STONEDEAD FESTIVAL 2025
GETTING FESTIVALS FIRMLY established isn’t easy, but the gang behind Stonedead near Newark, can be rightly proud of their achievements as this volunteer run one day one stage gathering, now in its seventh year, edges very slowly towards a tenth anniversary.
Openers Welsh wonders King Kracken woke up the masses with strong songs, power and pride and whilst they may be new to some, they did themselves proud.
Danish rockers Black Oak County held the crowd well too, and even though they had snare drum issues, the band ploughed on, fitting in the Black Sabbath hit Paranoid for good measure.
One thing that does appeal with Stonedead, and festivals like it, is the inclusion of bands that are fresh meat, even though Enforcer have been at it 21 years. With six albums under their belt they hail from Arvika in Sweden and at first reminded me of Airbourne. With Olof Wikstrand on lead vocals and guitar, Jonathan Nordwall on guitar and backing vocals, drummer Jonas Wikstrand and bassist Garth Condit, they let fly from beginning to end, used all of the stage well and really lifted the masses.
The New Roses have been on my radar for a while now and having purchased a couple of albums I was keen to see the live offering. Formed back in 2007 in Weisbaden, Germany, this hard-working gang have supported many over the years plus have also released six albums, the latest being Attracted To Danger. Usual Suspects, Down By The River and other strong tunes worked well with front man Timmy Rough singing within the crowd at one point. Whilst it’s a shame they vocally sound very American, this German work horse deserves success and hopefully more of that will follow after their forthcoming tour.
Photography By Roy Goodall
Primal Fear next took the stage by storm, another present from Germany, and again a unit that was fired up from the off. Whilst a few members have come and gone this lot drive forward with fifteen albums now in the record shops, and I’m guessing more is to come. We had fire, power and strong showmanship with the band leaving the crowd on edge.
Disneyland After Dark, as this Danish band were once known, offered something a bit different as we had slightly more colour, Stig Pedersen, a two string bassist that really did look the part, plus the band have amassed a 35-year back catalogue.
Frontman Jesper Binzer was in fine voice and I adored his Flying ‘V’ guitar, an instrument I’ve always loved.
Large crowds gathered as Sweet hit the stage, opening up with Action, Hell Raiser and The Sixteens. Sadly, only Andy Scott remains from the original band but he and his boys knew how to deliver as all the hits and more kept one everyone happy. Whilst the backdrop was plain and could have done with some seventies glitter, this lot certainly brought smiles to the day.
The Dead Daisies have had a rolling membership over their career, which now is thirteen years long and eight albums in, they again know how to crowd please and delivered some strong tunes. By now the stage lighting was having a nice effect and mainstay guitarist David Lowy looked pleased with his gang who’ve all got impressive past pedigrees, with Doug Aldrich on the six strings present since 2016. We had a bit of Alex Harvey, Helter Skelta, plus the Daisies classics being the cake’s icing.
Original playground punks going under the name of Rough Charm, The Almighty took their headlining slot with ease.
Having amassed strong album sales over time, we had Loving Machine, Addiction, the slower and moving A Little Lost Sometime, and of course tail end belters Free ‘n’ Easy and Wild & Wonderful. Front man Ricky Warwick, drummer Stumpy Monroe, bassist Floyd London and Andy McCafferty on guitar did a sterling job in their top honours role and very nicely have a small UK tour lined up near the year’s end. If this performance did wet your appetite, then I suggest you go and view the club environment. That will be an experience.
Stonedead organisers has made strong strides since conception and are always looking at ways to improve the experience without ruining the basic format, which for many works, and works well.
