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Best Live Acts of 2023!

The final list for the year, and it’s a new one! Since the podcast has gone on hiatus, this seemed like the easiest way to highlight some of the great live music of the year. We’ve seen plenty of incredible bands and acts this year, and wanted to highlight some of the very best. Now, of course this isn’t all of them, I’d be here all day if it were. We saw so many that this list was almost impossible to narrow down, so we just wanted to highlight some that have stood out to us the most after however many months later.

Also, disclaimer, these are in no particular order. We aren’t complete monsters!

The New Roses: The Craufurd Arms – Milton Keynes

It’s no secret at this point that The New Roses are one of my favourite modern bands. Their brand of old-school, sleazy hard rock is incredible, and their songwriting skill in the genre is second to none. I’ve seen them a number of times now and, just like I said in my review of this show, they somehow keep getting better and better. The return of Norman on lead guitar and Timmy taking a step into solely vocals has somehow made the band even better live. Every single member played their hearts out at this show and put on one hell of a performance for the crowd. This was the first time I’ve seen the band headlining their own show, and their 90-minute set is something I truly believe everyone should get to experience!

Ice Nine Kills: Rock City – Nottingham

Another of my favourite bands currently, I’d been waiting for this gig for a while. Booked pretty far in advance, it then got pushed back and moved around due to them landing a support slot with the mighty Metallica. However, to say was worth the wait is an understatement! Welcome to Horrorwood is my favourite album of the decade so far, and to see it be brought to live so masterfully and theatrically was incredible.

Adding a third guitarist to make up for the absence of guitar god Dan Sugarman made the sound MASSIVE, but there was no denying this was the Spencer show. And honestly, it was right to be. He is one of the best frontmen around today, both from a vocal and performance standpoint. His cleans and growls are phenomenal (as are the rest of the bands), and his theatrical antics and costume changes are captivating. Not only are they putting out some of the best music currently, but they have become a NEED TO SEE band too. Not many artists can say that these days!

Cam: The Long Road 2023

Out of the mess of Jon Pardi’s very last minute cancellation of his headline set came one of the most surprising and brilliant performances I’ve ever seen. I had no idea who Cam was when she was announced to be replacing Jon, but I came away being a HUGE fan. Her performance was so effortlessly perfect; filled with emotion, insane talent and catchy vocal hooks. And every single track she played was amazing, a true testament to her songwriting skill with only two albums out. She even threw in a nod to Pardi with a fantastic cover of ‘Head Over Boots’. And I have no problem at all admitting that I shed a tear at the emotional ‘Village’. I probably said it better in my review, but yeah, this was one hell of a headline set!

Parkway Drive: Graspop Metal Meeting 2023

Somehow, this was the first time I got to see the metalcore titans. I’ve been a fan of them for years but it never quite lined up until now. Yet again I find myself thinking the term ‘worth the wait’. The crowd were on fire for the entire set, abuzz with energy and knowing every song, singing and dancing and moshing constantly. Meanwhile Winston conducted everyone perfectly, a phenomenal frontman holding the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout. Add that to the incredible stage show and everyone else in the band playing their parts exceptionally, and it was one hell of a set. One that, honestly, is going to be tough to top next year!

Daði Freyr: Rock City – Nottingham

Anyone familiar with all of our dadi’s will know exactly how good the guy is live. The Eurovision alumni is known as much for his live show and stage presence as he is for his catchy electro-dance-pop songs. His awkward charisma is off the charts and had the crowd laughing along constantly between songs. And then between his smooth, unique voice and the rest of the band playing their fucking asses off, the tracks sounded incredible, too. I haven’t seen anything like this live before and it blew me away. I would recommend this to any of our majority rock, metal or country listeners, you certainly wouldn’t be disappointed!

The War & Treaty: The Long Road 2023

I mean, just listen to the vocals on the video below. They can pull this off live, so of course this was going to be a highlight set! I think I described this in my review (same link as Cam) as being like a religious experience, and I fully stand by that. The couple are absolutely brilliant live, and their band more than back them up well. It helps that their songs are incredible too, but their stage presence and chemistry is captivating. My literal only issue with this set was that it was like, mid afternoon. Hopefully after how the crowd went insane for them and they’ve gotten bigger since, when they’re back they’ll be towards the top of the bill!

Kim Jennett: Trillians – Newcastle

The ex-Voodoo Blood and Myke Grey frontwoman has long been revered for her incredible live performances. Her solo stuff is no exception, as here she played a variety of both of those bands’ songs and some of her own, as well as a smattering of covers. She is one of the most energetic front-people in the game and the fact that she can still hold the impressive notes and growls while moving around how she does is nothing short of insane. I know my review was slightly on the comedic side with my band supporting, but I meant every positive word I said about her. No doubt she’ll have plenty of dates lined up for 2024, so I’d highly recommend heading down to check her out!

