NLC/RACPA UK 48 Hours of Rock 2013 - Big D's Personal Account...
Ok, flashback to May 2012 and did I really say let’s do a Festival over 2 days ???. Well it appears as usual, foot in mouth, yes I did.
12 Months later and after much planning, plotting, stressing and worrying , various Radio interviews etc with my small team of Steve, Martin and Kezza the time had arrived for HellFire to be brought down on The Maze in Nottingham. May 2013 now is the time.
Walking into a venue at 11am on the morning of your Festival and seeing it bare is surreal and strangely exciting knowing that in 2 hours the doors will be open and all those pre sales will be filing in!!!! 2 Hours of setting up backline, banners, moving furniture and grabbing a cheeky pint before it’s too late and it’s the moment of no return.
Dead on 1pm and with a healthy amount of fans in the room, Steroid Freak Pussy hit the stage at 1000mph, these guys stepped in last minute and are awesome, smiles are everywhere, more people are filling an already hot room, more Hugs are being dealt out by the lovely RACPA UK crew and I can relax, but for how long? Kezza (my son 16yrs old) has taken total control of stage management and Roadie duties and runs things like clockwork, with Doomsday Outlaw, Hangfire and Spill Sixteen all delivering blistering hot sets that have the crowd bouncing. What could go wrong? “Dad Blacklist Saints aren’t here yet” with 10 mins until they need to be getting gear on stage, “no panic, we know the guys they will be here” he says, I panic, just as Spill Sixteen come off so The Saints arrive, I sit back and watch how every member of the bands at the venue along with Kezza pull gear around and get things done, where else does this happen. Bang on time Blacklist Saints hit the stage and yet again awesome, The Idol Dead follow and tear the walls apart just in time for everyone to take a break and re fuel for part 2 of Day 1.
As I wander around it hits me what we have achieved this year and I just can’t stop smiling, looking at every persons face in the venue there is happiness written all over it, or kebeb sauce dripping from it, Oh the Kebab and chicken shops on Mansfield road must love this lot.
Part 2 starts again with Damn Dice giving another brilliant performance and the food is being worked off already, sets follow by Mia Klose, Velvet Star, Skarlett Riot, States of Panic and finally Crimes of Passion, every one of the bands giving a Million percent to every song they sing...one word AWESOME. I spend much of the afternoon talking to bands and RACPA UK and just feeling the total love in the room. Just before the last band it is traditional that RACPA UK do a short speech about why we are there, why we are raising money for the charity. This has always been done by RACPA themselves, this year was to be different, I was honoured to be asked to do the speech. Was I nervous? You bet, stood on the stage in front of nearly 200 fans and bands members, no pressure then. I hope I did them justice and I admit it was emotional to do, but if I can get the message over I would do it every day.
As people left the Maze in every possible state of drink or tiredness we look at our watches and it is 10 mins over run, wow and well done Kezza. Lift home , Bed and ready for Day 2
Arriving early for day 2 The Maze is looking good, clean and ready for another hammering of rock goodness. Theia are the first band on today, a very young set of guys who play beyond their years, we are given an impromptu little set as they sound check and we set up.
With this being Day 2 and many having stopped in Nottingham it is funny to see so many hungover attendees arriving and drinking non alcoholic drinks for the first hour, not my Twisted amigo Steve he insists we start the day as it will continue, Cider it is then and we are off and running, me looking worried that things can’t go as well as Day 1, Kezza looking confident and Steve looking like he needs another 4 hours sleep.
Theia, Teenage Casket Company, NG26, New Generation Superstars (another Blacklist Saints incident!) ,Captain Horizon and Eva Plays Dead all give 30 minutes of pure brilliance and have the crowd dancing, head banging and clear of hangovers, the heat, oh the heat is really hitting home now and regular visits outside are needed, with more beer to keep fluid levels up, I’m starting to feel tired now a boost is needed.
It’s that time again where the Kebab shop is invaded, I stay put at the venue and assess where we are with the fund raising, wow just under £2000, time to let people know, my aim was to break that figure, many said I was mad!, er well just a little. That is the boost to keep it going, tiredness beaten.
