The incredible UK blues rock/NWOCR stalwarts played a hometown gig over the weekend, packing nearly 100 people into the amazing Hallamshire Hotel! The first stop of their April tour was set to be a doozy, being backed by other local bluesy heavyweights in Eddie & The Wolves and Luna Marble. We’ve been excited to head down to this for weeks now, and there was no way we weren’t going to be raving about it afterwards! Check out all of our thoughts below.
Opening things up with a special acoustic-duo performance where the bluesy Luna Marble. I recently got into them off their amazing debut album, and it was cool to hear a lot of that in a different style here. Plus, for just the two of them, their acoustic guitars and vocals, goddamn did they produce a huge sound! Maria Rico has one of the best live vocals around at the minute, and not only that but has the charisma and stage presence to hold the crowd in the palm of her hand throughout a more subdued set. Meanwhile Dragos backs her up perfectly, providing some amazing playing and backing vocals throughout. Hearing the tracks unplugged takes you on a different journey, but has definitely left me wanting to hear it with the full band soon, too! And we even got a sneak preview of a new song, which went over a storm with the live crowd. They were the perfect openers for this show, and are a band that are rightfully already gathering plenty of momentum for themselves in the UK rock scene!
Next up were the amazing Eddie & the Wolves. Yada yada best band in the world, yada yada future of rock… you know the drill by now. I just want to quickly thank not only the two bands and the venue for having us on the bill with them, but for every single person who came down to see us. We all had a blast up on stage, as warm as it was, and it felt like the crowd enjoyed it too! We’d taken a month off to do some studio stuff, so getting back up in front of a packed out venue was truly something special. And, it at least sounded good on our end, so hopefully it did out front, too! The setlist is refined and we’re firing on all cylinders. We’re all over the place this year so be sure to catch us somewhere else soon if you couldn’t make it here!
After a surprisingly painless changeover, the headliners too to the stage! We’re big fans of the band, and have seen them around a fair bit, so when I say they were on top form yet again here, you’d best believe it! All of them are masters of their chosen craft these days, and come together from their other projects for this one amazingly whenever they’re ready. And, we got a pretty varied setlist from them, too! From older songs to trying out new stuff to their biggest hits, we got a bit of everything, and it was all spectacular. It felt like banger after banger, and their hours set went by in a flash! It’s criminal that at this point they aren’t bigger, but regardless they are still putting on one hell of a show every time they step on stage. I feel like they have a big year ahead of them, and I for one cannot wait to see them again, as well as check out their new music as it drops!
Check out an interview we did with Indie too, here!
And there we have it, folks, a fantastic night full of amazing rock bands! All three knocked it out of the park and are a must-see for any fans of hard or blues rock reading this! The audience in attendance witnessed something special; three bands at the top of their game, playing their asses off, and in a pretty awesome venue to boot! We had a blast and can’t wait to see them all again ASAP!
Just a few days after Charlotte Wessels and her band returned from their biggest tour to date with Epica and Amaranthe, she reveals that she will be taking The Obsession on their first headline tour in 2027, spanning major cities across Europe and the United Kingdom! Not only that, but joining her will be Melissa Bonny, vocalist of modern metal outfit AD INFINITUM!
The tour will kick off on February 4, 2027, in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, and conclude on February 27, 2027, in Charlotte’s hometown of Utrecht, the Netherlands. The full list of dates can be found below. Be sure to grab your tickets quickly at https://charlottewessels.nl/tour/
04.02.27 BE – Sint-Niklaas / Casino 05.02.27 UK – London / Islington Assembly Hall 06.02.27 UK – Glasgow / Slay 07.02.27 UK – Manchester / Club Academy 09.02.27 FR – Paris / La Machine Du Moulin Rouge 10.02.27 CH – Zurich / Komplex Klub 12.02.27 IT – Milan / Legend Club 13.02.27 DE – Munich / Backstage Halle 14.02.27 CZ – Zlín / Masters of Rock Cafe 15.02.27 AT – Vienna / Szene Wien 17.02.27 HU – Budapest / Barba Negra 18.02.27 PL – Krakow / Hype Park 19.02.27 DE – Leipzig / Werk 2 20.02.27 DE – Hamburg / Gruenspan 21.02.27 DK – Copenhagen / Pumpehuset 23.02.27 DE – Berlin / Lido 25.02.27 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal 26.02.27 DE – Essen / Weststadthalle 27.02.27 NL – Utrecht / TivoliVredenburg Ronda
Charlotte Wessels on the tour:
“After the unforgettable Arcane Dimensions tour with Epica and Amaranthe, announcing our own headline tour across Europe feels surreal. It’s such an emotional next chapter. The energy we’ve shared with all of you over the past months has been incredible, and we can’t wait to take that even further, with longer sets, new songs, and deeper moments together every night. Finishing the tour in my hometown Utrecht, at TivoliVredenburg – Ronda, is something I’m especially proud of and looking forward to.”
