Joining the excellent Kris Barras Band at Chepstow Castle are Stone Broken, Dan Byrne and The Hot Damn! All three impress in different ways at this historic venue.
Stone Broken – Dan Byrne – The Hot Damn!
Chepstow Castle, Chepstow – 15 August 2024
Words And Photography: Paul Hutchings
Stone Broken
Formed over a decade ago, Walsall’s Stone Broken have never flicked my switch. I’m full of admiration for their journey, dedication and rise, yet their music has always been a little lightweight for me.
Tonight is no different. My attention wanders early in the set as they wash over me, but I am drawn to the impact they have on the crowd. And I realise that whilst they may not be for me, Stone Broken possess a quality that is infectious and which does swing it for many.
There are loads of fans of the band in the arena tonight. They are in good voice from the opening track, Revelation, which is a fist-pumper, alright. With the audience on side, and let’s face it, the four bands on the bill are not working to win over anyone with such a partisan crowd, this is as sure a home run as you will get. 
But that doesn’t mean that Stone Broken play it easy, for they have a professional approach which is admirable. Stay All Night and Heartbeat Away are delivered with polish, the vocals of Rich Moss clear and smooth, whilst the lead work of Chris Davies does grab the ear.
Playing with a smile on the face is a theme tonight, with Dan Byrne and The Hot Damn proverbial Cheshire cats and Stone Broken match them. 
Drummer Robyn Haycock, who has improved exponentially since my first viewing of the band many years ago, is all smiles, whilst the band always look like they are enjoying their shows. It is great to see and even the more melancholicparts of their set which are gripped with emotion, such as Wait For You, produce beaming faces.
This is a triumph for Stone Broken, another step on a journey which is heading in the right direction. They finish with the rockier The Devil You Know and Not Your Enemy, and whilst I am in no way rushing to buy their music, my admiration for their approach increases.
The Hot Damn!
No strangers to South Wales, The Hot Damn! take to the stage with their usual colourful outfits and wide grins. It is wide knowledge that these four ladies are not newcomers to the scene, having done their time in The Amorettes and Tequila Mockingbird, and they have a vibrancy which is needed for such a show.
Their music is punchy, pop-rock riffs that blend with fierce harmonies and get the front rows bouncing. Dance Around sees the three guitar-wielding musicians, Gill Montgomery, Laurie Buchanan, and bassist Lizi Hayes move more, with Buchanan spinning around under her trademark hat.
Behind them, drummer Josie O’Toole is a blur of hair as she hammers her kit. Their songs may be quick, but they make you feel good and Live Laugh Love carries the message we need for the evening. 
Music comes in many forms, but if it makes you feel good, then it has done its job. I could do without the Merch Song, which grates a little, but it still raises a smile as Montgomery breaches the no-swearing rule for those on stage several times in quick succession. 
Overall, it’s a bouncy and joyful set which fits neatly with the bill and The Hot Damn! I will have earned a few new fans as a result.
Dan Byrne
It seems that South Wales should be the base for Dan Byrne. He has played many times here over the past couple of years, and fresh from his triple duty at Steelhouse Festival, he is back with his band to open the night. 
I have written plenty about Byrne in the past, and I remain a fully paid-up fan. He has the voice and the band to move forward, and songs are now becoming like old friends. Hard To Breathe, Like Animal and Death Of Me are all firmfavourites. 
The solidity of his band provides the steel to strengthen these songs, and in guitarist Glenn Quinn, possesses a real gem who can shred for fun. It is a 30-minute set that flies by, and you forget that it is still raining.
Stopping that in South Wales is perhaps the biggest accolade I can give Byrne for now, and with plenty more to come, he continues to rise.
