HIGH VOLTAGE FESTIVAL 2010

DATE:

VENUE:

Saturday 24th July - Sunday 25th July 2010

Victoria Park in London, UK

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER; MARILLION; OPETH; URIAH HEEP; MAGNUM; UFO; WISHBONE ASH

ZZ TOP; TRANSATLANTIC; HEAVEN & HELL; SAXON; DWEEZIL ZAPPA; HAMMERFALL; BIGELF; ORANGE GOBLIN; FOCUS; PENDRAGON; TOUCHSTONE

UFO onstage at Victoria Park, 25th July 2010

Photograph copyright © 2010 Ross Cooper - www.extantphotography.co.uk

Reviews by Elena Francis; Photography by Ross Cooper (www.extantphotography.co.uk)

Reviews by Elena Francis; Photography by Ross Cooper (www.extantphotography.co.uk)

WISHBONE ASH

My first band of the second day is Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash at the Prog Stage. Like a few other rock acts, Wishbone Ash have been divided in two (hence the importance of the ‘Martin Turner’ prefix), due to copyright scraps over the original name. Martin Turner was a part of the original Wishbone Ash line-up and so has some credibility to still use the name. High Voltage was particularly special for the classic British act as they would be performing their third album ‘Argus’ in its entirety. Kicking off with the lengthy ‘Time Was’, Turner’s reincarnation of the band place nostalgic smiles on the faces of many audience members. The fusion of prog rock and hard rock is touching and uniquely emotive. ‘The King Will Come’ and ‘Leaf and Stream’ are unfurled and, because of their accessible sentiments, large portions of the audience can reap something enjoyable from the music. Turner and his bandmates are in high spirits, relaxed but genuinely enthused. ‘Throw Down the Sword’ closes the ‘Argus’ material and a grand ovation the band’s reward. Of course, time still remains for additional music. For this occasion, Turner brings out Wishbone Ash guitarist Ted Turner for renditions of classics ‘Blowin’ Free’, ‘Why Don’t We?’ and ‘Jailbait’. This is a beautifully light way to start the last day of the festival.

SUNDAY 25th JULY - PART 1

UFO

Running over to the Main Stage, UFO are set to take the stage, exploding on with ‘Saving Me’. Formed in 1969 and having accrued a distinct fanbase and celebrity among the classic rock world, it seems bizarre to have them on stage so early. Irrespective of this, the British hard rockers are not shy to get the audience to move so early on into the day with opener ‘Saving Me’. Their energetic classic hard rock entices several members of the audience into cheering and dancing. The members themselves appear in good spirits, particularly frontman Phil Mogg who moves around a fair amount on stage. Unfortunately, early on into their set, a technical hitch steals too much time away from the band (highly frustrating with myself considering I would have to miss most of their set to conduct interviews!). After it is eventually remedied, the show continues with the classic ‘Lights Out’, which has me smiling before I have to leave to do those unfortunately timed interviews.

MAGNUM

Magnum are up next on the Prog Stage with an admirable crowd watching. Another classic prog rock act conceived in the genre’s peak in ‘70s, Magnum’s reputation is one that certainly precedes them, enjoying a fair amount of attention in their day. Opening with ‘Cry to Yourself’ from their latest full-length album ‘Into the Valley of the Moonking’, they are clearly a band that does not fixate on their glory days exclusively. Of course, the newer material is a trip down nostalgia avenue with a modern haze and inoffensive enough for all to like, in spite of any particular hook absent from the music. Vocalist Bob Catley is an accomplished musician and strives to make the Magnum show more lively but the show is nothing to write home about, particularly following UFO’s spirited effort. As Magnum finish the set with the title track from their debut effort ‘Kingdom of Madness’, it is clear that they do not retain the same energy and inspiration from when they began life as a band.

URIAH HEEP

For a band that has sold over 30 million albums, it feels strange to see Uriah Heep on the smaller Prog Stage. With just one original member, guitarist Mick Box, this highly influential British group would be playing their 1972 ‘Demons and Wizards’ album (the same album that directly inspired a certain power metal band’s name) in its entirety. Starting with ‘The Wizard’, Uriah Heep gnash their jaws relentlessly through their fourth album. It is difficult to resist chortling along to such catchy numbers as ‘Traveller in Time’, ‘Easy Livin’’ and ‘Rainbow Demon’ while singer Bernie Shaw charismatically bounces around on stage to the prog/hard rock masterpiece. The songs from ‘Demons and Wizards’ have certainly survived the test of time and sound dynamic and absorbing in their live formats. For ‘Circle of Hands’, ‘All My Life’ and ‘The Spell’, Micky Moody ,an ex- guitarist of Whitesnake, donates his playing prowess to Uriah Heep, heightening the excitement. Like listening to the album on CD, it feels like the show passes by far too quickly and the closing notes of ‘The Spell’ are met with a hearty applause from the punters. Unfortunately, they were not going to be squeezing in any more Uriah Heep fan favourites but the show they provided was excellent.