Steelhouse Festival XV is already shaping up to be one almighty weekend of riffs, pints, mountain air and questionable decisions made while wearing a battle jacket in July.
But now VIP ticket holders have even more live music to cram into their weekend, because the official SHXV VIP Big Top Mini Set Times have been revealed.
Across Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the VIP Big Top will host a brilliant selection of intimate performances from artists appearing across the festival weekend.
And because Steelhouse never likes to make things too straightforward, organisers have also dropped a rather tasty little tease:
“Keep a 👀 in that there Big Top… Good things might well happen in there!!”
Well then.
That has certainly got our attention.
Could there be surprise guests? Secret performances? Unexpected collaborations? A spontaneous singalong fuelled by cider and poor judgement?
Nobody knows yet, but one thing is certain — the VIP Big Top is going to be one of the places to keep a very close eye on throughout the weekend.
🤘 Friday 24 July
The Big Top action begins on Friday with two cracking performances.
🎸 Parker Barrow — 4:50pm to 5:20pm
Parker Barrow will kick things off with thirty minutes of blues-soaked Southern rock, huge vocals and enough swagger to make the sheep on the hillside start nodding along.
The band have built a growing reputation for their energetic live performances, and this intimate mini set should provide the perfect warm-up for a huge opening night on the mountain.
🎸 Luke Morley — 7:30pm to 8:00pm
Later in the evening, Thunder guitarist and songwriter Luke Morley will take over the Big Top.
With decades of riffs, stories and classic songs behind him, this promises to be a special opportunity to see one of British rock’s finest songwriters in a much more intimate setting.
Expect atmosphere, musicianship and probably a few moments that will have the whole tent hanging on every note.
Tidy way to start the weekend, that.
🔥 Saturday 25 July
Saturday’s VIP Big Top schedule is absolutely stacked, with four performances spread across the afternoon and evening.
🎸 Von Hertzen Brothers — 3:00pm to 3:30pm
Finnish progressive rock favourites Von Hertzen Brothers will open Saturday’s programme.
Known for their soaring harmonies, adventurous songwriting and enormous musical ideas, the band should sound absolutely glorious inside the Big Top.
This could be one of those festival sets where people wander in out of curiosity and leave thirty minutes later insisting they have just discovered their new favourite band.
🎸 Tuk Smith — 4:20pm to 4:50pm
Next up is Tuk Smith, bringing glam, punk, melody and straight-up rock ’n’ roll attitude to the tent.
Expect sharp hooks, massive choruses and enough swagger to make leather trousers seem like a sensible choice in the middle of summer.
🎸 Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse — 5:40pm to 6:10pm
Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse will then bring their fiery mix of blues, soul and rock to the VIP crowd.
Their live performances are packed with personality, chemistry and musical fire, making this a set that deserves to be circled immediately on the weekend schedule.
🎸 Jay Buchanan — 7:15pm to 7:45pm
Saturday’s Big Top programme closes with Rival Sons frontman Jay Buchanan.
Possessing one of the most powerful and soulful voices in modern rock, Buchanan is perfectly suited to an intimate performance like this.
Expect goosebumps, huge vocals and at least one moment where the entire tent goes completely silent before erupting into applause.
This one could be very special indeed.
🤘 Sunday 26 July
There will be no slowing down on Sunday, with another four excellent performances lined up.
🎸 Fireheart — 3:00pm to 3:30pm
Fireheart will open the final day’s Big Top action with thirty minutes of melodic rock and infectious energy.
A perfect soundtrack for anyone trying to recover from Saturday night while pretending their knees still work.
🎸 Blue Nation — 4:20pm to 4:50pm
Birmingham rockers Blue Nation follow with their blend of huge riffs, soulful vocals and arena-sized choruses.
The band have earned a strong reputation across the UK live circuit, and this mini set should give Steelhouse fans another chance to see exactly why.
🎸 Dan Byrne — 5:40pm to 6:10pm
Dan Byrne takes over next, bringing powerful vocals, emotional songwriting and huge melodies into the Big Top.
This has all the ingredients of one of those memorable festival performances where a packed tent suddenly becomes very quiet and everyone pays attention.
🎸 Tyketto — 7:15pm to 7:45pm
Melodic rock legends Tyketto will close the scheduled VIP Big Top performances on Sunday evening.
Expect soaring vocals, classic songs and one almighty singalong before the festival heads towards its final hours.
If the tent roof is still attached afterwards, we will consider that a minor miracle.
👀 Keep Watching the Big Top
The announced mini sets are already reason enough to spend plenty of time inside the VIP Big Top, but that mysterious teaser from Steelhouse has certainly sent the rumour mill into overdrive.
“Good things might well happen in there” could mean almost anything.
A secret set.
A surprise guest.
A one-off collaboration.
Or perhaps just a bloke in a cowboy hat ordering twelve pints and declaring himself king of the mountain.
Whatever happens, VIP ticket holders would be wise not to wander too far away.
Steelhouse has always been brilliant at creating those unexpected festival moments people talk about long after the tents have come down and the mud has finally left their boots.
The Big Top could very well become the scene of another one.
🤘 The Riff Report Verdict
The SHXV VIP Big Top is shaping up to be a festival within the festival.
With intimate performances, a brilliant range of artists and the promise of possible surprises, it looks set to become one of the most exciting places on the mountain.
So plan those clashes, charge your phone, grab a drink and keep both eyes firmly on the canvas.
Something tells us Steelhouse still has a few tricks hidden up its sleeve.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. See you on the mountain, butt! 🤘🏔️🔥
