Review & Photography by Manny Manson for MPM
Every year, the Stonedead Festival manages to capture the raw, untamed spirit of rock ‘n’ roll, drawing fans from all over the country, to the tiny market town of Newark, England.
This year, 2024, was no exception. If you’re a rock or metal fan, Stonedead is a holy rock pilgrimage you don’t want to miss out on. This year’s edition, organized by the passionate trio of Chris Sumby, Louise Bayley, and Neil Meynell, is yet another successful chapter in the festival’s growing history. These three have built the festival from its humble beginnings, and, despite changes in the organising structure, their dedication shows in every detail of the event, from the band selection to the atmosphere that surrounds the entire venue.
Stonedead (Stonedeaf) Festival started as an ambitious idea by a group of Veteran rock fans in a Monsters of Rock Facebook group who, together, wanted to create an experience that celebrated everything, they loved about the music scene. In 2018, this group of rock fans finally brought their collective passion for rock and metal to life with the first Stonedead (Stondeaf) Festival, held at the Newark Showground. Their mission was simple: to bring back the classic, One-day, One-stage rock festival, reminiscent of the Monsters of Rock era of the 80’s & 90’s, yes last century! Since then, despite the name change, the festival has steadily grown in reputation and size, with a 5000-strong capacity crowd filling the grounds each year.
Chris Sumby, Louise Bayley, and Neil Meynell aren’t just the current organisers—they’re also fans, as they can be seen enjoying other rock festivals during the season, and at various rock gigs throughout the year. Their connection to the music and their love for the community they’ve built has made Stonedead one of the most eagerly awaited rock events in the UK. From carefully curating line-ups that balance legendary acts with fresh talent to creating an environment that’s welcoming, friendly, and packed with energy, the trio has put Stonedead on the map as a must-attend event for rock enthusiasts.
On arriving at the site, it was noted that the stage had been stripped bare of its screens, sides and backdrop due to the high winds that had, and are still battering the site from the previous night and that had continued for most of the day. The crew had spent the morning re-setting the site as things had been moved around thanks to the stormy winds that swept the country, as such the queues on the roads had backed up causing a bit of frustration in the area. It was touch n go as to whether the Friday Night party would go ahead as such was the destructive force of the winds.
However, the festival officially kicked off with the Friday Night Party, a warm-up for the main event. Hosted by Planet Rock DJ Paul Anthony, the night promised to be a rocker’s dream. Paul Anthony, resplendent in his Wornstar gear and Geoffrey West boots, set the tone for the coming event. His outfit was just as loud as the music, and his enthusiasm, infectious, hyping up the crowd before the first note was even played.
The Scarlet Rebels opened the evening, and, despite the winds still lapping around their curls, they didn’t disappoint.
Their hard-hitting riffs and powerful vocals immediately grabbing the crowd’s attention, a crowd that were now eager to party. Opening with “Grace” and powering through a short set, songs like “Streets Of Fire” and “Secret Drug” had the crowd in the party mood, and with the band clearly enjoying every moment on stage.
You could fell the passion in their performance, and the crowd reciprocated in kind by getting behind this young band by singing along and throwing their fists in the air. The set finished with the mighty “Take You Home.”
The Scarlet rebels are:- Wayne Doyle – Vox, Chris “CJ” Jones – Lead Guitar, Josh Townshend – Rhythm Guitar, Gary Doyle – Drums, Wayne “Pricey” Esmonde – Bass.
Set List:- 1. Grace, 2. These Days, 3. Streets Of Fire, 4. Secret Drug, 5. It Was Beautiful, 6. Take You Home.
Next up was Paul Di’Anno, a name synonymous with heavy metal history. As the former frontman of Iron Maiden, Di ’Anno’s legacy precedes him, and he delivered exactly what the crowd came for.
Opening with “Sanctuary” and then going straight into “Charlotte The Harlot”, the crowd singing along as he did so. In fact, he wore the biggest smile throughout his set such was the love for this legend.
Despite being in a wheelchair, he continued to rip through classics like “Murder In The Rue Morgue,” “Wrathchild” and “Phantom of the Opera,” with his signature growling vocals cutting through the night.
He finished the set with the classic “Running Free” The energy in the arena was electric as fans old and new were treated to a trip down memory lane.
