Nozfest 2024

1865, Southampton

5th Anniversary featuring: The Treatment, South of Salem, Scarlet Rebels, The Karma Effect, Sam Millar, Juliet’s Not Dead, Midnite City, The Wicked Jackals, Black Water Redemption & A’priori

Hands up who remembers the first Nozfest? 5 years ago today we kicked off the festival including Those Damn Crows and Massive Wagons, which is just crazy when you think both bands have played the Download festival and are performing in much larger venues these days. Band’s who have previously played the festival like Welsh Rockers Florence Black and Scarlet Rebels, along with Bournemouth’s South of Salem appear to be en route for the same trajectory. Young promotor Jodie Harris had an idea and despite many obstacles put in her way, along with a bit of chauvinistic prejudice, she has battled through and is declared the victor of this event.

Once again Jodie, compère extraordinaire Si Genaro, myself (Stage Manager), stage hands Si & Stevie from Bournemouth rock band Regional One, my son Luke, our resident photographer Lynn Burt, and around 750 Rock fans pack out the 1865 in Southampton for Nozfest 5!

Ahead of us we have ten hand-picked bands who are going to fill our day ahead with joy and for me and the team, at times a little stress. Putting on a show such as this takes lots of careful planning, all the band’s technical requirements are checked beforehand and given to the venue’s tech crew. Today we have Ben the Sound Technician and Nicky on lighting and I can honestly say the 1865 staff are always brilliant and get the job done. My job is 90 per cent of the time looking at my watch to make sure the bands are sticking to the stage times, along with getting them on/off the stage with little fuss.

With ten bands comes plenty of equipment and with storage space in short supply, we need to plan where to keep it to avoid any health and safety issues. Even with this being our fifth event (seventh if you include the Nozlite events), I can honestly say there are always a few nerves beforehand as we want everything to run well for everyone concerned. It’s not just a gig, it’s a shop window for all of the bands and it acts as a platform for the band’s futures.

All the tickets have sold out in advance and the team all really appreciate the support from all of you that have supported the event from the beginning and continue to support it. There is a queue of early birds outside waiting patiently for the doors to open and as everything is ready at 12:30, we swing open the doors to let the festivities commence. There are a host of media outlets covering the event including a host of photographers and reviewers. We are privileged to also have “Skin” legend Myke Gray, who is one of the most respected Rock photographers within the industry, as well a pretty impressive master of his flying-v guitar.

The first band of the day hits the stage at 1pm sharp, with host Si Genaro nearly pronouncing their name correctly A’priori. This three-piece from Blackpool recently thrilled the audience at the Loverocks Festival just down the M27 near Bournemouth. With Tony lang (Vocals/Guitar), Mouse (Drums) and Mark Wilson(Keyboards) the trio provides a modern twist on the Classic Rock sound.

Kicking off strongly with “Watch The World Burn” the band show off their fine instrumentation with the melodic sounds of the guitar and keys combining. It must be said they are possibly one of the best looking bands out there, with the trio looking like extras in a “Thor” movie. Tony’s powerful vocal provides the perfect accompaniment to the musical creations, they show off their skills with the smouldering “Black Church” and newer number “Here Comes The Rein”.

It is never easy being the first band on, that said it does not feel like the audience needed warming up. The band create the atmosphere from the start and show themselves to be an excellent opener and one the crowd thoroughly enjoyed. The band’s 10 hour round trip from Lancashire was clearly appreciated and they are more than welcome to pay us a visit down South on their next tour.

Next up are local band Black Water Redemption (formerly Known as Western Sand) who are no strangers to Nozfest and have performed at three of the five events. Today Tyler, Dan and Jimmy are joined by drummer Chris Allen who is currently the sticks man for his royal highness, bass maestro Mr Marco Mendoza.

These guys have been on a 9 month hiatus and can be forgiven for having a few nerves before taking to the stage. Just like memory foam, as soon as they are stood on stage with their guitars in hand they light up the place. Tyler with his brand new all black Gibson Explorer and Jimmy with his trusty Gibson Les Paul show off the chemistry they have making music together since they were just 18.

The rhythm section of dreadlocked Dan on bass and Chris on drums compliment the pair powerfully. A poignant moment arrives when the quartet plays an emotional version of “Fly Like The Crow”, dedicated to those we have lost. One of the band’s biggest fans Valerie Kay, who lost her fight with cancer recently; springs to mind, a beautiful much missed member of the band’s entourage. The band take their bows and the Nozfest crowd give them plenty of well deserved adulation.

Another of the mainstay bands from this festival are The Wicked Jackals and tonight they arrive with a new line-up and a fist full of Rock Star attitude! They arrive on stage and introduce their newer members with Matt Truman on drums and Carl “Ace” Alsop on guitar joining bassist Lex, guitarist Rex and frontman Ollie.

Their retro style of Rock packs a proverbial punch and visually they are a joy to behold, they pull plenty of poses showing plenty of swagger gained from watching their favourite stars on stage. They treat every gig like they are playing sold out gigs at Wembley Stadium, maximum energy and maximum entertainment. The new guys have certainly added a bit of je ne sais quoi to the line-up, adding more sparkle.

