Croeso back to the mountain, rockers! 🐉⚡
Steelhouse Festival 2019 wasn’t just another weekend of denim and distortion — it was the stuff of Welsh rock legend. A once-in-a-decade combo of blazing sunshine, an absolutely stacked lineup, and the kind of crowd that could raise the dead with their singalongs. If you were there, you know. If you weren’t? Well… sit tight, because you’re about to relive the glory.
This was the calm before the global storm, the last great hurrah before the world hit pause in 2020 — and by all the gods of rock ‘n’ roll, we made it count.
In a land of raincoats and boggy boots, 2019 gave us sunburn and sunglasses. The Valleys turned golden under that rarest of Steelhouse phenomena: a full weekend of sunshine. Tents went up dry. Beers stayed cold. Flags flew high over a mountain that rumbled with riffs from noon ‘til night. And through it all, the dragon roared louder than ever.
From the moment the gates opened on Friday, the energy was off the charts. Fans flooded up Hafod-y-Dafal, many returning for their fifth, sixth, even eighth pilgrimage — grizzled veterans of the mud and magic. And alongside them, a whole new generation came for their first taste of Steelhouse, wide-eyed and ready to be baptised in sweat and guitar solos.
This wasn’t just a festival – it was a homecoming.
The lineup? Ridiculous.
The atmosphere? Electric.
The crowd? A family of misfits, headbangers, and sunburnt legends united by the eternal power of LOUD.
There were moments that’ll echo in our hearts forever —
💥 Brandon from Crobot spinning mid-air like a psychedelic ninja
🎩 Baz Mills of Massive Wagons conducting the field like a wild-eyed ringmaster
⚡ Thunder turning the mountain into an open-air stadium of dreams
🏰 Uriah Heep reminding everyone why they wear the crown of classic rock royalty
And then there were the smaller moments: sharing a cider with a stranger in the pit, singing your heart out with your arm around someone you met that morning, or simply staring at the sun setting behind the stage and thinking… “This is it. This is why we climb.”
Steelhouse 2019 was more than just music. It was magic.
A weekend where the riffs were as fierce as the sun, the bands gave it everything, and the crowd gave it back twice as hard. A celebration of life, of loudness, and of a community that refuses to fade quietly into the night.
So grab your pint, raise your horns, and let’s rewind the reel…
Here’s the full breakdown of every band who conquered the mountain in 2019 — with longer reviews, deeper dives, and a healthy dose of Welsh fire.
🎸 FRIDAY – The Welcome Party That Rocked the Hills
Blackwater Conspiracy 💥
With a sound steeped in southern blues and Irish grit, Blackwater Conspiracy brought depth and soul to open the weekend. Their style, somewhere between The Black Crowes and Thin Lizzy, gave the early crowd something rich and melodic to sink their teeth into.
Lead vocalist Phil Conalane delivered heart-worn vocals full of warmth, perfectly paired with tasteful slide guitar work and Hammond organ swells. Tracks like President Joe and Hanging Tree rolled like Southern thunder across the stage, setting the tone for a festival filled with both punch and heart. A criminally underrated opener who delivered a set worthy of sundown.
Wayward Sons 🌟
Toby Jepson returned to the big stage not as a nostalgia act, but as the leader of a lean, mean rock ‘n’ roll machine. Wayward Sons were sharp, urgent, and modern – full of bite and intention, but with classic rock running through every vein.
Songs like Until the End and Ghost had choruses bigger than the hill itself, and the band’s chemistry was palpable. Sam Wood’s guitar work was particularly jaw-dropping – full of power and melody. Wayward Sons didn’t just warm up the crowd – they ignited it. One of the best opening night acts Steelhouse has ever hosted.
🤘 SATURDAY – Sun, Sweat, and Riff After Riff
The Rising Souls 🎤
Straight out of Scotland and dripping in soul, The Rising Souls turned heads and grabbed hearts. Their set wasn’t about pyrotechnics or flashy showmanship – it was about groove, grit, and vocals that felt torn from the earth.
Frontman Dave Archibald delivered a powerful performance, with bluesy, rasped vocals that drew comparisons to Paul Rodgers and Chris Stapleton. Walk On and Set Me Free were deep cuts that resonated. They had the quiet confidence of a band with something special – and by the end of the set, they had the mountain on side. A true hidden gem of the weekend.
Revival Black ⚫
One of the freshest bands on the bill, Revival Black stepped up with the kind of hunger that only a band with something to prove can bring. You could feel the fire in their performance – every note of Wide Awake and So Alive landed with full-throttle commitment.
Vocalist Dan Byrne was already a revelation – raw, soulful, and powerful – while the band’s riffs came thick and heavy. Their blend of southern swagger and British steel gave off early Alter Bridge vibes. A band on the rise, and Steelhouse was lucky to catch them on their way up.
The Amorettes 🎸
Raw, fierce, and no-nonsense, The Amorettes delivered a set that was pure punk-metal adrenaline. These Scottish rockers don’t faff about – they plug in, hit hard, and leave you breathless.
From the first bars of Everything I Learned I Learned From Rock N Roll, it was clear the trio were in no mood to mess about. Gill Montgomery’s raspy snarl powered through every track with conviction, and the rhythm section was relentless. Let the Neighbours Call the Cops was a highlight – a wild anthem that had the crowd chanting like maniacs. Fierce, fast, and full of attitude.
