It’s a good sign that with over ninety minutes to go before the first band are due are on stage at the inaugural SpringFest, that there is already a sizeable crowd gathered in and around the Waterloo.  Whether it’s the sun which has unexpectedly decided to grace us with its presence (and justify the seasonal name of the event) or just the prospect of the ten hours of rock n roll ahead, there is already a positivity, camaraderie and family vibe that will come to characterise this new festival by the time the day is done. 

When Dox Docherty picks up his guitar to get things underway that crowd has swelled even further.  An inspired opener to the event, Dox accompanied by Marc Playle, plays a rousing acoustic set comprising of his own material alongside a number of covers.  Dox’ passion for the music he plays is obvious and even with only a short thirty-minute set, he certainly impresses. Closing with stunning and impassioned versions of Linkin Park’s ‘Numb’ and Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Sound of Silence’, Dox, as with all the best artists, leaves the stage with the crowd wanting more. 

With depressing regularity, the mainstream media tries to tell us all that rock n roll is dead.  Well, if that’s the case no-one told Thieves of Liberty.  From the opening bars of latest single ‘Calypso’, it’s clear that this young Sunderland band means business. With a musical maturity and song-writing quality that belies their youth, they are one of the great revelations of the day and one of the names on people’s lips long after their set has finished.  This is bluesy heavy rock in the grand tradition, but delivered with an irresistible enthusiasm and style that sees more and more punters join the crowd to see who’s making such a glorious noise.  With a salvo of songs culled from their “Back Again” EP, (the dynamic ‘Ain’t Going Home’ a particular highlight) they make a lot of friends today.  Definitely mark them in the category of “Ones to Watch.” 

With scarves round the mic stand, Baranovich keep the energy levels high with their own brand of powerfully melodic classic rock. ‘Have A Nice Day’ sees the day’s first use of cowbell (which gets a cheer all of its own) and with a “woah-woah” singalong in closer ‘Hyde’, and ‘Forever Light’ dedicated to a bride-to-be in the audience, this is another demonstration of the synergy and rapport between band and crowd that is seen repeatedly throughout the day.  

In contrast to Baranovich’s more classic rock leanings, Dig Lazarus offer a very different sound. The Leicester three piece create a huge, bass driven, more distorted sound, with a heavy pulsing groove, hypnotic in its intensity (and with the power to knock over beer glasses with its sonic power it seems!) ‘Tell Me Why’ bounces along nicely and sets heads bobbing in the crowd, and they also throw in a new one (‘Ivory Towers’ if I heard correctly?) The stage could look a little empty with only two musicians in a space where you are used to seeing four, but they throw themselves around with such riotous abandon that this is never the case and lends a strong visual alongside the musical muscle.  

Steal the City take to the stage and the energy levels immediately kick up another gear.  Another young band of prodigious talent and charisma, this is a thoroughly modern take on the rock sound, drawing from a wide range of influences.  Although their first gig since November, Steal the City lack nothing in conviction and confidence.  The stage is a constant blur of movement, whether it’s guitarist James and bassist Smit leaping in tandem from the drum riser, lead singer Joe’s cheeky bantering or James’ soloing over the barrier, you’re never quite sure where to look.  But it’s not just stage antics, they have the songs to back up their stage performance; ‘Bulletproof’ has a faintly Maiden-esque quality to it (especially during the solo), ‘Stand Together’ is surely a future anthem, and final song ‘Beating Heart’ is an earworm that stayed with me for days.  As with Thieves of Liberty, it looks like the future of rock n roll is in safe hands with these guys. 

Circus 66’s drummer is a man on a mission.  He’s attacking his kit with a vengeance that is both impressive and scary at the same time.  But, this is totally in keeping with the rest of the band’s full-frontal attack manifesto. Coupled with Matt Pearce’s gargantuan riffing and Annabelle Zaychencko’s amazing vocal range, Circus 66 on stage is a force to be reckoned with.  It would be easy for a lesser vocalist to be overwhelmed by the band’s power but Annabelle seems to thrive on it, her vocals soaring and providing the perfect foil for the six string histrionics.  Annabelle tells us that a second album is on the distant horizon, and what Circus 66 come up with on that, and where they go next after the excellent “Follow the Black Crow” album remains an intriguing prospect… 

Theia are an altogether different proposition to the other bands on today’s bill, both in sound and aesthetic.  And when brothers Kyle and Ash Lamley take the stage to ‘I Like to Move It’ by Reel to Real, I really wasn’t sure what to expect! However, I was very quickly won over, in no small part due to Kyle’s engaging presence and obvious integrity.  His is a whimsical playfulness that is impossible not to warm to, but that’s not to say they’re a frivolous band.  On the contrary, this is a band with something to say; with clever and insightful lyrics, they weave a delicious mix of big riffs against quieter more introspective moments, incorporating backing tracks and elements of electronica to mesmerising effect.  Theia don’t miss out on the crowd participation fun either with the indie sounding ‘Hoo Woo’ and share their new single, ‘Everything’, released just the previous day.   Unexpectedly memorable, I look forward to catching a full set from them in the future. 

There are a lot of Twister t-shirts in the Waterloo today and there’s a definite air of excitement and anticipation ahead of tonight’s appearance.  Opening with ‘Secrets’ from the “Only The Strong Survive” EP, it’s clear that audience and band alike are here for a good time and that’s exactly what they get. Stevie Stoker is without a doubt a bonafide rock star, and leads the band through a crowd-pleasing set that leaves those both on-stage and off in a state of sweaty delirium.  There are singalongs aplenty with many in the crowd word perfect as they sing Stevie’s words along with him.  Despite telling us that the start of the year hasn’t been great, this is a polished and accomplished performance by the revamped and reenergised version of the band, with the new members looking assured and confident. Judging by tonight, surely it’s only a matter of time before Twister take that step up to the next level.  They have the songs, the showmanship and the passionate fanbase, maybe it just needs the gods of rock n roll to smile to make it a reality… 

We’re now nine hours in and energy levels could be flagging, but Gorilla Riot lift everyone’s spirits again for one last stint of rock goodness.  The epitome of rock n roll cool (wearing a Warriors t-shirt gets an extra thumbs up from me), with a louche swagger that suits their down and dirty sound to a tee, this is the perfect end to the day, like being in the middle of the coolest party you’ve never been invited to with lead singer Arjun Bhishma dishing out whisky to crowd members and tasty guitar licks with equal aplomb. The final three-song run of ‘Bad Son’’s languid swampy southern vibe leading into a riproaring ‘Dirty’ and then a rollicking cover of ACDC’s ‘Hell Ain’t A Bad Place to Be’ brings SpringFest to a deservedly triumphant conclusion. 

For a first time festival SpringFest delivered on all counts, bands, venue, organisation and above all atmosphere, all top notch.  It’s the sort of event where you go to see the bands you may already know and then come away with a host of new favourites; with SpringFest 2 already announced, here’s hoping this showcase for new (and not so new bands) becomes a regular fixture in the rock n roll calendar. 

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Gorilla Riot, Twister, Theia, Circus 66, Steal The City, Dig Lazarus, Baranovich, Thieves Of Liberty, Dox Docherty