Steelhouse 2023 / The Answer Lead A Wet And Muddy Sunday Afternoon

August 29, 2023

The Answer - Steelhouse Festival 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

Steelhouse Festival 2023 – Sunday. Weather dominates the mountain, and whilst Saturday had been blessed with dry conditions for most of the day, Sunday promised storm clouds and rain. Thankfully, it also promised a shedful of good music to counter the sadly accurate forecast.

Steelhouse Festival 2023 – Sunday

Troy Redfern

A few hours of heavy rain increased the levels of mud, but hardy souls gathered at the front of the stage as Troy Redfern brought his sliding blues to the final day. As usual, Redfern played like he was headlining Wembley, his soulful vocals and blistering fretwork getting things off to a great start.

Empyre

Few bands play on their misery like Empyre, and few bands have such emotive songs. This lot are steadily climbing, rightly so, after their excellent second album, Relentless, arrived earlier this year. They have the presence, too, making them a compelling watch.

Deadpan humour works for me, and the band has it in spades. Frontman Henrik Steenholdt downplays everything, but inside, the band must be smiling after the reception to Waking Light, Relentless and Only Way Out.

Next time they play here, their introspective alternative style will be appreciated by far more fans.

The Vintage Caravan

Earlier in the day, I’d guided Óskar Logi Ágústsson and Stefán Ari Stefánsson from Icelandic trio The Vintage Caravan from the guest bar to the correct entrance. They looked suitably non-plussed about the Welsh weather, unsurprising given they’d been in Portugal only days earlier.

But this band, completed by bassist Alexander Örn Númason, is big on style, riffs, and humour. Their retro sound, which is flushed with a contemporary edge, was ideal for their mid-afternoon slot, and as they ripped through a shining set of tracks taken from across their discography. Pockets of their fans began to break out all the dance moves you would want.

By the end of their set, they had many more dancing in the mud, their infectious groove combined with a dry sense of comedy hitting the right spot for many. I’ve been a fan for several years, and I expect that songs such as Crystallized, Can’t Get You Off My Mind and On the Run are now on a few more playlists.

The Answer

Buoyed by The Vintage Caravan’s set, anticipation was high for The Answer’s fourth visit to the mountain. It was met and then exceeded with the ultimate festival set that showcased why it is so good to have the Northern Irish band back in the game.

In Cormac Neeson, the boys from County Down possess one of rock’s greatest modern frontmen. He simply oozes charm, and it’s impossible to dislike his approach. Seeing him in with fans during Preachin’, emerging with his pristine jacket and face splashed with mud, said, “I’m one of you.”

The Answer have the songs, buckets of them. Half of the set was drawn from 2023’s fantastic Sundowners release, whilst old favourites Spectacular and Come Follow Me demonstrated that they still have the chops.

Neeson has a genial style, chatting easily with the crowd, whilst in Paul Mahon, they possess one of the most underrated guitarists in rock music today.

It was a stellar set, easily challenging for one of the top highlights of the whole weekend. If you have a ticket to see them later this year, pack your dancing shoes!