Words and Pictures: Adrian Hextall / (C) MindHex Media
I’ve followed H.E.A.T. since their glorious debut album was released back in 2008. Back then THE festival to see bands like H.E.A.T. was Firefest. Situated at Nottingham’s famous Rock City, the organisers did, as always, deliver the goods and sure enough H.E.A.T. were booked to play. Much high-fiving took place, tickets duly booked and off we headed to Nottingham only to discover that as the band were due to take to the stage, the part of Kenny Leckremo would ‘tonight’ be played by Eclipse’s Erik Mårtensson and Brother Firetribe’s Christian Slater double, Pekka Heino. Two stand-ins were required that day as a result of Kenny having to undergo heart surgery to resolve various issues that would ultimately stop him performing for some time.
A notable set, H.E.A.T. still knocked it out of the park and aided by a mixture of originals and covers that made Erik and Pekka’s job easier, a one-of-a-kind moment that remains high on the list of ‘had to be there’ moments from Firefest over the years.
As such, I never saw Kenny sing in that first incarnation of the band. When Erik Grönwall stepped in front of the mic, he would deliver four albums for the band and sing for them until 2020. Just when we thought it was all over, who should return but the one guy we all hoped for, namely Kenny. A decade plus change had passed but with ‘Force Majeure’ proving that his pipes had lost nothing in the intervening years, he’s helped bring the band to their MK III lineup and it’s that one we get to see tonight with me finally getting that performance from Kenny I’d hoped for back in 2008.
First up though, the small matter of supports and what a triple bill indeed…..
Chez Kane
Also known as Cheryl Kane, Welsh hard rock vocalist, Chez Kane, former member of band Kane’d has now stepped out on her own and what an impact she’s made in the UK rock circles. Her debut solo album ticks all the boxes when it comes to hard rock anthems (no surprise given her time spent working with Crazy Lixx’s Danny Rexon) and as a result her set at the Assembly Hall is filled with soaring vocals, thundering drums and bass and guitar solos that could keep Richie Sambora happy. The perfect mix of style, swagger, talent and more… it was no surprise that the crowd lapped it all up, cheered the band along and got proceedings off to a gloriously rock infused start.
Art Nation
It then fell to Art Nation to deliver a ‘follow that’ moment. Thankfully, whoever put this three band bill together knew that a Swedish melodic rock band from Gothenburg, would probably fit the profile perfectly. Founded in 2014 by Alexander Strandell and Christoffer Borg it’s now been 10 years since their impressive debut and in 2023 our Editor Denys took a shine to latest album Inception.
Having sold me on the band, watching them for the first time proved one thing, Denys was right! Yet another master class in melodic hard rock. Stunning vocals, the sort that make me wonder why on earth music lovers (and I use the term loosely) gravitate towards growly downbeat stuff when they could instead discover artists that bring some light and life to their miserable lives etc… Ah well, each to their own but I know what I like and Art Nation, like Chez Kane, ticked all of the boxes.
H.E.A.T.
Nervously bouncing with excitement, this was a huge deal for me. H.E.A.T, another Swedish hard rock band, because like Carly Simon once said, “Nobody does it better…” play what I still think of as Arena Rock. You know how Bon Jovi used to do it, how Warrant used to do it, how Europe used to record it (and to be fair can still perform it) and how Danger Danger, Firehouse, and many more set the bar for others to follow, well Sweden shows the world how to do it in the 21st Century. Alongside Crazy Lixx and Eclipse, H.E.A.T. deserve to be huge. That arena sound should be heard in, well, arenas… The Kenny fronted version, H.E.A.T. Mk III, touring in support of upcoming album ‘Welcome To The Future’ bounded onto the stage to Glenn Frey’s The Heat Is On, playing over the p.a. It’s a tune that frankly, suits no other band as an intro tape and saw the crowd singing, smiling and dancing with gusto.
Latest single, ‘Disaster’ followed and reminded us just what crunching hard rock in 2025 should sound like. If this had come out in the 80s, I’m sure you’d have blown your speakers with rock and roll (or something like that). It would probably have caused an ‘Emergency’ which coincidentally was the next song in the set and maintained the energy and spirit of the show.
You’ve only got to look at the rest of the setlist to know that, as a fan, this was a show made in heaven yet delivered by a band that had to have made a deal with the devil to be as tight and sharp as H.E.A.T. were in Islington.
Highlights for me included Grönwall era ‘Living On The Run’ and the debut’s epic ‘1000 Miles’ and of course the new single which sees the good ship H.E.A.T. heading firmly on course.
If you want more Kenny, keep an eye out for Avantasia’s upcoming European Tour where he’ll likely be performing with Tobias Sammet on ‘Against The Wind’. Here’s hoping !!
SETLIST:
The Heat Is On (Glenn Frey song)
Disaster
Emergency
Dangerous Ground
Hollywood
Rise
Nationwide
Harder to Breathe
In and Out of Trouble
Beg Beg Beg (Included a snippet of Black Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’)
Drum Solo
Back to the Rhythm
Living on the Run
Bad Time for Love
1000 Miles
One by One
Tearing Down the Walls
Sister Christian (Night Ranger song)
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