The Paul Di’Anno band are :- Paul Di’Anno – Vox, Rikard Nilesen – Guitar, Jon Vegard Næss – Guitar, Are With Gostad – Bass, Henrik Haugsnes Kaupang – Drums.
Setlist:- 1. Sanctuary, 2. Charlotte The Harlot, 3. Prowler, 4. Wrathchild, 5. Murder In The Rue Morgue, 6. Remember Tomorrow, 7. Genghis Khan, 8. Killers, 9. Phantom Of The Opera, 10. Running Free
Headlining the Friday night bash was Spike and the Quireboys. The Quireboys have always been known for their bluesy, swaggering rock ‘n’ roll, and they brought that same vibe to Stonedead, yet again.
They played at the inaugural Stondeaf back in 2018. Spike’s raspy vocals and effervescing personality were on point, and the band’s setlist was a perfect mix of old hits and newer tracks.
Kicking off with “Jeeze Louise” and “Can’t Park Here” the band, which now included Thunders Luke Morley on guitar and Harry James on drums played a ‘thundering’ set which included the anthem “7 O’clock” and finished with “I Don’t Love You Anymore” this was a perfect close to the opening night.
Paul Anthony took up the running after the guys left the stage with a Rock Disco for those who bade for more.
Spikes band are:- Spike – Vox, Luke Morley – Guitar, Nigel Mogg – Bass, Rudy Richman – Keys Harry James – Drums (deping for Chris Johnstone.
Setlist:- 1. Jeeze Louise, 2. Can’t Park Here, 3. Misled, 4. Sweet Mary Ann, 5. Raining Whiskey, 6. Whippin’ Boy, 7. Hey You, 8. I Think I Got It Wrong, 9. King Of New York, 10. Happy, 11. Roses & Rings, 12. There She Goes, 13. 7 O’clock. Encore 14. I Don’t Love You Anymore.
As Saturday dawned, so did the rain. But if there’s one thing rock fans are known for, it’s resilience. The weather might have been damp, but it didn’t dampen spirits as the main event kicked off. Krusher, part and parcel of the Stonedead festival itself took over with the comparing duties so ably demonstrated by Mssr Anthony, who was seen mingling amongst the crowd like the Rock n Roll Star he is. During the course of the day Krusher, resplendent in a myriad of costumes spewed forth his brand of humour on the very receptive crowd, looking a little wobbly after his little tumble, he provided the colourful interlude between acts.
The Hot One Two had the unenviable task of opening the day, but they did so with aplomb. Their high-energy set was just what was needed to shake off the early morning blues.
Kicking their set off with “Playing With Fire”, Kev Baker on guitar was very quickly into ‘gurning’ mode as he struck the faces only a mother would be proud of, much to the delight of the fans.
The set continued with songs like “You’ve Got it (I want it)” and “Rolling Stone,” these delivered the band’s knack for writing catchy hooks and driving rhythms. Despite the rain, they had the crowd bouncing and singing along in no time.
The Hot One Two are:- Simon West – Vox, Nick Blackburn – Bass, Nick Manners – Lead Guitar, Joe Chivers – Drums, Kev Baker – Rhythm Guitar.
Setlist:- 1. Playing With Fire, 2. God Forsaken Blues, 3. You’ve Got It (I Want It), 4. Feeling Good, 5. The Fray, 6. Rolling Stone, 7. Is It Hot, 8. Tie Me Down.
Next up was Tailgunner, and as they hit the stage to “Zorba the Greek”, the rain seemed to lose its edge. Maybe it was the pyro as bursts of flames shot up from the stage seeming to chase away the last of the drizzle.
Tailgunner’s blend of old-school metal with modern sensibilities was an instant hit, opening with the rambunctious “Guns For Hire,” “White Death” and “Beast In The Night” they set out their stall, one of frenetic high energy, at one point vocalist Craig Cairns took a tumble on the wet stage as he raced around, but, being true professionals, the band played on, unhurt he continued with nothing more than a ripped, pants knee.
The set powered on with tracks “War Head,” and “The Hall Of The Mountain King” the latter being a standout moment when Rhea Thompson and Zach Salvini take over the stage for a guitar off as they play this Edvard Grieg cover.
The band were clearly enjoying themselves, continually feeding off the energy of the crowd and delivering a knockout performance that was tight, powerful, and full of attitude.
