📍 Hafod-y-Dafal Farm, Ebbw Vale, South Wales
📅 28–29 July 2012
🎉 The first full-scale weekend of the now-legendary Steelhouse Festival – where the tradition of mountain madness truly began!
🔥 Saturday – July 28th, 2012
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🎸 Reckless Love (Headliners) 💄🔥
Finnish glam metal heroes closed the first night in style – all spandex, sparkle and searing solos. “Hot,” “Romance,” “On The Radio” – they turned the Welsh mountain into Sunset Strip. -
🎩 The Union
Luke Morley (Thunder) and Pete Shoulder (Winterville) delivered a bluesy, classy set packed with heart and soul. -
🔥 Heaven’s Basement
High-voltage, modern hard rockers with chaotic energy and riffs that shook the summit. -
❤️ Falling Red
Raw, raucous, and loud – think sleaze rock with attitude and buckets of sweat. -
🧠 Lethargy
Progressive, alternative, and unexpectedly hypnotic – added some contrast and flair to the Saturday billing.
⚔️ Sunday – July 29th, 2012
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🌍 Asia (Headliners) 🎹🕊️
Prog rock legends featuring John Wetton, Carl Palmer, Geoff Downes, and Steve Howe. A truly iconic set with “Only Time Will Tell” and “Heat of the Moment” floating beautifully over the valleys. -
🔫 Gun
Scottish melodic rock masters brought the swagger with “Word Up!” and “Better Days” – singalong heaven! -
🎤 Skin
Fronted by the powerhouse Nev MacDonald, their return was passionate and powerful – “Tower of Strength” was a big highlight. -
🥃 The Temperance Movement
Early in their career, but already oozing with potential. Soulful, blues-driven rock that had jaws on the floor. -
🔥 Fireroad
Local South Wales rockers with big choruses and gritty charm – one of Steelhouse’s earliest champions. -
🍸 Mothers Ruin
Welsh hard rock with punch and pride – opened the day with style and plenty of local support.
🏁 Legacy of 2012 – The First Big Year
Steelhouse 2012 was the blueprint for everything that followed. A weekend of:
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Glam and prog, blues and power
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Welsh weather and Welsh passion
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Friendship, fire, and the birth of a festival family 💛
The mountain has never been the same since. 🏔️