Charlotte Wessels’ latest release, The Obsession (2024), has been widely praised for its dynamic range, artistic growth, and emotional depth. Ever Metal highlighted its “skyscraper melodies” and Wessels’ “masterful vocals,” while Blabbermouth noted the album’s impressive variety. Louder Sound described it as “an auspicious and metallicized spin on her dark fairytale aesthetic,” while Metal Sucks called it “a transcendent collection of moving yet forceful and complex compositions,” further cementing her reputation as a versatile and evolving artist. You can even check out our review of it here!
Nottingham locals Phoenix Lake headlined a packed line up at Saltbox, hot off the release of their debut album ‘Seraphina: The Fall From Eden’. Friday night drew a good crowd to the bar-venue in Nottingham, and with four bands taking the stage that evening it wasn’t long before that crowd got energetic.
Opening the night and getting room on the right level were 7eventh Sea, another Nottingham based metalcore band with heavy riffs and high energy breakdowns. Their thirty minute set was impressive from start to finish, their track ‘Falsified Dreams’ was a particular standout from the set. Vocalist Stee Owen had a commanding stage presence and skilled vocals to back it up, and drummer Aaron Gregory was incredibly tight throughout the dynamic and technical set. Fans of Lorna Shore and While She Sleeps keep an eye on these lads over the next few years.
With the room filling as more people arrive, Aethoria took the stage next. Hailing from Ipswich this hard rock group are a perfect accompaniment to headliners Phoenix Lake. Very similar in style and sound, but with their own attitude and a good hit with the crowd in the room. After some initial technical problems with the microphone, vocalist Mecia had the room in the palm of her hands for the rest of their time on stage. A confident band with a solid sound, raising the energy once again in the room.
The crowd are raring to go by this point two solid sets down and two bands left to perform, next up: Black Lakes from South Wales. Entering the stage draped in black cloaks and kilts alike the five piece metal group started strong with some high energy tracks. It appeared a good portion of the crowd were fans and had come down to check them out, and their energetic frontman knew how to play to the crowd well. While they performed well I think due to the strong showings of the other bands Black Lakes were the weakest set of the night. Their strong start felt like it waned as the set progressed, leaving me expecting more of a band this high in the billing.
Any feelings of disappointment were quickly dispelled when headliners Phoenix Lake took the stage. Coming out to a roaring crowd the Nottingham band felt the hometown love in Saltbox as they tore into their hour long set. Vocalist Lana Phillis doesn’t have to rely on just her impressive vocal talents to hold her own on stage with the rest of the band, interacting seamlessly with the crowd and letting the other band members take their moments to shine. A healthy dose of tracks off the new album was to be expected as the band tours the UK to promote its release.
Luckily for us the album is brilliant and the new songs sound great live. The group obviously revelled in having a home town crowd show so much support, it will be great to see what lofty heights the four piece can reach off the back of the album. Phoenix Lake are on the road around the UK throughout April and the beginning of May, be sure to check them out as they rightfully show off what they have created together! A truly amazing night packed full of incredible music!
For more than 50 years, George Thorogood and The Destroyers have remained one of the most consistent—and consistently passionate—progenitors of blues-based rock. And no one knows that better than the millions of fans who’ve seen them live. Formed in 1973 by guitarist, singer, and songwriter George Thorogood and drummer Jeff Simon, the Delaware-based band honed their sound on stages across the Northeast, building a devoted word-of-mouth following through their high-energy performances and blistering grooves.
The band have announced the final tourof the UK, as part of The Baddest Show on Earthtour of North America and Europe. There will be just two shows:Monday 29th June 2026 at University of Wolverhampton at the Civic Hall, followed by Tuesday 30th June 2026 at indigo at The O2 in London.
Speaking about The Baddest Show on Earth, Thorogood says, “When the lights go down, the downbeat hits and the audience erupts; all bets are off. The Destroyers are at their best when we play for the people, and these are some of our favourite—and rarest—performances from the past five decades. You wanted the baddest, you got it.”
Today, George Thorogood and The Destroyer – which currently consists of Jeff Simon (drums, percussion), Bill Blough (bass guitar), Jim Suhler (rhythm guitar), and Buddy Leach (saxophone)—have played more than 8,000 live shows. Career highlights include their record-breaking 50 States in 50 Dates tour in 1981; numerous high-profile tours alongside The Rolling Stones, Sammy Hagar, and ZZ Top, among others; over 15 million albums sold worldwide; plus landmark performances at Live Aid and Saturday Night Live.
