666 : Firevolt Festival – Manchester’s Up & Coming Eclectic Rock Event

If you go down to the woods today, you’re probably just going to find trees. Lots of trees. However, if you go down to the woods at Etherow Country Park (just outside Stockport) NEXT weekend you’re in for a big surprise. For there you will find the fourth edition of the Firevolt Festival, with several hundred avid rockers lounging on haybales and flitting through the forest in search of loud music and cheap beer. 

There’s a plethora of independent festivals springing up all over the UK at the moment, and Firevolt is fast building a reputation as one of the ones to watch. Set in gorgeous countryside on a working farm yet still very accessible by train and car, it has gathered together a vibrant and interesting roster of bands over the course of its existence. This year is no exception, there’s a wide variety of genres and tastes available so there should be something for everyone. With three stages you can pick and choose your favourites, or just wander around and maybe discover something new. 

For the early-birds there’s a pre-party on Thursday featuring a quiz, a party band and some rocking DJ sets from Radio Wigwam. Fun and frolics to get everyone in the mood for what’s to come.  

On Friday you can see everyone’s favourite glam horror band South Of Salem take pole position as headliners. Not your thing? Maybe you’d prefer something more old school? Well how about three original NWOBHM alumni in the form of Girlschool, Oliver Dawson’s Army and Tygers of Pan Tang? Still not happy? There’s another four undercard bands to get your listening ears around, maybe one of them will become your New Best Thing? 

Saturday will move away from the heavy, with indie rockers Reef bringing a 90s vibe to the headline spot. They will be ably supported by the revitalised Quireboys (featuring Luke Morley from Thunder on guitar) and newbies Brave Rival and Juliet’s Not Dead will be snapping at their heels. But don’t despair metalheads, you’ve not been entirely forgotten. Blaze Bayley and Tailgunner will bring you a metal shot in the arm so make sure you bring your air guitar because there’s going to be some serious riffing happening. Three more bands will slot in between them to keep you occupied or amused throughout the proceedings so you have no choice but to have a great time. 

On Sunday Sweden’s Eclipse will bring their exuberant and effervescent sleaze rock to close out the proceedings, whilst fellow Swedes Von Hertzen Brothers will provide a hefty dose of prog. Germany’s The Picture Books will give you a stripped-down and tribal sound and Aussies The Lazys will bounce you to within an inch of your life. Five other acts including Liverpool’s own Dan Byrne will fill in the gaps for you, so you’ll barely have time to visit the multiple food stalls, traders and the 99.7ft long (!) main bar plus the Trooper bar and a craft beer bar. But if you do you’ll find reasonable prices and friendly faces galore. 

This year ROCKFLESH will be covering the entire event, so even if you can’t make it you will be able to see what you missed. But let’s be honest, reading about a festival after the fact is really not the same as being there, even if our words and pictures manage to capture the mood. Why suffer the FOMO when you could be part of the experience? 

There are still a handful of tickets (including day tickets) available from the website www.firevoltfestival.co.uk so if you’re looking for a smaller, more laid-back festival experience this summer why not join us?  

If you go down to the woods next week you’ll find minimum teddy bears but maximum rock goodness, and what’s not to like about that? There might even be a picnic or two. Firevolt will be fun, friendly and fabulous - see you at the bar!