10 YEARS AFTER!
Firefest Ltd is proud to present
11th - 13th October 2024
Manchester Academy (UK)
FIREFEST 2024
FRIDAY
11
Doors open 5pm
HEAVY PETTIN’
11 pm - close
CONEY HATCH
8.50 pm – 10.15 pm
LIONHEART
(Ex-Iron Maiden/ex-UFO/MSG/Shy)
7.20 pm – 8.30 pm
GRAHAM OLIVER’S ARMY
(Performing classic Saxon)
6 pm – 7 pm
hello
SATURDAY
12
Doors open 11.30am
ROBIN McAULEY
(Performing Grand Prix/MSG/Solo)
11 pm - close
TOUCH
(Original line-up)
8.45 pm – 10.15 pm
CATS IN SPACE
7.05 pm – 8.25 pm
SKAGARACK
5.30 pm – 6.45 pm
KINGDOM OF MADNESS
(Performing classic Magnum)
3.50 pm – 5.10 pm
MAD MAX
2.30 pm – 3.30 pm
ATLANTIC
1.20 pm – 2.10 pm
LOST WEEKEND
12:15 – 1 pm
hello
SUNDAY
13
Doors open 11.30am
HURRICANE
10.45 pm - close
OVERLAND
(Featuring Robert Säll from Work of Art)
8.35 pm – 10 pm
JELUSICK
(featuring Dino Jelusick of Whitesnake)
6.50 pm – 8.15 pm
MIDNITE CITY
5.10 pm – 6.30 pm
JADED HARD
(Featuring Michael Bormann)
3.50 pm – 4.50 pm
EDGE OF FOREVER
(Featuring Alessandro Del Vecchio)
2.40 pm – 3.30 pm
GABRIELLE DE VAL
1.20 pm – 2.10 pm
SUPREMACY
12.30 pm – 1.10 pm
READ ALL ABOUT THEM!
FRIDAY
HEAVY PETTIN' When Heavy Pettin' burst onto the scene from Glasgow, back in 1981, they were quickly labelled at Scotland's answer to Def Leppard. Influenced by the likes of AC/DC, UFO, Thin Lizzy and Foreigner, their debut album was produced by Mack and Queen guitarist Brian May. Releasing three studio albums, their last, 'Big Bang' in 1989, was a Melodic Rock masterpiece. Now back twenty-five years later, the boys are proud to be headlining the Friday night at Firefest. CONEY HATCH Canadians Coney Hatch formed back in 1981, releasing a fantastic trio of albums back in the 80s, with their fourth coming out in 2013. Built around the fantastic vocals of Carl Dixon and Andy Curran, the boys have previously played amazing sets at Firefest. This time will be different though, as for the first time the band will be playing their Melodic Rock classic 'Friction' in its entirety (as well as other fan favourites)! LIONHEART Lionheart are definitely a band just steeped in British Hard Rock history. Formed in 1980, the current line-up include Dennis Stratton (ex Iron Maiden), Steve Mann (Liar/MSG), Rocky Newton (Wildfire), Lee Small (Shy) and (ex UFO/Wild Horses). Having just released their latest cracking album 'The Grace of a Dragonfly', the boys make a very rare UK appearance at FIREFEST 2024! GRAHAM OLIVER'S ARMY Graham Oliver handled guitar duties for Saxon up until 'Dogs of War' in 1994. Though having left the band, Graham is dedicated to keeping alive those early albums and one can be guaranteed a night of superb Saxon classics, played by the guy who was there!
