MARGATE ROCK FESTIVAL 2024 SATURDAY 26TH OCTOBER

Opening the event, Circadia don’t have a lot of time to make an impression, but successfully get heads banging with recent single ‘Temptation’. Mecia-Jade Holden’s pretty but powerful vocals cut through the metal riffs, giving elegance to the heavy crunch that underpins ‘World of Games’ and ‘Condemned’. I’m surprised to learn this is only the band’s fourth ever gig, testament to an assured performance that has surely won them some new fans. 

Prymå sound wonderfully angry. Raging in fact. Gabrielle George is a theatrical and commanding front-woman, switching from guttural growls to impressive melodic vocals with seeming ease. A dynamic and watchable band, Anthony Durrant flips the stereotype of the unassuming bassist, wielding his guitar with real purpose and owning his spot on the stage. Latest single ‘Dead to Me’ is frantic and aggressive, the staccato delivery of the verses contrasting the disarmingly tuneful chorus. ‘My Cold Shadow’ is both catchy and fierce, and the hook in ‘Freaky Fright Night’ generates some enthusiastic audience participation.  

In terms of a striking aesthetic, Drønes have got it sussed. With painted faces and matching garments marked with their logo, they’re not a band you’re likely to forget. But it’s their pummelling rhythmic assault that is especially striking, married with Rosie Binstead’s abrasive vocals. ‘Glass Houses’ and ‘Dying to Survive’ showcase the band’s unique sound, difficult to describe but a hit with the audience here. 

The mood darkens, the heavy sound of doom ringing loud and magnificent across the Hall By The Sea. Canterbury based band Famyne are celebrating their tenth anniversary, and deliver a set weighted with their monolithic, Sabbath-esque riffs. Frontman Tom Vane’s haunted wail is something to behold, erupting from a man small in stature but huge in presence. Though a brief technical problem temporarily renders his vocals silent, the band barely flinch, an unstoppable blur of windmilling hair and down-tuned apocalyptic thunder. Vane’s maniacal laugh is suitably unsettling, as is the ominous ‘Slave Ship’; a song that creeps before picking up real pace, a masterclass in creating a mood. The menacing ‘For My Sins’ brings the set to a triumphant conclusion. 

I am first struck by how young The Colour Blind Monks look. But of course, age is no barrier to talent and this foursome have that in abundance. Vocalist Phoebe Rose is not necessarily what you expect of a rock and roll front-woman; demure and well-spoken, she thanks the audience very sweetly between songs. And yet, when performing it’s as if all inhibitions are lost, bouncing around whilst singing masterfully over the grungy riffs of ‘Twisted Love’ and ‘Cowboy’. ‘Stone Cold Killer’ is slow, brooding and impactful, the perfect distillation of what makes this band special. 

Called in as last minute replacements for Cobra Spell, who have had Visa issues, Stormborn successfully win over the audience with their fast-paced, melodic power metal. The impossibly speedy drums are reminiscent of DragonForce, but Chris Simmons is an old school frontman in the mould of Rob Halford or Bruce Dickinson. The Maiden influence is apparent in the twin guitars that dominate the likes of ‘Fear of a Monster’ and ‘Dawn Will Come Again’, the latter of which is appropriately dedicated to Paul Di’Anno. Simmons describes final number ‘Scorched Earth’ as fast and thrashy and lets us know he wants to see some moshing, getting his wish as a modest pit forms in the centre of the room. 

I’d never heard of The Lunar Effect prior to the announcement that they would be playing at this festival, so it’s a wonderful surprise to discover a band who really know their way around a riff. Somewhat reminiscent of Wolfmother, ‘Ocean Queen’ is a startling opener and ‘Woman’ reveals singer Josh Neuwford as one of the strongest of the day. A group who sound decidedly retro in the best possible way, ‘Stare at the Sun’ is a grooving monster, ‘Pulling Daisies’ woozy and psychedelic before exploding into something with real energy.   

