For several years now, a high point of my summer has been the trip up a narrow, rutted, twisting forestry track to a festival in the most incongruous location on top of a Welsh mountain, run by volunteers and attended by a family of fans that return year after year.

It has been a love-hate relationship! Loving the beauty of the site, with 360-degree panoramic views and a compact layout around a single stage, but hating the mountain weather that can turn the weekend into an endurance test of mud, wind, and sideways rain.

So, I packed for anything from Arctic to Caribbean weather, made my way up early, do some “work from home” on the track waiting for the gates to open, and kept looking disbelievingly at the forecast of sun and warmth.

I arrived around 20th in the queue, within sight of the gate, and after doing some of that work, decided to explore some of the forestry land around me with a gorgeous walk, watching red kites and admiring the valley views below me.

Eventually, the brake lights ahead of me flashed, engines started and within minutes the friendly smiles of the crew were handing me my bracelets and I was parking up, getting the BBQ lit, and enjoying one of Steelhouse’s unique features, access on Thursday night for those in self-sufficient accommodation. There are no facilities offered but hundreds of vans parked up, play their music eat their BBQ, and have a wonderful, chilled night. This time in warm, dry conditions!

Things start late on Friday to allow set up and the queues back to the road to arrive and set camp but we are soon inside the arena following a thorough security check.

The layout follows the traditional pattern. As you enter, ahead is a large sunshade across the arena. To the left, facing the stage, are the stalls selling some quality and intriguing merchandise (as well as a “tuck shop” where every item is unpriced and apparently from social media quite extraordinarily expensive) and the merch stand where there is already a huge queue to buy the sought after Berniefest charity t-shirt.

To the right are the food stalls (a great variety, more expensive than before but not excessively so) and the main bar, split between standard beer/lager/cider and the craft offering of Tudor Brewery (the destination of much of my festival spend and a bargain £35 for six pints).

A small VIP/guest tent is to the right of the stage (unfortunately the awesome Bar Bach is not present this year). Toilets are plentiful and a shout out to the team that keeps them incredibly clean throughout the festival.

One small omission is any kind of press area with power/somewhere secure to leave cameras etc. Hopefully, in time this may become an addition!

So to the day’s music:

Opening band are Trucker Diablo from Ireland and they waste no time at all getting the crowd going as they open with highly regarded new single “Kill the Lights”. Bassist Jim McGurk is the photo opportunity as he flings his long, silver hair with abandon whilst vocalist Tom Harte and guitarist Simon Haddock handle the melodies. A rousing version of “Proud Mary” brings more to the front and “Dig” is introduced as a song to pull muscles. The last song “The Rebel” closes the set on a high and our openers depart with big smiles to warm applause.

Unfortunately, at this point, an announcement is made that Elles Bailey, an act that I had been much anticipating, is too sick to appear. This is Steelhouse however so, rallying around, several musicians backstage agree to entertain with acoustic sets, starting with Dan Byrne.

Now I am a HUGE fan of Dan’s voice and quickly snap a few pics simply because acoustic sets give little opportunity for photos, but a great opportunity to sit with a beer and let music wash over you in the sunshine. So, between “Hard to Breathe”, an awesome cover of “Simple Man”, “Death of Me” and others, I take some time to allow my ears to enjoy the festival rather than see it through a lens. More of Mr. B soon though as on a day honouring Bernie Marsden and memories of Berniefest where he appeared everywhere, he walked in the great man’s shadow a number of times!

Back to the schedule and a superb set from Oli Brown and the Dead Collective (featuring Sam Wood on guitar and Wayne Proctor on drums. This is the second time I have seen the band and the connection between Oli and Sam is visibly growing as they trade riffs and licks and then come together in simply MASSIVE musical breaks between lyrics. Oli’s voice is underrated when stood up against his guitar skills, but the combination of the two is sublime. He has a soulful, bluesy voice that can swell with immense power and then somehow transfer to his fingers and out through a fretboard. Highlights? “Haunted” without a doubt. Genuinely one of the best songs I have heard in a long time it has everything and even writing this the refrain is playing in my head. Set closer “Home Sweet Home” is another absolute classic. There is no crowd chat, no filler, just one song ripping into another, and then those immense musical breaks where two guitars are let free.

The second acoustic set follows with another Steelhouse regular Toby Jepson and a set of mostly Little Angels covers. Again, not many photos and a chance to relax in the sunshine with a beer but as you might imagine it is delivered with style and humour. An interesting little takeout was the hint dropped about a Little Angels reformation. That pricked up a few ears!

The main support for the evening came in the guise of King King. I have seen the band several times but can honestly say this was one of the best performances I have enjoyed from them. It’s hard to put a finger on why. Sometimes it just happens that the pieces fit together and work. It is one of the joys of live music. Tonight was one of those nights.

From a “Long History of Love”, the energy just seems to swell as first a sensational Hammond solo and then Alan Nimmo ripping the glaze off his guitar’s neck with a searing solo. On through “Rush Hour” and “Whatever it Takes to Survive”, Nimmo’s voice is perfection. “You Stopped the Rain” ensures there is no let-up and then “I Will Not Fall” is extraordinarily emotional and an opportunity for brother Steve to show just how talented he is too. A great way to watch the sun set and prepare for the unique headliner.

Steelhouse lost a great friend and supporter in Bernie Marsden when he passed away. I have fond memories of the avuncular and genuinely humble man playing some superb music up the mountain in rain, and sun. So it was fitting that a tribute be paid and, what a tribute it was.

An all-star band of:
Nev Macdonald – vocals
Neal Garland – keys
Colin Edwards – guitar
Dave Stevenson – drums
Alex and Cherry – backing vocals
Jim Kirkpatrick – guitar and musical direction
Neal Murray – Bass
Toby Jepson – vocals
Dan Byrne – Vocals
Luke Morley – guitar
Alan Nimmo – vocals
Chris Buck – guitar

Delivered a set of Whitesnake classics and other Bernie songs and were joined by a Welsh choir that knew every word. We get “Come On”, Sweet Talker”, Love Hunter”, “Ready an’ Willing”, “Don’t Break My Heart Again” (Toby on vocals), “Ain’t Gonna Cry No More”, “A Place in My Heart” (covered by Joe Bonamassa) featuring Chris Buck, and Alex and Cherry taking vocals, “Blind Man”, “Dead Man Walking” (co-written with Jim Kirkpatrick who took vocals), “Crying in the Rain”, “Is this Love”, “Walking in the Shadow of the Blues” (Dan Byrne vocals), “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City” (Alan Nimmo vocals), “Fool for Your Loving” (with Luke Morley) and “Here I go Again”.

Throughout, the musicianship is superb. Nev’s voice is simply extraordinary and the feeling of love for a lost friend is palpable.

I can’t think of many festivals that could do this. The relationship between musician and festival was unique (Bernie even wrote a song about Steelhouse Mountain) and as a tribute, it hits every target.

Wiping away a tear as the last notes fade isn’t a common way to end a festival, but tonight, it was the only way! Congrats to all. Genuinely a lifetime memory made tonight.

Review and photos – Rob Wilkins

Steelhouse 2024 Friday

96 photos