FEVER 333: Graspop Metal Meeting 2023

Of course these guys made this list. I’m sure any time any reviewer has seen one of Jason’s projects live and done a list like this, he’s made it onto it. Even though Jason has been doing this stuff for over two decades now, the energy he brings to the stage is insane. Throwing himself around, screaming his lungs out and even climbing the sound stage, the guy is a madman. I was slightly worried heading into the gig as his band had rather publicly quit earlier in the year, but the new members are awesome and fit right in. While it is very much all eyes on Jason, the tracks sound incredible live and everyone played their parts to perfection. It certainly won’t be a set I forget any time soon!

Trivium: O2 Academy – Sheffield

I feel like I have an unsung pact with Matthew Heafy that I have to include him on at least one of my end of year lists each year. Since neither Trivium or Ibaraki put out new albums this year, they couldn’t make that list. And with them announcing they’re taking a bit of a break after the tour this show was on, it isn’t most anticipated albums, either. So, I guess it’s only fitting they make this one!

What is there to say about this show that I haven’t already said in my review? The band are at the top of their games currently and played a Shogun anniversary set, an album widely regarded as maybe their best. The crowd ate up every second of it and went mad throughout the entire gig. It was certainly a sweaty one! Matt’s vocals sounded great and their playing has always been on another level. While both of their support bands also did fantastically and more than warranted a spot on this list if there was more space, there is no denying why Trivium went on last. They are a band that should be far bigger than they are, but if it means we get to see them in more smaller, intimate venues like this, I’m all for it!

Those Damn Crows: Call of the Wild 2023

Last but certainly not least, we get a band who are sure to be the futures of British rock music. The band have been going from strength to strength for years now, and seeing them headline a festival like this is honestly amazing. They not only deserve it and have earnt it, but put on the show to warrant it, too. Shane is an amazing frontman who had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand throughout. And the rest of the band played everything perfectly, too. Their songs are all incredible, and they put the setlist together really well. Call of the Wild always do well with the bands they book, but this felt like something truly special to watch. I reviewed the whole festival, which you can also check out here!

We also interviewed Shane at the festival. Check that out here!
Reviews

The Howling Tides, Eddie & The Wolves and The Collide Rock The Bodega!

And with this, it is our last gig of the year at Overtone. What a one to go out on, though! Three excellent young rock bands playing to a packed out crowd in Nottingham, a few weeks before Christmas. What more could you possibly ask for? So, read below how good The Howling Tides show was!

Opening the night were the wonderful The Collide. The insanely young band (one apparently just 18 years old) owned the stage from the moment they took to it. They were arguably the lightest band of the night, having almost more of an indie/pop rock vibe at times, and mixing in hints of funk. Frontwoman Annabelle Parkin is a born entertainer, putting on fantastic performance and really having so much charisma. The rest of the band played their parts perfectly, and the music itself really speaks for itself. Tracks like the two featured below translate phenomenally live, it all coming across a little heavier than on the track which I dig. This band are going to go far, and if this year wasn’t already their year, 2024 surely will be with more performances like this!

Next up were the ever wonderful Eddie & The Wolves. Is the joke getting old yet? Check out this review if you don’t understand. However, in all seriousness, it was a really damn fun show to play. It was a pretty packed crowd who seemed to enjoy it so, if anyone in attendance is reading this, thank you. And I thought we sounded pretty damn good, if I do say so myself! But, moving on…

Last up were headliners The Howling Tides. Firstly, the turnout was massive, the Bodega being pretty packed for them, and very responsive to everything they did. Rob had everyone in the palm of his hand from the very first note to the last. All four of them put on a fantastic show, really giving it everything they had. Though it’s only a small stage, the energy the band put in was amazing and honestly mesmerising. I’ve not seen a new band full of such natural performers in a while.

The band ripped through a setlist full of awesome tracks, including personal favourites ‘Blue Moon’ and ‘Crack my Soul’. They are such talented songwriters and the songs come across so well live. Their heaviness and groove is infectious, following in the footsteps of Florence Black in this awesome modern UK rock sound. That would for sure be a sick tour, someone needs to get on that! They’re gonna be a huge band sooner rather than later, and their live show will easily push them to it!

And there we have it, folks. Our last gig of the year, and I told you it would be a good ‘un! All three bands played their hearts out in front of a great crowd. What a way to finish the year. For live reviews, see y’all in 2024!

Reviews

Daði Freyr & BLUSHER Rock Rock City!

Okay so first of all, yes, I am well aware this isn’t the sort of music we typically cover here at Overtone. But I am a big fan of Daði Freyr ‘s music so I headed down to see him on a cold winters night. And, he was so damn good, I just had to write about it!

Supporting them were the wonderful trio, BLUSHER. The ladies had travelled all the way from Australia for the tour and mentioned how it was their first time playing in the UK. And, honestly, they were fantastic. Their voices all paired together perfectly, and when they sang individually they all sounded amazing, too. And their showmanship was great, too. From synchronized dancing to switching positions depending on who took the lead, the trio were clearly professionals. Not a single part of the stage wasn’t used and there was always something going on. It was impossible to take your eyes off of!

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not exactly my sort of thing. It’s very radio-friendly pop music. However, they were a lot of fun to watch live and I’d highly recommend you give them a chance if they’re ever playing nearby!