Never knowingly understated, Collateral are introduced to the stage in grandiose style, their own ‘On the Long Road’ blasted over the speakers, building the anticipation. Drummer Ben is silhouetted at the back of the stage, his sticks aloft and crossed above his head. And then ‘Glass Sky’ gets things underway, the chorus arguably one of the catchiest and most memorable of the entire event. But that’s what this band specialise in. Can anyone resist the swaggering ‘Mr. Big Shot’ or the infectious ‘One of Those Days’? Angelo Tristan is a born showman, the sort of presence it’s impossible to take your eyes from, and the band are on top form, ‘Final Stand’ and ‘Merry Go Round’ sounding the best I have ever heard. The aforementioned ‘On the Long Road’ provides the only unashamed power ballad of the day, a genuinely emotional performance that’s surely responsible for a few tears. 

Local favourites Black Roze are here by popular demand, and deliver a reliably good time. Initially looking like the naughtiest nun you’ve ever seen, vocalist Viixen gives it her all on the likes of ‘Devils Door’ and ‘Poison Voices’. The joy that the band get from performing is infectious, and it’s obvious when they tear through ‘Kix’, declaring they get their kicks from rock and roll that they absolutely mean it. 

Close your eyes and you’ll hear Motörhead, open them, and you could be forgiven for thinking you’re seeing Lemmy reborn. Bass playing frontman Ralph Robinson bears a resemblance to the late Motörhead icon and though I’m certain I’m not the first to make the comparison, Asomvel play the kind of no-nonsense rock and roll that would make Lemmy proud. Performing in front of a deafening wall of Marshall amps, ‘Louder and Louder’ is the sort of track you can imagine Airbourne penning. ‘You Only Die Once’ and ‘Cold Day in Hell’ lodge their choruses firmly in your head with their relentless assault. ‘Outside the Law’ inspires such anarchy that one man feels it necessary to take off his top and swing it around his head - rock and roll indeed!  

With a reputation as the loudest band in London, DeVere exude self belief and a sense that bigger things await. Decked out in leather trousers and looking the very image of rock stars, there’s an intensity to their performance that sets them apart. Vocalist Sam Cassidy gives so much to his performance that at times you worry he might combust; but his unique sound gives much to ‘Lightning Strike’ and the frenzied ‘Again’, occasionally reminiscent of Vince Neil but better! Though there’s something reminiscent of Guns N’ Roses in Mike Wroe’s guitar swagger, DeVere are generally a heavier and more theatrical proposition, bassist Will Vaughan appearing with fake blood dripping down his chin in the latter half of the set. But it’s songs like ‘Dead Before I Die’ that will ensure success for this formidable foursome. 

Florence Black are the only band notably plagued by sound issues which is a real shame, because the Welsh trio are rightfully one of the star attractions. Bereft of any flash and dressed simply in black, these lads let the music do the talking. It’s easy to see why so many have embraced this group, even with some problems, ‘Taxman’ and ‘Look Up’ provide just the right balance of heavy and infectious melodies. ‘Zulu’ is a superb track with a thunderous riff that gets us all moving. 

It’s unfortunate that Wytch Hazel start their set to one of the thinnest crowds of the day because these lads have got something special. A bit like Ghost subverted, they sing about God instead of Satan but are similarly committed to an image and a sweetly melodic sound. All dressed in white vestments, boots and sporting a cross, they describe themselves as “the band of choice for the discerning Plantagenet headbanger”. Fans of Wishbone Ash and Thin Lizzy will find much to love in the elegant twin guitars and vocal harmonies that dominate Wytch Hazel’s oeuvre. But it’s the catchy choruses that have even the less familiar among us singing along to ‘Angel of Light’ and ‘Spirit and Fire’.  

It seems very appropriate for Orange Goblin to headline this event, given frontman Ben Ward was born in Margate and grew up in Thanet. It’s the band’s final UK show of the year and comes in the approach to their 30th anniversary year in 2025. A band who can be relied upon for good old heavy metal thunder, it's 'Cemetary Rats' from latest album 'Science, Not Fiction' that gets their performance underway. But of course, it’s the classics that garner the biggest reaction. Classics like ‘Scorpionica’, ‘Saruman’s Wish’ and ‘The Devils Whip’. Ward is always an imposing figure on stage, and when he tells to go crazy, you feel compelled not to argue! He dedicates ‘The Filthy and the Few’ to the community of music fans, pointing out that there’s no real separation between bands and audiences, we’re all united as fans. 

The first Margate Rock Festival seems to have been a great success - the timings almost spot on throughout, the toilets immaculately clean and the sound generally very good. I can’t wait to see what the organisers have got up their sleeve for 2025.