Part 2 of Day 2 is bang on time and once again every band goes Hell for leather and deliver a set of pure Rock n Roll that would have any festival rocking, Fallen Mafia, Silverjet, JD and the FDCs, Suicide Tuesday and Obsessive Compulsive. I have not gone in to band detail but the set by Suicide Tuesday with Gaz Harris of Wrathchild finished with “We’re Not Going To Take It” by Twisted Sister, a song that say’s what we mean, to see everyone singing and punching the air to that song will forever be with me and I’m sure it wasn’t just me who had tears in their eyes and from that I had to deliver the RACPA speech again, following that made it even more emotional and we could announce we had smashed the £2000 barrier. WOW
What a weekend, my team held it together while I shouted orders and ran around meeting new people and chatting to bands, having in depth conversations with the awesome RACPA UK crew, Elaine my wife spent the weekend on the door greeting everyone with a smile, Thank You for all being so friendly it made our job so much easier.
With everything packed away it was time for emotional farewells and it seems so many new friends were made between fans, between bands and between fans and bands. We got the message across why we were there and every one dug deep to help fund that, on behalf of NLC and RACPA UK. THANK YOU.
The Maze Thank You for being the best crowd again in 2013 and for emptying the Cider, 2 Draught Ales and getting within an hour of emptying all draught pumps, RESULT !
WE CAME, WE PLAYED, WE ROCKED,WE DRANK,WE CONQUERED.
One week later I sit here typing these ramblings out and still can’t believe what happened last week !!!! mind blowing, but guess what we are already planning next year, SO are you with us 3rd and 4th May at The Maze in Nottingham? See you there.
“WE’RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT” 2014
Cheers it was Mint,
BIG D
12 Months later and after much planning, plotting, stressing and worrying , various Radio interviews etc with my small team of Steve, Martin and Kezza the time had arrived for HellFire to be brought down on The Maze in Nottingham. May 2013 now is the time.
Walking into a venue at 11am on the morning of your Festival and seeing it bare is surreal and strangely exciting knowing that in 2 hours the doors will be open and all those pre sales will be filing in!!!! 2 Hours of setting up backline, banners, moving furniture and grabbing a cheeky pint before it’s too late and it’s the moment of no return.
Dead on 1pm and with a healthy amount of fans in the room, Steroid Freak Pussy hit the stage at 1000mph, these guys stepped in last minute and are awesome, smiles are everywhere, more people are filling an already hot room, more Hugs are being dealt out by the lovely RACPA UK crew and I can relax, but for how long? Kezza (my son 16yrs old) has taken total control of stage management and Roadie duties and runs things like clockwork, with Doomsday Outlaw, Hangfire and Spill Sixteen all delivering blistering hot sets that have the crowd bouncing. What could go wrong? “Dad Blacklist Saints aren’t here yet” with 10 mins until they need to be getting gear on stage, “no panic, we know the guys they will be here” he says, I panic, just as Spill Sixteen come off so The Saints arrive, I sit back and watch how every member of the bands at the venue along with Kezza pull gear around and get things done, where else does this happen. Bang on time Blacklist Saints hit the stage and yet again awesome, The Idol Dead follow and tear the walls apart just in time for everyone to take a break and re fuel for part 2 of Day 1.
As I wander around it hits me what we have achieved this year and I just can’t stop smiling, looking at every persons face in the venue there is happiness written all over it, or kebeb sauce dripping from it, Oh the Kebab and chicken shops on Mansfield road must love this lot.
Part 2 starts again with Damn Dice giving another brilliant performance and the food is being worked off already, sets follow by Mia Klose, Velvet Star, Skarlett Riot, States of Panic and finally Crimes of Passion, every one of the bands giving a Million percent to every song they sing...one word AWESOME. I spend much of the afternoon talking to bands and RACPA UK and just feeling the total love in the room. Just before the last band it is traditional that RACPA UK do a short speech about why we are there, why we are raising money for the charity. This has always been done by RACPA themselves, this year was to be different, I was honoured to be asked to do the speech. Was I nervous? You bet, stood on the stage in front of nearly 200 fans and bands members, no pressure then. I hope I did them justice and I admit it was emotional to do, but if I can get the message over I would do it every day.
As people left the Maze in every possible state of drink or tiredness we look at our watches and it is 10 mins over run, wow and well done Kezza. Lift home , Bed and ready for Day 2
Arriving early for day 2 The Maze is looking good, clean and ready for another hammering of rock goodness. Theia are the first band on today, a very young set of guys who play beyond their years, we are given an impromptu little set as they sound check and we set up.
With this being Day 2 and many having stopped in Nottingham it is funny to see so many hungover attendees arriving and drinking non alcoholic drinks for the first hour, not my Twisted amigo Steve he insists we start the day as it will continue, Cider it is then and we are off and running, me looking worried that things can’t go as well as Day 1, Kezza looking confident and Steve looking like he needs another 4 hours sleep.
