Firevolt 2026 – 6th-9th August 2026 – Etherow Country Park, Stockport

Firevolt reaches a fifth birthday and the sun comes out for one to remember.

A FABULOUS SET UP

The dilemma when the short festival seasons kicks in and the clashes start to spring up. Such is the case that it’s taken us till now to get to Firevolt. Just a no brainer with Bloodstock to deal with and when the offering is what turns out to be an outstanding (in many ways) and well run local festival in a gorgeous spot. Whitebottom Farm, Etherow Country Park. As an ancient knight once told a last crusading Indiana Jones, we have chosen wisely and spend a couple of days taking in Firevolt Festival for some of what they call ‘face melting Rock’.

Five years have seen the Firevolt Crew hone the facilities. Parking and camping within a slow amble; a site and two stages never not over packed, not once is the feeling of being rammed in or discomfort and the demographic allows for families to bring in and bring up their kids in the proper way.

Hands down, in mt limited experience, the best ‘beverages’ (Hawkstone!) and food options (mobile chippy) at prices that don’t require second mortgages and the setting… The main stage in a natural bowl with a sloping viewing area to one side where some even park their camping chairs, and while some might ask how it affects the sound, no complaints here.

It’s one of those of those festivals that feels like family. And one where you don’t bat an eyelid when one of the festival organisers takes a ride across the crowd on a rubber duck before the evening’s headliners. So having waxed on about how brilliant Firevolt is…

…THERE’S MUSIC TOO

As many admit, the music is often just one part of a festival experience. Firevolt 2026 sees many returning bands to new stages and differing levels on the bill. And we only scratch the surface. There’s even the option of watching a band set up and soundcheck – the sort of thing you pay big bucks for in a VIP experience.

With all due respect to the melodic, MO, AO and Hard Rockers, there was more than enough shock rocking and proper face melters (as advertised…) to be savoured. So with the whiff of Factor 30 in the air, the diet of classic Rock begins as we walk in on “five broken men” of the year or so old Fireheart for whom the crowd has been so fevered, the barrier on the Trooper stage has to be shifted back by the massed Firevolters.

We just spend our couple of days taking in the vibe and the music. Our first encounter on the Bludsucker stage is with Ward XVI who we know and love. They set the standard with their theatrical bent complete with masses of props and ‘extras’ who bring the Psychoberrie drama to life. And anytime they play the epic (first but not last use of a go-to term) Burn The Witch, their We Are Legion (“get your fingers ready…not that one!“) has become a stirring finale. What next but a set of Thin Lizzy covers from Darren Wharton’s Renegade that sees the Dare lads that not only having a great blast but getting a shot in the arm as Ricky Warwick warms up for his set and joins the lads for The Boys Are Back In Town.

FEARSOME

Ricky and his Fighting Hearts band himself doles out an fearsome set after The New Roses make their journey worthwhile as they rock out for an hour and make their trip totally worth it. Ricky has a new album close to release and a healthy solo legacy from which to choose AND some Black Star Riders tunes that make the set. No room for Lita Ford to reprise her contribution to the record, but with Kingdom Of The Lost and Finest Hour providing Firevolt with some Celtic swing, who cares. Oh and a brutal Iron Fist.

And from iconic Motorhead music to a young and thriving Rock band, Mason Hill pick up and run with the Warwick energy. The variety on even a snapshot of a day being just a snapshot of what to expect across three days and two stages.

RAISE THOSE HORNS

And so the contrasts continue as genres and worlds, be they lush and harmonic or harsh and shocking, come together under the Rock banner. The gender balance too is leveled out with the presence of the likes of MuddiBrooke who take the more remain Larkin Poe model into a more raw and raucous direction. Songs about the sun coming down and the Devil coming up – and Liverpool guys – with Brooke (geddit?) and Anna providing a positively refined presence by comparison as the crowd saunters over form a wild encounter with LN on the Trooper stage in the barn. Anyone for some Viking flavoured Metal? You bet there was, as the chances to hook up with something new continue to flow.

And for anyone new to Wednesday 13 – there may be some – most seem very familiar and are fully engaged. From brutally heavy to tongue in cheek, the songs of death, dying and the dead and yes – it is indeed a good day to be a f**king bad guy. The whisper of “like a punky Alice Cooper” pre-gig in the gents (always a good place for a rap) might be a little conservative. Gold medal winner for ‘Most Horns raised’ of the weekend.

Our star turn of the weekend, These Wicked Rivers add to the Derby massif and give a masterclass in Southern-ish, Country-ish, Bluesy Rock. They look great and live up to their ‘Peace, Love & Lampshades’. Songs from the upcoming third album Fire & Folklore are previewed and a date in December at the Deaf Institute is noted. Just what festivals are about, hammered home on the double neck for a grand finale of Don’t You Pray For Me. There’s a slogan for a T shirt if ever there were one – guess it’s been done.

ENDLESS TREASURES

With the easier on the ear options of Dare, transformed from their Renegade set, who have Paul Cash gushing of them as “the finest AOR band in the UK” (and many would agree) to Cats In Space and FM and then the more up and at ’em approach of The Wildhearts and Massive Wagons, the treasures of Firevolt vault roll on relentlessly. Dareare great – joyous and uplifting with goosbump inducing melodies, more often than not pouring from Vinny Burns and his guitar as Darren and Nigel simply step back and admire. And The Raindance is epic.

The Wagons in particular bound onstage in a flurry of smoke explosions and never stop. For the record, Stevie Holl in Whitesnake T shirt, although spotted earlier in a Sabbath Never Say Die T.There are new songs ahead of the imminent new album and great to hear Cool Like A Fox. From being one of the contenders in a packed field, (they’ve been around the block and seen some shit) surely they are now the UK’s premier Hard Rock band. Anthems around every corner and five great guys who have an absolute whale of a time every time they step out.

A band that really typify Firevolt. Great fun and no pretentions. Just doing what they do very very well.

Firevolt: Website

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