Firefest Reports/Opinions (Please!)

[Steve Price]

Just thought I'd start up this thread... so if you wanna say what you thought of it all... you can say.

My view...a great weekend with no duff performances at all!

Personal highlights for me were the performances from Loud N Clear (Jess...great voice) and White Sister. Having never seen either play before I was stunned by the sheer quality.

All the artists were accomodating for ARfm and we made some great new friends. Thanks to Lea for helping get bands in the right place at the right time.

Nice to meet John Parr backstage.... an ARfm fan no less and up for sommat special.

Steve

[Liz from Cheshire]

I had an absolute blast!

Got to agree with Mr P.... Loud & Clear and White Sister were excellent...would have liked to see more than I did of White Sister but a freak microwave/garlic bread accident at the Tap and Tumbler meant our food took longer to arrive than expected..anyway I digress ;D

Was lucky enough to get to the Meet and Greet on the Friday..Valentine had quite the little production line going signing photos for all those who bought their CD. ;D
Hugo was an absolute star as he was suffering big time with a dodgy throat.

There were a couple of acoustic sets from Beggars and Thieves (lovely to chat to Lou and Ron...glad you enjoyed the Jousting at the Castle) and Loud & Clear..sheer class doing that cover of Don Henley's Boys of Summer..I swear Jess Harnell could charm the birds out of the trees...worked for me LOL

Got the chance to meet Bruno Ravel, Ted Poley and Rob Marcello from D2 (photos on myspace later).

Saturday and Sunday were over far too quickly IMHO. Enjoyed almost all of the bands I got to see..something had to give in the quest for food and a sit down and I missed a fair chunk of Mitch Malloy and Rox Diamond. The former being excellent by all accounts.

H.E.A.T. played a blinder of a set..expect these guys to be massive!

I'll probably think of more later but my head's a mess on account of being up till silly o'clock in the morning two days in a row ligging LOL

Lovely to meet Dean, Debbie, the taffy AOR posse, Martyn, Jess Harnell (sorry but he's a star!), Paul Laine, John "I'm tall" Kivel, Harry Potter aka Andrew "six drinks" McNeice, Mr Poley! Talon, Steve Augeri, Hugo, Valentine, plus loads of other wonderful people...oh and Tony Marshall

Great to see Janette, Alison, Debbie, Mr P, AOR Rob, Janie, Keith and Sarah.

Finally A HUGE, HUGE thanks to Kieran Dargan for making my weekend.

[Eden]

Just got home and I just gotta say that Loud & Clear was amazing on friday. Haven't quite heard those songs before but when they started to play that acoustic show I stopped and had to go and check the amazing show! Phew!

I'll come back later, I'm having a pretty bad fever and need some rest.

But I need to thank mr. Price, my new finnish friends and of course Kieran Dargan - I knew that it had to continue!! See you next year!

[Alison]

Had a fantastic weekend, great to catch up with friends -Liz, Nick, Janette, Janie, Steve P, Mike, Graham, Si, and to meet new ones -Dean and Co from Wales, Bombay Rob, Eden, Ronnie and various others who I'm sure will come to mind when I am more "compos mentis"!

Had the pleasure of meeting Pekka from Brother Firetribe and some of his fellow band members also Steve Augeri (Such a nice man!)

Musically...I enjoyed Tyketto, Tall Stories and JSS (Although I hadn't really expected to enjoy the latter!) I only caught half of H.E.A.T's set, but was very impressed by what I heard. The band that stood out for me though was White Sister, they were really tight sounding (Even sounded good from loo which I find is a good measure!)

I really hope *something* occurs this time next year! ;D

[Janette]

I will write a fuller report later but bands of the weekend for me were JSS, effing fantastic - I lost my voice during his set I think LOL, and Tyketto, great performance but their set seemed really short?

I'll do my hellos later too, I have to go to work now - wah!

Just a quickie - nice to meet Dean & Co., Eden briefly outside, and Bombay Rob

More later peeps!

[blackcat]

Only made the Sunday shows

Burn were my band of the day by a mile. Also loved the Mitch Malloy and White Sister sets. The guy from Eclipse has a damn fine voice (I'd not heard of them before) too.

Well done all... I hope its not the last

[Dean]

What a superb weekend!!!

Steve your a gent mate thanks for the favour ,Liz & Nick thanks for making us feel welcome all weekend although your good morning text on monday interupted an imense Jagermiester hangover Liz!!
Janette and Alison hovering at the bar and the tram car driver for missing us Friday night.

Highlights include .....Loud N Clear fantastic performance, Valentine with Hugo steping up to the plate with throat problems and Heat who are heading for stardom, sod it they were all great although felt a little let down by JSS choice of set .