We are treated to a special request of Jodie’s – “Fire Woman” by The Cult, along with some newer tunes from the bands forthcoming album and the classic “Scream”. The two guitarists do a fine job and free Ollie up to stalk the stage and become the more active frontman that he has always dreamed of being.

Midnite City are up next and tonight they make their debut on this stage, joining us from their home town of Nottingham. The band bring echoes from the 1980’s with high adrenaline Rock/Hair Metal style. After an atmospheric intro the band appear shrouded by a huge curtain of red and white lights.

Kicking off with “Outbreak”, the melodic guitar coupled with the soaring keyboards and the addictive rhythms introduce the band to the crowd. Continuing with “Ready To Go” we are treated to a fine set of vocals by frontman Rob and some impressive guitar solo’s. They are an exciting band to watch and bring with them plenty of energy and enthusiasm. One song that really stood out was a track called “Girls Gone Wild” which has an uncanny resemblance to Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is a Place on Earth”.

If you like bands like Poison, early Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Hanoi Rocks and L.A. Guns then Midnite City are a band to take you back to those halcyon days on the strip in Los Angeles. They are more than welcome here at Nozfest and the crowd give them plenty of support for their well received set.

Four band’s in and we are doing well, they have all kept to the set times and the 1865 sound techs and our team are getting the turn arounds done in under 15 minutes. Due to the lack of space back stage and the large amount of band equipment, most of the gear is taken off stage and stored upstairs in the balcony until the band are ready to collect it.

Next up are a band who used to be known as Twister and from this gig onwards will be known as Juliet’s Not Dead. The band are currently preparing for the release of new material with a single due out in September and a new album out in February. The quartet show themselves to be a force to be reckoned with, opening bravely with two unreleased tracks including their forthcoming single “Thrillseekers”. Both tracks show the band’s creative juices are flowing freely and it looks like we are in for a treat when the album comes out.

Frontman “Geordie Lad” Steve Stoker is one of the nicest guys in the business and possesses an air of enthusiastic positivity. The band’s modern form of Melodic Classic Rock fits right in under the NWOCR heading and this crowd are with the band the moment they arrive on stage. A return to more familiar tunes with “Monroe” and a great tune called “Favourite Underdog” keeps the band’s momentum high until the end.

For those sharp-eyed members of the crowd you would have seen that the original poster included Ashen Reach, a band that recently supported Stone Broken just up the road at Papillon here in Southampton. Unfortunately, due to the passing of a close relative within the band they sadly and quite rightly had to pull out. As with more efficient promoters there’s always a few reserves in mind for any such instances. Jodie made the call and former Nozfest 2023 performer Sam Millar and his band stepped up at short notice.

Sam is one of those characters that once you have seen him you will never forget him. We first saw him here on stage with “Big Foot” in 2019 and when they disbanded Sam formed his own band. The four-piece band don’t just fill in, they fully entertain while bestowing the audience with a fine 40 minutes on stage. With opening number “The Killing Floor” and the huge earworm of a track “Deja Vu” – both from the new solo album out in September, Sam injects a retro stance with his vibrant northern accent tinged vocal; uniquely creative guitar work coupled with the melodic keys and catchy rhythms, he draws the audience in effectively.

Of course we get treated to fan favourite “Levi’s’, with it’s satirical lyrics getting the audience singing along. Sam leaves the stage triumphant and the crowd heartily show their appreciation for this most under-rated artist.

The Karma Effect are up next and these guys were last in this town back in December when they supported These Wicked Rivers on one of the coldest nights of the year in The Loft. Since then they have released their sophomore album Promised Land and travelled the length of the UK promoting it.

After a big introduction from our host Si Genaro and a burst of Aerosmith (Intro Tape), the band open strongly with “All Night Long”. The band’s twin guitars light up the place and create a groove with their timeless classic Rock n’ Roll sound. Adding melodic keyboards and constant flowing rhythms they have a big sound that comes across so well live. Add the excitable enthusiasm and fine vocal delivery of frontman Henry Gottelier and we have a show on our hands. He addresses the crowd and says “there may be 9 other bands here today, but for the next 40 minutes your arses are mine”!!.

The crowd are bestowed with a performance that could well be one of the finest we have seen from a Nozfest band. This quintet have all the right rudiments in place with tracks like “The River” with it’s injection of 1970’s Funk, the crowd all get fully involved singing along with the band. The set ends on a euphoric high with the electrifying “Testify” which takes everything up a notch further. As Henry, Robbie, Seb, Liam and Ash take their bows, the audience know they have all witnessed something special here tonight.

We are now down to the final three bands of the event; all have played here before and all three are arrive here after having a great year so far with so many achievements. The opportunities out there for up and coming Rock bands are plenty and each of these bands are maximising their efforts to fulfil the same dream. One of the most efficient bands of the day to set up are Welsh band Scarlet Rebels.

