NWOCR 4 - KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton – 27-28.09.25
Saturday 27.09.25
It had been a few weeks since we had last ventured into Wolverhampton for a gig, so we were looking forward to this weekend with sixteen of the best live rock bands currently hitting the circuit at the moment.
There were going to be a number of bands new to us over the two days and so it was with the first band on today. Welsh hard rockers Yaki Dah (7) did a grand job kicking off the proceedings, never an easy task, but they got the early crowd warmed up with their energetic blues inspired set.
Next up were a band very familiar to us, Shape Of Water (10). We’ve seen these guys a few times now, but always on a much smaller stage and we were excited to see how they would bring their powerful and evocative sound to a bigger setting. We weren’t disappointed! Having this huge space enabled them to add a visual element to their performance with mesmerising graphics and videos displayed on the big screen here at KK’s.
It took them to another level, they were good before, but today we were treated to a spell binding set of beautifully crafted music and visuals. Their dark progressive music is reminiscent of bands like Depeche Mode or Gary Numan in their later industrial phases. Tony says that their latest album, Petrichor, is up there as one of his top albums of this year, and today sees them as an early contender for performance of the weekend.
Hoping things haven’t peaked too early, we get ready for band number three of the day, Juliet’s Not Dead (8). The band had made the long trip down from the North East but they could quite easily have been playing on local turf with the reception they got. They have a strong following up and down the country having been around for a while now (previous incarnation was Twister) and their modern hard rocking style is catchy and easy to rock along to. They too had some extra visuals in the form of stacks of tv monitors, all helping to give it a stadium feel.
Emphasising the variety of styles on show this weekend, we shift gear for the next band, The City Kids (8). We’re taken into overdrive with their fast and raw rock ‘n’ roll juggernaut crashing onto stage. No airs or graces, this is straight up, unapologetic rock. This is were sleaze meets punk and ends up in the gutter, but it’s great fun and you feel like the party has really started now.
Four bands down and four more to go for today, and we move into much more classic rock territory for the rest of the evening.
Austin Gold (8) deliver a slick, polished set of rock that has it’s roots firmly embedded in classic British rock. The songs are laden with hooks, and front-man Dave Smith leads the way with a virtuoso performance on guitar. The band have an addictive energy on stage and easily move between riff laden hard rocking tunes to emotive ballads. This is a band that has that rare chemistry between the band members, each knows that they can focus on their performance knowing that the others are just has focused. You can see why they are much in demand and one of the hardest working bands on the live circuit.
Another of those hard working artists is Troy Redfern (9). Tonight sees him on stage with just his drummer buddy, Nicky Waters, who stands behind his stripped back kit at the front of the stage and smashing his way through the set like his life depended on it! Troy in the meantime treats us to a masterclass of silky smooth blues rock that at times explodes into monstrous riffs. His slide guitar sounds sweet in this cavernous auditorium, who needs a full band when you have musicianship of this quality.
We switch tack again as main support, Empyre (9), take to the stage. Tongue in cheek, they call themselves the “vibe killers” and yes, it is a completely different pace, but it’s done with such panache that you don’t mind. In fact, it’s refreshing and their atmospheric moody prog compliments the hard rocking bands that were on before.
The band produce an expansive wall of sound that fills this hall, a hall that once trembled to the noise of its industrial past but is now soothed by the healing tones of Empyre, revelling in it’s new life as a mecca for music fans. The band reveal their lighter side though, joking with the crowd. Again this is a band we’ve seen a few times, but with their new album they have finally convinced us that they are a band to go the must see list!
We were lucky enough to see These Wicked Rivers (10) on their recent tour where they played in churches! It was great to see a band think outside the box and do something a little different and we were looking forward to their headline set this evening.
The stage was decked out in their now familiar trademark lamps, rugs and tie-dye throws, it’s as if they are inviting you into their home. The band look dapper in their suits, but don’t let that fool you has they launch into a ferocious set of heavy blues rock the encapsulates the whole mood of the day. Raw, powerful, soulful and full of passion. A superb performance and a fitting end to day one.
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