This is one we’ve been waiting for for a while! We booked tickets all the way back in August when it was announced, we have been excited ever since. We hadn’t seen the country megastar since The Long Road a few years back, but then she honestly put on one of the best sets I’d ever seen, so we snapped up tickets as soon as we could; there was no way we were missing her. Plus, the downstairs of the Institute is such a quirky little room that always has some really great sound, especially when it’s full like it was the other night, so we were surely in for a good time!
I wasn’t actually really familiar with Amélie at all heading into this, bar a track or two I’d checked out in the days prior. Honestly though, she blew me away here, and certainly has a new fan in me! She was the perfect mix of folk-country, rock and 90s/early 2000s pop. There was everything from Alanis Morissette to The Cranberries to Paula Cole to Ingrid Andress. All the sounds blended together perfectly, and her great vocals and amazing lyric writing also added so much to that. Her songwriting skills are fantastic, and it’s easy to see why she was paired up with Cam for this tour. And, kudos to her for going up on stage on her own in front of a packed out crowd, playing all her own music and using a track for the other instruments; when supporting a full band that is no easy feat! However, that is my only one vague negative(ish): I’d have loved to have seen this with a full band. I completely get the logistical and sadly now financial nightmare of having a band on tour with you, but I can only imagine her songs somehow being even better with instruments performed live, and I feel like she could have been able to do more without having to focus on the backing as much. Still, it’s a minor gripe as it was still a great set, and she won a lot of the crowd over pretty quick into it! Definitely one to keep an eye on!
After a short break, the headliner soon took the stage! I have to say right off the bat that ‘Slow Down’ was one of the most unexpectedly perfect set openers I’ve ever heard. It was simple yet so damn effective, setting the tone of the evening fantastically with the chilled-yet-poignant vibe and the killer harmonies. From there, we got a full whistle-stop tour of her fantastic new album; all the highs and painfully lows. Whether it’s slower, melancholic numbers like ‘Everblue’ or ‘Hallelujah’ or the lighter later numbers like ‘Kill the Guru!’ and ‘Look at the Pretty Girls!’, Cam and her band really took the crowd on a journey. Heck, we even got the beautiful lullaby she wrote for her sister/daughter, ‘Meet you By the River’, a touching, memorable moment of the set that I may have shed a tear over. Leaving out only two from the release (damn I would have loved ‘Wherever You Are’), it was awesome to hear so much love given to her new release. ‘Alchemy’ was another big highlight, as was ‘Kill the Guru!’.
Then we reached the back third of the set and she busted out the very best of her greatest hits. From bangers off her debut like ‘Mayday’ and ‘Hungover on Heartache’ to massive single ‘Til There’s Nothing Left’ and even a version of ‘AMERICAN REQUIEM’, the song she wrote for Beyoncé, it was all awesome. The two late-stage highlights had to be her big hits, though. ‘Diane’ is the perfect live track, whipping the crowd up into a frenzy as they sung along to every word. Then you have the emotion-filled ‘Burning House’, her breakout song and a track that the audience hung on every note of. Having seen both live before, I find it hard to believe either will get old, as I loved them both here, too! And that’s not even mentioning the tear-jerking, beautiful encore of ‘Village’ a song that will never not reduce me to tears, and when done so beautifully live I don’t even mind!
And hell, we haven’t even talked about her band, yet! On top of Cam’s incredible performance, all three of her band-mates also played their asses off throughout. Be it drums or multiple guitars or keys, as well as the absolutely stunning, powerful harmonies, they were all so good. Also, playing a cheeky bit of ‘Crazy Train’ during a big song-ending solo while in Birmingham was a master stroke, I hear you Simon! They all complimented Cam perfectly, who really put her all into the performance. A true storyteller, she’s perfectly introduce each song as it was coming up, giving it some backstory as well as being so endearing and comical, holding the crowd in the palm of her hand throughout. And, on top of that, she is a criminally underrated vocalist, singing hear heart out through her entire set, it sometimes sounding somehow even better than on track. As much as I enjoyed her the other year, knowing more of her stuff this time made it even more special!
So, there you have it, folks. An amazing night of live Americana and country music, performed by two incredible artists! Amélie warmed the crowd up perfectly, while Cam put on every bit as incredible a show as I was expecting heading in. I can’t recommend either artist enough, either on track or live, so check them out as soon as you possibly can. As much as we’ve literally just seen her and just had a new album from her, I am already ready for more Cam, that’s how good she truly is! It’ll surely be a night we won’t soon forget!
I would say that this is a bit out there for Overtone, but we already have one review of the wonderful man on here! Still, I wasn’t planning on reviewing this. However, both acts put on such a great show that there was no way I couldn’t rave about it! So, let’s dive right into the show, shall we?
My one gripe of the evening to start things off… why were doors at six if nothing was going to happen until eight? It’s an awful lot of time to drag people into a venue for and just leave them waiting around. They could have easily had a second support band on in this time!
