We are weary as we take the long road along the Clisson bypass to get to the site from our car parking spot. Aching feet are taking their toll on me but it’s nothing a few beers can’t cure as we stroll down to the main stages via the Valley to catch a few songs of Northern Irish rockers Therapy? who have certainly lost none of their mojo since their inception in 1989.
Last minute replacement for Heart, Blues Pills certainly aren’t overawed by they substitute status as we’re given a touch of their blues magic with vocalist Elin Larsson resplendent in her flowing blue dress.
If people were napping in the afternoon they were certainly woken up by the next act, in the form of Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes. Frank Carter is a showman personified, from his repartee with the audience to setting up a wall of death while actually being in the crowd himself, he does it all, also while delivering some pretty kick ass tunes, The likes of “Devil Inside Me” and “Crowbar” getting an airing as well as the standout track from his latest album Dark Rainbow in the form of “Man of the Hour”.
The set closes with a raucous version of their standard set closer “I Hate You”. It’s obviously a truncated set for the festival but worth hanging around for every second.
The same can’t be said for Royal Blood who were next up and flatter to deceive. This wasn’t helped by sound issues but they’d be best served sticking to Download. The same can’t be said for Corey Taylor who delights the crowd with a performance of the highest order with songs of his own as well as those from Stone Sour and Slipknot, including a hypnotic version of “Snuff”. Throw in the now regular Spongebob Squarepants theme tune and you’re always onto a winner.
If you like what we do, consider joining us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
We catch the end of The Black Dahlia Murder who kicked ass in The Alter with Brian Eschbach on vocals following the sad demise of Trevor Strnad in 2022. I really hope they make it over to the UK soon as we all need some TBDM in our life!
Next up are Queens Of The Stone Age, and having seen them at the end of last year in Glasgow where they flattered to deceive, I was a bit worried as to what we were going to get, but, on this occasion I am happy to report that arses were definitely kicked, even if leader Josh Homme was certainly a bit “over-medicated” as he slurred his words during his rambling monologues.
They certainly set the tone with an upbeat set but in the form of The Offspring, they were simply blown away. Even after 40 years, Noodles and Dexter Holland certainly know how to put on a show, and from chord one of “Come Out And Play” they were certainly on another level. The repartee between Noodles and Holland never seemed scripted and everything flowed as they took us on a trip down memory showing us exactly what punk rock is and that it never dies. All the classics were there and they even threw in a cover of The Ramones classic “Blitzkreig Bob” just to top things off.
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
The evening’s headliners are Foo Fighters and they arrive on stage with the minimal amount of fuss and just get on with it, opening up with “All My Life”. There were questions asked about the Foos headlining this festival but the doubters asking those questions were quickly silenced as the band ripped through their set.
There was none of the long intros, tributes, etc that they have been doing on their recent Euro jaunt, just good old fashioned rock and roll. All the usual tracks were there but they even threw in “Stacked Actors” that hadn’t been played on the tour previously that was a nice treat for all the die-hards, and over all a great performance.
It was a great end to Hellfest 2024 and as we left the site the rumours were starting as to who will be playing next year? This is the problem that Ben Barbaud and his Hellfest team are left with, how do you improve on perfection?
- Highlight of the day – The Offspring
- Disappointment of the day – Royal Blood
- T shirts bought – 4
Photos by Gavin Lowrey