Big thanks to Keiran and all the FF crew...... now lets all keep our fingers crossed for next year.

[tangocharlie]

We had a superb weekend. Lots of drinking and lots of music!

Loud and Clear really got the party started for us. Love the National Anthem and the Metallica cover (!!!).

There was a buzz in the air about H.E.A.T and boy, did they pull it off. Fantastic.

Valentine were good despite Hugo's voice. Strange to see Harry Potter and friends doing some backing vocals!!

Danger Danger are a real treat, big choruses and party time. Ted had a lot to compete with during their set with various quality vocalists popping up on stage!

Oh and did the dry ice run out? I dont think I saw any on Sunday, but clouds of it on Saturday.

One criticism though, the bar staff told me they had to flog cans before they could sell draught lager. The next time I went to the bar they were selling draught lager and then, back to cans! At one point the left-hand bar said they couldnt sell draught lager whilst the right-hand bar were pulling pints! To me, it looked like they were told to flog cans until the punters start moaning about it.


Other than that, thanx to all involved for one of the best weekends of the year!!

Firefest VI?


Tc

[Nick from Cheshire]

Well, I've finally had enough sleep to allow me to write down my thoughts on the (very) long weekend...

Friday nights meet an greet was an enjoyable start to the proceedings, with those bands present being very friendly and accommodating, especially the shy and retiring Ted Poley Short acoustic sets from Loud & Clear and Beggars and Thieves went down well, and made me realise that L&C were going to be a force to be reckoned with on the Saturday.

Saturday started with Talon, who made an excellent job of getting things started. Their new singer suits the band really well, despite being annoyingly young , and the new material worked well live.

Loud & Clear followed, and in my opinion should have been much further up the bill. I'd not heard much by them before, but I'll have to rectify that now. Jess Harnell is a superb frontman, who really got the crowd going. And any band with the sense of humour to combine Enter Sandman and Don't Stop Believing into one song (and make it sound like it was written that way ), deserve respect! For a band this early on the bill to get an encore says it all ;D

Paul Laine was ably supported by Rob and Bruno out of Danger Danger, and showed he still has a superb voice.

Valentines set was in serious risk of not occurring, due to Hugo being struck down with a throat problem on the Friday. But after a slightly shaky start, he performed to his usual high standard. Again, the new material worked well live.

Jeff Scott Soto and his organ were on stage next, but when he sat down to play keyboards later in the set, you couldn't see it ;D 21st Century came across really well live, and I reckon it's a future classic!

Pink Cream 69 were victims of my need to feed, so I can't comment on their performance, but I was informed by a friend who knows their albums that they chose a really odd setlist.

Tyketto, inevitably, took the roof off the place...you'll never guess what they finished with LOL.

Sunday morning arrived far too early, despite the clocks going back (the extra hour was spent in the hotel bar )

Burn started well, but blew it for me by doing a bit of a prog epic final track and lost all the momentum they had gained.

David Readmans set went down really well, and I recognised nearly every song!

H.E.A.T. are going to be HUGE! For the band to perform as they did under the circumstances was phenomenal. The set list was part original material, part covers, which was understandable, but they still blew me away. And the buggers are all about thirteen years old

Rox Diamond...two keyboards were set up on stage, so I recognised my cue, and left to have a quiet cuppa tea

Mitch Malloy was OK, but didn't really do it for me....so we went for some food, with the aim of being back for White Sister.

With the garlic bread incident, White Sister were in full flow by our return. Again, not a band I knew much about, but I was really impressed with the songs I heard, and the enthusiasm and energy of the band.

Tall Stories suffered from a too-quiet PA, but still delivered a well received set...the new stuff certainly seems as good as the first album.

Danger F**king Danger...what can I say? The ultimate party band yet again proved they still kick bottom. Ted had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand from beginning to end, and his insanity is infectious. I'm surprised he got back out of the crowd in one piece after going walkabout ;D And the "Hello Youtube" moment was inspired! The biggest surprise was when Paul Laine joined them onstage...gobsmacked, I was!

Anyone following D2 was going to struggle....and Firehouse did. They just seemed to be going through ther motions - a pity.

Great to see Alison, Janette, Mr P, Tony (for sale) Marshall, Danny Vaughn, AOR Rob, Mike, Keith, Sarah and Janie again, and nice to meet Dean and Debbie (mind the tram!), Jess Harnell, Andrew (six pints Harry Potter) McNeice, Ronnie Mancuso and Louie Merlino from Beggars and Thieves, Rob, Bruno and Ted.

Kieran and your crew.....thanks again. See you next year ;D

[Steve Price]

Ah... forgot one thing.