I’d seen them twice the previous week as they supported 80’s rockers Armoured Saint (Philip and Gonzo were in the crowd), but this festival performance was another level, they closed the set with Dio’s “Don’t Talk To Strangers”. A band to watch out for.
Tailgunner are:- Craig Cairns – Vox, Thomas Hewson – Bass, Zach Salvini – Guitar, Rhea Thompson – Guitar, Jani Pasanen – Drums.
Setlist:- 1. Guns For Hire, 2. White Death, 3. Beast In The Night, 4. Warhead, 5. Guitar Battle, 6. In The Hall Of The Mountain King, 7. Revolution Scream, 8. Crash Dive, 9 Don’t Talk To Strangers.
Then came The Bites, a glam band straight out of Los Angeles, and boy, did they bring the fun. Lead vocalist Jordan strutted onto the stage in stars and stripes shorts, immediately setting the bar for a set full of tongue-in-cheek campiness and infectious glam rock vibes.
They hit the crowd with “Knockin’,” “Pretty Boys” complete with bum thrusts, and “Dirty City,” a disbarging tribute to L.A., there home town.
They dropped in a Led Zep cover, “Good Times Bad Times” proving that they have the ability to knuckle down and grind out a riff or two, different to their own songs, which are catchy, with “Heather Leather” and set closer “Do Me a Favour” getting the crowd moving.
The Bites’ performance is a reminder that rock ‘n’ roll doesn’t always have to be serious, it can be fun, flamboyant, and full of life.
The band clearly had a blast, and it was impossible not to get swept up in their infectious ‘Merican energy.
The Bites are:- Jordan Tyler – Vox, Jono Richer – Guitar, Zach Currier – Bass, Mark Hylander – Drums.
Setlist:- 1 Knockin’, 2. Pretty Boys, 3. Dirty City, 4. Good Love, 5. Cold Clean, 6. Heather leather, 7. Squeeze, 8. Fire In Hollywood, 9. Do Me A Favour.
Bonefide followed with a set that took things back in a heavier direction. Hailing from Scandinavia, their heavier, grittier sound has a very distinctive edge, with distorted guitars and a vague a Antipodean influence which set them apart from the previous bands.
Tracks like openers “Are You Listening,” “Dirt Bound” and “Down” had the crowd quickly raising their horns in approval.
Bonefide’s performance is raw and gritty, with frontman Pontus Snibb delivering vocals that were as rough and ready as the music itself, delivering the kind of no-nonsense rock that cuts straight to the core.
The band clearly enjoyed every minute on stage, once again feeding off the crowd’s energy and delivering a performance, despite the earlier rain, that was as powerful as it was passionate.
Bonefide are:- Pontus Snibb – Vox/Guitar, Anders Rossell – Guitar, Martin Ekelund – Bass, Niklas Matsson – Drums.
Setlist:- 1. Are You Listening, 2. Dirt Bound, 3. Down, 4. Smoke And Fire, 5. Hero To Zero, 6. No Doubt About It, 7. Rumble, 8. Loud Band, 9. Hard Loving Man, 10. Fill Your Head With Rock, 11. 15.
Next up was Eclipse, and by the time they took to the stage, the rain had returned. But even a heavy downpour couldn’t dampen the spirits of either the band or the crowd.
Erik Mårtensson, almost dwarfed by his Gretsch White Falcon guitar, led the band through a set that was equal parts melody and power. Songs like openers “Roses on Your Grave”, “Got It” and “The Spark” had the crowd appreciating this, another Scandinavian band.
Philip Crusner was having the time of his life on the drums, with stick tricks and pulling faces he showed how to mark time and have fun. The anthemic “Viva La Victoria” finished off the set, with the crowd singing along despite the rain.
Eclipse’s blend of melodic rock and heavy riffs are always going to be a perfect fit for any festival, alongside the band’s enthusiasm which was evident in every note they played. The crowd loved them. They were here on part of their “Megalomanium” album tour, released back in 2023.
Eclipse are:-Erik Mårrensson – Vox/Guitar, Magnus Henriksson – Guitar, Philip Crusner – Drums, Victor Crusner – Bass.
Setlist:- 1. Roses On Your Grave, 2. Got It, 3. The Spark, 4, Runaways, 5. The Hardest Part Is Losing You, 6. Anthem, 7. The Downfall Of Eden, 8. Black rain, 9. Viva La Victoria.
As the rain finally cleared, the stage was set for one of the day’s most anticipated acts, the ageless DORO.
