Held from 26–28 July 2019, Steelhouse Festival 2019 brought the sunshine, the sweat, and the sonic boom to Hafod-y-Dafal Mountain in Ebbw Vale. With a stellar lineup blending hard rock royalty, new blood, and full-bore Welsh pride, it was a year to remember for all who made the trek up the hill! Let’s break it down 🤘☀️
🔥 Friday – July 26th (Warm-Up Night)
🎉 A punchy prelude to the main event – intimate but electric.
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The Wild! 🇨🇦🍻
Canadian rockers bringing greasy biker energy and dirty bluesy riffs. Think AC/DC meets Monster Truck. -
Revival Black 🖤🎸
Scousers with swagger! Massive riffs and modern classic rock vibes. -
Ravenbreed 🪶🔥
Flying the Welsh flag with pride – heavy grooves and local love.
🎸 Saturday – July 27th
🌤️ The sun shone, the beers flowed, and the mountain roared!
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Thunder ⚡🎤 (Headliners)
UK legends delivered an unforgettable masterclass in melodic hard rock. “Love Walked In” = hairs standing on end! -
The Temperance Movement 🎙️🥃
Bluesy brilliance and emotional energy. A spiritual set that had the crowd locked in. -
Crocodile Rocks featuring Bernie Marsden 🐊🎸
Whitesnake royalty plus a dash of surprise – classic tunes and shredding solos galore. -
Gun 🔫🎶
Scottish rockers brought the hits – “Word Up!” got the whole mountain singing. -
Tax the Heat ⚡🎩
Suave, sharp, and packed with groove. Think QOTSA meets Beatles. -
Ryders Creed 🏍️💥
Midlands rock outfit that stormed the stage with raw power.
🤘 Sunday – July 28th
🌄 A final blast of Welsh sunshine and musical mayhem!
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Uriah Heep 🧙♂️🔥 (Headliners)
Prog-rock royalty! Decades on, they still command the stage with “Gypsy,” “Easy Livin’,” and that epic organ sound. -
Living Colour 🌈🎸
Funk, metal, and fierce vocals – “Cult of Personality” was a set highlight. -
The Amorettes 👯♀️🎤
All-female power trio from Scotland – riff queens of the afternoon. -
Stone Broken 💎🥁
Modern arena rock with big choruses – fan favourites for good reason. -
Anchor Lane ⚓🎶
Glasgow rockers with swagger and stage presence beyond their years. -
Liberty Lies 🎤🖤
Emotional vocals and meaty riffs – a proper Sunday starter.
🏁 Final Thoughts – Steelhouse 2019
A weekend of sun-kissed Welsh mountain glory, seasoned with legendary acts, fresh fire, and enough beer to fill Llyn Clywedog. From Thunder’s classy headline set to Uriah Heep’s spellbinding finale – it was one for the books.
Welsh Sayings Recap:
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“Bendigedig!” to Thunder – headliner perfection.
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“Iechyd da!” to everyone at the bar queue – long, but worth it. 🍻
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“Tidy!” for the sound and stage crew – faultless all weekend.
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“C’mon Wales!” for Ravenbreed and the sea of flags flying high!
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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