror of the poor compère introducing them as such, when they are in fact Austrian!) Possibly due to the lingering energy from the previous two bands it took me a while to ease back into their well delivered and polished set as it had a slower pace with more depth but once I was out of the photo-pit and able to focus, I got into material such as “Don’t Deliver Us From Evil” and “Sons of the Golden Horde” that showed some classy retro influences with a modern delivery.

Talking of retro, we now entered a series of classic metal and rock from the past, starting with Tygers of Pan Tang, who appeared to love performing every bit as much as I enjoyed watching! Coming onstage to “Tiger Feet,” they ripped through a set that left your toes tapping and head nodding. “Euthanasia”, “Back for Good”, “Rock Candy”, and of course “Love Potion Number 9” all received a great reaction from a crowd that was with them every note. I have never seen the band live and wasn’t sure what to expect ,but their performance turned into one of my favourites of the day.

I will be honest and say that the next band, Graham Oliver’s Army, just didn’t keep my attention. The man himself didn’t show a huge amount of emotion on stage, and whilst the musicians alongside did their best to turn a selection of songs we all know and love from Oliver’s past with Saxon into something to rival the still huge band playing them live, I just couldn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to. The reaction from the crowd was great with lots of interaction and singing along, and I kept hearing how much people enjoyed vocalist Brian Shaughnessy’s humour and presence, so that might just be my take on the set!

Third of the retro bands back at the Trooper Stage were Girlschool. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a band that truly were groundbreaking back in the day, but they absolutely delivered! With Jackie Chambers in tight black and sparkles pulling some glorious rock god(dess) poses, Kim McAuliffe still powering out vocals, and Denise Dufort and Olivia Airey’s thundering rhythms, their set was a master class in keeping songs from the past fresh and alive. “Hit and Run” and of course “Please Don’t Touch” take me back decades to my youth, and the crowd reaction is genuine and adoring.

Finally, to the headliners, South of Salem.

The benefit of the new, outdoor stage becomes clear when we are briefed about the amount of pyro the band have bought with them. It proves somewhat recalcitrant at times but shows the band’s readiness for big, headline shows.

This is a band that have brought together many elements needed to be successful in a genre where finding a new audience can be challenging. Each member of the band has a look and personality. The stagecraft is well choreographed to the extent that it looks natural and spontaneous. The songs are catchy but dark, matching the image. For me, the moment that defines the band isn’t the songs, the stage show, or the musicianship, though. Many bands have that (although few have it all to this degree), it is the moment when singer Joey descends to the crowd and hands a thrilled group of children some handmade bangles.

We even get a preview of a new song, “Fallout” which raises the bar even further. The set gets a huge ovation as expected, as they are as regular a band at the festival as there has been. Great things await!

Finally, back to the bar and the Trooper Stage for a set of covers from regulars White Tyger to end the day on a high – and still two days to go!!