Theia, Teenage Casket Company, NG26, New Generation Superstars (another Blacklist Saints incident!) ,Captain Horizon and Eva Plays Dead all give 30 minutes of pure brilliance and have the crowd dancing, head banging and clear of hangovers, the heat, oh the heat is really hitting home now and regular visits outside are needed, with more beer to keep fluid levels up, I’m starting to feel tired now a boost is needed.
It’s that time again where the Kebab shop is invaded, I stay put at the venue and assess where we are with the fund raising, wow just under £2000, time to let people know, my aim was to break that figure, many said I was mad!, er well just a little. That is the boost to keep it going, tiredness beaten.
Part 2 of Day 2 is bang on time and once again every band goes Hell for leather and deliver a set of pure Rock n Roll that would have any festival rocking, Fallen Mafia, Silverjet, JD and the FDCs, Suicide Tuesday and Obsessive Compulsive. I have not gone in to band detail but the set by Suicide Tuesday with Gaz Harris of Wrathchild finished with “We’re Not Going To Take It” by Twisted Sister, a song that say’s what we mean, to see everyone singing and punching the air to that song will forever be with me and I’m sure it wasn’t just me who had tears in their eyes and from that I had to deliver the RACPA speech again, following that made it even more emotional and we could announce we had smashed the £2000 barrier. WOW
What a weekend, my team held it together while I shouted orders and ran around meeting new people and chatting to bands, having in depth conversations with the awesome RACPA UK crew, Elaine my wife spent the weekend on the door greeting everyone with a smile, Thank You for all being so friendly it made our job so much easier.
With everything packed away it was time for emotional farewells and it seems so many new friends were made between fans, between bands and between fans and bands. We got the message across why we were there and every one dug deep to help fund that, on behalf of NLC and RACPA UK. THANK YOU.
The Maze Thank You for being the best crowd again in 2013 and for emptying the Cider, 2 Draught Ales and getting within an hour of emptying all draught pumps, RESULT !
WE CAME, WE PLAYED, WE ROCKED,WE DRANK,WE CONQUERED.
One week later I sit here typing these ramblings out and still can’t believe what happened last week !!!! mind blowing, but guess what we are already planning next year, SO are you with us 3rd and 4th May at The Maze in Nottingham? See you there.
“WE’RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT” 2014
Cheers it was Mint,
BIG D
RACPA/NLC Festival 2013
If you live in or around Nottingham, you’d be forgiven for thinking that a small earth quake had struck the city over the course of the weekend of the 4th and 5th of May, with the epicentre being located somewhere on Mansfield Road, and the aftershocks still being felt now by those who were there to witness it. This earth quake was in fact the Noize Level Critical/RACPA Festival 2013, featuring THE hottest underground bands on the circuit for 2 days of rock and roll mayhem, drunkenness and debauchery.
Organised by Big D of Noize Level Critical, the festival is now in its third year, this time operating over two days for the first time in history, and setting out to raise money for Rock Against Child Pornography and Abuse – a worthy cause if ever there was one.
Before the weekend even began the clues were there that this was going to be a good one, with Marshall Amplifiers stepping in to provide the backline set up for the stage, The Maze on Mansfield Road stepping forward to host the event, and the lovely ladies from RACPA stepping forth to provide attendees with cake, haribo, raffle tickets, and hugs….everyone loves a hug….especially on a Sunday morning when feeling a little jaded from the night before!
Stepping into The Maze on Saturday morning, the anticipation was palpable, with Elaine dealing with wristbands, Kieran running the bands, and Big D pacing around the place looking nervous, tired, anxious, scared, happy, and pretty much every other emotion under the sun at some point across the day. The room was set, the stage was set, the bands were ready, there were Desperado’s available on the bar, people started arriving – all hell was about to be unleashed upon Nottingham.
From the first note off of the stage the feeling was good, with Steroid Freak Pussy opening proceedings with the proclamation that it was the earliest they’d ever played, and to the largest crowd before proceeding to rock the venue to within an inch of its life. You’d have been forgiven for forgetting that it was only 1pm when the first band stepped onto the stage, but from 1pm until 11:30pm, The Maze was rocked by bands, drinking, and a hell of a lot of rock fans all having a damned good time in the name of charity.
