Words – Smudge / Photos (C) Adrian Hextall / MindHex Media
Saturday, August 23rd, 2025
Newark Showground
I’ve been lucky enough to have attended every Stonedead festival apart from one. I have watched this festival develop and grow into one of the best and friendliest experiences that the UK has to offer – big enough to matter and small enough to care.
Here’s a perfect example: I wasn’t able to attend the Friday night party which featured Tyketto, Sweet Electric and Jayler. I left that to my erstwhile partner in crime Adrian ‘Hop-a-long’ Hextall, who is currently nursing a broken foot, so I offered to pick him up after the gig. When I arrived at the main gate and explained that I was picking up my injured colleague, the volunteer staff were so accommodating that they allowed me to drive to the press area without any accreditation or having to show ID. The lovely Donna even helped poor Hop-a-long to my car. I honestly don’t know of another festival that would have allowed me to do that. So, Donna – our most heartfelt gratitude to you.
Saturday dawned cloudy and grey but quite muggy. We’ll take that as long as the rain holds off. On arrival we were briefed by press boss Mark about various bands’ pyro, plus the special guests who were not mentioned on the line-up.
King Kraken
Up first were Welsh metal mongers King Kraken, who brought it large once Pete Rose got his rig working. Even though there is much less of singer Mark Donoghue these days, he still has a voice of power and range as he hollered out opening number ‘Scream’ before the stomping ‘El Giganto’ and the mighty ‘Berserker’. It was a top set from a top band and a perfect start to the day.
Special Ozzy Tribute
Now came the surprise. After the sad death of metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, Stonedead arranged their own special tribute where former Skin/Jagged Edge guitarist Myke Gray roped in Lydia from Crowley and the rhythm section from King Kraken to bash out ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’ before all three members of Florence Black joined him for ‘Children of the Grave’ and ‘Paranoid’. Oh, we sang along, and we got a bit emotional too.
Black Oak County
I wouldn’t want to follow that, but the boys from Black Oak County did just that. I assumed they were a southern rock band, but they were nothing of the sort. They brought a shed load of huge punchy riff ‘n’ roll that got us moving.
Enforcer
Next up were Sweden’s Enforcer. Having seen them a couple of times and proudly wearing my tour shirt, they came and gave a lesson in what real metal is. Starting with ‘Destroyer’, ‘Undying Evil’, ‘Unshackle Me’ and ‘From Beyond’, they allowed us to catch our breath on ‘Live for the Night’ before changing gears again on ‘Die Young’, ‘Nostalgia’ and ‘Mesmerized by Fire’. The last two numbers ‘Take Me Out of the Nightmare’ and the almost-thrash of ‘Midnight Vice’ left us breathless.
The New Roses
After all that true metal we needed something a bit different, and The New Roses provided just what was needed. Coming on with a new line-up, they brought their particular brand of heavy rock to us. They came on fired up and got us rocking from the off with ‘Attracted to Danger’, ‘Bring the Thunder’ and ‘First Time for Everything’. Singer Timmy Rough doesn’t hide behind a guitar anymore, which has made him a much more engaging frontman and has allowed the return of guitarist Norman Bites.
Primal Fear
Enforcer gave us the metal; Primal Fear brought the power and took it up a notch or two. Mr H and I were both over-excited to see these legends and they did not disappoint. Drummer Andre Hilgers rattled out a motif to start ‘Final Embrace’ and bassist Mat Sinner let loose his four-string thunder before returning guitarist Magnus Karlsson and new six-string stunner Thalia Bellazecca showed what they’ve got. Jesus, they are a formidable guitar pair who have gelled very quickly into a tight unit. Oh, and let’s not forget the muscular Ralf Scheepers who used every inch of his impressive range.
They went straight into ‘Nuclear Fire’ before ‘Angel in Black’ and ‘The Hunter’. They gave us ‘King of Madness’ and ‘The End Is Near’ before the majestic ‘Fighting the Darkness’ where Scheepers showed what a world-class singer he is. Talk about a power ballad! Goosebumps. The goosebumps turned to some headbanging on ‘Chainbreaker’ and the monumental ‘Metal Is Forever’. Talk about happy. Primal Fear made it look easy. Awesome. Phenomenal. Please come back to the UK soon…
D.A.D.
I never know what to make of D.A.D. Their first few numbers were proper down ‘n’ dirty rock ‘n’ roll and what the hell was the bass player wearing? They were doing OK until they started to go bluesier, which didn’t suit them. It wasn’t until the one everyone wanted to hear – ‘Sleeping My Day Away’ – that they got the crowd back onside.
The Sweet
One of my earliest memories from my childhood is jumping around with my mate Steven Taylor in his bedroom whilst watching The Sweet on some kids’ TV show in 1973. We were five years old, but we knew what we liked. So, seeing The Sweet was a proper nostalgia trip for me. The setlist was like a ‘best of’ plus a couple of newer tracks from their latest album. We danced and sang to ‘Action’, ‘Hell Raiser’, ‘Teenage Rampage’, ‘Love Is Like Oxygen’, ‘Fox on the Run’, ‘Blockbuster’ and ‘Ballroom Blitz’. We also got the raucous ‘Set Me Free’ which proved what a great heavy rock band they were.
The band were note perfect, their harmonies were sublime, and Paul Manzi has the perfect voice for this band. But having Lee Small banging his bass and providing the harmonies along with Andy Scott and keys/guitarist Tom Cory, you cannot fail. I will admit to making a major twat of myself during their set, but you gotta let go when The Sweet are in town.
The Dead Daisies
I have seen The Dead Daisies a couple of times and they always give it all onstage. I think John Corabi is the consummate frontman and he has a voice perfectly suited to their sound. The set was littered with originals as well as some mighty covers, with ‘Long Way to Go’, ‘Rise Up’ and ‘Light ‘Em Up’ coming out early before the Angels classic ‘Take a Long Line’, Alex Harvey Band’s ‘Midnight Moses’, The Beatles’ ‘Helter Skelter’ and CCR’s ‘Fortunate Son’ brought some familiarity.
The Almighty
Here we go for the headliners The Almighty. I wasn’t sure they qualified for the headliner slot, but they were there, so we just enjoyed it. With all four original members back – there’s me thinking it was only for three gigs, what do I know? – they kicked off with the battery of ‘Power’, ‘Destroyed’ and the huge ‘Full Force Lovin’ Machine’. Ricky Warwick was at his belligerent best, the rhythm section of Floyd London and Stumpy Munroe had it locked tight whilst Tantrum strolled the stage peeling off riffs and fills with a smiling face. We got ‘Addiction’, ‘Jonestown Mind’ and the immense ‘Takin’ Hold’ before ‘Jesus Loves You… But I Don’t’ and ‘Free ‘N’ Easy’. They came back for ‘Crucify’ and a go at Metallica’s ‘The Four Horsemen’ just for shits ‘n’ giggles before closing with ‘Wild and Wonderful’.
A massive well done to the Stonedead crew who produced a first-class show. They gave us a real mixed bag with something for everyone. As always, I have to thank all those photographers who have to put up with me getting in their way – Dan, Manny, Polly, Stuart, Ian, Lindsay, Craig, Paul and of course the pit boss Mark. To all the volunteers who make this festival possible, all with a positive, helpful attitude and smiles on their faces. Last but not least, Old Hop-a-long Hextall – the kids miss you.
stonedeadfestival.co.uk/line-up/
About Author
