The Firevolt Diaries – Build Up & Thursday
Build Up
They said it couldn’t be done. They said it was a fake, a sham, even a scam… but boy they were wrong! So wrong in fact that it was happening again. Firevolt Rock Festival was back for its second year, and this time it promised to be bigger and better!
When Stone Broken closed out last year’s Sunday session of Firestorm (as it was known), there was little time to reflect or rest on laurels. Planning and plotting had begun behind the scenes.
It had been an extraordinary effort from organisers Stret and Bev to make the event a success in 2022, and that same work rate was applied again to make sure this year’s show would be a resounding success. Not only that, but they had also organised their own two weddings during that time. The second of which occurred at the same location as the festival at Whitebottom Farm only two weeks earlier, which must be said was one of the best and unique weddings Sue and I had ever been to. But once that second wedding was done and dusted, all eyes shifted to Firevolt.
The venue itself on Whitebottom Farm is a stunning, picturesque pocket by Etherow Country Park, and is a hidden jewel of a site that has hosted multiple festivals and weddings over the past ten years. Family run by Karl, Jan and Laura Hancock, you couldn’t ask for better people to run the bar and site.
They started putting festivals on under the name, ‘Blackthorn’, a more generic indie rock festival with an emphasis on the local scene. It was at this festival in 2016 where Sue and I met Stret and Bev, and our friendship has grown ever since.
Those that have been to Whitebottom Farm will have noticed that an impressive log cabin stands slap bang in the middle of the setting. Whenever we’ve seen this cabin over the years, Sue has always commented that her dream was to stay in there one day. That dream came to fruition this year as Stret and Bev invited us to stay over in one of the three bedrooms. Not being avid or competent campers, this more than suited us as we’re quite useless at putting up a tent, living in tight spaces, and we bring way more crap than we need for the weekend.’
My role was to look after the photographers in the pit alongside Dave Cyderbaby from Rock Radio UK. This was the same responsibility bestowed upon me last year. Looking after the togs put me in the pit amongst them, so I was buzzing to have a front row seat for every band. But not only that, it was a pleasure to see the talented pool of photographers work their magic, capturing the essence of each band and the spirit of the festival. Sue’s main role was to be of any support to Bev. However, in typical Sue fashion, she jumped into the role of keeping the cabin clean and tidy. Am sure she’s sponsored by Dettol and Fairy given the amount she gets through.
Once upon a time I was an active reviewer and interviewer within the music scene, and I used to love reviewing the Blackthorn weekend year on year. These days I tend to stick to writing novels and travel blogs when I can. That’s not to say the mood to scribe something in music doesn’t grip me from time to time. Given the anticipation of this weekend, Firevolt has given me that platform and desire. However, I’m going to leave the detailed reviews of bands to writers and reviewers of fanzines, who have more knowledge of the genre, and who know the band’s music much better than me. What I hope to cover is my own experiences of the incredible four days, and help bring Firevolt to life for the reader.
Thursday
Having to work till 14:30 on the Thursday was torture. We just wanted to get up to the site as soon as possible to see our good friends, the familiar faces from the previous year, the new friends met through Stret and Bev, and get stuck into helping out.
The drive into the site is always a pleasant experience. The single lane runs by the River Etherow, which is surrounded by gorgeous woodland and lush greenery, with trees that overhang by the sides of the lane. Just before entering the site, you come across a weir that has patches of green and benches on one side so you can sit by the dam and listen to the calming sounds of rushing water.
Upon arrival, what immediately struck me was how many more people had arrived on the Thursday compared to the previous year. The camper van section was already looking quite full. I would say the numbers at least trebled, possibly quadrupled. I attest this to the success of 2022. People didn’t want to miss a thing this time around.
It had been a gorgeous day where the temperatures soared, a stark contrast to what we’d experienced in the past weeks. The Rock Devils seemed to be smiling up on us from down below. As evening drew in, the festival kicked off with Bev’s Rock Quiz, which was won by a name not printable, or could even be vocalised by Bev. Let’s just say it contained the phrase C U Next Tuesday.
Next up was something I’d organised. I had the idea of inviting Kim Hawes for a Q&A on the Thursday night. Kim’s story is one which is as extraordinary as any that has been written down the years in rock ‘n’ roll folklore. Brought up in the quiet village of Hesketh Bank on the outskirts of Lancashire, she managed to forge her way into the position of tour manager for one of the world’s most notorious rock bands, Motorhead, amongst many others. Her new book, ‘Lipstick and Leather’, is a self-confessed tongue in cheek look at the true story of her life in the industry.
Her journey is unique in that she was one of the first women to attain the title of ‘tour manager’. I have known Kim for a few years, and have interviewed her previously, which you can read about here. I had the humbling honour of interviewing her at Firevolt in front of a crowd about her fascinating book and life experiences, which I thought would be a cool and apt addition to the evening’s events. You can buy a copy of ‘Lipstick and Leather’ here.
After the interview concluded, the evening moved onto teasing the mood for the upcoming pulverising three days. Firstly, classic rock music fired out of the sound systems, playing bands such as Judas Priest, Metallica, and of course, Deep Purple. A little later, Tyger took to the stage to play a series of covers and originals to further enhance the atmosphere. A covers band played the previous year on the Thursday evening, which provided a nice backdrop to a lowkey evening for those arriving earlier. Given the increase in numbers this year, it made the night quite lively as the energy simmered in anticipation for the first day of Firevolt 2023.
But while the partying was ongoing, there was plenty of work being done behind the scenes from the organisers and volunteers alike. One of Friday’s headliners, Massive Wagons, had arrived late into the evening and required feeding. Firstly, Bev ensured the band could relax by inviting them into the cabin where they could eat and have a drink in private.
Stret then ventured off site at around 10:30pm to try and buy several pizzas for the crew, who were working on the Big Top setting up their rig for the show the following night. But the pizza place was closed. So, in true Stret style, he found a local curry house just about to close and persuaded them to remain open with a £100 order, so he could bring the food back to site. After that, he went back onto the stage to play DJ for the remaining hour or so of the evening.
By the time he returned to the cabin at 2:30am, his feet were blistered. He had amassed about seventeen miles of walking that day. He remembered an old army trick called ‘The Vinegar Stroke’, in which you rub vinegar into your feet to toughen them up like conkers. What he failed to remember was that this shouldn’t be done on cracked or open feet. He nearly passed out from the pain after doing this.
Despite being up since 5:30am, Stret and Bev were still working late into the night, going above and beyond the call of duty. I was in awe at how they were still ploughing through at this time. Testament to how much they care about the festival and the bands involved.
Glamping photo taken by Richard McCann from Labrat Photography. Please ask permission before use.