Surprisingly enough, they were the only support. Next up was the man of the hour, Daði Freyr himself. I fell in love with him after seeing his Eurovision performance a few years back, so between that and checking out his videos, I was a tad worried how the show would be when it was just him and two others on stage. My worry was almost immediately silenced. The show was captivating, brilliant and fucking awesome. Between the percussionist, the guitarist and Daði himself, they owned the stage. And, it truly felt more like a band than a solo act, which was awesome to see. Especially since both were amazing at their craft. Whether it was the electric drums, pitch perfect backing vocals or utterly incredible guitar work, they are the perfect two to work alongside Daði Freyr.

As for the setlist, it was arranged pretty perfectly. Understandably heavy on tracks from the latest album, opening on ‘Thank You’ was perfect. From there we launched through funky numbers like ‘Skiptir ekki máli’ and ‘Sabada’, as well as slower, introspective songs like ‘Sunshine’. Heck, it even got pretty heavy with German techno track ‘Bitte’. And of course we got plenty of crowd favourites like ‘I’m Fine’, ‘Moves to Make’ and Eurovision tracks ’10 Years’ and ‘Think About Things’. Heck, he even had time to squeeze in a couple of covers for the encore. A stripped back version of McFly’s ‘Obviously’ and the hugely popular ‘Whole Again’.

Again, I just want to shout out just how good a performance the band put on. Considering they couldn’t move around a huge amount, they made use of what space they could. The huge inflatable Daði Freyr head and hands at the back of the stage were hilarious, too. It was one of the best live sets I’ve seen all year, and that’s saying something!

So, safe to say I enjoyed myself! Both bands did a fantastic job performing for a packed out Rock City, and I honestly couldn’t ask for anything more. If you get the chance to see either of the acts live any time soon, I cannot recommend it enough. I already want to see Daði Freyr again immediately. Hopefully next time he can run and even bigger venue!

Reviews

Holy Moly And The Crackers Rock Nottingham’s Metronome!

The Newcastle-based folk-rockers Holy Moly and the Crackers are currently on tour. It’s their final one for the foreseeable future, as they have sadly announced, too. Their first stop was at Nottingham Confetti college’s own venue, Metronome, supported by the wonderful local band, 5 Hills Out, and acoustic singer-songwriter Brad Dear. After seeing the band at The Long Road this year (review here), we couldn’t miss this one!

First up on the bill was Brad Dear. The local acoustic guy was the perfect warm-up act for the two bands coming up after. His voice translates perfectly live and fit the folky/gypsy vibe that the show as a whole had. And his original songs are really great. I can’t wait to hear more of his stuff, and I’ll definitely be seeing him again at my next opportunity!

Next up were the awesome 5 Hills Out. I’d actually never heard of them before seeing them here, but they certainly have a new fan in me! The band have such an interesting blend of styles, all of which they pull of well live. Whether it’s punk, ska, folky or even indie, just when I thought I’d nailed the band down sonically, they’d go and surprise me by switching it up. But as I said, the band played each style to perfection, and clearly had fun doing it. And they were practically playing to a hometown crowd too, which is always nice. I’m gonna have to keep an eye on them as they’re so close to me, and I’ll definitely be seeing them again when I can!

Finally, we reached the headliners, Holy Moly. My expectations were high after the last time I saw them, and yet they somehow managed to exceed them all over again. From the moment they took the stage to the last note they hit, they owned the place and had the crowd in the palm of their hands. They were up on stage for a while too, and it flew by like no time at all! Every single member of the band played and performed their asses off, while Conrad Bird and Ruth Lyon’s vocals were both on top form as usual.

Firing off plenty of their greatest hits, as well as tracks that they’ve not played recently or even at all, it was one hell of a setlist. Whether it was singing or dancing along, or nearly drawing tears with a ballad, the crowd were on-board every step of the way, too. While I completely understand why the band are taking a break, it will be such a shame to not be able to see them live any time soon. Not many bands bring this much fun and energy to the stage. It was one of my favourite live sets of the year, no question!

If you can get down to see any of these three acts any time soon, I cannot recommend it enough. This was one of the best gigs I’ve been to this year, easily, and it was down to all three of the acts. What a great night!

Reviews

Kim Jennett and Eddie & The Wolves Rock Trillians!

Has the joke gotten old yet? No? Good, because here it comes again!

After a horrible, unfortunate turn of events, Vega had to drop off the remaining dates of their headlining tour. It left three dates that tour support Kim Jennett couldn’t not play, so headlined the shows herself! Three shows across last weekend and plenty of travel, culminating at the legendary Trillians Rock Bar in Newcastle on Sunday. And of course, we were there to catch all the magic!

A last minute edition to the line-up was the new support band, Eddie & The Wolves. Fresh off the recent release of their new single, ‘The Coming Storm’, the band stepped up to the plate with a lot to prove. And, of course, they did. Long-time readers of the site already know that E&TW are the greatest band of all time. Especially bassist Joe Griffiths; if you haven’t checked that guy out yet, you really should! The band rattled through 45-minutes of their greatest hits, including their new single and soon-to-be-released crowd favourite, ‘Different Kinda Girl’. The fronting couple of Edd and Char Saffell were on top form as always, and the legendary Ben Gaines did incredible as always behind the kit. But, of course, Joe was the real highlight here, as we all already knew…

Check out another Wolves review here.

