Saturday morning was a beautiful summer morning, sunshine beaming down and the sound of Midgard waking up, breakfast cooking and coffees on filled the air.

A guitar legend in the house tonight as KK Downing rolls into town with his band KK’s Priest, having never seen KK or Ripper before this should be a great night, but first up are Tailgunner!

Well folks I am no longer a SLF virgin after last years putting the Fast into Belfast 5 so this year, I was looking forward to a different set list and an even better support.

Having watched Oasis a few times back in the 90’s once at their Belfast debut and the second time supporting REM I was interested to see how Liam Gallagher would perform without his older (‘and some might say’… more talented) brother. (see what I did there with the Oasis pun?)

Turns out, partway through the Architect’s headline slot, that we’ve doing all of this for The Goose. On a day dominated by marauding dinosaurs of all colours and sizes a small, feathered bird takes the centre-stage for a moment and a legend, in my eyes, is born.

Who’s here to support thrash metal?” Considering the bands on tonight’s roster it would be a surprise if anybody wasn’t, but I guess it’s nice to check these things. Luckily for Katon De Pena the crowd respond with a unanimous cheer which is just as well because HIRAX are thrash metal personified.

Well that was a good 3 and a half hours drive down for this one, lets not talk about the drive back, and the Aussie Legends are in town tonight! This is my first time seeing them so I am very excited, first up tonight though is…

Friday is here and it’s a stunning day with a start of drizzle and then sheer pure light! Making my way into the arena, the entrance is highlighted by the overhead Lancaster Bomber suspended above, which was used on the 1979 Bomber tour, as a first sign of respect to Motorhead this year.

Returning back to Bloodstock Open Air for 2024 is a total honour and I never take the opportunity for granted.

Even on an extremely hot and humid evening, the lure of some ‘Old Skool’ classic rock falls into the ‘Resistance is futile’ category, as far as Manny and I are concerned, hence our mid-week trip to visit Rock City’s little sister, The Rescue Rooms.

Situated in West London, Gunnersbury Park is a popular spot for nice summer walks, some games of tennis and in the last couple of years massive nu-metal events.

Walking in, through the arena’s main entrance, underneath the impressive frame of the Motörhead Bomber lighting rig one senses an ebullient reverence coursing through the veins of Bloodstock 2024. Lemmy Kilmister’s ashes, in a unique urn, will be housed in a specially commissioned bust of the legendary frontman that will be unveiled, later today, on the Dio Stage following Hatebreed’s set.

It is a hot and humid evening in Camden and the energy is palpable as a queue of black shirts and studded battle jackets snakes its way around the entrance of The World’s End.

Returning to Steelhouse, for the festival’s closing day there’s much to chat over with Kelly. Most importantly the cameras have been returned to their rightful guardianship and the inveiglement of my notepad is certainly strong.

August 3 in Tinley Park, IL started out hot with temperatures hovering close to 90 degrees with a heat index just over 100 degrees. But, it was about to get even hotter as Sammy Hagar brought his “Best of All Worlds” tour to town with special guests, Loverboy.

The boys are truly back in Dublin town tonight! Thin Lizzy legend Brian Downey brings his Alive and Dangerous gang to The Academy for what is their last Irish show this year.