From the land of dragons and daffodils, up where the clouds kiss the peaks and the pint glasses never stay full for long, Steelhouse Festival 2023 brought the noise, the heart, and a whole lot of rock ‘n’ roll glory to the mighty Welsh mountain once again! 🎤🐲
Whether you arrived in a battered campervan, trudged through the mud with your tent strapped to your back, or came just to scream your lungs out and lose your voice by Sunday – you were part of something special. 🤘
It wasn’t just a weekend of music. It was a pilgrimage. A full-blown, riff-drenched celebration of sound, spirit and solidarity, set against one of the most breathtaking backdrops in the rock world. And as always… the weather didn’t know what the hell it was doing. ☔🌈🔥
But we didn’t care. We packed ponchos, raised horns, and shouted “C’MON WALES!” like our lives depended on it. Because this festival isn’t just about headliners and hair metal – it’s about family, fire, and face-melting fun.
So grab your air guitar, refill your pint, and join me as we relive the epic highs, heartfelt moments, and thunderous performances of Steelhouse Festival 2023! 🎶🍻
C’mon Wales… we absolutely smashed it!
🌦️ The Setting
Nestled high up the Hafod-Y-Dafal mountain, Steelhouse 2023 brought its trademark mix of blistering riffs, unpredictable weather (standard!), and unbeatable valley vibes. With panoramic views, hearty Welsh hospitality, and enough denim and leather to kit out a Saxon reunion, this was one for the books.
🎤 Friday – The Storm Before the Shred 🌧️
Despite the mist rolling in thicker than a pint of Brains Dark, the crowd braved the elements for the Friday night festivities.
Kira Mac
🔥 Kicking things off with attitude and soul, Kira Mac brought high energy and bluesy vocals that warmed us up better than a flask of Penderyn. Tidy stuff.
The Kris Barras Band
🎸 Heavy, tight, and full of swagger – Kris Barras tore through a storming set, fusing hard rock with modern groove. The crowd was bouncing – and not just from the mud!
Those Damn Crows (Headliner)
🏴☠️ “Tidy tidy TIDY!” The pride of Wales delivered a homecoming show that’ll go down in Steelhouse history. Pyros, singalongs, and raw emotion – from “Rock N Roll Ain’t Dead” to “Blink of an Eye,” it was pure bendigedig. A spiritual moment for the Crows family.
🎸 Saturday – Sun, Solos and Soaking It All In ☀️🌄
Saturday blessed us with glorious sun (yes, really!), and the music slapped harder than a dragon’s tail.
Empyre
🌌 Atmospheric and polished, these rising stars delivered a slick set that started the day on a classy, moody note. One to watch!
The Vintage Caravan
🎶 Wild, weird, and wonderfully retro. These Icelandic rockers blended psych, blues, and chaos. The solos were hotter than a Steelhouse burger in July.
The Answer
🍀 After a long hiatus, the Irish lads came back swinging. Frontman Cormac had the crowd eating out of his hand with gravelly charm and bluesy belters. “Spectacular” doesn’t even cover it.
Airbourne (Headliner)
⚡ Full throttle! Like AC/DC on a crate of Monster Energy, Airbourne brought sweat, speed, and sheer madness. From Joel climbing the scaffolding to beer showers galore – it was a high-octane closer. Iechyd da to that!
🤘 Sunday – Big Riffs, Big Feels, Big Finish 🌈
After some Sunday drizzle and many bacon rolls, the final day packed a serious punch.
Austin Gold
🌞 Smooth, soulful, and stadium-ready. An underrated gem with harmonies to melt even the most hungover face.
Deraps
🎸 A trio of youthful chaos! They played like Van Halen had been cloned in a Canadian garage. Proper foot-stomping fun.
King King
🕶️ Always classy, King King brought blues-rock precision and heart. Frontman Alan Nimmo’s voice? Like whisky and fire.
Black Stone Cherry (Headliner)
🍒 “Holy riff, Batman!” Kentucky’s finest delivered a monster of a finale. Emotional, heavy, and crowd-pleasing – from “Lonely Train” to “White Trash Millionaire,” the mountain erupted in joy. Even the sheep were headbanging. Diolch o galon, lads!
🔥 Final Thoughts: A Festival of Legends
Steelhouse 2023 delivered everything we love: a community of rockers, spine-tingling sets, epic scenery, and enough mud to baptise new fans in the name of metal. The Welsh dragon flew high, and the mountain roared louder than ever.
🏕️ Mud rating: 7/10
🎶 Riff rating: 11/10
🍻 Pint spilling rating: Unavoidable
🐉 Welsh spirit rating: Off the charts
Verdict: Bendigedig, beautiful, and absolutely bonkers. Bring on 2024! 🤘
#Steelhouse2023 #CmonWales #MountainMadness #YchAFiThatWasGood #IechydDa 🍺
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You got it, butt! 🎸🔥 Here’s the extended, riff-heavy, emoji-splattered review of every band that graced the mountain at Steelhouse Festival 2023. Strap in – we’re turning this all the way up to 11… and then some. 🏔️🐉
🎤 Friday – Fire, Fog and Full-On Feels 🌫️⚡
Kira Mac
🔥 From the first note, Kira Mac proved they weren’t just here to warm up the stage – they came to own it. Frontwoman Rhiannon Hill’s raspy vocals cut through the cold mountain air like a dragon’s roar, while the band locked in with tight, gritty riffs. A fusion of southern rock and blues swagger, they threw down originals like “One Way Ticket” with a confidence well beyond their years. The crowd swayed, sang, and saluted this powerhouse performance. A cynhyrchydd talent Cymreig! 🇬🇧
The Kris Barras Band
🎸 Kris Barras has always had a foot in blues and another in metal, but here? He stomped down hard with both. The guitar work was sublime – face-melting solos, heavy grooves, and more bluesy attitude than a bouncer at last call. “My Parade” was a standout, turning the crowd into a gospel choir of rock’n’roll believers. Add thunderous drums and a rhythm section tighter than your tent zips on Sunday morning – this was a “Tidy as you like!” moment for sure.