Steroid Freak Pussy set things in motion, Doomsday Outlaw carried on the power, Hangfire rocked up with their branded hard rock approach, Spill Sixteen got the crowd going further, band after band stepped up, rocked out and gave their all for the half an hour they were on stage. Finishing the first half of the day with The Blacklist Saints and The Idol Dead, the weekend was gotten under way in style and in a manner that I’m sure all who were there to witness it will remember for many, many years. Closing the Saturday off with Damn Dice, Mia Klose, Velvet Star, Skarlett Riot, States Of Panic and Crimes Of Passion, Saturday may well have been a hell of a day – but it was just the start.
Bring on Sunday, a day which arrived with a few jaded faces, a few hang overs, and a few more people ordering a coke instead of a pint over the bar – but not for long. With one of my personal highlights kicking things off, THEIA got the music underway, hammering out their own brand of Southern orientated rock, packed with lead lines and hooks designed to get people in the mood, drinking, dancing and singing along – so who were we to refuse?! With a day ahead packed with local favourites from Teenage Casket Company to NG26 and JD and the FDC’s, the crowd was soon packing the sweat filled room out and getting back into the swing of things.
New Generation Superstars, Captain Horizon, Eva Plays Dead and Fallen Mafia – all bands who have solid followings in their own rights, but all bands who gave up their time, stepped up onto the stage and once again, did the day proud from start until finish. With such an incredible line up it’s impossible to pick favourites, but there was something special about the way Silverjet stepped up, got underway and quite simply owned the venue from start to finish – a band I know I’ll be checking out a hell of a lot more from here on.
With that said, the time for Suicide Tuesday (and guest) was upon us, and with one of the worst kept secrets in rock history being that the guest was due to be none other than Mr Gaz Harris of Wrathchild, the venue was soon buzzing with excitement for what was about to happen. Now – this is where I’m biased – but I love Suicide Tuesday, and having featured them on the site, I was looking forward to seeing them when I knew they were playing as I knew they were going to be awesome. I also love Wrathchild, and so when I found out Gaz was stepping up, well, my excitement may have bubbled over slightly and presented itself in me shouting for several days about how awesome it was going to be, much to the dismay of my neighbours – but I digress. The set we were presented with was worthy of a major festival, each track flowing out, each track connecting with the fans, and each track cementing the reason for being there – to have a damned good time. Finishing their set with We’re Not Going To Take It, there wasn’t a single person left not singing along, not joining in and not supporting the sentiment, it was a beautiful moment of unison that will stick with me for life.
Finishing with an emotional speech from Big D, and the most awesome Obsessive Compulsive, the weekend finished on a high, safe in the knowledge that good money had been raised for charity, far too much beer had been consumed, far too many take aways eaten (the image of everyone sat around the kebab house down the road will stick with me even if only for the terrified look on the bloke behind the counters face), and that The Maze needs to invest in some air conditioning – damn it was hot!
You know, all too often with reviews we get caught up in the technicalities of things, the form, the way it’s done, the ‘raison d’etre’ as it were, so sitting and looking back on the weekend, it’s so nice not to do that. The weekend was what it was, a weekend packed with good music, good people, beer, and the best vibe I’ve ever felt in a festival. Everyone was friendly, everyone enjoyed, everyone had a damned good time, and I’m thinking everyone will be back next year….well….we will be for sure. What matters most though is the interest raised in such an amazing cause as RACPA, the £2,000 (well more than) raised for said cause, and the looks on the faces of the charity workers across the weekend as they realised how much people care.
What else is left to say? Arise Sir David Tonge, you out did yourself sir. A weekend of ‘rock mayhem’ was promised, but so much more was delivered – if you were there, you know, and if you weren't....why the hell not?!
Bring on next year.
To find out more about the festival, check out the Facebook page for details HERE, check out the Noize Level Critical page HERE, and check out the RACPA page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Photos: Will Nicholls
Organised by Big D of Noize Level Critical, the festival is now in its third year, this time operating over two days for the first time in history, and setting out to raise money for Rock Against Child Pornography and Abuse – a worthy cause if ever there was one.
Before the weekend even began the clues were there that this was going to be a good one, with Marshall Amplifiers stepping in to provide the backline set up for the stage, The Maze on Mansfield Road stepping forward to host the event, and the lovely ladies from RACPA stepping forth to provide attendees with cake, haribo, raffle tickets, and hugs….everyone loves a hug….especially on a Sunday morning when feeling a little jaded from the night before!
Stepping into The Maze on Saturday morning, the anticipation was palpable, with Elaine dealing with wristbands, Kieran running the bands, and Big D pacing around the place looking nervous, tired, anxious, scared, happy, and pretty much every other emotion under the sun at some point across the day. The room was set, the stage was set, the bands were ready, there were Desperado’s available on the bar, people started arriving – all hell was about to be unleashed upon Nottingham.
