Perched atop the scenic heights of Ebbw Vale, Steelhouse 2022 erupted like a Marshall stack wired straight into a dragonโs heart. A tidal wave of riffs, rain, and raw emotion, this was more than a festival โ it was a pilgrimage. Whether you were knee-deep in mud or neck-deep in denim patches, the mountain became holy ground for the loud, the proud, and the downright daft. ๐ฅ
Ready to relive every glorious power chord and crowd chant? Letโs break it down โ band by thunderous band.
๐ธ FRIDAY โ Riffs in the Mist
Florence Black ๐ฅ (From the Valleys with Venom)
Back on home turf and armed to the teeth with groove-soaked bangers, Florence Black absolutely owned the opening night. From the moment they struck the first note of Zulu, it was like watching a dragon wake up. The bandโs chemistry was electric โ a power trio with the punch of a five-piece, tight as barbed wire and twice as fierce.
Tristanโs vocals tore through the mountain mist with raw emotion, especially during Sun & Moon, while Jordanโs riffs had punters air-guitaring into the mud. Thereโs something special about a local band making good โ and Florence Black didnโt just make good, they made the mountain theirs. Yma o hyd? You bet they are.
The Dust Coda ๐จ (Smooth Operator Meets Thunder Road)
Bringing a sleazy London swagger to the valleys, The Dust Coda delivered a masterclass in modern blues-infused hard rock. Their tight musicianship, clean vocals and irresistible groove set them apart โ think Clutch meets Rival Sons with a hint of Skynyrd soul.
Tracks like Breakdown and Jimmy 2 Times had the crowd swaying one moment and fist-pumping the next. It was a set with finesse โ less about raw aggression, more about simmering tension and explosive release. These lads know how to tease a crowd before dropping the hammer.
๐ค SATURDAY โ Storm the Stage, Whatever the Weather
H.E.A.T โก (Swedish Thunder, Arena Dreams)
If you looked up โSteelhouse Bandโ in the rock โnโ roll dictionary, youโd find H.E.A.T smiling back at you, wind machines blowing their glorious manes. With Kenny Leckremo back on vocals, their set oozed energy, precision and charisma. These lads donโt just perform โ they ignite.
From opener One By One to set-closer A Shot At Redemption, every track felt like a headline anthem. The hooks were massive, the solos dazzling, and Kenny worked the crowd like a glam rock preacher. If Steelhouse had a house band made entirely of lightning bolts and hairspray, this would be it.
Black Spiders ๐ท๏ธ (Venomous, Vicious, and Very Funny)
Batten down the hatches and brace your necks โ Black Spiders came in hot. Equal parts Motorhead chaos and AC/DC boogie, their set was a glorious mess of beer-fuelled rock โnโ roll mayhem. Stay Down, Teenage Knife Gang, and KISS Tried to Kill Me hit like a steel toe-cap to the teeth.
But it wasnโt just about noise โ frontman Pete Spiby kept the banter flowing like the pints in the beer tent. This was primal rock with punk spirit, and the crowd loved it. No frills, no fluff โ just filthy riffs and devilish grins. Ych-a-fi? More like Ych-a-fiiiiire! ๐ฅ
Michael Monroe ๐งจ (Glam Punk Chaos Incarnate)
Imagine a punk rocker possessed by the ghost of Iggy Pop while twirling a saxophone like a battle axe โ thatโs Michael Monroe. At 60+ years young, he moved like a man half his age and rocked like one twice as hungry. From the first leap to the last scream, Monroe never stood still โ and neither did the crowd.
Songs like Dead, Jail or Rock โnโ Roll brought glorious chaos, while sax-blasting interludes and mic-stand acrobatics gave us glam with grit. His set was a joyful riot โ messy, sweaty, unfiltered rock at its most theatrical. He didnโt just play Steelhouse โ he ransacked it.
Inglorious ๐ค (Heavy Drama, Heavenly Pipes)
With a voice that could shatter glass and stir hearts, Nathan James led Inglorious through a powerhouse set full of emotional depth and showstopping moments. Think Whitesnake with modern muscle. They opened with She Wonโt Let You Go and never looked back.
