You know the deal by now: if you’re coming to Steelhouse, expect a bit of weather. But 2016 didn’t just bring a bit of drizzle – it brought biblical scenes. Campsites turned to swamp pits. Beer cups floated down pathways. But no one cared – because once that stage lit up, nothing else mattered.
This was the year Steelhouse grew teeth – a proper clash of classic heroes and hungry newcomers, all set to a soundtrack of thunder, both from the sky and the stacks. Whether you were a veteran mosher or a Steelhouse first-timer, 2016 gave you memories etched into your very soul (and your mud-covered jeans).
🎸 FRIDAY – A Muddy Welcome Party With Real Bite
Hand of Dimes ✋
With the return of Nev MacDonald (ex-Skin), Hand of Dimes opened the weekend with a masterclass in soulful, melodic rock. Nev’s voice – rich, weathered, and utterly mesmerising – floated over tracks like Jacob’s Ladder and Looking at You with ease.
The crowd, wet but warmed by good music and cheap lager, swayed and cheered as the band laid down their lush, blues-tinged soundscapes. A calm before the weekend storm – emotionally rich and musically tight, they started Steelhouse 2016 with heart and harmony.
Tax the Heat 🔥
Next up, Tax the Heat brought their stylish brand of polished, radio-ready rock. Their set oozed confidence and swagger, blending modern alternative edge with old-school groove.
Highway Home, Fed to the Lions, and Animals had the crowd grooving and nodding in approval. Smart suits, sharp riffs, and irresistible hooks – Tax the Heat gave us one of the slickest performances of the entire weekend. Criminally underrated, and cool as hell.
🤘 SATURDAY – Drenched But Defiant
Buffalo Summer 🌞
They might’ve brought “summer” in name, but Buffalo Summer faced off against steel-grey skies and sodden fields. Luckily, their Southern rock swagger and upbeat charm cut through the clouds like a Les Paul through butter.
With foot-stomping choruses, gritty vocals, and more groove than the valleys could handle, they lit up the early afternoon. Down to the River and Money had the crowd swaying in their raincoats, proving once again that this Welsh powerhouse is built for big stages – even waterlogged ones.
The Treatment 💉
Slick, hard-hitting, and punchy as a pub brawl, The Treatment arrived ready to rumble. Their energy was non-stop – every track delivered like a knockout punch.
Let It Begin, Running With the Dogs, and The Doctor had fists in the air and heads banging despite the mud. No frills, just pure British hard rock, delivered with youthful fury and tight precision. One of the most underrated performances of the day.
Terrorvision 🎤
You could feel the shift the moment Terrorvision hit the stage – the air got looser, the crowd got louder, and the vibe got wild. Tony Wright, always the showman, had the whole mountain grinning from ear to ear as the band blasted through banger after banger.
Alice What’s the Matter, Oblivion, and Tequila? Absolute chaos – in the best way. There were conga lines in the mud, air guitars in puddles, and a whole lot of sloppy but passionate singing. Terrorvision brought the party – and Steelhouse needed it.
The Darkness (Headliner) 🎤✨
You want a headline set? You got one. The Darkness brought the glam, the glitter, the spandex, and the spectacular. Justin Hawkins was on fire – leaping, howling, and wailing his way through a greatest hits set that had the mountain in raptures.
Growing On Me, Love is Only a Feeling, One Way Ticket – every tune was delivered with maximum theatricality. And when I Believe in a Thing Called Love dropped? Absolute scenes. The whole mountain erupted. A headline set that balanced comedy and class with perfect precision.
They proved, once and for all, that behind the humour and falsetto is a damn good rock band. Iconic, unforgettable, and absolutely Steelhouse through and through.
🎶 SUNDAY – Heart, History, and Heavyweight Legends
Those Damn Crows 🪶
Steelhouse 2016 was the first appearance of Those Damn Crows, and they came in guns blazing. With their now-famous mix of emotional weight and stadium-sized choruses, they made an immediate impact.
Blink of an Eye and Rock n Roll Ain’t Dead hit hard and true, and frontman Shane Greenhall already had the crowd in the palm of his hand. It was a breakout moment – you could feel the buzz in the air. “These boys are going somewhere…” Spoiler: they did.
The Dead Daisies 🌹
Supergroup? Yes. Super show? Absolutely. With Doug Aldrich and Marco Mendoza in the engine room and John Corabi leading the charge, The Dead Daisies delivered a set of classic rock thunder and fiery musicianship.
Songs like Make Some Noise, Mexico, and their crushing cover of Helter Skelter were played with charisma and crunch. Corabi’s voice was ferocious, and the whole band exuded veteran cool. They made rock feel big, loud, and joyous again.
The Answer (Headliner) 🎤🔥
Ending Steelhouse 2016 on a spiritual high, The Answer headlined with a soul-drenched, blues-soaked sermon of sound. Cormac Neeson – barefoot, beaming, and booming – owned the stage with a set that felt less like a concert and more like a religious experience.
Spectacular, Nowhere Freeway, Preachin’, and the epic Under the Sky turned the rain into rhythm. The band locked in, the crowd let loose, and it all came together in a glorious, muddy communion.
The Answer didn’t just close the festival – they brought us home.
🏁 Final Thoughts – Steelhouse 2016: Rinse, Rock, Repeat
Steelhouse 2016 was mud, mayhem, and magic.
It tested our tents.
It soaked our socks.
It gave us some of the most unforgettable performances in Steelhouse history.
🎸 Hand of Dimes’ heart
🔥 The Darkness’s chaos
🪶 Those Damn Crows’ origin story
🎤 The Answer’s soul
This was Steelhouse saying: “Yeah, the weather sucks – now turn it up to 11.”
Cymru am byth – rock on, and never let a little rain stop the show!
