NVRF 2024 – Day Two

Grimsthorpe Castle, Bourne
Friday, 6^th September 2024

ROADHOUSE

An early start at 11am on Swan stage with Roadhouse, a top blues festival band since 1991 featuring two powerhouse female singers and two lead guitarists including Chris Walker, ex Skinny Molly. Drawing from their latest album 2,000 Miles, the band delivered a punchy set of Blues Rock and Southern Rock in a set which actually seemed quite short – always a sign of a good band. DR

DERECHO

An intake of breath and on the Heron Stage Derecho who hold the distinction of being the very first band to play the first NVRF, which sadly Chris and myself missed last year due to problems with the trains! Fronted by the charismatic Jo Ash (vocals & keyboards) the band powered through their Gothic tinged rock fronted by Jo Ash. The solid rhythm section of Steve Banks (bass) and Angus Stewart (drums) held it together with Mike Wheatley powering out on guitar.

To give you an idea of Jo’s voice think Kate Bush blended with Siouxsie Sioux and Amy Lee. The band take their name from a tropical storm, but the music is melodic with shades of full-on rock to emotional acoustic pieces such as Somewhere Beneath the Stars. DR

DELFINIA

Meanwhile on the Kingfisher Stage Delfinia were rocking out. Having their origins in Ukrainian power metal, the band re-located to the UK in 2023 due to the war. Vocalist Konantin Naumento (formerly with Sunrise) rebuilt the band with keyboard player Daria.

By no means straight forward power metal as the track melodic rocker Do you Remember demonstrated, very reminiscent of the Scorpions. DR

EBB

Back to the Swan stage for EBB, a firm festival favourite who wowed the audience at last year’s NVRF. So, great news that the festival invited them back this year…

Their stage show is ever evolving and exciting with their five women and one man in the line-up. Top notch musicians they blasted their way through the set with lead guitarist and vocalist Erin Bennet jumping and flailing all over the stage whist to her left dancer/singer/performer Kitty Biscuits gyrated and twirled to the onstage vibe. Reason was a standout track for me as one of their slowest but with some spellbinding fretwork from Erin supported by the twin keyboards of Suna Dasi and Nikki Francis. The headliners of the day still to come but for me EBB won performance of the day. DR

Friday was the day for me, with so many great acts. EBB are in the ascendant right now, and every time I see them, they seem to take another step up. They are theatrical, but certainly not to the detriment of the music, which is a magical mixture of influences with a definite prog leaning.

Their performance was engaging throughout, and the new material sounds very impressive. Their traditional last song Mary Jane is a passionate and beautiful way to close the set. They went down a storm, and must surely return higher up the bill in the future. GT

PEARL HANDLED REVOLVER

EBB were closely followed by another festival highlight, Pearl Handled Revolver. Their gritty blues infused rock straddles the line between order and chaos, and their improvised passages push the boundaries, stretching themselves further and further. At times, they seem to surprise themselves, achieving great heights they didn’t know they could reach. There is no stopping this band on this form, and they are a must see act. GT

Then we had the choice of primal blues from Pearl Handed Revolver on the Heron stage next as opposed to some 1970’s authentic Prog from Tirith on the Kingfisher stage. Both could have been better attended by the audiences but it was a mid-afternoon malaise and a lot of people were taking advantage of the numerous concessions stands for lunch. Yes, they were listening to the music on their chairs outside the Marquees but not good for the bands- maybe next year NVRF could consider some low bleachers inside the stage areas to encourage more people inside? DR

AUSTIN GOLD

Another new young band Austin Gold showed a maturity beyond their years with some fine vocals and guitar playing from front man David James Smith. I was lucky enough to catch the band on a support slot at Newcastle’s Zerox venue two nights before so knew what to expect – heavy guitar riffs along with delicate ballads with hook driven melodies. More autographed CD’s purchased as a result, swelling my day swag bag. DR

Austin Gold are a local band from Peterborough, and as such have a pretty solid following. This helped them in what turned out to be perhaps a rather unenviable spot, following two such incendiary bands. They played a set of muscular classic rock with aplomb, and are as tight as you’d expect for a group who play the local circuit regularly. They are a very enjoyable band, and deserved the warm reception they received. GT

SQUARE WILD

Phew! Tea- time already and a welcome return for Square Wild winners of Prog Magazines 2023 award for best unsigned band. In just 12 months Lucy Shevchuk has developed a commanding stage presence as she jumps, hops, and hurls herself across the stage with an infectious grin. It helps that the music is original and veers off into rock, ska, samba and then prog and all within one song! My only complaint? Got the T-shirt and EP last year but no new merch to purchase!! DR

Square Wild followed this with a rousing and passionately presented set. I saw them last a few years ago, and was impressed, but they have definitely improved. The songs are interesting, varied and performed with skill and panache. They seem adept at weaving elements of various musical styles into each song, and front woman Lucy Shevchuk holds the audience in the palm of her hand. Another terrific live band ideal for a festival like this. GT

DEBORAH BONHAM

As evening approaches a change of pace with a fine blues and soul set from esteemed veteran Deborah Bonham who is in fine form with an energetic performance. The gutsy Janis Joplin like vocals on Grace then giving way to the Fleetwood Mac like delivery on Can’t You See What Your Doing To Me. DR

Deborah Bonham and her band are festival stalwarts, and it’s easy to see why they are regularly invited to play. Their bluesy rock is tight and gutsy, but it’s really all about Deborah’s voice. She has a commanding range, and great presence, and the crowd love it.

