Planet Rockstock 2021 - Sunday review with Those Damn Crows, Kris Barras Band and Diamond Head

The Graham Harding Stage:

Words: Chloe Robbins

Following Saturday’s exuberant and oft-hilarious headline set from The Darkness, the Planet Rockstockers are back out in full force bright and early on Sunday morning to catch some scintillating new rock talent.

Southern rock trio Ashley Sherlock kickstart Sunday’s antics in fine style with their gritty blues rock. Their melodic yet dark tracks offer funk-infused rhythms and flaunt Ashley’s soulful voice and just as skilful guitar licks. Impressive stuff.

Swiftly following them is Doomsday Outlaw, whose addicting high energy has the crowd clapping and foot-stomping along to their catchy drumbeats. The formidable rockers bring huge classic rock riffs, bluesy keys, and infectiously lively vibrancy from frontman Phil Poole.

Fuelled by furious drumming and pulse-quickening bass, Daxx & Roxane deliver fast and frenzied rock tracks, fronted by fiery vocals. The Graham Harding Stage’s enthusiastic crowd can’t take their eyes off the band as they pull out surprises like an excellent ‘Superstition’ cover and a spontaneous harmonica solo.

Finding Kate, AKA Cyprus-based singer Kate Pavli, packs a punch with her brutal drums and magnetic vocals. Playing hits like ‘I Feel Bad’, a Planet Rock and Kerrang! favourite, plus new material, Finding Kate entrances the crowd with her powerful lungs and intense modern rock sound.

Alternative rockers Marisa and the Moths pummel through tracks like the punk-tinged ‘Skin’ and bewitching ‘Choke’ with their scorching hot guitar hooks and thunderous drums. Marisa impresses with her vocals and teases the crowd with new tracks from their upcoming second album.

Stepping up to the plate as last-minute substitutes, Gin Annie close off the Graham Harding Stage for another year with their scuzzy rock ‘n’ roll ragers. The room is the most packed-out that it’s been all weekend, with a tennis match of buzzing adrenaline being volleyed between the band and the audience, who can’t get enough of Gin Annie.

The Main Stage:

Words: Scott Colothan

Main Stage openers EMPYRE are selling a tongue-in-cheek T-shirt at Rockstock emblazoned with three commands to their fans on the back – ‘No singing’, ‘No clapping’ and ‘No looking as if you’re having a good time.’ Clearly poking fun at their very serious music, as soon as EMPYRE enter the stage to brooding, orchestral atmospherics it’s clear they’re going to take us on an intense sonic journey.

Embracing quiet and loud dynamics, EMPYRE are almost post rock sounding at times as they power through bruising renditions of ‘Cry Wolf’ and ‘Stone’ without cracking a smile (naturally). New track ‘Waking Light’ is nothing short of a triumph with its almost tribal beats, yearning vocals and rich soundscapes, while closer ‘New Republic’ is a behemoth of a tune in the live arena.

A veteran of Planet Rockstock having played the inaugural festival in 2013 and headlined six years ago as axeman of melodic hard rockers FM, Jim Kirkpatrick treats this year’s event to a blues rock masterclass. Flanked by a seamless band, Jim’s guitar work is slick and skilful from the moment he launches into a funk-tinged ‘Ain’t Goin Down Alone.’

Between songs, Jim launches into a brief riff of Status Quo’s ‘Whatever You Want’ leading sections of the audience to chant “DO IT!”. Although Jim doesn’t oblige with a Quo crowd pleaser, he more than makes up for it with his own magnificent tunes such as ’61 & 49’ with its quintessential blues lyrics about Lucifer himself and yearning refrain “I’m begging on my knees / I’m too young to die”, and an epic ‘Brave New World’ (nope, not an Iron Maiden cover) that sees Jim almost become one with his guitar as he makes it sing. Spectacular.

Fresh from conquering Stonedead Festival in the summer, former Skin and Jagged Edge guitarist Myke Gray is magnificent from the moment he and his phenomenal band fire into the hands-in-the-air celebration of our beloved musical genre, ‘Stand up for Rock and Roll.’ Things continue at breakneck speed as Myke and co. dispatch a rip-roaring and satisfyingly riff-packed ‘Trouble’, while Skin classic ‘House of Love’ sparks a huge singalong amongst the adoring Planet Rockstock faithful.

