A delayed review, for which I offer apologies. The return from SOS Fest clashed with my heading off on holiday and I’ve enjoyed a bit of time offline! However, it’s time to throw buckets of credit at the bands who made up the entertainment for the duration of SOS Fest XIV…
I begin with a further apology as we missed Crowley opening the Saturday on the Viking stage. All reports I heard were very positive so I know I’ll be looking out for them should I get the chance to see them another time. The first act I did see were rockers Sin Savage who certainly got my party started. The venue was already pretty rammed and ready to rock, and the Belgian act certainly didn’t disappoint them.
Outside in what passes for good weather in Oldham, Scarsun brought some alt rock all the way up from South Wales. New vocalist Melody Shads demonstrated why she’d been taken on board to fill the boots of the recently stepped-down Letha on what must have been her first live show with the band. No complaints from this reviewer, and the band went down well with the outdoors crowd. Back indoors, Edenthorn weren’t on stage as they’d had to cancel. Instead we had some pleasant middle-of-the-road rock from The Event. They certainly did the job and by the end of the set (and my bottle of Brown Ale), my foot was definitely tapping to their tunes.
Actual sunshine for The Hot One Two outside as they cranked it up to eleven with some banging hard rock tunes. First were raised and beer drunk as we celebrated a) music and b) the lack of rain compared to Friday night! Highlight time back indoors as White Tyger threw political correctness out the window and played (almost literal) balls-out, dirty hair metal for us for nowhere near long enough. Imagine Steel Panther without the jokes, or Guns n’ Roses without the egos and you’re in the ball (ahem) park. Perfect fun for a Saturday afternoon.
Blue Nation had the audience sat on shoulders (well, one small individual anyway) to catch their appropriately blues-y sound. Another band that really caught my ear, they’re one of those acts that surprises you by only being three members. Their sound is deeper than that, and really toe-tappy / head-noddy. More Belgian visitors awaited on the Skull Stage (did they share a van with Sin Savage?) as the metal roared out courtesy of Thorium. Fast, heavy, and over far too soon, their set was a definite headbanger! Pretty much the most “metal” act I think I’d seen up to that point in the festival.
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Old Glory and the Black Riviera have quite the monicker, and only had to travel a short distance from Stoke. Their journey was worth every yard and mile, and they threw some great blues rock in our faces. One of the bands I’m definitely checking out more of now that I’m home, though that open air stage really suited them. As evening rolled in, Circus 66 (one of our old Headline Act artists) came to town led by singer Annabelle. The music was sultry and rocking at the same time and as well as the musicians who played a blinder, I have to pick out Annabelle for her humour and crowd interaction. Definitely someone who’s comfortable being front and centre!
In the still oddly-not wet weather outside, Metaprism rocked out a great set with members of the upcoming headline act very much enjoying them as much as the rest of the audience. Another of the more metal acts of the weekend, they have it all from the crushing riffs to the heavy metal poses. Definitely a value for money act! Somehow managing to get booked onto his own festival, Luke Appleton introduced his Power Trio for their first ever live show. I’d seen his bandmates around all day (in fact all weekend) and it was great to see them play some of Luke’s older material as well as throw out some new ones. He was also joined on stage by Metaprism’s Theresa Smith for a duet on “First Star”. Beers were raised for the Viking, a fallen comrade of Luke and many other in the local scene, and for whom the outdoor stage is named. Hell, he’s got a wall of the venue permanently decorated in his honour also. Hail, Wayne – forever Viking!
As the light started to vanish from the sky, the psychos of Ward XVI shambled their way on stage. Bedecked in the now-familiar black and white stripes, they launched through an hour-long set. This was my fourth time seeing the band and for full disclosure I view them as friends as well as a band we cover. However, we always try to give unbiased reviews here so please believe me when I say that I genuinely think this was the best show of the four. Each time I see them they get that bit better, that bit tighter and more rehearsed without looking like they’re getting stuck in a rut.
The effects are suitably shonky in an Alice Cooper fashion and the addition of the Ward-lets coming out of the toy box during the finale is superb, reminding me of the Dollytots joining mum and dad on stage. The outside area was rammed, but opened up for a suitably nuts circus pit before the night ended. Well… almost the end!
A bunch of the festival crew put together a party band who hit us with a few classic rock tunes for half an hour on the Skull Stage. A fun end to a very enjoyable day of music, and it was good to see those who’d helped put it on have a chance to grab the limelight for a short while.
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Photos by Charlotte Emily Photography
