After a year of eerie silence, shuttered stages, and postponed dreams, Steelhouse 2021 wasn’t just a festival – it was a revival. The mountain came back to life with a roar, and we answered it in unison, arms raised, hearts pounding. 🏔️🔥
In a year when international acts couldn’t make it, UK talent stepped up in style, delivering sets so powerful they left scorch marks on the hillside. The community vibe was stronger than ever — it was muddy, emotional, loud, and absolutely glorious.
Let’s dive into the madness – one unforgettable band at a time. 🎶👇
🎸 FRIDAY – Opening the Gates of Rock
Florence Black 🔥
Let’s be honest – who else could’ve opened the first Steelhouse since 2019? Hailing from Merthyr Tydfil, Florence Black didn’t just play – they announced their arrival like conquering heroes. From the opening riffs of The Deep End, the trio commanded the stage like seasoned pros, blending gritty heaviness with melodic finesse.
Frontman Tristan Thomas poured his soul into every lyric, his voice raw with emotion and fire. The band’s now-iconic cover of Breadfan (Budgie, naturally – because Wales) was chef’s kiss perfect, uniting generations of rockers in a single, muddy mosh of nostalgia and noise. A proud Welsh roar echoed across the mountain. C’mon Cymru! 🐉
Revival Black ⚫
If Florence Black was the fire, Revival Black brought the slow-burning intensity. There’s a classic rock heart beating at the centre of their sound – think Bad Company meets Alter Bridge – but with a grit and urgency that’s all their own. Tracks like Wide Awake and Believe showcased powerhouse vocals from Dan Byrne, whose voice soared with soul and strength.
The band’s chemistry was tight, their tone thunderous, and their energy magnetic. They may not have had the flash of the headliners, but they had the groove, and they left the crowd wanting more. No gimmicks. No nonsense. Just rock.
🤘 SATURDAY – Baptised in Rain and Riffs
Collateral 🎯
Strutting onto the stage like they’d just walked out of a Motley Crüe video, Collateral brought pure, unfiltered glam energy to the Steelhouse crowd. Frontman Angelo Tristan has all the swagger of a born showman, and his voice – somewhere between Bon Jovi and a thunderclap – cut through the air like a blade.
Highlights included Lullaby, Midnight Queen, and a storming cover of In These Arms that had couples swaying and fists in the air. Their performance was drenched in charisma, hairspray, and harmonies – the kind of feel-good escapism we all needed. It wasn’t just a gig – it was a glitter-drenched glam therapy session. Tidy!
The Hot Damn! 💋
Injecting colour, chaos, and unapologetic fun into the day, The Hot Damn! lived up to their name. A fiery foursome formed from members of Tequila Mockingbyrd and The Amorettes, they brought punchy punk rock with glam sparkle, tight harmonies, and infectious humour.
Their set was high-energy from the jump – think Joan Jett crossed with a unicorn on a sugar rush. Tracks like Dance Around, I Didn’t Like You Anyway, and the crowd-belting Going Down had everyone from die-hard metallers to toddlers in ear defenders bouncing in sync. Pure joy, pure rebellion, pure class.
The Quireboys 🎩
Spike and the gang returned like old friends pulling up a bar stool. The Quireboys aren’t just Steelhouse regulars — they’re part of the mountain’s DNA. Their whiskey-soaked brand of pub rock has aged like a fine cask ale, and from the moment Hey You rang out, the singalongs started and didn’t stop.
There’s a certain magic to hearing 7 O’Clock ring out across the hills, especially after a pint or three. Spike’s gravelly vocals, the warm tone of Guy Griffin’s guitar, and the soul of the keys created a set that felt like a group hug in musical form. Iechyd da! 🍻
Massive Wagons 🎩🔥
Baz Mills = Chaos Goblin Supreme. Clad in his trademark bowler hat and kinetic energy, Baz launched into In It Together and China Plates like he’d been trapped in a box since 2020 and just exploded onto the stage.
This wasn’t just a set — it was a riot. Fans jumped, sang, screamed, and Baz never stopped moving. The band is tight as hell – slick solos, perfect timing, wild energy – and Back to the Stack hit emotional highs as a tribute to Rick Parfitt. Bangin’ in Your Stereo was an actual instruction manual. A Steelhouse staple now, and deservedly so. C’mon you Wagons!
The Wildhearts (Headliner) 🧠❤️
The wild hearts were back, and they came armed with fury, hooks, and a lot of volume. Ginger and co blasted through a setlist that hit like a punk-powered freight train, including Everlone, Sick of Drugs, and the crowd-erupting I Wanna Go Where the People Go.
The chemistry was chaotic good – like watching lightning in a pint glass. There’s rawness in their performances, but that’s part of the charm. The band felt like they were baring their souls, punching through the pandemic fog and pulling us all into the light. Cathartic, manic, and unforgettable.
🎶 SUNDAY – Last Day, Lasting Memories
Empyre 🌩️
Brooding. Atmospheric. Empyre brought the mood. Their slower, more introspective sound was a striking contrast to the rest of the weekend’s bombast – and that’s exactly why it worked. It was like a sonic sunrise through storm clouds.
Frontman Henrik Steenholdt’s vocals soared with haunting clarity on tracks like Only Way Out and Stone, building drama and tension that drew the crowd in. It wasn’t a mosh pit – it was a mesmerised gathering, heads nodding in reverence. A band to watch. Quietly colossal.
The Dust Coda 💨
Returning after making serious waves in 2019, The Dust Coda hit harder than ever. Their blues-soaked hard rock felt bigger, sharper, and tighter – like they’d levelled up during lockdown. Jimmy 2 Times, Limbo Man, and Dream Alight were standouts, with a sound that screamed maturity and confidence.
Vocalist John Drake delivered with smoky swagger, and the whole set had the polish of a band that’s ready for arena stages. Crowd reaction? Utterly electric. Definitely not dust in the wind – this lot are kicking up a storm.
Kris Barras Band 🥊
Kris Barras and his band delivered a performance that was equal parts muscle and heart. His blend of southern blues rock and modern metal grooves had fists pumping, but it was the emotional grit in tracks like My Parade and Ignite (Light It Up) that made it special.
A former MMA fighter turned rock heavyweight, Kris prowled the stage like a lion, but his humility and gratitude were plain to see. His solos? Face-melting. The crowd? Hooked. His set was a reminder that resilience and rhythm go hand in hand.
Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons (Headliner) ⚔️
Legend. Icon. Local hero. Phil Campbell brought it home in style with his crew of bastard sons and frontman Neil Starr. Their set was a triumph – heavy, raw, and deeply Welsh. Blasting through original crushers like We’re the Bastards and Freak Show, they had the audience in a frenzy.
But when the Motörhead tributes began… the mountain shook. Ace of Spades turned into a full-blown anthem, with the entire crowd roaring like Lemmy himself was watching from Valhalla. An emotional, powerful end to a cathartic weekend. Diolch Phil – that meant the world.
🏁 Final Verdict – Reborn in Riffs
Steelhouse 2021 was a release, a reckoning, and a rallying cry. It reminded us what we’d missed. It reminded us who we are. From first riff to last encore, it felt like a battle won – a rock ‘n’ roll resurrection powered by heart, grit, and community.
🎸 No international bands? No problem.
🌧️ Rain and mud? Part of the charm.
🐉 Steelhouse? Home.
Cymru am byth! See you on the mountain – louder, prouder, and muddier than ever.