Speaking of support, Jack Garrett was actually someone I wasn’t too interested in heading into it from the tiny bit I’d checked out beforehand. However, talk about winning me over! He is insanely talented, both as a musician and a performer, and I think he got more than just me on his side, as the whole crowd was loving it by the end. Being a one-man-band will never not be impressive, and Jack did it in such a fantastic, fascinating way that it was hard to take my eyes off him while he was blowing my mind. From drums to guitar to keys to vocals, we got a bit of everything, and he was a virtuoso at every bit of it! And, on top of that, he’s an excellent songwriter, as I loved each one he played! His unique blend of indie, pop and blues was infectious, and impossible not to love. To the point where, honestly, I’d have LOVED it with a whole band. The loop pedal stuff is certainly impressive, but I think it lost a little bit of the emotion of the tracks at times, and at times it was clear he was struggling with his stage levels of it all. I completely get wanting to do it all yourself, but I’d have somehow loved it even more with him being a vocalist/guitarist/occasional pianist, with other band members also taking the rest of the parts. Still, it was a great set, and he definitely has a new fan in me!
Having seen Mika at a smaller venue, I had no idea what to expect heading into this. However, I certainly wasn’t expecting the AMAZING show that we got! Starting the show descending from the heavens in a giant industrial hamster wheel was definitely not on my 2026 bingo card. Neither was him strapping himself into it later on and spinning around above the crowd mid-song. However, both added so much to the show, as did the rest of the mechanical stage theming. Add to that the pyro, confetti and the giant inflatable megaphone and rainbow, and it was one hell of a stage show!
As for the music itself, it was just as good as you’d expect it to be! His backing band are absolutely phenomenal musicians, complimenting the main man perfectly while also putting on a good show in their own right, when they could. And, as for Mika, he still has one of the best voices in the game today. His vocal range, even live, still blows me away each time, and his charisma is magnetising. He has more energy and flexibility than I do, and I have a solid 14 years on him! As, setlist-wise, it was everything as good as when we last saw him. Opening with two off his latest album was a slight gamble, even though that’s what the tour was and it sounded incredible. But the moment ‘Relax’ hit, the crowd were locked IN dude, bouncing around and singing along to the very end. And, because of that, I felt like the rest of Hyperlove was received better after. Tracks like ‘Spinning Out’ and ‘Excuses For Love’ were amazing live, and fit perfectly around crowd favourites like ‘Lollipop’ and ‘We Are Golden’. Add to that we got him bring back ‘Popular Song’ (because of course), him taking to the stands during ‘Big Girl’, and the one-two-punch of ‘Grace Kelly’ into ‘Happy Ending’ to close out the main set, and it was a tour de force of everything Mika does brilliantly. By the time ‘Yo Yo’ hit, the crowd was spent, in the best way possible! And absolutely phenomenal set!
And there we have it, yet another incredible night of live music so far this year. Both artist were completely different but phenomenal in their own way, and had the crowd in the palms of their hands through the whole night. How this was Mika’s first time headlining arenas in the UK I do not know, but that man owned the stage as if he’d been on there his whole life. I cannot recommend either artist enough, both on track and live, and have listened to both plenty over the weekend!
An apt name for a venue, as it was bloody cold last Friday when we arrived at the venue (part of the INCREDIBLE Castle Rock Brewery). However, we had three awesome rock bands to warm us up with, and they did exactly that! Somehow it was my first time seeing both Preacher and Revenant, though I’d been a fan for years, so to say I was excited was an understatement! Let’s dive right into the night’s fun, shall we?
Eddie & The Wolves opened the show and killed it if I do say so myself. Those who came down early saw, I’d like to thing, a good hard rock set! As usual, I’d like to thank everyone that came down to watch us, brought our merch, gave us such kind words, you’re all the reason the four of us do it. And, while I’m happy to tongue-in-cheek type here that we put on ‘the best set of all time, and anyone who missed it will never see something so glorious’, I just hope that we gave people an enjoyable half an hour! I had a blast up on stage, and I know the other three did too, and it sounded good to us, at least!
Next up were the incredible Revenant. They’ve been building a lot of momentum over the last couple of years with a handful of great EPs, and that momentum truly carries over to their stage show. The four-piece filled the room with their energy, and sounded just as good live as they do on track. Opening on the run of maybe my two favourite tracks from them, ‘Public Service Announcement’ into ‘Best Medicine’, before blasting through a lot of the rest of their awesome three EPs, it was one hell of a setlist. And the band put their all into playing each and every track! The bands stage presence as a whole is undeniable, and Sugarman held the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout. The band have put in the work to get to where they are at, and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving bunch!
