Review: Maid Of Stone Festival 2024 – Saturday

Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent (July 20^th, 2024)

Reviewer: Phil Honley / Photographers: Phil Honley & Dan Mann

The weather was looking good for the Saturday and it promised to offer some mighty fine rock’n’ roll for the masses on all three stages.

There was surely something for everyone today with Spyder Byte kicking things off on the Firestarter Stage. Daniel Laurence on vocals and as always with his inflatable doll for company.

There is always a big chance of being introduced to something new on the Firestarter Stage as its primary purpose is to introduce emerging rock bands. Although I had seen Spyder Byte previously along with the excellent The Hot One Two featuring the ever “gurning” Kev Baker, Crowley with the powerful vocals of Lidya Balaban and Dead Man’s Whiskey, I had never seen Blind River, Until 9 or Ashen Reach who impressed me and the excellent theatrical Ward XVI.

(click on photos to enlarge)

Firestarter Stage:

Spyder Byte

Blind River

Until 9

The Hot One Two

Crowley

Ashen Reach

Dead Man’s Whiskey

Ward XVI

One of my favourite bands, the UK based Swiss rockers Daxx & Roxane offered a very lively start to proceedings on the Phoenix Stage. This stage then went on to present the excellent roots/rockers The Commoners from Canada. The band’s new album ‘Restless‘ is excellent and has a definite Black Crowes vibe. The stage timings throughout the festival were spot on with the exception of the twenty minute delay due to technical difficulties for When Rivers Meet. A delay like this is quite acceptable when you have the extremely funny Pete K Mally hosting this stage. Wayward Sons followed a shortened set by When Rivers Meet and at the time guitarist Sam Wood who had no idea that he would be required to perform again the following day. Bringing things to a close and in many people’s opinion the highlight of the day Those Damn Crows, brilliant as always.

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Phoenix Stage:

Daxx & Roxanne

The Commoners

When Rivers Meet

Wayward Sons

Those Damn Crows

Scarlet Rebels, go from strength to strength since forming in 2018 and they open things up on the main Inferno Stage. Another highlight band, South Of Salem, ramp things up with the addition of some rather hot pyrotechnics. Up next Tyketto fronted by the ever youthful and all round nice guy Danny Vaughn. Danny having turned 63 the previous day was looking good and his gym work and protein shakes were certainly doing the business. The Warning followed, formed in 2013 by the Villarreal Vélez sisters, Daniela, Paulina and Alejandra, they went down a storm. Aussie rockers Wolfmother brought things to a close on Saturday night. I was a little surprised when these were chosen as the headliners, especially when Those Damn Crows were in town.

A great day with what is becoming unseasonal weather, the sun shone all day.

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Inferno Stage:

Scarlet Rebels

South Of Salem

Tyketto

The Warning

Wolfmother

©All photographs are copyright of Phil Honley – Gigsnapz & Dan Mann – RPR Photography. They may not be altered or used without express permission.