The German Queen of Metal arrived with the sun, a fitting moment as this smiling blonde goddess joined her band on stage and straight into “I Rule The Ruins” Gloved hand pumping the air, she quickly went into the thunderous anthem “Burning The Witches”.
From the instant she stepped on stage, DORO commanded the arena. Her brand of infectious Teutonic rock was perfect as the skies brightened.
DORO’s set is always a masterclass in how to connect with an audience. From the fist-pumping anthem “Raise Your Fist In the Air” to the crowd pleasing set closer “All We Are,” with its earworm chorus, she had the crowd in the palm of her hand.
Her calls of “hey, hey, hey!” were met with enthusiastic responses, and the crowd’s energy seemed to grow with each song. DORO’s voice was as powerful as ever, cutting through the mix with authority.
She was clearly having a blast on stage, feeding off the energy of the crowd and giving it back tenfold. By the time she closed her set, the sun was shining brightly, and the crowd were ready for more.
DORO had yet again delivered a performance that was both powerful and joyful, a celebration of everything that makes metal great.
The Doro Band are:-Doro Pesch – Vox, Johnny Dee – Drums, Bas Maas – Guitar, Bill Hudson – Guitar, Stefan Herkenoff – Bass.
Setlist:- 1. I Rule The Ruins, 2. Burning The Witches, 3. Time For Justice, 4. I Wil Prevail, 5. Raise Your Fist In the Air, 6. Children Of the Dawn, 7. Metal Racer, 8. Revenge, 9. All We Are.
After DORO’s set, it was time for Ugly Kid Joe to take things up a notch. Whitfield Crane and the boys stormed the stage with a performance that was equal parts fun and ferocious.
Crane was in top form, commanding the arena with his larger-than-life stage presence. He had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand, leading them in a simple but effective game of “Whitfield Says” that had everyone from the barrier to the back of the field participating.
At one point, he even invited all the pit photographers onto the stage, giving them a unique vantage point to shoot the action.
Kicking off with “That Ain’t Livin’” and finishing with “Everything About You” had the crowd singing along at the top of their lungs.
Throw in “Cats Cradle” and Motorheads “ Ace of Spades” and you get why Ugly Kid Joe’s performance was one of the highlights of the day, another reminder of why they’ve remained a beloved band in the rock world.
Ugly Kid Joe are:- Whitfield crane – Vox, Klaus Eichstadt – Guitar, Chris Catalyst – Guitar, Cam Greenwood – drums, Mike Squires – Bass.
Setlist:- 1. That Ain’t Livin’, 2. Neighbor, 3. Panhandlin’ Prince, 4. Goddam Devil, 5. No One Survives, 6. Devils Paradise, 7. So Damn Cool, 8. Cats Cradle, 9. I’m Alright, 10. Milkman’s Son, 11. Ace Of Spades, 12. Everything About You, 13. Heavy Metal
Then came KK’s Priest, and they brought the house down, literally and figuratively. With a stage full of smoke, lights, and pounding metal, the band delivered a performance that was nothing short of monumental.
Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens was in fine form, his voice scaling heights that seemed impossible as he ripped through tracks like openers “Hellfire Thunderbolt” and “Strike of The Viper.” KK Downing, wielding his trademark Flying Vee guitar, delivered riffs that were as sharp as ever, reminding everyone why he’s considered one of the greats.
The band’s set was a sonic assault, It Screamed Vengence as it continued with Priest covers “The Ripper”, “Hell Patrol” before playing “Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown” and finally giving the crowd “Breaking The Law” to huge cheers, and “Sinner”, the crowd loved every second of it, despite, at times not being able to see the band through the smoke and heavy back lighting.
KK’s Priest brought a level of intensity that set the stage for what was going to be hard to beat. KK, “Ripper” and the boys had put the bar at a height that was going to take a legendary turn to match it let alone beat it.
KK’s Priest are:- KK Downing – Guitar, Tim “Ripper” Owens – Vox, Tony Newton – Bass, Sean Elg – Drums, AJ Mills – Guitar.
Setlist:- 1. Hellfire thunderbolt, 2. Strike Of the Viper, 3. One More Shot At Glory, 4. The Ripper, 5. Night Crawler, 6. Sermons Of the Sinner, 7. Burn In Hell, 8. Diamonds & Rust, 9. Hell Patrol, 10. The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown), 11. Before the Dawn, 12. Breaking the Law, 13. Sinner, 14. Raise Your Fists.
