Stone Valley has been developing a reputation for being a great festival over the last few years, whether that’s the event in the South, the Midlands, or the North. Sadly, SV North has been cancelled this year due to the saturated ground, so I find myself at SV Midlands on the hottest weekend of the year so far.
And what a difference the sunshine makes. From the minute I arrived and set up camp, I was surrounded by a real positive vibe. People chilling outside their tents or vans, t-shirts, shorts, vest tops, trainers, chairs out, beers out and even a few BBQs. Staff here are friendly, helpful and efficient whether that’s those directing us to the campsites, security or media. For a festival, the drinks are a decent price, and the food stalls are of limited choice but perfectly adequate. I can get by for three days on loaded fries, pizza, vegan fish n chips/burger n chips and the occasional Rocky Road.
Set in a rather beautiful location, all three camping areas are within minutes of the arena. It feels completely safe, friendly and suitable for people of all ages, although, in all honesty, the line-up and the fact that it’s not a bank holiday weekend mean there are fewer families, teenagers or early 20s than you might expect at a festival. It’s small enough to need only one stage, which means there’s none of that deciding who to see because of a clash, and the short gaps between bands give you time to grab a drink and food, chat to people, have a wander and even nip back to your van for a quick snack or cuppa without missing anything. And, importantly, the toilets are kept incredibly clean all weekend. Finally, if you so wish (and plenty did), you can bring your well behaved dog.
And the music. No complaints here. A sort of cross between the sadly missed Great British Alternative Music Festivals and Shine On, but outdoors. Twenty three bands for a shade over £100 including camping, less if you can grab a super early-bird ticket, makes it a bit of a bargain. There’s a heavy focus on old school punk, ska and 90’s britpop with the addition of some great folk punk and a bit of fun.
Voodoo Radio open Friday’s proceedings with their fantastic garage rock. The noise and tunes this father/daughter duo smash out is fantastic. Grungy, foot tapping rock n roll with a real 60’s hint and some brilliant banter between the two of them make Voodoo Radio the perfect kick up the arse festival openers. Pop Will Eat Itself follows and deliver a fantastic 50 minutes of hard-hitting hip-hop rock. The band give it all and those lucky enough to be here this early on a Friday are bouncing.
From The Jam deliver a set of absolute classics and it’s clear they’ve a lot of fans here. Sadly, Bruce Foxton isn’t well enough to perform, but bass duties are admirably filled by Gary Simons. It’s the biggies that have arms waving, people singing and dancing. Smithers Jones, A Bomb In Wardour Street, Saturday’s Kids go down a storm, but the biggest cheers are reserved for Down In The Tube Station.., Eton Rifles and a massive Going Underground. Amongst all this they even throw in a new(ish) song – Lula, apparently a no.1 hit down under not too long ago.
From The Jam are a hard act to follow but the timing of The Dualers couldn’t be more perfect. Smooth reggae vibes, groovy ska beats, it’s a warm evening and the sun is setting. Add in the fact that many have now been drinking for a few hours and it all combines for a wonderful party atmosphere. Their cover of Monkey Man has the whole field bouncing and is a glorious end to a set that’s been pure fun from the moment they walked on stage.
I’ve never seen Sham 69 play a poor gig, and tonight is no different. Jimmy Pursey walks on stage in a balaclava, his eyes peering out manically at those before him. The balaclava is ripped off and together Pursey, Dave Parsons, Dave Tregunna, and drummer Spike do what they’ve always done – hammer out a set of punk rock bangers that are not only packed with harsh social commentary but are almost impossible not to shout along and leap around with. What Have We Got, Ulster, Rip Off, Borstal Breakout, Questions and Answers, a blistering version of White Riot follows Pursey reminding us that “I told them (racists) to fuck off 50 years ago”. Hurry Up Harry and If The Kids Are United take those of us who are old enough back to a time when decent, angry music sold records and dented the charts.
