We thought we’d mix it up to start 2024 off with a bang and head down to the much praised Winters End festival. Hosted by the incredible Planet Rock and boasting one hell of a lineup of bands we are friends with and some new favourites, we couldn’t wait to tell you all about it!

We sadly didn’t quite make it in time for opener Loz Campbell. However, we know how good of a show she puts on so I’m sure she was excellent. Instead, our first band of the weekend were Hand of Dimes. It had been years since I’d seen them, them having played one of the early HRH’s I’d attended, but they were just as good as I remember. Forged from the brainchild and singer of Skin Nev MacDonald, they are a fantastic blues rock band. The crowd ate it up, too, loving every minute. They’re one of the older bands on a pretty young bill, but hold their own and play a short but damn enjoyable set!

Next up were not only a personal favourite band of mine, but one of the highlights of the weekend for me, South of Salem. The band are no strangers to the site. But, it had somehow been over a year since we had last seen them. Since then they have only grown bigger still, and are hot off the release of their second album. Honestly, they have somehow gotten even better.

Opening on their older stuff still was an interesting choice, but the crowd ate it up. And whenever they played their new stuff, it went over just as well. Heck, the crowd were even requesting tracks off the new album when asked what they wanted to hear. And the band play it all to perfection. They have evolved into some of the best, most polished showmen in the scene today. The band are going to be huge, and I would recommend anyone to go and see them ASAP!

Black Spiders were up next, and are an odd one for me. I was a big fan of the band in my teens, so was pretty hyped when they announced their return. We’ve seen them on a few occasions since then, and sadly the more I see them the less I’m into them. The first time at HRH was fun, but it’s felt a little like diminishing returns since then. They’re still good, incredibly talented players, but it’s a little like going through the motions. I don’t know if it’s more because they’ve been everywhere recently and I’ve seen them a lot, but even their new tracks didn’t land too hard for me. I know a lot of people there enjoyed them so that’s good at least!

Then we finally reached the first headliners of the weekend, the mighty Massive Wagons. What can I say that hasn’t already been said before? The band are energy and stage-presence personified, and Baz conducts his band and his full-orchestra of a crowd to perfection. And their songs really speak for themselves, at this point. They are one of the biggest bands not only in the NWOCR scene, but one of the biggest new hard rock bands in the UK currently. And seeing them live, there really is no doubt why. Rattling through new songs and classics alike, the crowd hung on every note. And, of course, the image of Baz crowd surfing in an inflatable boat will forever be seared into my mind now. In a good way, of course!