Each song built like a rock opera โ dramatic, intense, and perfectly executed. The band blended 70s flair with modern fire, and Nathanโs command of the stage was magnetic. A different flavour to the dayโs chaos โ more theatrical, but no less powerful.
Airbourne (Headliner) ๐ปโก (Aussie Anarchy Unleashed)
What do you get when you mix lightning, lager, and a Marshall stack? You get Airbourne, headlining Saturday with a set that couldโve powered the National Grid.
Joel OโKeeffe is a man possessed โ sprinting across the stage, downing beers, and literally climbing the scaffolding while shredding solos. Absolute scenes. Every track from Runninโ Wild to Live It Up hit like a freight train. The rain didn’t matter. The mud didnโt matter. This was a rock โnโ roll war cry, and we were all enlisted. Tidy? It was bloody biblical.
๐ถ SUNDAY โ The Final Onslaught
Those Damn Crows ๐ชถ (Hometown Heroes Rising)
If Florence Black are the fire, Those Damn Crows are the storm. Theyโve become the band of the Welsh scene โ and their Sunday set was more like a coronation. Shane Greenhall had the crowd in the palm of his hand from the get-go, leading chants like a rock โnโ roll bard.
Anthems like Who Did It and Blink of an Eye werenโt just sung โ they were felt. You could hear the pride in every voice yelling โCโmon Wales!โ These lads are destined for arenas, but theyโll always belong to this mountain.
Green Lung ๐ฒ๐ฏ๏ธ (Witchy Riffs and Doom-Laced Magic)
A masterstroke of booking โ Green Lung brought their woodland sorcery to the stage with a set that blended Sabbath sludge, occult vibes, and tongue-in-cheek charm. It was like wandering into a 70s horror film with a guitar solo soundtrack.
The crowd mightโve come for the headliners, but they left talking about Let the Devil In and Leaders of the Blind. Doom never sounded so fun โ or so riff-heavy. They cast a spell, and we all fell under it.
Orange Goblin ๐๐น (Stoner Rock Royalty)
A tsunami of groove, volume and bad attitude โ Orange Goblin reminded everyone why theyโre underground legends. With tracks like The Filthy & the Few and Scorpionica, they brought a dirty, down-tuned energy that stuck to your boots.
Ben Ward was a towering presence โ growling through the set with charm and venom. Goblin donโt play shows. They brawl. The pit got rowdy, the riffs got gnarly, and it was glorious.
Massive Wagons ๐ฉ (Lunatic Energy, Pure Joy)
Nobody works a Steelhouse crowd like Baz Mills. With his bowler hat and mile-wide grin, he bounded across the stage like a cartoon Tasmanian devil, whipping the audience into a frenzy. This set was a love letter to fans โ loud, passionate, and completely unhinged.
From China Plates to Bangin in Your Stereo, the Wagons brought joy in its purest form. Crowd participation was next-level, and their bond with Steelhouse is stronger than ever. This wasnโt just a gig โ it was a reunion of misfits and melody-makers.
Uriah Heep (Headliner) ๐ฐ (Legends Leave Their Mark)
Few bands have the history of Uriah Heep โ and fewer still have the power to command a stage like this. With over 50 years of music behind them, they headlined Sunday like true royalty. Every note of Gypsy, Lady in Black, and Easy Livinโ carried weight and meaning.
This wasnโt about flashy lights or stunts โ it was about legacy. Bernie Shawโs vocals were immaculate, Mick Boxโs guitar work still sublime. It was moving, magical, and the perfect end to the weekend. A standing ovation in the mud. Rock royalty crowned on the mountain.
๐ FINAL VERDICT โ A Riff-Soaked Triumph
Steelhouse 2022 was a love letter to everything we adore about rock: passion, chaos, community, and volume. Whether you were skanking in the pit, crying during a ballad, or sinking beers with strangers, one thing was clearโฆ
The mountain remembers. And it rocks.
๐ง๏ธ Rain-soaked? Yes.
๐ถ Soul-filled? Absolutely.
๐ Steelhouse? Unforgettable.
Cymru am byth, and long live Steelhouse! See you next year, legends! ๐ค