After a short break, the legendary headliners took to the stage. The North Carolinan Southern rockers have really been embraced over here in recent years, which reflected perfectly in their ability to pull off a headline tour like this to a packed out, adoring crowd. I still spin By the Horns now, so for it to get so much love in the set (I mean, it was the tours namesake) was awesome. However, having never seen them live before, getting to hear the classics was also amazing! From ‘Old Joe’ and ‘Writing on the Wall’ to ‘Olf Fashioned Ass Whoopin’…’ and ‘Not Today’ we got a great spread of their back catalogue, a journey through the bands whole career. Ronnie is still one of the best frontmen in the genre some nearly 20 years into the band, and the rest of the guys compliment him perfectly. Special shoutout to drummer Josh Wyatt, he blew me away not just in his solo but throughout the whole set, what a phenomenal talent! The whole band were excellent from start to finish though, playing their asses off and keeping the crowd singing and clapping along throughout!
And there you have it folks, another great night for underground (ish) rock music! What more could you ask for? Three incredible bands working their ass off, a good venue, a great crowd, and surrounded by great beer! All the wins! I cannot recommend any of the bands or the venue enough, check them all out our as soon as you possibly can. I already need to see Revenant and Preacher again, and hopefully we can get a run-back of the whole tour sometime in the future!
Last weekend, we headed down to one of Wolverhamptons best live music venues to see three of the rising stars in the UK underground rock scene. We’ve seen all three before (in theory) and are big fans, so we were already excited and ready for a great night. Check out what we thought of it anyway though, just in case our opinions changed!
The Wolves started things off this time to a surprisingly already packed-out crowd. You all know the drill by now. Firstly, thank you to everyone who came out early to catch the band, and I hope you enjoyed the show! Everyone seemed to, at least judging by the warm reception! And it certainly felt good from my end! It was our first gig of the year and I’d like to think we came out of the gate swinging! We even treated everyone to a new song, aren’t we kind?! We’re planning a big year in 2026, and are hoping to play live as much as possible, so if you missed it I’m sure you’ll see us soon!
Next up were the amazing Soul Revival. We last caught these guys back in October, and somehow they’ve gotten even better since! The bands energy was off the charts, and they all sounded excellent together throughout. Steve Nunn is an incredible frontman and vocalist, and really held the whole crowd in the palm of his hand throughout their set. And the band have only been going a few years yet have already got an incredibly solid catalogue of awesome, boot stompin’ rock songs under the belt, them all sounding great live! There is no wonder they are making a name for themselves and playing so much currently, because they are quickly morphing into one of the best live bands on the scene currently. I am already desperate to see them live again, and am becoming a bigger fan each time I see them!
Closing out the night were our good friends The Heavy Souls. They were everywhere it felt last year, and much like with Soul Revival, seem to be getting somehow better and better with each show. They have such an air and aura to them, definitely crying themselves like a big band, and it makes it make their performance even bigger because of it! Even on a smaller stage, they own it, and all of them put on a show the crowd couldn’t look away from. And, the band are as tight and polished as anything, each working their asses off and playing their parts to perfection. And, setlist wise, it was also awesome! We’re a big fan of their debut album here, and it’s always awesome to hear any of it live. And, the fact that we also got brand new songs too to hype up their next stage only added to the experience and set! Their live sound is incredible, matching up perfectly to that of the tracks, and even in smaller venues like this, they really put on a show for their fans. They are set to have another big year in 2026, and this was one hell of a way to start it off!
And there you have it, folks. Three awesome hard rock bands packing out one of the best small venues in the UK, and making for one hell of a night! I cannot recommend seeing any of the bands enough, all put on one hell of a show. And, if you’re in the UK, there’ll be plenty of opportunity to do that in 2026. And also, shoutout to the venue once again; it’s a great space, they treat everyone well and the sound is always awesome. Another fantastic night!
The first gig for us of 2026 and it was a huge one! 15k+ people packing out the biggest arena in the UK for three amazing pop punk bands! And, while it wasn’t quite the lineup intended (shoutout to both Four Years Strong and The Paradox for sadly having to drop out), it was still an absolutely stellar lineup that we have been excited for for months. And it was somehow our first time at the new arena, so we get to check out that too. Surprisingly, it was nice and easy and stress-free to get in, an even bigger bonus! Read on to find out what we thought of the night!
First up was a slightly last-minute addition to the bill, the fast-rising star Taylor Acorn. Honestly, she was a great choice to open the show! Her energy was infectious and she sounded great, definitely winning over plenty of new fans in the crowd, including us! And her voice live was incredible; packed with power, emotion and some soaring notes. Whether it was slower stuff or faster punk numbers, it all sounded great. It gave off slight country vibes even at times, like punk-country, which I loved. The two guy in her band worked their asses off too, although the absence of a bassist and second guitar was felt a touch, as both were on track. Still, as a slightly rushed last-minute addition, they smashed it out of the park, and she definitely has a new fan in me!
