We are at the height of the summer festival season, and Maid Of Stone has been hotly anticipated with its high-quality mix of hard rock, blues rock and southern rock. Hot is the word of the day, not just because of the acts, but the temperature too.
Maid Of Stone Festival – Friday
Hillbilly Vegas
Opening things with a bang on the Inferno stage all the way from Oklahoma are Hillbilly Vegas, ensuring that the mood was as bright as the blazing sunshine they played in, on this opening date of the very aptly named Feels Good tour.
The crowd was fairly sparse initially, but this was due to the time spent navigating the queues to get into the arena, and the numbers swelled as each minute passed. Speaking to front man Steve Harris backstage after the set, he seemed to have had as good a time as we did.
“I got them all sober,” he said. “If you can entertain them sober, you can do anything.” Not that there was anything radical needed with this receptive audience, although we were treated to a brand new, never-played-live song.
When asked what his festival essential is, Harris didn’t miss a beat. “Air conditioning, you don’t have any! We’re spoiled Americans. We don’t ever have to worry about electricity, so we overuse it. Honestly, though, just a good crowd. We had that.”
With stories galore and a tight, honest sound, this is one highly recommended band. You can catch Hillbilly Vegas for the next week in the UK, then they will be back over in March to promote the new album, so take the opportunity now.
Leadfeather
Over on the Firestarter Stage, the first up-and-coming band of the day is London-based Leadfeather, a new band on the scene with a lovely retro-inspired set, which is picking up new fans.
They told us that they are firmly rooted in the classics (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin) but are also huge fans of Dirty Honey, so they are thrilled to be on the same bill today. There’s a lot planned for the band in the coming months, so expect announcements on the way soon. 
Kris Barras
Great excitement had been building over the secret set, with one name on most people’s lips, odds-on favourite Kris Barras. There were still some lingering doubts in the air, though, as people almost changed their minds due to technical gremlins striking just before the set with a power outage on the mixing desk, significantly delaying the start.
Could it be that the set was so secret that literally no one would hear it?
Nah, gremlins were eventually banished and to great delight, even if not a massive surprise, it was indeed Kris Barras’ Hollow Souls on their first ever live performance. This blues-infused side project featuring the stunning vocals of Phoebe Jane hit the sweetest of spots, like a honey-infused tequila sour, keeping just the right amount of sharp edges.
Opening with lead single Borderline, and roaring through some new originals and well-chosen covers, this high-energy blast was a perfect choice. We will be hearing much more from Hollow Souls as the year goes on. 
Later on, over at the VIP stage, Barras and Josiah Manning stripped back and rearranged some of the Kris Barras Band classics and rarities, in a captivating set that showcased both talent and chemistry.
At one point, Manning was playing bass pedals with one foot, drum pedals with the other, guitar with his hands, and also singing backup. Now that is impressive wizardry. 
Some tech issues continued throughout the afternoon, meaning bands had to shorten sets, and the timetable went to pot for a while, so there was a bit more crossover between bands than originally planned. The crews were as on top of it as they could be, and anyone who thinks festivals always run smoothly without having to resort to on-the-fly changes, well, we have a bridge to sell you.
We Three Kings
We Three Kings make a lot of noise for a two-piece. The Manchester duo swept onto the Firestarter stage with huge smiles and then tore into a set that brought their blend of classic rock with a real edge. Short, sharp and full of fire, they finished the set with a lot of new friends, and you get the impression they are only at the start of a rapid rise.
Myke Gray
It took something special for Myke Gray to get back onstage after his burgeoning career as a photographer, but the call of Maid Of Stone was too strong to resist. It’s great to see him back; the joy is obvious and the band with him is equally passionate. Killer songs and passionate performances, this is rock ‘n’ roll.
Muddibrooke
Muddibrooke have been working tirelessly, building up their reputation as a live whirlwind, and it shows here. With her distinctive face paint, singer/guitarist Harriet is a steel fist in a velvet glove, and the band hugely impresses.