Saturday
Saturday is another glorious day. It’s also the day when the musical offerings cover a much wider spectrum. Small Fakers, who, as their name suggests, cover the songs of The Small Faces, open the day and go down well with those who have made an effort to be here. Then we’re treated to one of the highlights not just of the day but of the whole weekend. Smalltown Tigers, a powerful, punky trio from Italy, mix up the sounds and attitude of the Ramones, the snarls of bands like The Runaways and some real 60’s garage punk. It’s fast, loud and catchy and a brilliant showcase for their debut album, Crush On You, released earlier in the year. By the end, they’d won over a load of new fans. Little wonder they were asked by The Damned to open their original four reunion tour in 2022 and invited back for their European dates in 2023.
Echobelly bring that full on 90’s guitar driven indie-pop to a rapidly expanding audience. Sounding as good now as they did back then it’s amazing to think how many of their songs you still remember. King Of The Kerb, Car Fiction, Today Tomorrow Sometime Never, Father Ruler King Computer and more. The band are tight and Sonya Madan’s vocals haven’t wavered one bit.
Scotland’s Peat and Diesel add a punky twist to traditional Scottish folk. Using drums, accordion, guitar, and vocals, they create an infectious, fun-filled sound. It might be argued that their sound is more suited to small, late-night drinking dens, but their fanbase now sells out big venues. Today, at 3 p.m. in a field drenched in sunshine, thousands are on their feet, dancing, arms waving, and huge grins on their faces.
The Farm were big in the early 90’s, and it would be easy for them to just deliver those big hits to a crowd loving a bit of nostalgia. Of course, there’s a massive response to those rave-inspired trippy hits Groovy Train and All Together Now, but The Farm have also dragged that sound into the 21st Century with Let The Music Take Control and Feel The Love. Summer vibes it is, and there are plenty of bucket hat wearing dancers enjoying every second. An excellent cover of Bank Robber keeps this reviewer happy.
The Soup Dragons were another band who scored a massive hit latching on to that whole Happy Mondays/Stone Roses/Black Grape obsession back then. I’m Free is the one most here remember together with The Divine Thing but before that they had a much punkier sound. Opening today with Whole Wide World, Crotch Deep Trash and Hang Ten is a glorious reminder of just how good they were in their early days. Recent collaboration with the B52’s Fred Schneider, No Music On A Dead Planet, is a real punk banger with a serious message.
So, what to say about Elvana? Elvis Fronted Nirvana are exactly that. Someone dressed like Elvis and a band covering Nirvana note for note with the occasional Elvis song dropped in. I don’t like cover bands, I don’t like gimmicks, I find it quite sad that so many brilliant original bands get so little recognition yet cover bands pull in the punters.
Clearly though I’m in a tiny minority because the field is rammed, there’s the biggest mosh pit of the weekend, the whole place is leaping about, singing their hearts out. I relent a little. Singer ‘Elvis’ has the arena hooked on every word. He is a brilliant performer and when he climbs over the barrier and into the crowd the place erupts. They are the band most here will remember for a very long time. And they play Suspicious Minds, my favourite Elvis song.
Cast do what they do. Still hugely popular after all these years their set comprises the old and the new. Sandstorm and Fine Time keep those still living in the past happy whilst new songs such as The Rain That Falls and Love Is The Call keep the band moving forward and dedicated fans happy.
Saturday ends with The Damned. Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Paul Gray and Rat Scabies together with Monty on keyboards are, quite simply, brilliant. From their very beginnings – Neat Neat Neat, Noise Noise Noise, I Just Can’t Be Happy Today, Love Song, Smash It Up and the timeless New Rose – through to 2023 – Beware Of The Clown, The Invisible Man and the in-between (Eloise) every song is a lesson in how to entertain the old school punk rock way. Vanian prowls the stage, Sensible is full of mischievous fun, Gray oozes attitude, Scabies rock solid on drums and Monty looking like he’s having the time of his life. Tonight The Damned show exactly why they’ve survived so long and are still so popular.
Sunday
Shanghai Treason open Sunday with their punky, celtic, bouncing sound. And bounce they do, both band and crowd. Plenty of fans here to see a band who played their first gig just before lockdown (supporting Buzzcocks) and who have since gathered an ever increasing fanbase.