Mayday Parade were the band my wife was there to see. I never quite got into them on track, no matter how hard I tried. Well, I can now officially say: I get it! Hearing the songs in a live setting finally got me into them, and I have been listening a fair bit the last couple of days since. It helps that they heavied stuff up in that setting, even their older stuff, but it meant that the set had a great energy throughout! From opening on a new one, ‘Under my Sweater’ to a crash course in their biggest album with the likes of ‘Jersey’ and ‘Black Cat’ and, of course, closing on ‘Jamie All Over’, it was all so damn good! The band played their asses off too, putting on one hell of a performance to a crowd that were going nuts from start to finish. Derek is one hell of a frontman too, bouncing around the stage like it was still 2007 and keeping the crowd on their toes throughout. They have very much won a new fan in me, and I would definitely see them live again!
After another break (and I assume a slight delay with us getting three intro songs in the dark before they came on) the headliners triumphantly took the stage. A fun opening vignette concludes with Alex appearing at the front of the walkway, acoustic in hand to play ‘[cold open]’. Having a packed out crowd singing it immediately back to him clearly took him back, getting slightly overwhelmed but clearly happy. After the brief intro track, the whole band explode into newer single ‘SUCKERPUNCH’. It was easily one of my favourite songs of last year, and it sounded so good live!
From there, we got two full hours of incredible live rock music, from five absolute masters. Following the opener with two massive classics in ‘Weightless’ and ‘Poppin’ Champagne’, we are taken through a tour of the bands incredible two plus decade discography. Older stuff like ‘Backstreat Serenade’ and ‘Time Bomb’ to newer stuff like ‘Monsters’ and ‘Sleepwalking’ to collab songs in ‘PMA’ and ‘Hate This Song’. Heck, the latter in particular was amazing, the crowd loved it, I’m a big I Prevail fan and Alex surprisingly pulled off Eric’s screams damn well! Then you have the latest album, which we loved here at Overtone, which sounded just as good as anything else they played! ‘Little Bit’ and ‘Sugar’ were big live highlights. And the encore run of ‘The Weather’ into ‘Lost In Stereo’ into ‘Dear Maria’ was one of the best I’ve ever seen.
As for the show itself, it was excellent. The video effects on the side-screens were fun, and the big screen at the back flicked between live footage and some great graphics and video bits. Meanwhile, all the different block-colour platforms added some great depth to the stage and fit the theme well. Heck, the band even colour coordinated, each of the four wearing a different one. And of course, we got plenty of great pyro throughout, too. And the band, of course, played their asses off. They are known to be a good live band anyway, but they really brought it here. They all bounced around that stage from start to finish, and clearly all were having a blast. Alex had the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout, people barely even talking through the slow songs or during him interacting between songs, which says a lot. They all seemed so appreciative to be up on stage doing what they do, and it made the crowd enjoy it even more. An absolutely amazing set that I won’t be forgetting any time soon!
Overall, it was a really amazing night of live music! All three acts brought it, and All Time Low are honestly one of the best live bands I’ve seen in years. I cannot recommend seeing any of them enough, and I truly think ATL have finally found that final gear out here to push them into the upper echelon of bands. I am already desperate to see them again, and would certainly see Mayday and Taylor again too. If they are anywhere near you any time soon, go along and see them, you certainly won’t be disappointed. Heck, I’d even recommend Co-op Live, it’s a good venue for an arena. A truly fantastic night!
As I’m sure you can tell, we saw a lot of bands and artists this year! While just about every one of them blew our socks off, we wanted to mention a few of our absolute favourites!
Ice Nine Kills – Nottingham Arena, December 2025
The most recent entry on this list, there was no way this wasn’t making it onto here! I’ve loved this band for a while, and they somehow keep getting better and better! They’ve somehow perfectly turned their brand of chaotic horror-metalcore into an arena spectacle, and now I don’t think it can be anything less. This was one of the best stage shows I’ve ever seen, there being something for practically every track. From extras dressed as various horror villains to enough knives, chainsaws and pyro to make customs surely incredibly difficult, they had it all. And, on top of that of course, the band also played their asses off throughout! Spencer is one of the most effortlessly charismatic frontmen around today, having the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout despite the limited interaction. Meanwhile the rest of the players are some of the most talented bunch of instrumentalist and screamers he could have gathered. Heck, we get the horn section of BBF for most of it, too! I could gush about this band all day, but I’ll let you read our review of thisif you want that!
P.S. shoutout to Creeper supporting, who would have surely made the list if they’d have had longer!
