Right then, c’mon butt… let’s talk about the Steelhouse schedule, shall we?
We’re up a mountain, covered in denim, possibly damp, clutching a reusable pint cup, and ready to scream our lungs out. It’s Steelhouse Festival, mun — the high-altitude, high-volume highlight of the summer. But there’s one thing rock fans can’t agree on over their £7 pints and battered knees…
👉 Should every band get a 1 hour 30 minute set? Or should the headliner get a chunkier slab of stage time to properly blow the roof off the mountain?
It’s the sort of question that could divide a mosh pit quicker than someone shouting “play Wonderwall!”
🤘THE CASE FOR EQUAL SET TIMES
Let’s be honest — on paper, this looks tidy:
✅ FAIR PLAY FOR EVERY BAND
Giving every artist 90 minutes means no one is treated like a warm-up act. Whether you’re first on or closing the day, you get time to rip through your best riffs, chat a bit of nonsense, and maybe throw in that one unexpected deep cut that makes the crowd lose their minds. 🎶
✅ THE CROWD GETS VALUE FOR MONEY
You know that band you’ve been hyping up to your mates for years, but they’ve only ever done 45-minute support slots? Boom. At Steelhouse, they get 90 minutes to convert the entire field — or die trying. And we love a band that gives it some on the big stage, don’t we?
✅ IT KEEPS THE DAY MOVING
Nobody’s got time to wait around for an hour and a half of stage changeover while the headliner sets up their drum riser the size of a Ford Fiesta. The 90-minute rhythm means we keep moshing, headbanging, and singing ourselves hoarse without the energy dipping like a soggy chip in a festival tray.
🧐BUT LET’S BE HONEST — DON’T HEADLINERS DESERVE MORE?
Now hold your pints… because there’s another side to this coin, and it’s shaped like a Les Paul and covered in fireworks.
👑 HEADLINERS ARE THERE FOR A REASON
When you’ve got the mighty likes of Airbourne, Black Stone Cherry, or Those Damn Crows headlining, the fans want the full spectacle. We’re talking intros, lighting rigs, guitar duels, crowd call-and-responses, and maybe even a shirtless drum solo or two (standard).
90 minutes? That’s barely enough for a proper opening, never mind a triumphant encore and a big, teary thank-you to the fans.
🎶 SOME BANDS JUST HAVE TOO MANY HITS
Let’s say your headliner’s been around for 20+ years. You need longer than 90 minutes to do justice to the back catalogue. Otherwise, you’ll get a barrage of “Where was THAT song?!” as soon as the final chord rings out and the fireworks start. 🌠
🔥 BIG STAGE, BIG SHOW
Some headliners bring pyro, confetti cannons, backdrops the size of a castle wall, and lighting that can be seen from Newport. That all takes time. A headliner should be able to breathe, not sprint through their set like they’re on a festival episode of Countdown.
🏔️THE STEELHOUSE SET TIME SOLUTION?
Alright, here’s where The Riff Report throws down its sweaty denim gauntlet:
🥁 LET MOST BANDS HAVE THEIR 90 MINUTES…
…because it’s class. Seriously, it gives us fans proper shows from every artist — no one’s short-changed, no one feels like filler, and it makes the festival feel like a giant celebration rather than a glorified support tour.
🎤 …BUT GIVE THE HEADLINER A CHOICE
Let’s not be rigid about it. If your headliner’s up for it, give ’em an optional extra half-hour to pull out the big guns — the ballads, the epic closers, the speeches, the “see you next year” moments. Make that final slot a proper blowout. Let the last band each day own the mountain.
And if they don’t want it? No worries. Everyone still wins.
🎟️WHAT DO THE FANS THINK?
We’ve heard whispers from the campsite and pub benches:
“The 90-minute sets were lush, I didn’t feel like anyone was cut short. But I wouldn’t have said no to an extra half hour of The Answer on Sunday night!” – Leanne, Bridgend
“I was tamping when they ended after just an hour and a half — give the headliners two hours, mun!” – Gav, Aberdare
“C’mon butt, I was knackered by 9PM. Keep it 90 mins so I can still get back to my tent in one piece!” – Rhys, Swansea
🎸THE FINAL VERDICT FROM THE RIFF REPORT:
🎤 KEEP THE 90-MIN SETS FOR MOST – It’s fair, it’s fun, and it gives the crowd a feast of riffs.
🎆 BUT LET HEADLINERS STRETCH OUT – If they’ve got the stamina and the setlist, let them light up the mountain with an extended finale. You wouldn’t tell Bruce Springsteen to stop mid-encore, would you?
Let the rock gods decide. Just make sure there’s enough beer left in the cup and enough voice in your throat to scream, “ONE MORE SONG!” 🤘
💬So what do you think?
Drop your hot take in the comments or shout it across the merch tent. Should the headliners get more time? Or is 90 minutes the sweet spot of sweaty perfection?
#SteelhouseFestival #SetTimeRant #RiffReportDebates #90MinutesOfMayhem #CmonButtLetThemPlayMore #TidyRiffsOnTheMountain