The night culminated in a ‘mic drop’ performance by the godfathers of English Heavy Rock themselves, SAXON. If there was any doubt that SAXON could still deliver, it was quickly dispelled as the band launched into their opening track, “Motorcycle Man.” The set was full of smoke, lights, and a thundering wall of sound that shook the crowd to their knees.
But even amidst the visual spectacle, it was the timeless music that took centre stage. Mic had not just been dropped, the bar had just been obliterated!
SAXON’s performance was a simple masterclass in old school heavy rock. Biff Byford, ever the ageless frontman, commanded the stage like a rock ‘n’ roll Gandalf, arms often outstretched as he directed the crowd’s energy with his every gesture.
His voice is as powerful as ever, cutting through the mix with authority. Guitarists Doug Scarrett and newcomer Brian Tatler delivered riff after riff, their Flying Vee guitars slicing through the air with precision. Tatler, who had stepped into Paul Quinn’s shoes, fitted into the band seamlessly, his chemistry with Scarrett adding a fresh layer to SAXON’s sound.
Songs like “Wheels of Steel,” “747 (Strangers in the Night),” and “Denim and Leather” kept the crowd bouncing like a shelf full of Duracell-fuelled toys.
The rhythm section was equally formidable, with Nibbs Carter on bass and Nigel Glockler on drums locking in together to create a pounding, unrelenting foundation that drove the band forward with the subtlety of a herd of stampeding Buffalo’s.
SAXON’s set is a celebration of everything that makes rock and metal great. Each set is like a greatest hits being played before your very eyes and ears, and the band, as ever, were clearly enjoying themselves, feeding off the crowd as much as the crowd was feeding off them.
By the time they closed out the night with the anthemic “Princess of the Night,” having not bothered with the trivial walk off- wait for the cheers – walk back on, encore routine, it was clear that SAXON had delivered a performance that would be talked about long into the early hours.
SAXON are:- Biff Bifford – Vox, Nigel Glockler – Drums, Nibbs Carter – Bass, Doug Scarrett – Guitar, Brian Tatler – Guitar.
Setlist:- 1. Hell, Fire And Damnation, 2. Motorcycle Man, 3. Power And the Glory, 4. Madame Guillotine, 5. Heavy Metal thunder, 6. Dallas 1pm, 7. Never Surrender, 8. Strong Arm Of the Law, 9. 1066, 10. Sacrifice, 11. The eagle has Landed, 12. Broken Heroes, 13. And the Bands Played On, 14. Denim And Leather, 15. 747 (Strangers in The Night), 16. Wheels Of Steel, 17. Crusader, 18. Princess Of the Night.
The sold out, 5000-strong crowd at Stonedead 2024 showed the festival’s growing reputation. Despite the rain, the energy and enthusiasm of the fans and volunteers never wavered. From the first note to the last, the crowd were fully engaged, singing along, headbanging, and throwing horns in the air. The sense of comradery that Stonedead fosters is one of the things that sets it apart from other festivals there’s a feeling of companionship among the fans, a shared love of the music, the type that brings people together year after year.
As the final notes of SAXON’s set rang out across the showground, there was already a buzz of anticipation for next year. And it seems the excitement is well justified—tickets for Stonedead 2025, on sale from the Saturday morning, are already on the verge of selling out, (as I write this,) just two days after they went on sale, and that’s despite no bands being announced yet. That’s an indication to the trust that fans have in the festival’s organizers, Chris Sumby, Louise Bayley, and Neil Meynell, and the reputation they’ve built for delivering a top-notch rock experience.
Stonedead Festival 2024 has everything a rock fan could hope for and more. From the killer performances to the incredible atmosphere, it is a weekend that celebrates the best of rock and metal in all its forms. With a line-up that balanced legends with rising stars, and a crowd that was as passionate as ever, Stonedead once again proved why it’s become a must-attend event on the ‘growing’ festival calendar.
And as the festival continues to grow, the challenge for 2025 will be to top what has been an unforgettable year. But with the dedication and passion of the organizers, and the loyalty of the fans, there’s no doubt that Stonedead will continue to rock the Newark Showground for years to come. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer to the festival, one thing is for sure—Stonedead is an experience you won’t want to miss, so friendly you could even bring your Gran!
