If you survived Steelhouse 2018, you’ve earned your battle jacket badge in mud, might, and musical magnificence. Because this wasn’t just any old year on the mountain — this was the year we took on the storm and won. 🏔️💪
They said it would rain. And oh, it rained. The kind of relentless Welsh downpour that could drown a dragon. Ponchos were flying, tents were floating, and wellies became sacred artefacts. But did we quit? Did we pack up and go home?
Not a chance in hell.
Because Steelhouse isn’t just a festival. It’s a pilgrimage. A family gathering for rockers, moshers, and mud-loving maniacs. It’s where you raise your pint, throw horns to the sky, and yell “C’mon Wales!” loud enough to scare off the thunderclouds. 🌩️🍻
And through the mist and muck, the bands brought the fire. Each and every act stepped up and delivered sets so powerful, they turned a soaked hillside into hallowed ground.
So here it is – a breakdown of the bands who laughed in the face of the storm and gave us a weekend to remember forever…
🎸 FRIDAY – Baptised in Blues and Bombast
The Dust Coda 💨
Steelhouse 2018 kicked off in style with The Dust Coda, a band that came armed with groove, grit, and buckets of bluesy swagger. Opening a festival is never easy, but The Dust Coda weren’t just warming things up – they were stamping their identity onto the mountain from the very first riff.
Their sound was a perfect storm of classic and contemporary – think Free meets Rival Sons with a splash of Led Zep thunder. The More It Fades and Rock n Roll thundered out of the PA like sermons for the soaked faithful, while frontman John Drake oozed confidence and soul. His vocals were rich, smoky, and emotional – a proper “close your eyes and feel it” performance. Even with rain creeping in, the band’s presence was undeniable. A flawless opening salvo.
RavenEye ⚡
Oli Brown and his bandmates took the baton from Dust Coda and sprinted with it. RavenEye’s Friday night set was nothing short of a molten explosion of sweat, chaos, and face-melting fuzz. With his hair flying and guitar howling, Brown prowled the stage like a man possessed – part rock star, part hurricane.
Kicking off with Come With Me, the band wasted no time getting the pit bouncing. By Hero, it was full-blown mayhem. RavenEye blend stoner-rock riffs, blues grooves, and punk energy in a way that feels both raw and technical – every note a firecracker. Brown’s interaction with the crowd was electric, constantly jumping, headbanging, and somehow never missing a beat. They may not have headlined, but they played like they owned the mountain.
🤘 SATURDAY – Steel, Storms, and Welsh Fire
Departed 🕯️
Moody, melodic, and full of intent, Departed were the brooding beginning to a stormy Saturday. Their sound was big – echoing with emotional weight and a cinematic quality that captured attention from the very first track.
Frontman Mark Pascall poured his heart into songs like Are You Ready and Superstitious, his vocals soaring above the gloom. The band’s rhythm section held everything together with precision, while the guitar lines danced between subtle and soaring. They walked the fine line between classic rock and modern arena-ready edge – think Thunder meets Black Stone Cherry. Not flashy, but seriously powerful, they earned every cheer they got.
Florence Black 🔥
Local heroes. Relentless energy. Proper Welsh grit. Florence Black returned to Steelhouse with something to prove, and by ‘eck, did they deliver. These lads play like they’re headlining Wembley, no matter the slot – and their intensity made the soggy hillside feel like a coliseum.
The Deep End kicked things off with massive riffs and gritty vocals, and it only went up from there. Tristan Thomas’s stage presence was commanding, with vocals that could strip paint and solos that could shatter clouds. When they launched into their cover of Budgie’s Breadfan, the entire mountain erupted – fists in the air, voices raised. Florence Black aren’t just one of Wales’s finest – they’re one of the UK’s most exciting heavy rock acts, full stop.
Wayward Sons 🌟
By 2018, Wayward Sons had already built a fierce reputation – and their Steelhouse set was further proof that Toby Jepson’s return to the frontlines was no nostalgia trip. The band exploded onto the stage with Alive and kept the foot on the gas the entire time.
Tight as hell, loaded with hooks, and brimming with confidence, they delivered a masterclass in modern melodic rock. Ghost, Crush, and Until the End all had the crowd singing, and Jepson’s banter was relaxed and razor-sharp. The dual guitar interplay between Sam Wood and Jepson added dynamic layers, and the rhythm section was a wall of power. They felt like a band destined for main stage slots for years to come – and rightly so.