From the first note off of the stage the feeling was good, with Steroid Freak Pussy opening proceedings with the proclamation that it was the earliest they’d ever played, and to the largest crowd before proceeding to rock the venue to within an inch of its life. You’d have been forgiven for forgetting that it was only 1pm when the first band stepped onto the stage, but from 1pm until 11:30pm, The Maze was rocked by bands, drinking, and a hell of a lot of rock fans all having a damned good time in the name of charity.
Steroid Freak Pussy set things in motion, Doomsday Outlaw carried on the power, Hangfire rocked up with their branded hard rock approach, Spill Sixteen got the crowd going further, band after band stepped up, rocked out and gave their all for the half an hour they were on stage. Finishing the first half of the day with The Blacklist Saints and The Idol Dead, the weekend was gotten under way in style and in a manner that I’m sure all who were there to witness it will remember for many, many years. Closing the Saturday off with Damn Dice, Mia Klose, Velvet Star, Skarlett Riot, States Of Panic and Crimes Of Passion, Saturday may well have been a hell of a day – but it was just the start.
Bring on Sunday, a day which arrived with a few jaded faces, a few hang overs, and a few more people ordering a coke instead of a pint over the bar – but not for long. With one of my personal highlights kicking things off, THEIA got the music underway, hammering out their own brand of Southern orientated rock, packed with lead lines and hooks designed to get people in the mood, drinking, dancing and singing along – so who were we to refuse?! With a day ahead packed with local favourites from Teenage Casket Company to NG26 and JD and the FDC’s, the crowd was soon packing the sweat filled room out and getting back into the swing of things.
New Generation Superstars, Captain Horizon, Eva Plays Dead and Fallen Mafia – all bands who have solid followings in their own rights, but all bands who gave up their time, stepped up onto the stage and once again, did the day proud from start until finish. With such an incredible line up it’s impossible to pick favourites, but there was something special about the way Silverjet stepped up, got underway and quite simply owned the venue from start to finish – a band I know I’ll be checking out a hell of a lot more from here on.
With that said, the time for Suicide Tuesday (and guest) was upon us, and with one of the worst kept secrets in rock history being that the guest was due to be none other than Mr Gaz Harris of Wrathchild, the venue was soon buzzing with excitement for what was about to happen. Now – this is where I’m biased – but I love Suicide Tuesday, and having featured them on the site, I was looking forward to seeing them when I knew they were playing as I knew they were going to be awesome. I also love Wrathchild, and so when I found out Gaz was stepping up, well, my excitement may have bubbled over slightly and presented itself in me shouting for several days about how awesome it was going to be, much to the dismay of my neighbours – but I digress. The set we were presented with was worthy of a major festival, each track flowing out, each track connecting with the fans, and each track cementing the reason for being there – to have a damned good time. Finishing their set with We’re Not Going To Take It, there wasn’t a single person left not singing along, not joining in and not supporting the sentiment, it was a beautiful moment of unison that will stick with me for life.
Finishing with an emotional speech from Big D, and the most awesome Obsessive Compulsive, the weekend finished on a high, safe in the knowledge that good money had been raised for charity, far too much beer had been consumed, far too many take aways eaten (the image of everyone sat around the kebab house down the road will stick with me even if only for the terrified look on the bloke behind the counters face), and that The Maze needs to invest in some air conditioning – damn it was hot!
You know, all too often with reviews we get caught up in the technicalities of things, the form, the way it’s done, the ‘raison d’etre’ as it were, so sitting and looking back on the weekend, it’s so nice not to do that. The weekend was what it was, a weekend packed with good music, good people, beer, and the best vibe I’ve ever felt in a festival. Everyone was friendly, everyone enjoyed, everyone had a damned good time, and I’m thinking everyone will be back next year….well….we will be for sure. What matters most though is the interest raised in such an amazing cause as RACPA, the £2,000 (well more than) raised for said cause, and the looks on the faces of the charity workers across the weekend as they realised how much people care.
What else is left to say? Arise Sir David Tonge, you out did yourself sir. A weekend of ‘rock mayhem’ was promised, but so much more was delivered – if you were there, you know, and if you weren't....why the hell not?!
Bring on next year.
To find out more about the festival, check out the Facebook page for details HERE, check out the Noize Level Critical page HERE, and check out the RACPA page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Photos: Will Nicholls