To be honest though, I’m already thinking about the next band, who I’ve wanted to see for some time. GT

Still two massive acts to go with Gryphon and Nektar and what an eclectic mix of music it has been today.

GRYPHON

Gryphon are something of a legend, and their brand of folk prog, mixing in medieval music and chamber rock is simply riveting from start to finish. Some of the old instruments they employ I’ve never even heard before in a live setting. How many bands include two crumhorns for instance? No, exactly! Anyway, they were bonkers and brilliant! GT

Gryphon celebrated their 50th anniversary last year and still remain impossible to pigeonhole as anyone with one of their LP’S from the 70’s will know. Perhaps the Unquiet Grave typified this with crumhorns, medieval flutes, violins, and acoustic guitar. Simply stunning lyrically as well. Then of course we got the songs you just cannot categorise but demonstrate the humour with which the band marry virtuoso musicianship: Norman Wisdom from the Swamp and Haddocks Eyes. Kemp’s Jig jokingly referred to as “Pass the Lager”. A fitting final song Estampie with more crumhorns, flutes and tom-toms typified the originality of the band and this performance. DR

PAPA SHANGO

With such a great programme of music across the day(s) there were always going to be clashes, especially towards the end of day, and once again the Kingfisher stage was more on the ‘must go and see’ agenda. However sandwiched between Gryphon and Nektar there was an opportunity to nip over to the Kingfisher stage, so I made a beeline to catch Papa Shango. Those who attended last year’s event will remember the fantastic and colourful performance from this ‘sizeable’ ensemble. Kudos to the festival organisers for bringing them back.

Once again Papa Shango (although sadly Papa wasn’t there this year so Mama Tango took on the main vocal parts) delivered their vibrant Vaudevillian – rock theatre extravaganza.

But don’t be fooled by the theatre – these are great musos who fit extremely comfortably alongside those ‘more serious’ acts performing at the festival.

Rock theatre at its most entertaining with a host of singers, dancers and something you’d never expect to see at a prog gig, dinosaurs 😉 … Sounds bonkers, it was bonkers, but it was exhilarating FUN – and the Kingfisher tent was heaving! CS

NEKTAR

You would think that all the above was about enough for one day, but it was time for an NVRF exclusive. This would be the only and last ever show anywhere in Europe by Nektar! A two-hour extravaganza including the premiere of their new album Mission to Mars with 3D visuals and 3D glasses.

As was expected the band demonstrated superb musicality supported by a background of excellent graphics that enhanced the performance and which featured many classic songs from their back catalogue such as Good Day and my favourite of the night A Tab in the Ocean. DR

Finally, Nektar’s inclusion on the bill persuaded me that I simply had to attend this event in the first place, and so it was with great excitement that I collected my 3D specs from the merch stand. Apparently the band were to showcase their new studio album Mission To Mars with a backdrop of 3D animation and quadrophonic sound. Nektar were truly fantastic back in the Seventies with albums like A Tab In The Ocean and Remember The Future cementing their place in rock history. Bassist Mo Moore is the only surviving band member now, but nevertheless, this is Nektar, and so hopes are high. Opening songs, Crying in the Dark and King Of Twilight have a few sound issues, but aren’t bad. The players are well drilled, and perform recent material pretty well, with Drifting a highlight as the sound improves somewhat.

We then get the new album, and dutifully don our specs. To be honest, the next half hour or so doesn’t really live up to the billing. The 3D effects aren’t particularly impressive, and my specs keep falling off! The quadrophonic sound isn’t the best either, and I’d have preferred just normal sound. It messes with the balance and keyboards get super loud one minute, then disappear. The songs on Mission To Mars aren’t very Nektar like either, and I fear the album is unlikely to be highly regarded in the Nektar catalogue.

However, after this we are treated to some old songs, and Remember The Future (Part 1) is much better, and I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this! Then we get A Tab In The Ocean, an unexpected treat, but this is what we were all hoping for. So overall, a set which was patchy, but the good bits made it all worthwhile, and kudos to the organisers for getting the band over at all. GT

With the live music virtually non stop and some timing clashes, comfort breaks and eating, sadly we missed: Shaw’s Trailer Park, The Tirith, Autumn Killers, Mother Black Cap and Big Wolf Band.

[Live photographs by Chris Simmons and Progpics By StanS (Stan Siarkiewicz)]

LINKS
Nene Valley Rock Festival – Website | Facebook Group | Trevor NVRF