Crobot 🐊
If there was one band that stole the show on charisma alone, it was Crobot. Frontman Brandon Yeagley exploded onto the stage like a glam-rock kung-fu master, twirling his mic stand, launching spin kicks, and delivering every line with theatrical flair.
But it wasn’t just spectacle – the band’s grooves were lethal. Nowhere to Hide was a dirty, fuzzed-out monster, and Low Life swaggered with filthy confidence. Their mix of Sabbath doom, Red Hot Chili Peppers funk, and 70s psych created a completely unique experience. The most fun you could have with your flares on.
Diamond Head 💎
NWOBHM royalty. The second Diamond Head took the stage, the air got thicker. These weren’t just songs – they were part of metal history. Helpless, Lightning to the Nations, and of course, Am I Evil? – every track hit like a wrecking ball of nostalgia and power.
Brian Tatler’s riffs still slice like razors, and new vocalist Rasmus Bom Andersen gave the classics new life without sacrificing their soul. You could feel the reverence in the crowd – fists raised high, voices shouting along. A triumphant reminder of where heavy metal came from – and why it still matters.
Gun 🔫
If you wanted singalongs, Gun brought them in spades. Their set was packed with 90s rock gold, performed with a polish and confidence that comes from years of touring. Jools Gizzi and Dante delivered a crowd-pleasing set that felt like one big warm hug of Scottish rock ‘n’ roll.
Their version of Word Up still absolutely slaps live, and Steal Your Fire was anthemic as ever. This was a feel-good, high-energy, no-stress set from a band that understands how to connect with a crowd. Steelhouse needed this – and Gun delivered.
Thunder (Headliner) ⚡
Steelhouse favourites. Arena legends. National treasures. Thunder headlined with effortless class. Danny Bowes was in top form – charming, cheeky, and utterly commanding. Luke Morley and the band played with the ease and power of veterans who still love what they do.
Every track was a singalong, from River of Pain to Backstreet Symphony, and when Love Walked In echoed across the mountain, there were more than a few teary eyes. This wasn’t just a headline set – it was a homecoming. Warm, polished, powerful… perfect.
🎶 SUNDAY – A Glorious Goodbye to the Mountain
Wille & The Bandits 🌊
Waking up the Sunday crowd with a spellbinding blend of blues, roots, and psychedelic jams, Wille & The Bandits were transcendent. With lap slide guitars, rich grooves, and haunting melodies, they offered something spiritual.
Songs like 1970 and Keep It on the Down-low drifted into the air like incense, wrapping the crowd in sonic warmth. It wasn’t loud – but it was powerful. Like watching a sunrise with a Stratocaster.
RavenEye 🧨
If you weren’t already awake, RavenEye sorted you out. Frontman Oli Brown launched into the set like a man possessed. Leaping off speaker stacks, riffing with wild abandon, and dragging the audience into a headbanging frenzy.
Their explosive energy, tight musicianship, and raw passion made this one of Sunday’s most electric sets. Hero and Come With Me were volcanic. The kind of band that doesn’t ask for your attention – they rip it out of your hands.
Tax The Heat 🔥
Stylish, slick, and criminally underrated, Tax The Heat delivered one of the most sonically satisfying sets of the weekend. Their mix of vintage tones and modern groove landed somewhere between Queens of the Stone Age and The Rolling Stones.
Tracks like Fed to the Lions and Animals were irresistibly cool, while the band’s tailored aesthetic and tight execution gave serious swagger. One for the discerning rock fan – and a standout performance.
FM 🎼
Smooth, sophisticated, and soaring. FM brought silky AOR to the Steelhouse crowd and delivered a set that hit all the right emotional highs. Steve Overland’s vocals? Still unreal – rich, clear, and powerful.
That Girl and Tough it Out felt like time machines back to an era of big choruses and bigger hair, but FM made it feel fresh. A masterclass in melodic rock professionalism.
The Temperance Movement 🌿
The sunset set from The Temperance Movement was electric. Phil Campbell is one of the most expressive frontmen in modern rock – part preacher, part poet, part hurricane. His vocals danced from raspy growls to spiritual highs.
Only Friend, Take It Back, and Built-In Forgetter were spellbinding. The crowd was locked in, singing every word with passion. It felt like a communal release – a cathartic moment of connection between artist and audience. Beautiful chaos.
Uriah Heep (Headliner) 🏰
How do you close a festival that’s already hit every high? You bring in Uriah Heep – rock royalty with decades of power behind them. Their set was a triumphant march through their legendary catalogue.
Gypsy was hypnotic. Look at Yourself was explosive. Easy Livin’? Transcendent. Mick Box’s smile lit up the stage as much as his guitar did. Bernie Shaw gave a vocal masterclass. It wasn’t just a gig – it was a celebration of legacy. And the crowd gave them the ovation of the weekend.
🏁 Final Verdict – Steelhouse 2019: The Crown Jewel of the Mountain
If there’s one Steelhouse that lives in legend, 2019 might be it.
✅ Sunshine
✅ Killer lineup
✅ Passionate crowd
✅ Flawless execution
It was a festival of joy, unity, and unforgettable performances. A high point that carried us into the darkness of 2020… and reminded us what we fight to return to.
Steelhouse 2019 – The year the mountain danced.
