One Day. One Stage. One Epic Party.
There are festivals that sprawl like a Tolkien map – endless treks, clashes that break your heart, and prices that make your wallet weep. And then there’s Stonedead Festival, the one-day, one-stage monster that proves sometimes less is so much more. No clashes. No trudging through five fields to catch half a set. Just riff after riff, pint after pint, and a crowd of denim-and-leather warriors who know exactly why they’re here.
2025’s edition? Absolute carnage in the best way. From young guns proving their worth to veterans reminding us why they’re legends, it was eight hours of concentrated rock ‘n’ roll. Let’s dive in, band by band, pint by pint. 🍺
🎸 THE BANDS – FROM FIRST RIFF TO LAST ENCORE
Tailgunner – The Air Raid Sirens of Steel
Stonedead likes to open with a bang, and holy hell, Tailgunner delivered it. Imagine Iron Maiden if they’d mainlined five Red Bulls and decided to write songs faster than a runaway train. Their galloping basslines and twin-guitar harmonies instantly woke the field.
Frontman Craig Cairns worked the stage like a seasoned pro, fist in the air, hair flying, and a voice that could slice through the Newark sky. “Revolution Scream” hit like an atomic bomb, and by the end of their 30 minutes, Tailgunner had a new army of fans shouting their name.
Crowd verdict: Best opener since Toby Jepson’s pants split in 2022. Horns up all round. 🤘
The Hot Damn! – Glitter-Bomb Rock ‘n’ Roll
If Tailgunner were the steel fist, The Hot Damn! were the neon glitter explosion that followed. Bright clothes, big smiles, and pure sass, they strutted out like they’d been sent to cheer up the entire Midlands.
Their infectious riffs and cheeky attitude had people dancing before lunch, and their mashup cover medley (Bon Jovi meets Joan Jett meets Spice Girls – yes, really) turned the field into a disco of denim.
Moment of madness: A group of old bikers at the back broke into the Macarena. Stone. Dead. Serious. 😂
Kira Mac – Blues With Bite
There’s a saying in Wales: “That voice could stop traffic on the Heads of the Valleys road.” And Kira Mac? She’s got thatvoice. Gravelly, soulful, and absolutely thunderous. Her set cut deep, blues-rock fused with proper hard rock edge.
Songs like Dead Man Walking rolled through the field like whiskey-soaked thunder, and the solos? Pure filth in the best way. By the end, people who’d never heard her were Googling her tour dates on the spot.
Verdict: Lush. Just lush. 🏴
Mason Hill – Caledonian Firepower
The Scots have been threatening to take over the UK modern rock scene for a while, and at Stonedead, Mason Hill proved why. Anthemic choruses, slick riffs, and Scott Taylor’s vocals soaring like he’d swallowed a megaphone.
Tracks like Where I Belong and DNA hit huge, the kind of songs built for arenas. Their between-song banter was pure Glasgow charm too. “We brought the weather with us,” they joked – cue the clouds rolling in.
Crowd vibe: Rain jackets on, fists still up. Proper job.
Kris Barras Band – Guitar Hero Unleashed
Barras has been levelling up year after year, and 2025 was the year he came for blood. His set was heavier than some expected – less pub-blues, more stadium-rock. Solos screamed, riffs chugged, and Kris himself prowled the stage like a man who knows he belongs here.
Dead Horses had the whole field roaring along, while his guitar solo showcase was one of those “shut up and watch” moments that left jaws on the floor.
Highlight: A kid on shoulders, air-guitaring with a stick of chips like it was a Stratocaster. 👏
Tyketto – Melodic Rock Heaven
Time travel isn’t real, but Tyketto’s set came close. Straight out of the late ‘80s/early ‘90s, their melodic rock anthems felt timeless. Danny Vaughn’s vocals? Still silk wrapped around steel. The man has not lost a note.
When Forever Young rang out, it was like every single person in the field turned into a karaoke choir. Proper goosebumps.
Special shout: The couple slow-dancing near the sound desk. Rock ‘n’ roll isn’t just about riffs – it’s about memories.
Skid Row – Snakebite Chaos
The headliners rolled in with all the swagger of a band that’s been there, done that, and still has the scars to prove it. New singer or not, Skid Row came out swinging.
Slave to the Grind set the tone – heavy, filthy, and fast. 18 and Life had the entire field belting it out, and when they hit Youth Gone Wild, Stonedead erupted into one giant gang chorus. Mosh pits, crowd surfers, pints in the air – it was carnage in the best way.
Crowd verdict: Headliners that proved Stonedead books bands who still mean business.
🍔 FOOD & DRINK – WHAT YOUR WALLET SUFFERED
Festivals are notorious wallet-traps, but compared to Download or Glasto, Stonedead is practically charity. Here’s what punters coughed up:
- Pints (lager, cider): £6.50–£7.50
- Craft cans: £7–£8
- Soft drinks/water: £2.50–£3
- Coffee/tea: £3–£3.50
- Burgers/Hot dogs: £8–£10
- Loaded fries (cheese/bacon/jalapeños): £7–£9
- Pizza slices: £6–£7
- Vegan curry or wraps: £8–£9
- Breakfast baps (for the campers): £5–£6
Festival Feast Damage (burger + fries + pint): About £20.
Compare that to £30+ at other fests, and you’re laughing. 😅
Best bite: Loaded fries drowned in jalapeños and molten cheese.
Best drink: A cold local pale ale that hit like holy water in the afternoon sun.
🛍️ MERCH, VIBES & RANDOM CHAOS
- Merch prices:
- Band tees: £25–£30
- Hoodies: £50
- Festival shirt: £25
- Best seller: Skid Row shirts vanished faster than cider in a heatwave.
- Random chaos: A group of Vikings (well, blokes in Viking hats) jousted with inflatable guitars by the burger van. Security watched, shrugged, and joined in.
- Toilets: Surprisingly clean. Someone even said, “cleanest loos since Steelhouse.” That’s high praise, mun. 🚽
🏴 FINAL VERDICT – THE BEAUTY OF STONEDEAD
Stonedead 2025 once again proved why it’s one of the UK’s finest rock gatherings. No clashes, no rip-offs, no faff. Just music, mates, and memories.
🎶 Band of the Day: Skid Row – wild, nostalgic, filthy.
🔥 Breakout Star: Kira Mac – voice of the weekend.
🍔 Best Food: Loaded fries with cheese & jalapeños.
🍺 Best Pint: Local pale ale tent.
The Riff Report seal of approval:
👉 If you love riffs without the rip-off, Stonedead is THE place. Proper job.