After a short break, the incredible Kim Jennett took to the stage. Flanked by some of the best musicians in the UK underground scene, she put on one HELL of a show. Paul, Chris and Martin form the perfect band together, working their asses off from the very first note to the last. And of course, Kim was on fire as always. She may very well be the best front-person active today, and I don’t say that lightly. Given that this was the last night of the tour, her voice was just as powerful and pitch-perfect as ever. And her energy and stage presence is on another level. I’ve seen fewer massive names throw themselves around and put on the performance that Kim does here, let alone at a smaller dive-bar show.

And the setlist was perfect, too. Ranging from some of her own solo stuff, to some incredible covers, a trip back to her time fronting Voodoo Blood and even a surprising Myke Grey track. It was a diverse set and you really didn’t know what you were in for next. However, all of it worked, and Kim did a great job throughout. I especially loved the Voodoo Blood stuff, it’s been years since I saw them live and the new track, ‘Black Mirror’, fit in perfectly.

I honestly don’t have enough good to say about Kim Jennett. She’s been around the scene for a while now in a couple of different projects, but honestly it really feels like she’s about to break out massive. I know she’s working on new music (which is awesome, trust me), and as soon as that is released, she’ll be well on her way to being a megastar. And it’s performances like this that really cement that. Both bands were awesome, and if you get the chance to see either of them any time soon, take it. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Written by Joe Griffiths

Reviews

Theory of a Deadman & Amongst Liars Rock KK’s Steelmill!

Theory of a Deadman were one of my favourite bands in my early teen years. As they broke out over here with Scars & Souvenirs and The Truth Is… I saw them a couple of times live. I have to admit, though I enjoyed Savages, I did fall off them for a while with their subsequent couple of releases. However, Dinosaur earlier this year did pull me back into them as it’s a great album (review here). And so, when I got the awesome chance to get in to their show at KK’s Stealmill and chat to their amazing support band, Amongst Liars, I jumped at the chance!

Firstly, it was somehow my first time at the relatively new yet already well renowned venue. And I have to say, I love it. While the floor is so hard that I’d be honestly terrified to pit in there, it’s a great size, you can somehow see the stage from pretty much wherever you are, and the sound was phenomenal.

Having only two bands on the bill, not long after doors opened we launched right into a set from our new friends, Amongst Liars. I was a big fan of their debut album (again, here) so had wanted to see them for a while. They didn’t disappoint in the slightest, either. The band come across a little heavier live as they do on track, which is nice given that a lot of the crowd seemed to be into the more rock side of stuff. And their energy was infectious, with frontman Ian George throwing himself around the stage through the whole set and making it nearly impossible to not at least headbang along.

The only slight shame is that they didn’t have a longer set. However, the band still got to play not only the best selection of tracks off their debut, but their latest single and even dropped in something special off the upcoming new album. Honestly, these guys are well on their way to being massive already, especially after this tour. They put on one of the best shows I’ve seen recently and made it all look so effortless. They’re all majorly talented, and I cannot wait for the new album!

Then we rather quickly moved onto the headliners, anticipation thick in the air. Honestly, they knocked it out of the park, too. The last time I saw the band was over a decade ago at this point, at Rock City back in 2012. I’m old, I know! So, to know that they still very much have it all these years later is great. The band barely look like they’ve aged a day, and seem to sound even better than they did a decade ago.

Opening on new single ‘Dinosaur’, the band quickly launched into crowd favourites like ‘Bitch Came Back’, ‘Not Meant to Be’ and ‘Lowlife’. The newer tracks ‘Ambulance’ and ‘Two of Us’ fit rather perfectly into the set, too. Heck, even ‘History of Violence’ sounded a lot better live than it does on track. Also, the band are clearly having fun on stage. They kept throwing in plenty of teases and covers to keep the crowd guessing. Whether it was the opening verse of ‘Wonderwall’ or ‘Don’t Stop Believin” or their beautiful, powerful piano cover of ‘Wicked Game’, the band did other tracks amazingly and the crowd loved every minute. Other ballads like ‘Santa Monica’ and ‘Angel’ were amazing live, too. And of course, the set closed with mainstays ‘Hate my Life’ and ‘Bad Girlfriend’ (with ‘Rx’ tucked in between) had the crowd in a frenzy by the end.

Theory of a Deadman really feel like a band reborn. I’d heard stories of them not being as good live any more. I’d even seen a couple of videos of recent sets to prove it. However, they were on top form here, and the best I’d ever seen them. They sounded great, had the crowd in the palm of their hands and, most importantly, looked like they were having fun! If you get the chance I would wholly recommend seeing them live, you won’t be disappointed!

Reviews

Trivium, Bleed from Within and Orbit Culture Tear Down Sheffield’s 02 Academy!