Millie Manders and The Shutup are superb. Another festival standout with their ska tinged, punk rock n roll. Songs packed full of meaning. Anger, protest, personal. It’s all here. Free Palestine, online dating, alcohol, anguish. Millie Manders songs are pounding, grungy, vicious. It’s only lunchtime but they’ve got hundreds singing ‘I’m bitter’ in total unison. Bands like Millie Manders and The Shutup are exactly what the world needs right now. New album is out soon.
Pork Pie follow with a decent set of rousing ska pleasers. They play their own material but it’s the covers that really hook the crowd in, particularly Do Nothing, Lip Up Fatty and Enjoy Yourself.
Republica bring more 90’s indie rock to the field and go down a treat before the Cockney Rejects take to the stage and bring some angry, passionate street punk to Stone Valley. They know they’ve got to work hard to win over a crowd such as this, and work hard they do, giving 100%+ to every song.
This is a new line-up that includes Olga from The Toy Dolls on guitar, with only Jeff Turner on vocals remaining from the original. But the passion, attitude, and anger are still all there. When he’s not singing, Turner boxes his way around the stage, a ball of pent-up energy ready to explode at any second.
He’s rightly proud of his working-class roots, and it shows in their songs: Fighting In The Street, We Are The Firm, I’m Not A Fool, and Cockney Rip Off. Their approach to this festival pays off. Yes, there are dedicated fans here, but Cockney Rejects have won over a whole lot more during their 50-minute slot.
Death Of Guitar Pop are just what a late Sunday afternoon in the sun needs. A real wake up call to get people moving. Wrapping traditional 2Tone ska in a cloak of 21st Century attitude, they’re hugely popular with every song a call to dance. Ska Is The Bollocks, Bosh!, Rickety Old Train, Suburban Ska Club and more. It’s addictive, as evidenced by almost every person in the field being up on their feet. A truly independent band their efforts are rewarded with the biggest merch queue of the festival.
Buzzcocks are superb. I admit I’m biased and a little obsessed, but those who doubt Steve Diggle’s ability to move this band forward are really stuck in a rut. Of course, Pete Shelley was a lyrical genius and wrote some of the greatest punk-pop songs you’ll ever hear. But Buzzcocks were never just Shelley. Diggle wrote a big number of songs from their back catalogue and continues to write great Buzzcocks songs today.
Of course, this being a festival, their set focuses on the well-known. What Do I Get, I Don’t Mind, Orgasm Addict, Promises, Ever Fallen In Love, and Autonomy go down a treat. Sick City Sometimes is always a favourite of their set, as is Why Can’t I Touch It, but songs from Sonics In The Soul, their first album without Shelley, slot in seamlessly. Senses Out Of Control and Manchester Rain are pure Buzzcocks. Steve Diggle lives for rock n roll and together with Danny Farrant, Chris Remington and Mani Perazzoli this band is still a formidable live act. Some so called punks are determined to live in the past. Diggle, quite rightly, refuses to do so.
Peter Hook and The Light bring those classic Joy Division and New Order songs. I love both bands but have always said Hooky’s voice suits the Joy Division songs more than those from New Order. Disorder, Digital, She’s Lost Control, Transmission, Love Will Tear Us Apart are as powerful now as they were in the late 70s, and the New Order crowd pleasers Blue Monday, Regret, True Faith, Bizarre Love Triangle, Temptation and Ceremony are loved by all present. The inclusion of Monaco’s What Do You Want From Me means this really is a career spanning set from Salford’s greatest musical export.
Festival closers The Levellers deliver a set of classics interspersed with newer tracks and are the perfect end to an event such as this. Whether you’re a fan or not, there’s no denying their punk-tinged folk-rock lifts a crowd, puts a smile on people’s faces and finishes any event on a high note. They do exactly this tonight, and as the stragglers wander past my van after the Levellers set, almost everyone is singing Beautiful Day.
My first time at Stone Valley, and it was great. Great people, great music, well organised, friendly, safe. You really couldn’t ask for much more. Hopefully, I’ll return next year.
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