SteelhouseFestival2021
After the storm of 2020, Steelhouse Festival 2021 was a roaring return to the mountain – a homecoming of riffs that reminded us all what it means to rock in Cymru! 💪🔥 Despite Covid reschedules and restrictions, the organisers pulled off a miracle of music in the Valleys. Let’s dive into the bands who braved the weather and brought the fire! 🤘
🎸 Friday – July 23rd (Warm-up Night)
🎉 A stripped-back but special start to the weekend – with a heavy focus on homegrown talent!
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Florence Black 🌑💥
Merthyr’s finest came out swinging! Monumental riffs and gritty vocals that turned drizzle into a downpour of headbanging. -
The Hot Damn! 💄🔥
Bright colours, bigger riffs, and more glitter than the average glam rock dressing room! -
Ashen Reach ⚔️🎸
Rising stars with a modern hard rock sound – packed with promise and passion.
🎤 Saturday – July 24th
⚡ Day 2 kicked into gear with big hitters and local heroes stepping in for rescheduled acts!
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Those Damn Crows 🐦🔥
South Wales pride in full flight! Their headline set was emotional, electric, and utterly legendary. “Rock ‘n’ Roll Ain’t Dead” – it’s alive and screaming on the mountain! -
Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons 🛠️🎤
Motörhead fire, Welsh heart. Phil lit it up with old-school fury and modern muscle. -
Myke Gray featuring Kim Jennett ⚫🎙️
Guitar maestro + vocal powerhouse = pure rock magic. One of the surprise standouts of the weekend! -
Empyre 🌌🖤
Atmospheric rock with a haunting edge – brooding and beautiful. -
The Dust Coda 🚗🔥
Sleek, classic, and packed with groove. Classy rock for proper rockers.
🤘 Sunday – July 25th
☀️ The mountain gods smiled, the sun showed up, and Sunday delivered a proper finale.
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Inglorious ⚡🎤
Nathan James wowed with that golden voice – operatic, thunderous, and full of soul. They stepped up to the headliner plate like true giants. -
Mason Hill 🏔️💥
One of the most talked-about sets of the fest. Anthemic, emotional, and utterly barnstorming. -
Stone Broken 💎🥁
Their modern arena-rock sound filled every corner of the field. Big hooks and even bigger applause. -
The Quireboys (acoustic set) 🎩🍷
Pure charm. Spike brought the whisky-soaked nostalgia, and the crowd sang every word. -
Ravenbreed 🪶🔥
Heavy, melodic, and overflowing with Welsh pride. -
Böreal Winter ❄️🎶
Openers who made a big impression – icy name, fiery playing.
🏁 Final Thoughts – Steelhouse 2021
Despite all the challenges, Steelhouse 2021 roared back with a vengeance. The mountain echoed with pride, perseverance, and power chords. It wasn’t the biggest lineup ever – but it might have been the most meaningful. A proper “we’re back” moment. 🐉🎶
Welsh Sayings Recap:
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“Bendigedig!” to the crew who made it happen.
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“Ych-a-fi!” to that one slippery patch by the bar 😬
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“Tidy!” for every band who stepped up last-minute.
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“Iechyd da!” to the real headliners – the crowd! 🍻
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“C’mon Wales!” echoed from every tent for the Crows and Florence Black.
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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