Now, for long time readers here at Overtone, it is no secret that I am a huge fan of Trivium (and by extension Matt Heafy). Their 2021 album Court of the Dragon landed in the top five of our albums of the year list. And Matt’s solo work, Ibaraki, landed in the top 10 last year, too. So, I’m sure it’s as insane to y’all as it is to me that it’s been 11 years since I’ve seen a full set from them. Outside of a couple of songs at Download the other year, I haven’t seen them since that same festival back in 2012. And I’ve never seen them at their own show. So, to say that I was excited was an understatement.

Supporting them were also Scotland’s own Bleed from Within, and Swedish death metallers Orbit Culture. To put them into perspective; the former put out one of the best metal albums of last year, and the latter currently sit at #3 on my best albums of this year. So yes, this was one hell of a line-up.

Right from the offset my first comment has to be… fuck was it loud! Like, I’m writing this a couple of days after the gig and I’m surprised I have my full hearing back, loud. I swear at times my clothes were vibrating even from the bass of it all. It’s what a rock gig should be like!

Now, I am a newcomer to the opening band. I’d seen the name about but hadn’t truly listened to their music until Decent (review here). Goddamn though, they are one of the best new metal bands out there today, and looked right at home up there with the other two bands. Their talent and playing ability is off the charts, sitting somewhere between Gojira and In Flames in terms of sound. All of them put on an energetic show, headbanging nearly constantly, and we even got that smoke pyro stuff! Niklas Karlsson’s vocals hold up amazingly, both clean and harsh.

My only slight issue is that the band didn’t have nearly enough time. At half an hour, they could only squeeze in six tracks. However, they gave it their all throughout, playing a host of new great tracks alongside older favourites ‘North Star of Nija’ and ‘Strangler’. The crowd weren’t too familiar with the band, it seemed, but they have definitely come away with some new fans, I’m sure!

Next up were Glasgow’s metal heroes Bleed From Within. Suddenly the crowd was a lot more packed as they took the stage, and everyone seemed a lot more receptive. Heck, a HUGE pit opened up across most of the front of the floor, and they got a couple of great wall of deaths. It made me feel slightly bad for Orbit Culture, however, BFW are the bigger band and the slightly more local band.

Bleed From Within killed it, too. They didn’t really have much more time than the opener, but with everyone going nuts throughout it felt like they were on for longer. Much like OC, too, they played a new-songs-heavy set. We still got ‘Pathfinder’ and the epic ‘End of All we Know’ from Fracture. However, they didn’t touch on their earlier albums at all. As much as I love Shrine and Fracture, it would have been nice to have had just one cheeky track from Empire or something! Still, the crowd loved every second and there is no doubting the band put on one hell of a performance for us. Scott Kennedy had everyone in the palm of his hands from the first note until the last!

And then, how could we forget about the mighty Trivium. 10 studio albums, nearly 200 UK shows and huge tours with some of the biggest bands on the planet. And with Matt openly stating this is the last time the band are touring together for a little while, this was set to be big.

And big it was. It felt like a celebration of their music, touching on just about every album they’ve released. However, not only that, but this year marks 15 years since the release of Shogun. An album many would argue isn’t just Trivium’s best, but one of the best metal albums of this millennium. An album that, alongside BFMV’s The Poison, got me into the heavier side of metal and into metalcore in 2009. So, for them to play nearly half the album in celebration, was truly fucking special for me. Tracks like ‘Kirisute Gomen’ and ‘Insurrection’ were outstanding. And clearly the crowd were all for it as each of the five tracks whipped them into a frenzy.

Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of excellent songs from other albums, too. Opening on recent album opener ‘In the Court of the Dragon’, and slotting in crowd favourites like ‘Strife’, ‘Heart from Your Hate’ and forever-set-closer ‘In Waves’. We even got tracks like ‘Becoming the Dragon’ and ‘Entrance of the Conflagration’ from The Crusade. It was one of the most varied and interesting sets I’ve seen them playing in a while, on this tour. Heck, my only issue is that we didn’t hear more newer stuff. I love the last three albums they’ve done, so to only hear one track off each was a bit of a bummer. Clearly, they need to do a three-hour, evening with tour when they’re back!

I still cannot get over just how good a frontman Matt Heafy is these days, too. He’s always being good, but this was on another level. I had the crowd eating out of his hand and doing whatever he asked of them throughout the entire set. Be it moshing, headbanging, jumping, singing along or even one of the better Jumpthefuckup’s I’ve seen not done by Slipknot. I’d put him up there with some of the greats at this point; Bruce Dickinson, Rob Halford, even Ozzy!

And there we have it folks. Three bands who are leading the charge for metal music and doing a tremendous job of it. Orbit Culture are going to be huge, as are Bleed from Within. And honestly, Trivium should be headlining festivals worldwide with their show and back catalogue. Hopefully when they return from their absence, they’ll get the love they truly deserve!

Reviews

The Long Road 2023: The Big Bad Review!

So, after heading down last year and having an absolute blast, we knew immediately that we’d be heading back to cover it this year. And, this year was the exact same. One of the best weekends of the year, surrounded by some of the best people and checking out some awesome bands and artists. We even got to interview some (more on that later)! But, what did we think to the music of The Long Road 2023? Read on to find out!