They are four top blokes who are some of the nicest in the business. They have driven down from their hometown of Llanelli in South Wales over five hours away and have to go back straight back after the gig tonight, that is dedication for you. The band are riding on the crest of a wave after the release of some fantastic singles on the lead up to the release of their third album “Where Colours Meet”, which is tipped to get in the Top Ten of UK Charts.

Opening with the powerful “Divide and Conquer” CJ’s guitar soars with some of his fine melodic sound, while Wayne’s mesmerising vocal fills the venue. These guys without doubt are ready for the larger arena’s, with a huge all-appealing sound and an armful of big songs that widely radiates with a host of audiences.

With older songs “I’m Alive” & “Take You Home” standing side by side with new singles “Secret Drug” and the epic “Grace”, the band show they have so upped their game since their last performances here. Their heavily laden raft of fans are set to take the journey with the band and celebrate their music in style with possibly their best most uplifting live number, which is saved ’til last. The band keep the momentum high with “Let Me In”. With its big chorus the crowd joins in for a crescendo finish to the band’s time on stage. Despite their long journey back, all four of them including drummer of the day “Gary” stay behind for a meet and greet with the fans.

Bournemouth’s South Of Salem arrive here after well received performances at Bloodstock and Firevolt festivals. After the release of their 2nd album “Death Of The Party” this year, the band are too making significant increases into their fanbase and demand for their attendance on the bill of many festivals/tours.

This year has been spent ticking off a whole host of achievements on the band’s bucket lists and I’m certain by this time next year there will be plenty more to add. From this stage managers point of view SOS have much more gear than any other band and each band member willingly helps to keep to the quick and efficient turnaround time. They have some fantastic coffin shaped lightboxes and some wonderfully designed banners, along with some platforms to elevate the band. I was fortunate to be at the band’s first gig in 2020 and to see how far they have come in this short space of time is astounding. Out of all the bands here today it’s safe to say South of Salem have the most fans. They appeal to all ages of the family in the front row who have brought their young children (who know all the words to the tunes), to 60/70 plus ageing Rockers.

Frontman Joey Draper whips the willing crowd up, ably backed by the band who feature two fine guitarists and a rhythm section to die for. With their horror themed lyrics the band skilfully run through “Lets Us Prey” and “Death of The Party” which includes appearances from their ever faithful cheerleaders “Lolly & Georgia”. The band’s visual appeal certainly enhances their musical experience and it’s clear that they have worked hard on their image. The fans of course love everything that the band have to offer and their 40 minutes on stage whizzes past in an instant. The band: Joey, James, Darren, Kodi and Denis take their bows in front of their adoring fans, who all seem to be cheering the loudest

The final and headline band The Treatment, back in June headlined the brilliant Loverocks Festival on a fantastic rain-filled evening. Tonight they return on the eve of a tour of Germany this month with The Dead Daisies and a European Tour with Alien Ant Farm/CKY in November. The band released their fifth album “Wake Up The Neighbourhood” earlier this year and it’s quite possibly their best to date.

Like the two band’s before, 2024 is a pivotal year for them and so far they are smashing it. With this being the last band I can actually relax a little now and enjoy the band’s set. I head up to the balcony for a while and just look across the venue: first at the crowd, which features a host of familiar nameless faces, who I see regularly at gigs across the South. There are smiles slapped on their faces and we all have one thing in common, we love live music. The Treatment are an epiphany of everything we love: they have the songs, the passion and the energy.

They formed in 2008 and have had some huge money can’t buy experiences, along with a few set-backs; however despite everything they kept going with a strong belief of success. Tonight they are on fire; vocalist Tom Rampton is not holding back, whipping up the audience with his powerful vocals while brothers in arms Tagore and Tao are giving it both barrels with their guitars. With a set-list laden with bangers “When Thunder and Lightning Strikes”, “That Fire Still Burns” and closing number “Shake The Mountain” the crowd go home still with smiles on the faces and fuel to continue their love for Rock music.

So that was Nozfest 5. I can’t quite believe it came and went so quickly, with each year the organisation get easier and we learn from mistakes from the last. It is a fantastic event and it warms my heart to think once again it sold out and was supported so well by the community. Thank you once again to Jodie for having me along and all the staff at the 1865 for their support and expertise at putting this event on………Long live Nozfest!!

Videos

More videos from Nozfest can be found here.

Band Links
http://www.apriori.rocks
https://www.facebook.com/bwredemption
https://www.facebook.com/thewickedjackals
https://midnitecity.com
https://www.facebook.com/JulietsNotDead
https://www.facebook.com/sammillarguitar
https://thekarmaeffect.co.uk
https://www.scarletrebels.com
https://www.southofsalem.com

Nozfest Links
https://www.nozfest.org
https://www.facebook.com/nozfest

Article by Dave Chinery (Chinners)
Pictures by Lynn Frances Photography
Media & Additional Photography by Becky Crothall-Brown
Additional Pictures by Jodie Bowie & Si Genaro