Revival Black’s Daniel Byrne is the perfect frontman for Myke Gray’s performance with his effortless rock howl and ever-genial persona, while bassist Colin Parkinson, guitarist Glenn Quinn and drummer Neil Ogden are a potent musical force and perfectly gel with Myke. With such a strong ensemble on stage, Myke and his band never waver in their brilliance as they tear through tunes like anthemic solo track ‘Raised on Radio’, a fist-pumping ‘Look But Don't Touch’ and a transcendental ‘Tower of Strength.’ Ending with a huge sounding ‘Shine Your Light’, Myke Gray and his band exit the stage in a rightful blaze of glory.

Charged with keeping up the ante after Myke Gray are Stourbridge metal torchbearers Diamond Head. Cited as an influence by thrash legends including Metallica and Megadeth, guitarist and sole constant member Brian Tatler and his Diamond Head band mates are swift to remind us why they’re held in such high esteem as they serve up an onslaught of gloriously abrasive tunes including ‘In The Heat of the Night’, a highly charged ‘It’s Electric’ and a riff-heavy ‘Shoot Out the Lights’, which sees energetic frontman Rasmus Bom Andersen climb the speaker stack.

Following a 40-minute blitzkrieg of riffs and top-notch metal, Rasmus tells the audience “We all know you know what’s going to happen next! ARE YOU EVIL ENOUGH?!” Diamond Head then fire into the opening ominous riffs of timeless metal classic ‘Am I Evil?’ before they unleash face-melting heavy metal fury onto the room. Naturally, the Planet Rockstockers absolutely loved it.

Truly one of Planet Rockstock’s big success stories, Kris Barras Band’s performance on Stage 2 three years ago is still talked about in revered tones at Trecco Bay, while in 2019 they triumphed on their Main Stage debut. Climbing up the bill once again this year, Kris Barras Band kick off with a blistering rendition of their towering rock anthem ‘Dead Horses’, which showcases the new bigger sounds Kris Barras Band are embracing on new studio album ‘Death Valley Paradise’. Anthemic new tracks ‘My Parade’, ‘Who Needs Enemies’, ‘These Voices’ similarly impress as Kris and co. meld fresh songs with slick renditions of established favourites like ‘Ignite (Light it up)’ and ‘Lovers or Losers.’

A poignant moment comes later as Kris opens up about his dad who died of cancer and never got to see him embark on his music career. Calling on the audience to put their phone lights in the air, Kris dedicates ‘Watching Over Me’ to his dad and to those we’ve loved and lost, and proceeds to play a truly spine-tingling version of the track complete with a huge heartfelt solo. A very special Rockstock moment.

With a sea of Crows T-shirts and one bloke draped in a flag in the crowd, local lads Those Damn Crows are met with a hero’s welcome as frontman Shane Greenhall shouts “ROCKSTOCK ARE YOU READY?!” before a blistering rendition of ‘Who Did It.’

They may have been drafted in to replace Monster Truck, but Those Damn Crows prove they are more than worthy Rockstock headliners with a succession of epic tunes including a suitably punchy ‘The Fighter’ and a riotous ‘Don't Give a Damn.’ As always, frontman Shane Greenhall is a fireball of energy, climbing the speaker stacks, clambering into the audience and even going to the bar during ‘Sick of Me’ to get a round of shots for his band mates where he discovers the Planet Rockstock crowd have drunk the venue’s supply of tequila dry. “What?! No tequila?!”

A tender moment comes while Shane is tinkling the ivories on an anthemic ‘Blink of an Eye’, which he dedicates to “our brother”, late Wolf Jaw frontman Tom Leighton. As the crowd sing the “woooah, woooah, woooahs” as the song reaches its genuinely moving climax, Shane tells us: “F---, that was beautiful.”

Closing with a monumental ‘Rock N Roll Ain't Dead’, Those Damn Crows ensure Planet Rockstock 2021 ends on a monumental high. Roll on next year!

Planet Rockstock 2021 - Thursday review

Planet Rockstock 2021 - Friday review

Planet Rockstock 2021 - Saturday review

Sunday at Planet Rockstock 2021 in photos:

Now see:

PHOTOS: Thursday at Planet Rockstock 2021

PHOTOS: Friday at Planet Rockstock 2021

PHOTOS: Saturday at Planet Rockstock 2021

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• those damn crows
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