The first act we managed to see was Mikaela Finne on the beautiful Front Porch stage. She was the perfect opener for us, too. Her voice was absolutely incredible, powerful yet amazingly controlled. And her talent for songwriting was off the charts. She truly deserved the pretty massive crowd she had, and everyone was clearly hanging on her every word.

Next up were possibly the fastest rising band in the world, First Time Flyers. Only debuting as a band at the start of this year, and this only being their eighth gig, the hype around them is massive. Yet, not only have they gotten themselves a high slot at this festival, but also have a pretty big tour scheduled next month and even supported The Boss himself at BST earlier this year. Heck, I’ve been a fan of theirs since their first single and have been impatiently waiting for this set.

Check out last year’s review here.

They did not disappoint at all. The sheer talent of playing, singing and songwriting in this collection of four is insane. The harmonies are of course the highlights, giving off big Fleetwood Mac vibes. Heck, they even played part of ‘The Chain’ as I’m sure a nod to that fact. However, each individual voice is also amazing in its own right, and as I mentioned, their songs are amazing too. From ‘Happier’ to ‘Gold’ to ‘Just Friends’, I’d say it already rivals a lot of bands’ back catalogues that have been going considerably longer. And the packed out crowd at the Interstate stage ate up every second of it. The band are going to only go up from here and I’m sure will be absolutely massive sooner rather than later. And this set confirmed that.

After that we headed back across to the Front Porch for local band and crowd favourites Gasoline & Matches. Having been fans at the previous years of the festival, and only being from down the road in Birmingham (as well as being excellent of course), the crowd were pretty familiar with the band, and it was once again packed. And rightfully so, as the band were excellent.

Playing through their back catalogue of great country-rock singles to an adoring crowd is the perfect recipe for an awesome time. However, add in the sexiest of saxophones on top of half of it and damn, they win. They just win. If you ever get the chance to see the band I would recommend it highly, they put on a real special show and sound pitch perfect live. Another band that are going to be huge in the years to come, I’m sure, though they already have their roots deep in the scene!

Next up was the night’s headliner, the fantastic Tenille Townes. The consummate professional put on one of the most polished sets of the weekend, in the best way possible. The Canadian star shows off not just her talent but also experience as her and her band tear down the house with an amazing set. From plenty of awesome originals to surprising covers like Alanis Morissette and Melissa Etheredge, it was a perfectly long, packed set of bangers. Also, her emotional ballads, one with Bryan Adams on track and ‘Jersey on the Wall’, had the tent in tears and were both a particular highlight. Being one of the best frontwomen in the business right now, Tenille had everyone in the palm of her hand through her entire set, and it was a fitting headline slot for sure! Another one I would highly recommend seeing next time she’s close!

We were also treated in the after-show to a second setlist by the amazing Tim Hicks. I was gutted when his set at Buddy’s Good Time Bar clashed with Tenille, so getting to see him afterwards, albeit a little more briefly, was such a relief. While he didn’t have his full band with him for the festival, it was still a damn fun acoustic set that rounded off the night perfectly. Opening on recent single ‘Ye to the Haw’, it got the crowd moving and boogying aplenty. Then, whether it was stuff from his Campfire Troubadour collection or some of his hits, we got a whistle stop tour of some great songs. It’s a shame he didn’t have longer and a full band, and fingers crossed I can see him with both soon!

Day 2 ->

Reviews

The Long Road 2023: The Big Bad Review – Day 3!

The Sunday of The Long Road was once again STACKED for us, lineup-wise. So, just to warn you, there’s going to be lots of gushing on this last page.

The first band we saw on the Interstate were honestly phenomenal. Holy Moly and the Crackers are so much better live than on track, and that’s saying something as they are really pretty good on track! They have a bit more of a folky, bouncy feel to them live, while on the tracks it feels a little more hard rock and grungy. Neither sides of the band are bad, but the energy they give off live is infectious and outstanding.

For a smallish band that aren’t too close to the typical music style on the third morning of the festival, they had a pretty busy crowd moving dancing along to every song. And, considering they had a frontwoman who, while massively charismatic, can’t move around quite as much, it’s one hell of an achievement. I’ve been listening to them a lot since I got home, and will definitely be getting tickets to see them again on their tour in November!

After that we headed to see another fast rising country star, Alana Springsteen. I’ve been a fan of her since she was announced, and her album that was released the other week was pretty damn great. Much like a lot over the weekend, she lived up to my hype of her and then some! Much like a fair bit of the big stuff on the bill, it’s the usual female-led pop country. However, it’s done so well, and Alana has one hell of a stage presence about her.

Rattling off some of her big hit singles, as well some great album tracks from TWENTY SOMETHING (and saying the word tequila a potential record time in one set), it was one hell of a set. She’s already on track to be a huge name in the scene, and live shows like this are definitely going to help. Also, shoutout to her British session players, who smashed it.

On our way over towards the Interstate we stopped and caught a fair bit of Laketown. Though I wasn’t really familiar with them at all going into it, I really enjoyed them. It was also nice to see another full band on the Front Porch, especially when it was so many solo acoustic acts on it last year. The three guys put on a fun show and definitely won me over!