White Sister's Dennis playing a 12 string Bass = total respect!

[stevenewman]

Hi Everyone,

I believe this post is my first time, so be gentle with me !!

Just wanted to echo the thoughts of everyone, not only here, but also on MRcom... What an awesome weekend !!

Well done Mr Dargan and co.

Great to meet up with some old friends and to put a few faces to new ones !

I understand from Steve P we even sold a respectable amount of "Undying Fire" CD's..... cool !

Let's hope there's another one in the not too distant future.

Steve

[Liz from Cheshire]

Things I now remember....

I forgot to mention Danny Vaughn It was lovely to see him again.

I'm also still smiling about the "closeness" in the lift and the shock confession by a member of Tall Stories when we thought that the only working lift in the Welbeck was about to plummet!
Don't worry mate, your secrets safe with us and Ted! ;D

Kudos to the attendant in the Ladies at Rock City...she managed to sleep through the whole concert!

The truth in the adage that Brits and Americans are separated by a common language...three lane motorways Ronnie...in each direction LOL

The funny smell on the fourth floor on Monday morning LMAO...it might have been the heat....

The barman at the Welbeck..a true star!

The chef at the Tap and Tumbler..a true idiot!

The story I heard about Bruno, Rob and a Ford Focus!!

[Janette]

OK, my brain is a bit less addled today.

Arrived about 2pm Friday arvo - met up with Alison and we went shopping, then back to hotel to meet up with Janie and Daz, had a couple of drinks there, then up to Tap n Tumbler for a couple of drinks with Liz & Nick and young Mr Price, then some friends from Northern Ireland appeared, then back to hotel to trough (free dinner! More of that later ;D) then altho peeps were trying to get me to go to either Tara's Secret or the rock thingy at Junction 7, I went to bed at 9.30pm ;D Rock n roll baby!

Saturday it was time for a swim, brekkie and *more* shopping. Getting ready oh and a gig to attend ;D

Talon - missed them cos of aforementioned shopping ;D However, someone had said they were quite heavy so I wasn't bothered.

Loud & Clear - missed them too (ditto above re shopping/getting ready). What a bummer as Liz & Nick said how brilliant they were and I reckon I'd have liked them. So pants and *wah*.

Paul Laine - arrived in time for his set which I quite enjoyed but didn't know any of the songs LOL

Valentine - again I didn't really know any of the songs - they were just 'on'. I remember them vaguely from last year, quite enjoyable but nothing to rave about.

JSS - Wow managed to get a brilliant vantage point at top of steps leading to VIP balcony so saw everything. Great atmosphere during his set, it was a similar set to when I saw him live in Sheffield about a year ago. I personally enjoyed the set, but that's cos he's God IMHO LOL, but I think the piano bit probably slowed down proceedings for hardened rockers in the audience. If you're a Jeff fan you love it, but if you don't know his stuff you prob wondered WTF was going on. Man of the night for me, but I'm biased ;D Can't wait for the DVD!

Pink Cream 69 - I saw them at the very first Firefest and was impressed. Stayed for some of their set but my feet were killing me tho so I went outside and chatted with some friends while they were on.

Tyketto - got the same vantage point for Tyketto and it was amazing. Having had a panic attack during their set at the last Firefest I was determined to see it all this time! The power and performance was just brilliant and DV really knows how to get the crowd going. My voice is still croaky today from all the singing along to Tyketto and JSS

JSS and Tyketto........woooooo! I'd have gone just for those two being on the same bill! Talking of Tyketto, someone gave me a flyer saying they have their only UK 2009 show at Sheffield Corporation on Sunday 1st Feb. Seems a bit weird - does anyone know anything more about that?

Had one drink back at hotel and was in bed by midnight. Gave The Rig a miss cos I hate it in there LOL Some friends went in there for 3 mins and decided they hated it too ;D

Sunday Brekkie then met some friends for coffee in the Slug & Lettuce, chatting away then realised really should be getting ready!

Burn - missed them cos of above

David Readman - really wanted to see him but just couldn't get ready in time.

H.E.A.T - arrived just into their set and really really enjoyed it. I must get their album. Shame their singer wasn't there but the two stand ins did really well, we had a good old chat with Pekka from Brother Firetribe later on, nice geezer. I was concerned tho - I thought his name was 'Pecker' ;D

Rox Diamond - could tell after the first song that it wasn't really my cuppa char so went outside for a chat with friends.

Mitch Malloy - enjoyed his set, altho I didn't have a clue what any of the songs were. Someone to be further investigated I reckon.