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
ROBIN McAULEY First coming to prominence with British melodic rockers Grand Prix in the 80s before hooking up with Michael Schenker to create the McCauley Shenker Group, Robin has recently been touring with MSG while also being part of the super-group Black Swan and releasing solo albums. His Firefest set will include both Grand Prix and MSG songs that haven’t been heard in 40 years, as well as others. TOUCH Possibly one of the best regarded keyboard/pomp albums of the 80s, the debut Touch album will be getting a fair amount of airplay during this, the first return to UK shores for the band since the inaugural Monster of Rock back in 1980. The hit Cher single ‘I Found Someone’ co-written by main-man Mark Mangold will also be getting an outing. This set will definitely be an “I was there” moment. CATS IN SPACE One of the country’s most loved new rock bands, Cats In Space have captured the hearts of many with their 70s ELO style Pomp Rock, smothers in glorious harmonies. Having come top in our Fireworks Magazine ‘Writers’ Album of the Year’ poll, this set will be an exclusive one for FIREFEST compared to the one being toured throughout the UK. SKAGARACK Having on played in the UK once previously, at the famed Marquee Club in London, these Danish melodic rockers have been a fan favourite for years, with albums such as ‘Hungry For a Game’ and ‘A Slice of Heaven’ being included in many ‘Best Album’ lists. Definitely a band on the bucket list for many, and reports from Denmark say the guys are wonderful live. Definitely one not to miss!! KINGDOM OF MADNESS Kingdom Of Madness were put together by former Magnum keyboard player Mark Stanway, with other ex-Magnum stalwarts such as Micky Barker and Richard Bailey playing songs from their commercial peak period of 1978-1994. With the recent tragic passing of Magnum main-man Tony Clarkin, Kingdom of Madness are the only band now keeping these classic songs alive. This will definitely be a ‘Sacred Hour’! MAD MAX Mad Max were responsible for one of the best Melodic Rock albums from Germany in the 80s with the fantastic ‘Night Of Passion’. Now with a brand-new singer, the band containing original members Axel Kruse (drums) and Jürgen Breforth (guitars) have discovered a new lease of life, with their current album ‘Wings Of Time’ being a glorious return to form. A very rare opportunity to catch the guys on UK soil. ATLANTIC UK AORsters Atlantic crashed onto the scene with their highly revered debut ‘Power’ back in 1994. Now featuring a new line-up, but with main-man and song-writer Simon Harrison still in place, the long awaited follow-up ‘Another World’ has given us another slab of glorious AOR. Sure to be an amazing experience, with songs from both albums being aired. LOST WEEKED Lost Weekend very nearly made it in the UK, their album ‘Presence Of Mind’ being a monster of an album, and then the guys went on to pen the glorious ‘Spirit Of Man’ for Bob Catley. Reforming especially for Firefest, this will be an absolute blast of a show!
HURRICANE Formed in 1988, Hurricane have released five studio album up to 2023's 'Reconnected'. Famous for giving us vocalist Kelly Hansen (now with Foreigner) the current line-up sees brothers Tony and Carlos Cavazo joined by Mike Hansen and Dan Schumann. Their headlining Firefest set will include classics from both Hurricane and Quiet Riot - definitely a show not to be missed!! STEVE OVERLAND The renowned singer of FM finally gets around to doing his first ever solo set, hot on the heels of his recent epic 'Six' release. Joined by co-writer Robert Säll from Work Of Art, this debut solo gig is guaranteed to be a show for the ages!! JELUSICK Last seen strutting the stage with David Coverdale and Whitesnake, Dino Jelusick's debut solo album 'Follow The Blind Man' has been garnering great reviews world-wide. FIREFEST 2024 sees this amazing Croatian vocalist play his first ever UK gig!! Definitely one not to miss! MIDNIGHT CITY Rob Wylde and Midnite City have spent the last few years building up a fervent fan-base, with their infectious Danger Danger fuelled Hair Metal extravaganza. With four studio albums, and a successful Japanese tour just completed, the boys are sure to be well-honed and ready to blow the roof of at FIREFEST. JADED HARD Michael Bormann has played with a who's who of the German Hard Rock world, but is best known for his time with Teutonic melodic rockers Jaded Heart, where he sang on their first six studio releases. Having fronted such acts as Rain, The Trophy, Silent Force, Redrum etc, his current band concentrates on the songs Michael made famous back in the 90s/early 2000s. EDGE OF FOREVER Edge of Forever is the main band of Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline), who for many years was the 'go-to' guy at Frontiers Records, and was responsible for much of their song-writing and production/mixing output. Finally having the chance to visit the UK 'front and centre' for the first time, the amazing Ale will finally have the opportunity to show just what an amazing frontman he is!! GABRIELLE De VAL The former singer of The Val released her amazing debut album 'Kiss In A Dragon Night' back in 2023, which saw her perform with many well known musicians within the melodic rock scene. On the back of a successful Spanish tour and an acoustic set at the inaugural Tower Of Fire festival, Gabrielle and her band will be setting out just to show the UK what to expect from her upcoming sophomore album 'Cry Wolf'. SUPREMACY Possibly an unknown quantity to many, this band, featuring the vocals of Brazilian powerhouse Gus Monsanto, and talents of Paul St.Lyonne deserve to be heard. When I first came across them, I fell in love with their 'Gotthard meets Pretty Maids' melody and crunchiness and figured a wider audience needs to know about these guys!!