Drake Milligan – The Long Road 2025
For the second year in a row, Mr Milligan storms onto this list. And how could he not? He and his band are one of the most entertaining live acts around today. The sheer show they put on and sheer talent on display between all of them will always be incredible. And, for saying this was apparently his first ever open-air festival headline slot, it made it even more special! And, setlist-wise, it was pretty close to perfect! From old classics to plenty of new stuff that has since been released on album two, I couldn’t get enough from start to finish. It’s another set that I gushed over in the review plenty, so won’t go over it too much. However, I loved this from start to finish, and he somehow cemented me as an even bigger fan moving forward than I had been before! He’s going to be around for years and years to come, so I urge you to see him and his band live as soon as you possibly can!
Green Day – Download 2025
Somehow it’s taken me 28+ years to see one of my favourite childhood bands live, but to say they didn’t disappoint would be an understatement! This was a non-stop tour de force of huge songs from my childhood, and I loved every minute. From the best of American Idiot (seeing ‘Jesus of Suburbia’ live was a bucket list item) to old classics like ‘Welcome to Paradise’, ‘When I Come Around’ and even ‘Minority’, to the very best of the last few albums, there was a little something for everyone! And, some nearly four decades into their career, they still very much have it, sounding as fantastic as ever and performing their asses off for a solid 90+ minutes. It was one of the best headline sets I’ve seen in the 12 years that I’ve gone to the festival, and that’s saying a lot! They well and truly blew me away, and proved any and all doubters wrong on the night, I’m sure!
ONE OK ROCK – Manchester Apollo, October 2025
THIS is how you do a headline set! Reducing the venue from the AO arena was a blessing in disguise for this show, because I have never been in a crowd quite like this one. The whole building hung on every note, knew every word and went nuts the entire time. And, as such, the famously great live band played their asses off throughout. And it helps that we got one of my favourite albums of the year, DETOX, played almost in full, every track being an absolute banger. And, of course, we got all their hits sprinkled in for good measure. If you want more gushing just check out our full review, you’ll get to see just how much I loved it! They should be one of the biggest bands on the planet, and they seem to be almost everywhere but the UK. But, somewhat selfishly, I’m hardly gonna complain, because seeing them in such an intimate setting was one of the best shows I’ve ever been to!
Blacktop Mojo – Manchester Rebellion & The Hairy Dog, Derby, March 2025
A slight cheat one as not only is this two separate sets, but my band also supported on both of them! However, I did have tickets to the Derby show anyway, so regardless this would have made it onto this list! The first ever shows over here for Blacktop Mojo and Shaman’s Harvest (huge shoutout to them too, as they were also excellent on both shows) and they came to show out, as both bands blew the roofs off both venues! However, Blacktop just edged out both shows for me, putting on easily two of my favourite sets of the year. They played a setlist packed with some of my favourite tracks from them, from their older stuff to the fantastic latest album. And they played their asses off throughout, with Matt being an excellent frontman! Check out our review of one of the shows if you want to hear me talk even more about both bands, but there was no way they weren’t making it onto this list!
Evan Honer – The Long Road 2025
Honestly, this was a bit of a religious experience for me. It is no secret I have become a massive fan of Evan off his last couple of albums. His lyrics and songwriting are phenomenal and speak to me on another level to most other artists. So, hearing some of these tracks live, I’m enough of a man to admit that I cried. Every song was amazing, and some really hit home. The full band was a nice touch too, and the harmonies they were hitting were awesome and added so much to the sound. And, speaking of the band, they are all insanely talented, even switching instruments casually for a song! And Evan is such a great performer, being a great frontman and his vocals are just as good live as on track. Even with a shorter festival set in a tent, I was still blown away, and already am desperate to see him again!
Stray From the Path – Slam Dunk 2025
Once again with them, the energy was absolutely off the charts. I loved themthe first time I saw them, and it was somehow even better this time around! From their awesome previous albumtracks to the singles from their latest release, it was packed full of incredible tracks, performed to perfection. And it helped that the crowd were fully onboard throughout, going nuts and filling the place with crowd surfers. Every bit of energy the crowd gave the band, they gave it right back, too. Andrew is an insane frontman who really kept the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout the set. We were right down the front and it was crazy, and so much fun! It’s so sad that they have called it quits as they are such a good band, but they have very much gone out on top this year, with this set showing just that!
On top of absolutely loving his latest album, I adored my first time seeing the country legend live! He played a stacked, 25-odd song setlist packed full of the very best from Solitary Tracks, alongside all of his classic hits, to boot. And the show he and his band put on was nothing short of spectacular. It was simple, them playing and a fantastic lighting rig backing them, and there wasn’t even a huge amount of crowd interaction throughout. But, the sheer stage presence and vibes going on through it all were amazing. I couldn’t look away for the entire set, and neither could the rest of the packed out crowd. Easily one of the best acts of the year, especially so early on!