Then it was another duo I was hugely excited for, The War and Treaty. To say they lived up to the hype would be a massive understatement. Honestly, this was more an experience than a live set. I don’t think they were expecting the kind of reception and packed out crowd. They clearly got rather emotional at one or two points during the set. However, it just made the crowd response that much greater and willed Michael and Tanya on even more.

Their voices are absolutely incredible and pair together perfectly. I’ve not really heard any soul live and this was the very best way to introduce me to the sound. The whole band did incredibly behind them, but the couple were on a level above all others. It was the loudest I had ever heard that tent be, and it’s my favourite set of the weekend. I LOVE this band!

It was back over to the main stage after that for the amazing Caylee Hammock. Another woman who I have been a fan of since the announcement, she put on a great show and sounded amazing live. Her slightly lighter, more folky spin on country went down a storm with the crowd, and her voice was hauntingly beautiful at times. ‘Just Friends’ and ‘Family Tree’ were personal favourites, but the whole set was great!

TikTok sensation Breland was up next. Honestly, this could have easily headlined the festival, and he certainly treated it like a headline show! Bringing out guests to sing duets with like Alana Springsteen and Kezia Gill was a lot of fun, and the crowd loved both. Between that and rattling out crowd favourite after crowd favourite, it was a truly awesome set. And, just like War & Treaty, it really enhances the experience of a show when the artist is clearly enjoying themselves too. Breland was having a blast here. I cannot pick a single fault with his set, and he’s a born performer. He’s another that is going to be massive sooner rather than later.

Folk superstar Sierra Ferrell was next on the Interstate stage. A packed out tent greeted Ferrell as her and her band took the stage, and despite some early technical issues the set was clearly a hit with the crowd. Opening with a new track ‘Making My Way’ the group then dived into some larger hits from Ferrell’s debut album Long Time Coming released in 2021. Six tracks in and we are given another new unreleased song called ‘Fox Hunt’, for which Ferrell drops her guitar in exchange for a violin as does one of her band members. ‘Fox Hunt’ is a foot-stomping anthem honouring ancestors that had to hunt for survival, keep an ear out for this one when it does get released.

Festival sets can always be a bit tricky, its a fine balance between playing to your dedicated fans that are there for you and those in the crowd that are experiencing your music for the first time. The mix of new tracks, old
tracks, hits and a cover played to all parts of the audience and I doubt anyone came away from this set not counting themselves a fan of Ferrell.

Shane Smith & The Saints were another HUGE highlight of the festival. I’m a big fan of the band and have been watching a lot of their live performances in the leadup, so knew what to be expecting. However, hearing the band being this good live and in person is still mind-blowing. His low, raspy voice is incredible, and complimented perfectly by the rest of the band behind him. And every single one played their hearts out, putting on one hell of a performance. No wonder they’re getting massive in the US, and fingers crossed that success will now follow them across the pond!

Check out our interview with Shane here.

Next up was the bittersweet Sunday headliner, Cam. The last minute replacement of Jon Pardi (who dropped out of his whole European tour the week before because… reasons?), there was a whole heap of pressure on the woman. You wouldn’t have guessed it at all, as Cam smashed it out of the park. Honestly, I think this is a lot of people’s set of the weekend. She is a festival alumni, having played back in the before times, so having a lot of the crowd familiar with her and already a big fan certainly helped.

However, Cam certainly brought it as well, putting on an effortlessly spectacular performance. I laughed, I cried, I sung along, and had the time of my life. She’s another artist that I’ve listened to nearly non stop since I got home, and for good reason. I think it’s the best headline set I’ve seen in the two years I’ve been going. ‘Diane’ is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had live. I really hope she tours over here again soon, as I’d recommend her to anyone!

The final after show act was the awesome Megan Moroney. I hate the fact that this was the first chance I had to see her over the weekend. And I heard she was very good on the Rhinestone stage earlier in the day. However, between interviews and clashes, we just couldn’t make it happen. Much like a lot of this review, hopefully she tours over here so I can see her properly!

However, just in the brief acoustic after show set we saw, she was amazing. Her voice is incredible and her songwriting talent is off the charts. I’m a big fan of her last album and LOVED everything she played off it. She’s another natural performer who had the crowd in the palm of her hand throughout. A damn good way to close out the festival!

And there we have it, folks. Another fantastic year of The Long Road festival under our belts. One of the best weekends ever, and we can’t wait to do it all again next year!

<- Day 2

Reviews

The Long Road 2023: The Big Bad Review – Day 2!

We started off our second day at The Long Road seeing the amazing Tyler Booth over at Buddy’s. Just like Tim Hicks the night before, he was absolutely great, but man I wish he had his full setup and band with him! His voice is utterly incredible, even for a country singer, and his songs translate well over to an acoustic sound. The fun and bounce of the tracks still remained with the stripped back setting. And the crowd loved it, especially for pretty early on! His ‘Keep it Real’ EP is out mid next month and it’s definitely something we’ll be checking out here at Overtone!