White Sister - I'd never even heard of them before this FF, but my god they were great Really enjoyed them. (I have a feeling they may have been on my train home, there was deffo a rock band trying to lug some equipment thru the train and it looked like them, but TBH I don't really know LOL).

Tall Stories - unfortunately the need to trough yet another free dinner at the hotel meant I missed this lot. It was a choice between missing these or Danger Danger, and I didn't wanna miss D2 so that was that. Shame, but when you wanna see everyone when the hell do you eat? ;D

Danger Danger - brilliant as usual, think I've seen 'em 3 or 4 times live now. Loved it

Firehouse - 3rd or 4th time I've seen them as well, I enjoyed their set but wish they'd done more of the ones I know, which TBH ain't that many ROFL

Sooooooooooo - it was lovely to see Liz & Nick, Alison, Mr P, Janie, The Dazzler (wonder if he's recovered yet ROFL - I think he may have even beaten Lindsay to the 'most wasted at FF' award ;D ), Si & Wee Phil, Kazbaz (sorry I didn't recognise you but last time I saw you you had red hair, not dark brown! ;D), Lee & John, 'young' Tim, Ronnie, Eleanor & John, and others who I can't think of right now.

It was great fun but bloody tiring.

A couple of things. Firstly, I personally really appreciated the reduced capacity this year. TBH last year was a nightmare in that respect. This year was miles better, I *did* hover around the bar area as Dean so rightly said, but that was for sanity reasons and not alcohol reasons ;D seeing as I only drank water at the gigs throughout the whole 2 days It was a much nicer ambience with the reduced numbers so thank you Kieran et al!

Secondly, I'm always usually a Crowne Plaza gal for gigs in Nottingham, or indeed the Royal Moat House as it used to be. But I really have to recommend the Hilton. It's only about a 4 minute walk from the venue, has pool, gym, jacuzzi, *fantastic* staff - they were so warm and friendly and helpful and joined in any banter, and for the bargain price of £55 a night, we got brekkie all 3 days and 3 course dinner on 2 nights. Now that my friends, is amazing! My only bugbear was Alison had a better room than me ;D ROFL Outrage - don't they know who I am? Or maybe they did........... ;D

Right I think that's it. When can we do it again?

[Lea]

Hey all,

I just wanted to write about my weekend a bit, maybe more just for my benefit than anyone else! Despite helping out this FF I still just feel like one of the fans, I'm just as thankful as everyone in the audience to Kieran, Tony, Sue etc for organising FF

Friday - I had some really really bad news in the morning on Friday so I really wasn't in the mood for the weekend, but I managed to turn it round to a 'OK, I've been looking forward to this for so long that I have to forget about all the bad things for now', so I was a bit better by the time I got there. M&G - I was on the merch stand so HIIII to anyone who saw me there! Met Daz and Scotty Rock then too but didn't get much chance to talk because we were completely snowed under on the merch stand! Also met the lovely Mr Price, Mitch (me and the Dargan daughters were smitten haha!) & Tommy D (love him!). Had loads of fun on the merch stand, singing and dancing, just happy to be surrounded by so many melodic rock fans haha! That doesn't happen round here!

Saturday - I only managed to see a bit of JSS & then all of Tyketto (I couldn't exactly miss them could I?!)... loved them both! Danny still continues to amaze me with the performances he gives, and I don't think I've ever met a nicer guy

Sunday - the best day! I was (probably a bit too) excited to see H.E.A.T, so Tony said he'd do the dressing room work whilst they were on so I could watch them ;D - I was completely blown away by them! They're my new favourite band haha! And they guys are so sweet too... I spent most of my time downstairs having a good laugh with them (sorry Tony My avatar pic pretty much describes Sunday haha!), esp Crash (can you blame me?!). Roll on January - JBs!! I wanted to see Mitch too as I knew I'd probably never get a chance to see him again, and he was amazing too! 'Anything At All' was probably my favourite song of the weekend. Didn't see any other bands except for Firehouse's last few songs - I wanted to make sure I saw them do 'Don't Treat Me Bad' as I love that song. Can't really comment on their performance because I watched it all from the side of the stage, so all I saw was their backsides haha!

Overall, I had possibly the most amazing weekend ever, I felt like I was living a dream all weekend haha! I've made so many new friends and have got to know people I knew a bit before so much better, and I think I have even more appreciation now to Kieran and co because I've had a glimpse of just how much hard work goes into the event.

Side note - if anyone wants to see my photos or even just add me on MySpace, go here - www.myspace.com/let_it_rock

[tangocharlie]

I was standing in the crowd with a drink in my hand and I hope this doesnt sound sad, but I was thinking, 'this is what I live for'!

That sums up my weekend.

Tc