A band that I have loved for years now, and another that only seem to be getting better and better! Finally ascending to the rank of headliner among the Planet Rock crowd was nothing to be scoffed at, and the trio more than rose to the occasion. Blasting through the very best of their two studio albums, as well as their energetic cover of ‘Breadfan’, it was a setlist jam-packed full of awesome songs. And, the crowd were packed out and hanging on every single note, all being huge fans of the band. Heck, they even got a pit going, I’m pretty sure the only one of the weekend, impressive for a crowd that are not known for their energy usually. If you want to hear me gush more over it, check out our review of the weekend, but there was no way it wasn’t making this list!
Electric Callboy – Slam Dunk 2025
Seeing this band this year practically guaranteed them a spot on this list, didn’t it? They are the best live metal band around today, without question, and put on as good a show as any to close out their stage at Slam Dunk! It’s impossible not to have a blast watching them. The show they put on; fire and multiple confetti moments, the camaraderie between Kevin and Niko on stage, the campfire-acoustic break in the middle, all incredible. And, what’s more, they have the songs to back up their impressive show, too. Opening on the amazing ‘Elevator Operator’ and rattling through all the hits off Tekkno, to standalone singles like their BABYMETAL collab ‘RATATATA’ or recently (at the time) released ‘Revery’, to plenty of fun, amazing covers too, it was honestly the perfect setlist. And, of course, the band play everything to perfection, being one of the most polished, well-oiled machines around today. I love this band and am so impatiently awaiting the next album!
Brothers Osborne – O2 Academy Birmingham, January 2025
Another awesome country gig in Birmingham, this time from one of the bands that got me into the genre to begin with! My only complaint, and I’m sure I mentioned this in my review too, is that we only got two tracks off their awesome latest album, and they opened the show with them. It was a little odd. However, when you have a back catalogue as solid as Brothers Osborne, it’s hard to miss any of the other hits out! ‘Stay a Little Longer’ is still one of my favourite songs of the last decade, and the solo live gave me goosebumps. Meanwhile tracks like ‘Skeletons’, their Dierks Bentley collab ‘Burning Man’, and ‘Dead Man’s Curve’ all still stand out in my mind as great live memories, almost a full year later! The brothers have such a fantastic chemistry together, and the crowd loved every second!
LN – Winters End & Scruffy Murphy’s, June 2025
My discovery of the year, that’s for sure! I know technically it’s another two-show entry, but after seeing them at Winters End, there was no way I wasn’t also going to one of their own shows, too! The fact that a dark, heavy pagan metal band won over the Planet Rock crowd is a feat in of its own, but is a true testament to the bands talents as a live band. The eponymous LN is the most captivating front-person I’ve seen all year, being equal parts endearing and intimidating throughout both sets. And the rest of the band played their asses off at both shows; one to a huge festival crowd and the other to a tiny, packed out room, putting in the same level of energy to both. Their music is also sick, me being hooked on their songs for weeks after each show. They’re playing a lot in the UK and are quickly gaining a following, so see them ASAP, as they’re going to be big sooner rather than later!
Another from Long Road and another that absolutely blew me away. As I said both in my review and to Evan himself, the fact that he can get such a fantastic sound and pack such a huge punch when it’s just him up there with one guitar is mind-blowing. The emotion and vulnerability on display throughout was insane, and has really stuck with me all these months later. Between that and the songs themselves being amazing, it’s hard to argue his inclusion on this list. I was already a fan, but this has cemented that feeling even more so in the few months since. I already cannot wait to see him live again, and hopefully once the album he teased drops, he’ll make it back across the pond again!
Bad Touch – Rescue Rooms, October 2025
A band that I go way back with but hadn’t seen in a good while, it’s incredible to see them still firing on all cylinders. While keeping up on their recent studio output, songs from that translated incredibly over to a live setting, while I got plenty of nostalgia seeing some of my favourites from my youth alongside them! Stevie is yet another frontman on this list who’s effortlessly captivating, holding the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout, but the rest of the band played their asses off around him as well. And, to see a venue like Rescue Rooms packed out for old friends was so heartwarming, as was getting to play alongside them once again. They really have gone from strength to strength in the NWOCR scene, becoming one of its prominent members, and it’s very much because of live shows like this!
Crowe Boys – The Long Road 2025
The final entry and last Long Road one, once again, I’m not scared to admit this brought me to tears. It’s not been the easiest year mentally for me and the wife, and ‘Brother Song’ had us both crying. That’s the true power of not only the Boys’ songwriting, but their incredible delivery as a duo. They weren’t able to bring their full band over for the shows, but they arguably didn’t need to, the pair did a phenomenal job on their own! The harmonies were off the charts throughout, and both delivered such emotion and impact with every track. They had the small stage packed out, and everyone clung to every note. I sadly missed them on the Front Porch the next day, but I am so very glad I got to see this incredible set!