After Tyler it was over to the Rhinestone stage for the wonderful Megan McKenna. The first thing I have in my notes is how good the sound was for the set, and honestly it was a running thing throughout the weekend, and not just on the main stage. Even when some of the heavier-handed drummers hit the stage and things got loud, everything was clear and well mixed. Massive props to everyone working sound over the weekend!

Check out more country here.

Back to Megan, though, it was an amazing setlist. Skirting the line between modern pop-country and a more traditional, almost Dolly Parton sound, it was the perfect backdrop to open the Long Road ‘s main stage. It was a really fun show and honestly one of the highlight sets of the day for me!

We headed back over to Buddy’s then for Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse. The band were just as interesting and fun as their title, too. A more blues, soul soaked Americana sound was a great change of pace from the more pop country that we’d had so far in the day. The crowd, though they didn’t seem as knowledgeable of the band as others over the weekend, responded really well to them, too. I’m definitely going to have to check out more of them as the band have a new fan in me!

Then we hightailed it back over to the Rhinestone stage for Jackson Dean. I was pretty excited to see him, and he didn’t disappoint at all! His voice is somehow even more impressive live, which is really saying something. And his darker edge to the country sound is really fantastic, and translates perfectly to a big stage setting. Plus, being a primarily a heavier rock fan, it of course worked for me! Honestly, for someone who is still relatively new to the scene to be this polished and well rounded is impressive. He is already getting huge, but he’s going to be a megastar if this performance and sound is anything to go by. Hopefully next time he’s over here he’s on a bit later and can put on a bit more of a show!

Sadly we couldn’t catch the final couple of Jackson’s track as we headed over to the Front Porch. There was no chance we were missing the incredible Gabe Lee! One of the hardest working people in the genre, as well as being possibly the most successful Asian American in country, Gabe Lee has exploded onto the scene and gotten bigger and bigger with each passing year. Now on his fourth critically-acclaimed release, Lee played a great selection of songs throughout his career. His unique blend of folk, Americana and honky tonk suited the Front Porch so well, and the crowd lapped up every second.

My only slight comment, much like Jackson before, is that there wasn’t much of a show. I know that the music doesn’t exactly lend itself to one, and there were definitely times where I got lost in the music. However, with a full band, everyone just standing there chilling out was a bit odd to watch for this metalhead. Still, an amazing set, with him jumping on keys for the last track being a particular highlight!

We caught the back half of the indie folk Sons of the East in the Interstate tent. While I don’t have a huge amount to say about them as we just chilled out outside the tent, they sounded incredible, and so close to how they do on track. I love this sort of music live, and the band didn’t disappoint at all. I’mma have to see them again at some point and see a full set!

We managed to get a quick interview with Tenille Arts earlier in the day (keep your eyes peeled for it!) so having the chance to see her after was amazing. She’s exactly what you’d expect from a female pop-country singer in her twenties, and it was great. Huge, catchy anthems performed masterfully well by Tenille; her stage presence is captivating. From massive, fantastic original songs like ‘I Hate This’ and ‘Summer Don’t Go’ to a medley of great tracks that inspired her to even (of course) a cover of the best Taylor Swift track ever, it was a stacked, amazing set. I was a fan of her before we went but am an even bigger one now! Amazing stuff!

I managed to hear a lot of Margo Price’s set from the media area, as well as catching a few songs here and there. Her voice was incredible throughout, and she seemed like she put on one hell of a show. I wish we’d have been able to see more of her, but from what I did see I’d highly recommend seeing her live.

Like Sons of the East, we sat outside the tent and caught a good chunk of Nickel Creek’s set. I was familiar with the band already, having reviewed their latest album here. However, they sounded even better live than on track. I always think this sort of slower, more chilled out music does translate better to a live audience, but everyone in and out of the tent was loving it, and they had a pretty packed crowd. Playing a varied, career-spanning set, they were great!

Saturday night headliners Blackberry Smoke absolutely blew me away. I’d only seen them once before, on a rainy Friday afternoon slot at Download festival, so getting to see the full show from them, especially now I was an even bigger fan of their music, was truly magical. Much like a lot of the festival, we got a varied set from across their albums, including big hitters and crowd favourites like ‘Waiting for the Thunder’ and ‘One Horse Town’. And we even got to be treated, being the first big crowd to hear their brand new released single, ‘Dig A Hole’. It was fucking awesome.

Charlie Starr oozes such effortless charisma and stage presence. And the rest of the band have Lynyrd Skynyrd levels of coolness and swagger too. It’s so good to see this awesome band finally getting big slots over here, and watching them playing outdoors on a big stage to a packed crowd as it got dark was truly magic.

The after party for the Saturday were Americas Got Talent alumni Chapel Hart. (Find another album review, this time for them, here). Another band I went into as a fan, and enjoyed thoroughly. All three women sound incredible live and clearly have a lot of fun being on stage with one another. And the packed out tent were having just as much fun, chanting, shouting and practically demanding an encore. And there comes my one and only issue with their setlist: covers. I don’t mind covers at all, and they did a great job with Journey, but they only had a short set and I really like their original stuff. It would have been nice to hear more of it than an extended cover. But hell that’s just me, and the crowd were loving it. Still, a damn good set to round out a damn good day!

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