Tonight is something of a bittersweet experience. Yes, it’s a carefully curated evening of local and international bands to delight and entertain us, but it’s also the last-ever show from headliners King Voodoo. After several years of touring, including with some pretty big names, the Lads From The Vood are going their separate ways. It won’t be the last we see of the individual members but for now, it’s a farewell party. King Voodoo being the band that they are means that farewell or not it will be a hell of a party!

We’re in another Liverpool basement for the duration, and things kick off early with local band Wild Affair. This is a new young band, still finding their feet in the musical world, but they show a lot of promise. There’s original if slightly derivative classic rock on offer, and a singer who looks a bit like Jim Morrison. The licks are licky, the vocals are good and it was all done competently. One to watch.

They are followed by Manchester’s favourite prog sons Twisted Illusion. Matt Jones, Saxon and their crew seem to fill the rather small stage in the same way that their music fills the rather small room. The influences are clear, and are mostly 70s based. Early Rush, Yes and Genesis obviously had a big effect on the young Mr Jones, and he uses their grandiose style but brings it into a modern setting with skill and verve. Things do go off into widdly widdly territory occasionally and there are time changes that would even flummox a Whovian, but the songs are well-crafted and well-performed. It’s all held together with powerful vocals and strong beats. Sometimes it seemed that they tried too hard; the music became a wall of sound that it was hard to extract the threads of melody from. However, if you like your music old-fashioned in sound but modern in performance then this is the band for you.

There was a complete change of pace when mad Welsh warblers Yaki Dah took to the stage. They’re a 4-piece outfit from Swansea and they were altogether punkier and spunkier. Their don’t-give-a-shit attitude, terrible dad dancing and the guitarist’s yellow crocs made for a thoroughly exhilarating performance. They bounced and shouted through a short but sweet set of originals with a couple of covers thrown in for good measure. Black Sabbath's ‘War Pigs’ has never sounded like this before but at least the crowd knew the words and could join in with gusto! It’s all fast and furious with no fucks given, and as they spit out The Beatles’ seminal ‘Help’ the room erupts into a riot of waving arms and laughter. Fun, fun and more fun.

The mood changes again for Stoke’s best (only?) fuzzy stoner rock power trio Red Spektor. They are darker, gloomier, more powerful, more emotional. The sound is more sparse and as they have the unfortunate honour of going on at teatime so is the crowd. They power through though, and deliver a set chock-full of doomy riffs and powerful lyrics.

Tattoo Molly are even more basic. 4-4 AC/DC-inspired party rock gets the feet moving and the heart pounding again. It’s straight-ahead rock with loads of energy and no shortage of style either. Their good-time party boogie is real and relatable and gets the crowd joining in with gusto. They end the set with the singer leaving the stage and standing in the crowd to watch the rest of the band perform ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’ and they chug through it in fine style.

Dead Blond Stars take us in yet another direction. They too are stoner rock, but it’s Americanised in the style of Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots or most of all Soundgarden. Despite hailing from South Yorkshire they have that 90s Seattle sound locked down completely. The mix is somewhat muddy, there are three guitars in this band but it’s impossible to distinguish between them and the songs tended to merge into each other somewhat. The vocals however were superb. With eyes closed it could have been the late superstar Chris Cornell rather than the bluff yorkshireman Gary Walker up there on the stage. Gary is this band’s secret weapon, and he turned what could have been a rather noisy interlude into something much more interesting and intriguing. If there’s still a market out there for the Seattle Sound then these guys have the potential to go far.

Which brings us to the penultimate band of the night, whom have certainly come from far. Wild Road Rollers have travelled all the way from Barcelona just to play for their former tour mates, that’s some dedication. As a 3-piece there is something of a Motorhead vibe going on, they have that same rough and ready take-no-prisoners attitude to life and music. Soundwise there are traces of Clutch, and one song has a similar vibe to ‘Get On Your Life’ by The Black Velvets. There’s a bit of a lack of stagecraft, with just silence between songs, but this could well be down to a language barrier perhaps? Despite this the crowd are onside for them, and as the set progresses they get a warm reception. The lyrics are a little hard to decipher in the general cacophony but there does seem to be a song about gasoline in there and this is just the right sort of band to be singing a song about gasoline! It’s party rock Jim, but not as we know it. If you’ve ever been to the kind of party that leaves bodies all over the living room and a general air of what the fuck did we do last night then that is what this band’s set feels like!

Finally then it’s time to say both hello and goodbye to King Voodoo. Despite only being on the scene for a few short years their doomy-yet-somehow-melodic brand of rock has made a lasting impact on many ears and the small room is full to bursting as the first notes ring out. There’s a deep grungy edge to the music which is belied by the lighter, more melodic vocals; it’s music of contrast, of light and dark combined to best effect. There’s a blues base but it’s also modern and upbeat with plenty of swing and lots of catchy hooks to pull you in. The crowd leans in enthusiastically, keen to be part of the show and to show their appreciation. As we get further in the pace becomes wilder, the songs become more accessible and the crowd grow ever warmer and closer. By the time we get to final song ‘Time To Party’ it’s starting to hit home that the party is over, and emotions start to run high. Tears are shed on the stage and on the floor, and there’s a general feeling that surely this can’t be the end? It is though, at least for now. There’s a good chance that the individual members of King Voodoo will progress to other bands and projects in the future but for now the party is over and the clearing up has begun. Goodbye King Voodoo and thanks for the memories – it’s been a blast being part of it with you!