Quireboys
You can always rely on Quireboys to get a crowd going, and this was a particularly energetic set, with crowd pleasers galore. Spike was on fantastic form, and the piano talents of Willie Dowling elevated the songs to way above pub rock level.
Guitarist Luke Morley looks so happy to be there, and when we caught up with him backstage, he confirmed this.
“Like all festivals, it’s a little bit chaotic,” Luke said. “Then you get up there and you see the people, see the audience, it’s sunny daylight, and everyone’s come to have a nice time. It’s great music to play because it’s so simple, and obviously, I’ve known Spike and Nigel for forty years, so we know each other really well.”
“The music comes from the same era that I grew up in,” Luke said. “Rod Stewart in The Faces, Rolling Stones, not what I usually play, but great fun to play.
“The perfect thing for me to be doing while Thunder is in a holding position.”
Luke confirms that the banter and camaraderie between the band are all genuine, describing the experience as “like being in St Moritz on a night out in about 1989.”
Morley is keeping himself busy as he is gearing up for a new solo album release, Walking On Water. The album is released on 1 August 2025, with a UK tour in September. He describes this one as “a bit rockier than the last ones.” Keep your eye out for that.
Stephen Brian Leonard
There was a special set on the VIP stage from Stephen Brian Leonard and his band. Usually known for producing much heavier music, this acoustic collection impressed with solidly structured original songs, leaving many wanting to investigate further.
Dedicated to the memory of a much-loved friend to many and Iron Maiden super fan Les Clayden, who died this week, the quartet all wore Iron Maiden shirts in his memory. Leonard was especially close to Les, and he closed the set with a powerful and memorable solo version of Fear Of The Dark.
Too many loved ones have fallen this year, and we raise our horns to Les’s memory.
H.E.A.T.
Swedish rockers H.E.A.T. do not stand still. Their brand of high-octane, hook-laden rock is utterly irresistible. Given the sweltering heat, singer Kenny’s tight black leather outfit must have been a very brave move, but he pulls it off, draping himself in a Union Jack at one point.
Such crowd-pleasing moves are not truly necessary as the music speaks for itself, and this band could win over the most partisan audience. Slick, sleek and superb.
A’priori
A’priori do things differently, the trio eschewing a bass player and sounding huge with a guitar, drums and keys. Proving that Blackpool is so much more than sticks of seaside rock, the famous tower and donkey rides, the frenetic combo is another example of just how fertile and promising the music scene is in the UK. Definitely ones to watch.
Joanne Shaw Taylor – Gorilla Riot – Dirty Honey
From here, it’s a run through the many faces of blues. Co-headliner Joanne Shaw Taylor, in a welcome UK return, gave a polished set with fiery guitar and classy arrangements.
Gorilla Riot kept the thrills high with dirty riffs, a touch of grungy, stoner rock and a bucketload of joy.
Closing proceedings tonight, California’s Dirty Honey impressed with their driving classic sound, taking us back to the early days of Aerosmith and Zeppelin.
Nothing we haven’t heard before, but the quartet are engaging, groove well and are easy on the eye, so no complaints here. 
And we are back to do it all again tomorrow with thunderstorms forecast. Never a dull moment. 
Maid Of Stone: A Festival That Rocks
Now in its third year, Maid Of Stone has firmly established itself as a must-attend event for rock fans. With a wide variety of music styles covered, their festival’s reputation continues to grow.
Set to be a highlight of Festival Season, MetalTalk will have more news very soon. All our coverage for 2025 will be found at MetalTalk.net/maid-of-stone.
Tickets Available Now. For full details and to grab your tickets, visit MaidOfStoneFestival.com.
MetalTalk’s Maid Of Stone 2024 coverage can be found at https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/maid-of-stone-festival-2024.
For MetalTalk’s Maid Of Stone 2023 coverage, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/maid-of-stone-festival-2023.
