2018 Bands
The festival kicks off at 12 noon and runs until 8pm. Running order:
On stage: 12:00
Bizarre are a progressive rock band from Watford, always promising to deliver original, enjoyable music.
With influences from Muse, Radiohead, and Jeff Buckley, to Billy Joel, the Beatles, and Queen, to Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, and My Chemical Romance, Bizarre draws together a unique and fascinating sound, with breath-taking live performances.
Having spent years working on their instruments and song-writing, despite being young, Bizarre shows a level of experience married with a freshness and rawness. Truly bizarre but brilliant, the band continues to create new music and have a promising future ahead.
On stage: 12:40
Halvar are a group of young teenagers who have been storming around Bucks/Herts impressing
audiences with their musicality and professionalism. They play everything from Chuck Berry to Foo Fighters, Stevie Wonder to Green Day and have also started to write their own songs which they now perform regularly in their sets.
They are due to go into the studio in October to record some of their own material which was a prize they received after winning the XYZ Battle of the Bands competition at Beaconfest earlier this year.
The band consist of Luke Thomson (15 yrs) on lead guitar & vocals, Tom Mahoney (14 yrs) on drums, Eliot Whitehouse (13 yrs) on Bass, Anshu Attavar (14 yrs) on keyboard. They have performed at Marlow Carnival, Berkofest, Beacon Festival, The Polecat Inn, The Squirrel, The Phoenix Bar as well as many other Festivals, Fayres and private gigs, sometimes 2 or 3 times in a weekend!
On stage: 13:20
Futurist R&B laced with Rock. April Blue’s songs of life, lust and loneliness spring from a bed of
brooding electronic soundscapes. Frontman Ozz LP’s soulful vocals drive the music through scenes of lullaby and desperation, finding their perfect compliment in the deep rhymes of rapper Ian Morcher. Meanwhile, the sultry grooves of the band masterfully walk the line between laid back sleaze and gritty Rock.
Their original sound has earned them recognition as ‘Best Pop Artist’ at the NMG awards, ‘Slickest Sound’ at the NVMAs and backing from BBC Introducing, where their third single ‘Valentine’ featured as track of the week. Debut album Pop Girls Etc is “fresh, vibrant and exciting” says David Durant of Brooklands Radio, whilst Edward Adoo of BBC Three Counties described April Blue as “amazing”.
The four piece take their inspiration from an array of artists such as The 1975, The Weeknd and Royal Blood, drawing on their varied musical backgrounds to fuse genres and create a sound all their own. April Blue’s sonic exploration knows no bounds. They are a Rock band with an R&B heart. Let yourself be seduced.
On stage: 14:05
Tom Craven & The Chapter are a collaboration band based in Watford and the surrounding areas. Building upon a collection of more anthemic songs by local singer/songwriter Tom Craven alongside a plethora of incredibly talented musicians and friends over the years, The Chapter set about bringing those songs to life in a hugely progressive rock way, with big guitars, brooding basslines and bold chorus’ to keep your ears well entertained and your feet tapping.
The comparisons have come thick and fast for the band – from Pink Floyd to Ryan Adams, Goo Goo Dolls to Third Eye Blind. Think 90’s alt-rock with it’s huge hooks, with a huge classic/prog guitar rock twist. In recent years Tom Craven & The Chapter have appeared at both the Rickmansworth Festival Main Stage and Owlsworld tent. Tom Craven has also performed solo at the Rickmansworth Festival for over a decade.
On stage: 14:50
“The more things change, the more they stay the same…”
Over the years the members of Black Whiskey have been involved in genres as diverse as NWOBHM, Thrash Metal, Blues, Alt Rock and Prog Rock. But when Simon Gordon (Vocals, ex- Xentrix, Hellfighter), Kev Ingles (Guitar, ex- 3 State Blues, Swampsnake), Craig Nabbs (Bass, ex-Slaughtered) and Rich Bannister (Drums, ex-Nakedium) spoke about putting a band together the common ground was CLASSIC ROCK.
Bands like Zeppelin, Free, Purple, UFO, Schenker, Scorpions, Lizzy and Rainbow were all huge influences on the members of Black Whiskey when they were growing up and this is hugely evident in the music they make: The songs really are songs, delivered with heart and authenticity, from the powerful, soulful vocals of Gordon to the singing, bluessoaked guitar of Ingles, all underpinned by the solid groove of the powerhouse rhythm section.
And yet this is not some rose-tinted tribute. The roots may be entrenched firmly in those classic sounds of the seventies and early eighties but these guys have been involved in diverse styles over the years. The music sounds fresh and modern but stays true to the blueprint.
On stage: 15:40
The Four Horsemen are well-known locally for always providing a great night out!
With a comprehensive repertoire of rock and pop covers from the 50s to the present day, they can always be relied upon to lift the mood and fill the dance floor.
Their trademarks are tight two-part harmonies and a range so diverse, they are sure to play one of your favourites at some point!
If you love upbeat guitar music and want to have fun, this band is the one for you. The Four Horsemen all live locally. They are Brad (vocals & guitar), Geoff (vocals & guitar), Dan (bass guitar) and Ed (drums).
Email them at: [email protected]
On stage: 16:30
Known for their euphoric, widescreen electronic-pop; progressive synth rock trio Twist Helix are an electronic band that packs a real punch. The band’s joyous and arresting pop melodies make accessible poignant lyrical themes exploring loss of community and urban renewal.
Their live show is delivered with a compelling urgency, by front woman and lead synth player Bea Garcia as the band dramatically re-imagine the cityscape of their home Newcastle-Upon- Tyne, blurring the boundaries between creation and destruction, decline and redemption, hope and despair.
Twist Helix have been touring the UK hard promoting their latest singles ‘Ouseburn’ and ‘Graphite’ whilst amassing in the process an impressive string of Sold Out shows and glowing reviews. The band have been tipped as one of the top 10 acts of their region by NE Volume Magazine, Championed by BBC introducing in the UK, Radio 3 in Spain, as well as numerous specialist electronic music webzines. Twist Helix signed to Madrid based record label Paul Back Music in January 2018.
On stage: 17:20
Codename Colin are a six piece ska-punk band from Hertfordshire who, since forming in January 2016, have been bringing their energetic live show to crowds around the UK: exciting the audience in the way only a ska punk band can – with catchy beats and impressive horn driven hooks.
The live show primarily comprises of songs from their debut EP ‘Outgunned’ (2017), which is a 7 track celebration of the third wave of ska. Along the way they also find time to throw in a couple of surprising covers, which have been given the full ska-punk treatment in a way that never fails to get the crowd skanking and bouncing around.
On stage: 18:15
Wired have been plugging in and powering up audiences since 2004. Turning up and tuning in local festivals including Music on the Moor (2009 & 2011), Croxfest (2012), Aylesbury Festival and twice headlining Rickmansworth Festival. Wired have lit up gigs at celebrated venues such as the Strand Palace Hotel, The Horns (Watford) and The Horn (St Albans).
Connecting 60’s classics through to current hits and all points in-between guarantees great audience reaction and interaction. If you’re at a wired gig get ready to join together with the band to dance and sing along!
Wired bring you the vocal vitality of Kevin and the merry melodies of Mel, heavenly Hollie on piano/keys, Mike throwing shapes on guitar, Mark masterminding the drums and Bob weaving the bass lines.
On stage: 19:10
Blonde Rebel are a 6 piece function band playing covers with a Pop/ Rock edge from 60’s classics through to current chart. The band are well known for their excitng, energetic performances and full sound experience. The band was established in 2016 at an open mic evening and since then have grown to be a well respected and in demand function band.