Those Damn Crows (Headliner)
🐦 The pride of Cymru took the Steelhouse stage like returning kings. From the opening notes of “Who Did It” to the epic “Blink of an Eye,” every lyric was echoed by thousands. The pyrotechnics? Blazing. The emotion? Raw. Frontman Shane Greenhall was magnetic – tearing across the stage, down to the crowd barrier, arms open like a preacher of rock salvation. This wasn’t just a gig – it was a celebration of how far they’ve come, and how high they’ll still fly. “C’mon Wales!” never sounded so right.
🎸 Saturday – Sun’s Out, Riffs Out ☀️🎶
Empyre
🌌 Atmospheric, introspective, and tight as a badger’s purse. Empyre set the tone early on Saturday with an emotive, modern hard rock sound that carried echoes of Alter Bridge and Muse. Their melodic depth and soaring choruses gave the crowd a moment to breathe, reflect, and raise a pint to music that hits the heart as much as the head. “Hit and Run” was a standout, soaring into the mountain mist. Definitely “ones to watch” – and probably “ones to cry to in a good way.” 🖤
The Vintage Caravan
🌀 From Iceland with fuzz! These psychedelic power trio maniacs took us on a wild ride – equal parts 70s throwback and 21st-century riff merchants. Think Cream, Sabbath and a dash of ‘I’ve definitely had too much cider and I’m loving it.’ Óskar Logi’s guitar work was frantic and fabulous, and the rhythm section was tighter than your jeans after three days of festival chips. An unhinged yet focused performance that left us dazed, grinning, and wanting more. “Bendigedig, bois!” 🇮🇸
The Answer
🍀 What a return! After years away, the Northern Irish legends stepped back onto the Steelhouse stage like they never left. From the first note, their chemistry and love for live performance beamed across the hilltops. Cormac Neeson’s vocals? Goosebumps. His stage presence? Like a Celtic shaman leading a singalong séance. “Under the Sky” and “Spectacular” were… well… spectacular. It felt personal. It felt epic. It felt right. Welcome back, lads.
Airbourne (Headliner)
⚡ Crikey. This wasn’t a gig – it was a full-on assault. The Aussie mad lads brought pure, unfiltered, beer-drenched chaos. Joel O’Keeffe is still rock’n’roll’s wildest frontman – throwing beers, climbing towers, and blasting solos like he was born on a Marshall stack. “Live It Up” turned the pit into a pogo-stick of sweaty joy. It was loud, fast, ridiculous, and 100% Steelhouse. Not a dry armpit in sight. “Ych-a-fi, that was beautiful!”
🤘 Sunday – Soaring Voices and Soaked Solos 🌧️🎤
Austin Gold
🌅 The perfect sunrise band – even if the sun was playing shy. With a sound drenched in melody, harmony, and epic solo sections, Austin Gold delivered a set of elegance and power. They bridge the gap between classic rock and the modern age with tracks like “We Are Lightning” and “Too Far From Home.” It felt like watching a band destined for bigger stages, yet perfectly at home on ours. “Tidy, soulful stuff, bois.”
Deraps
🎉 Youthful exuberance meets fretboard wizardry! These Canadian rockers are basically what would happen if Van Halen and Green Day had a wild night in a music lab. Frontman Jacob Deraps is an absolute machine – blistering solos, high-kicks, and cheeky banter throughout. Their cover of “Hot For Teacher” had jaws on the floor. So much fun, so much energy – and they clearly loved being on that mountain. “Diolch, lads – come back next year, yeah?” 🇨🇦
King King
🕶️ Soulful blues-rock with a kilted edge, King King are the kind of band you close your eyes to and just feel. Alan Nimmo’s voice is pure velvet wrapped in gravel, and his guitar tone? Smooth like melted chocolate. Songs like “You Stopped the Rain” had couples hugging and rockers swaying. Their musicianship is impeccable, and their hearts are on full display. A quiet highlight, and a masterclass in emotional delivery. “Proper lush.”
Black Stone Cherry (Headliner)
🍒 Steelhouse favourites returned to close out the weekend, and boyo, did they deliver. From heavy bangers like “Me and Mary Jane” to heartfelt moments in “Peace is Free,” the Kentucky quartet had us hooked. Chris Robertson’s vocals were heartfelt and raw, and the band’s southern swagger translated beautifully into a mountain-top celebration of everything good about hard rock. They know how to connect – this felt like a hug in riff form. And when those fireworks went off? Chills. Literal. Dragon-sized. Chills.
🏁 Overall Verdict – A Rock Family Reunion in the Clouds 🏔️🎉
Steelhouse 2023 was a masterclass in what makes this festival so special – from the killer line-up to the atmosphere of unity, chaos, and Welsh charm. It wasn’t just about the music – it was about being together, shouting lyrics into the wind, and loving every single muddy second.
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🐉 Welsh Weather Mayhem: 7 wellies out of 10
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🎸 Face-Melting Riffs: 100% singed eyebrows
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🍻 Beer Spillage Count: Off the scale
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🏕️ Camping Carnage: Proper muddy, proper fun
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❤️ Community Vibes: Like coming home
Final Score: BENDIGEDIG 🤘
Steelhouse 2023 – the mountain lives on, louder than ever.
