After missing 2024, it’s time for another trip up that mountain for our third venture! Next week sees people from all over the country (and further afield) make the trek up to one of the most picturesque festivals in the most stunning and unique location. Seriously, how many other festivals take place on a farm on top of a mountain? Steelhouse has long been a fixture on the festival calendar and it’s never a disappointment. Regularly selling out and often through repeat custom, anyone who’s been before will not be shocked in the slightest and those who are first-timers usually become regulars.
Ever since its inception, Steelhouse has managed to showcase some of the finest names in rock over the years. A glance at their website which showcases all their previous line-ups, charting the evolution of the festival and its growth. And much like the punters, the bands often come back, too. The organisers have never put together a line-up which has made you think they’re scraping the bottom of the barrel. Instead, they manage to blend your favourite heritage or latter-day classic rock big names whilst also bringing in a welcome crop of the new school and the odd curveball to keep things interesting and open minds.
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Out of the now three Steelhouses I’ll have attended, this is the best line-up of the three. Except, it’s not only that, I’d say it’s the best line-up the festival has ever had. Given there’s only one stage, there’s not a worry to be had about missing your favourite band and if you want a good spot for your favourites, it’s usually pretty easy to wind your way down to the front or grab a spot near the bar or signing stage/merch area before the hordes descend. As for me, here’s seven bands I’m particularly looking forward to in no particular order:
- Jayler – They’ve been gigging constantly the past few years and these young classic rockers have earned a deserved following. Having been wanting to see them for a long time, I finally got the chance to at Call of the Wild this year and it was worth the wait. Given their own history with Steelhouse, this one is bound to be special for them.
- Kit Trigg – This trio are going to bring the party and wake everyone up when they open Sunday. Having watched them numerous times open for The Virginmarys a couple of months ago, they’re on an absolute tear and only getting better with every performance. Plus they’re some of the nicest guys around!
- The Wildhearts – Headlining the Friday night. I first saw The Wildhearts when they brought the sun to Steelhouse in 2018 and instantly became a fan so this is going to be a nice full-circle moment. Ginger’s got a new line-up and from their recent tour, they’re on excellent form which doesn’t seem to be stopping any time soon with another album currently in the works.
- Kris Barras Band – Having headlined Friday in 2023, Barras and his band are back and might not be as high up the bill now but it’s no longer on the “warm-up” day. And if they perform as well as they did two years ago and continue unfaltering, it won’t be too long until they’re headlining a Saturday or Sunday.
- Wednesday 13 – I’ve been wanting to see Wednesday 13 for some time now. Sadly missing him on his recent Muderdolls-centric tour, I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulls a few cuts from that whilst showcasing why he’s the master of horror punk.
- Wolfmother – All the talk at Maid of Stone last year from us millennials was how Wolfmother was nostalgia for our teens. You couldn’t go anywhere without hearing “Woman” or “Joker and the Thief” in the mid-00s. Not only that but they put on a hell of a performance last year and whilst they may not be as big a draw as they once were, they’re every bit as potent.
- Those Damn Crows – There’s very few bands who deserve to be top billing like these Welsh natives. Their 2023 performance was a moment which we saw unfold in real time. As I said to vocalist Shane Greenhall a couple of days later, it would only be right if their next time at Steelhouse was headlining and not only that, they’re closing out the entire festival. This is going to be one for the history books.
Whilst it may be about the line-up which gets most people attending, for a number of people, it’s simply about the atmosphere and community which can be said of many festivals of this ilk. The festival has organically grown throughout the years yet it still feels intimate and at no point does it feel overcrowded. You can walk around the arena with ease and get back to your tent or car in a matter of minutes. It’s something the bigger names don’t have the luxury when it comes to its great layout (though the bigger names could probably lower the capacity of people to lessen the feeling of sardines). The horseshoe layout of the arena is ideal with traders in one section, merch/signing tent in another, food in another and bars close by. Personally, I’ve never had an issue with the pricing of food and drink, and it’s much more reasonable than most festivals. Even the VIP area is suitably equipped and if you were lucky to grab passes (they’re all sold out now), you can avail yourself of somewhere to keep the sun off you/dry when the rain hits – because let’s be honest, rain at Steelhouse is as much a guarantee as death and taxes! Plus there’s flushing toilets and running water for washing your hands and an extra couple of bars.
As many bands comment during their set, Steelhouse punters are a hardy lot and it’s definitely a festival full of lifers and quite possibly the most dedicated festival audience in the country. For most people, once they’re up, they’re there for the weekend but if you fancy the comfort of a real bed and lodgings and don’t fancy taking your car up, there’s always the shuttle bus. Timings and prices are sensible, just like everything else on-site. Naturally, the festival has its own set of do’s and don’ts alongside an FAQ or if you’re new to festivals or Steelhouse, it’s always worth a read. It boils down to “Don’t be a dick” but it’s always handy to read their specifics. A couple of bits of advice form myself – bring bottled water and a charger for your phone. Phone signal for myself is usually bare bones on Friday and once everyone else is up there, nonexistent. But it’s always handy to keep it charged, regardless. Plus, if you want to snap a band on-stage or grab a picture with them at the signing tent or when many of them are out roaming the arena, you don’t want to wind up missing out.
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If you’ve still to get your tickets for this year, there’s still some left somehow. And if you’re already sorted, get your shit shirt ready for Friday, pack your wet weather gear and the sun cream in case the rain takes a year off. All that’s left to do is make sure you know how to work your clutch for the ascent and we’ll see you up the mountain!
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