The Quireboys 🎩
Steelhouse favourites and absolute pros, The Quireboys brought pub-rock charm and mass singalongs that turned a muddy field into a Welsh version of The Marquee circa 1989. Spike waltzed on with a grin, whisky glass in hand, and within minutes had the entire crowd eating out of the palm of his hand.
7 O’Clock, Hey You, There She Goes Again – every track was met with bellowed vocals from the crowd, swaying bodies, and cider-fuelled camaraderie. Guy Griffin and Paul Guerin’s guitar work was tasteful and tight, while Keith Weir’s keyboards added that extra retro sparkle. Spike might be the heart, but the band behind him are its beating soul. A Steelhouse staple – and for good reason.
Monster Truck (Headliner) 🚛
Canadian muscle meets Sabbath stomp. Monster Truck may have surprised a few casuals in the lineup, but by the time they were halfway through Don’t Tell Me How to Live, every doubter was in full headbang mode.
Their sound is colossal – huge walls of guitar from Jeremy Widerman, pounding drums, and Jon Harvey’s vocals, which could probably shatter boulders. She’s a Witch, Old Train, and The Enforcer were played with brute force and swagger. They didn’t waste time with gimmicks – this was pure, working-class, road-hardened rock, played tight and loud. As headliners, they felt fresh, hungry, and explosive. The crowd didn’t stop moving for the entire set. A worthy and unforgettable top-of-the-bill performance.
🎶 SUNDAY – Soul, Shred and the Voice of Rock
Stone Broken 🧱
Kicking off Sunday with punch and polish, Stone Broken felt like a band on the cusp of something bigger. Their brand of arena-ready hard rock is accessible but still muscular – riffs you can bang your head to, choruses you’ll hum for days.
Rich Moss’s vocals were on point, and the band as a whole looked like they belonged on that stage. Heartbeat Away and Doesn’t Matter had genuine emotional resonance, and the crowd responded with warmth and volume. You could feel the ambition – and they had the talent to match it. Next-gen Steelhouse heroes in the making.
Dan Reed Network 🕺
Funky, philosophical, and full of life – Dan Reed Network brought colour and charisma to a grey afternoon. With slick musicianship and infectious positivity, they turned the damp crowd into a groove-driven dance party.
Ritual, Rainbow Child, and Get to You sounded just as vital as they did in the ’80s, with Dan Reed’s voice effortlessly smooth and his stage presence magnetic. The band’s chemistry was unreal – tight, fluid, joyful. Their message of unity and energy felt especially resonant that year. They didn’t just play songs – they uplifted the entire mountain.
Myke Gray feat. Kim Jennett ⚔️
This was one of those sets that catches people off guard – and blows them away. Legendary guitarist Myke Gray laid down the shred, but the real revelation was Kim Jennett – an absolute force of nature on vocals.
Her performance was fearless, emotional, and utterly captivating. House of Love and Take Me Home showcased not just power but soul. You could feel something bigger brewing here – a collaboration that was more than the sum of its parts. The crowd knew they were witnessing the birth of a star, and the ovation said it all. Goosebumps from start to finish.
Glenn Hughes (Headliner) 🕊️
The mountain saved the best for last. Glenn Hughes – The Voice of Rock – stepped onto the stage, and time stopped. Performing a full set of Deep Purple classics, he delivered one of the most powerful, soulful, and spiritual headline performances in Steelhouse history.
Stormbringer, Mistreated, You Keep On Moving, and the unforgettable closer Burn – each one sung with a voice that defied age and explanation. Hughes bared his soul between songs, paying tribute to his bandmates, the legacy of Purple, and the love of the fans. His bass work? As funky and fierce as ever. His range? Otherworldly.
The mountain didn’t just echo with his voice – it resonated with his soul.
🏁 Final Thoughts – Steelhouse 2018: Weather-Proof and Warrior-Like
Steelhouse 2018 was one for the books – not because it was perfect, but because we earned every note. We stared down the storm, sank into the mud, and screamed louder than the rain.
🎶 Every band brought something unique
🌧️ Every fan showed their grit
🐉 And the mountain, once again, became a cathedral of sound and soul
We weren’t just watching a festival. We were part of a battle. And we won.
Steelhouse 2018 – the year the heavens wept and the rockers roared.
C’mon Wales! We’ll see you back at the top. 🏔️🤘
