Photo Credit: Ava Lockey
Words: Abi Hawes

On Sunday 30th August, the final day of Sheffield’s Rock N Roll Circus, huge names such as RICHARD ASHCROFT, CAST, EMBRACE and THE FRATELLIS played the main stage alongside a handful of new upcoming bands such as M60, Villanelle, Sundress and many more.

Immediately upon walking into the area, it became clear that this was not a typical festival as we were met with flame throwers, an elephant and flares around the picnic benches. It was clear that this festival had an array of different attributes to make it unique and fun.

Sonni Mills was first to play the second stage, providing a soundtrack for the early arrivals as festival goers filtered into the site, buying their first pints and exploring the range of food options. Her indie sound mixed with the sunny weather created a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere. 

She performed in a striking bright pink outfit, reflecting her strong and independent persona from the stage. While the crowd was gradually building, there was a clear sense of excitement and anticipation for what the rest of the day held. 

The first band of the day to take to the main stage was SUNDRESS. Their electric guitars and drum sound shared similarities with The Last Dinner Party, while also portraying a newer sound of their own. 

 The Yorkshire indie band are an upcoming band who are beginning to make a name for themselves, having released three singles, including MEET ME IN MONTAUK.  Their music had a distinctly summery feel which matched the weather perfectly, while the band were able to bounce off each other. Their dreamy guitar sound. They are one of the younger acts that played on Sunday, and it would be worth keeping an eye on them. The band represented a newer generation of Yorkshire artists appearing alongside many established names.

Next to the stage was TIDETIED, an incredible Sheffield band that used driving guitars and undeniable energy. The band were naturally performing together and their set flowed well. The audience consisted of many people nodding along, as the band had a similar sound to Murder Capital.

For the band, it was a chance to demonstrate why they are one of Sheffield’s emerging bands to watch, with their combination of powerful guitars and natural stage presence made for an impressive performance.

After, playing the main stage is Yorkshire’s own EVERLY PREGNANT BROTHERS who offered a completely unique way of performing. Opening their set with a cover of Yellow, it quickly became apparent that this was not going to be conventional. For instance, the band played their version of Yellow about Worcestershire sauce and its questionable effects on health. 

Next, they went on to play their version of Stuck in the Middle With You, however they changed the lyrics to Lidl. While it was slightly odd, it made the set entertaining. The seven piece band interacted effortlessly with the crowd, with almost every song receiving smiles and laughter alongside a great amount of audience participation. 

Another tune they adopted was Rehab, to which they changed the lyrics to “Try to make me go to Barnsley but I said no no no”. Despite their covers being unfamiliar it was impressive how by the middle of most of the songs the audience had adapted each song to their new lyrics. 

The band brought an incredible energy to the stage, as bounds of bucket hats and Adidas three stripes mobbed the tent. A highlight from the set was ‘you’re gorgeous’ to which they changed the lyrics to ‘you’re Yorkshire’. There was a huge amount of unity amongst everyone as they sang along to the 7-piece band. The energy from the band was in fact brilliant, as they danced around the stage. Furthermore, it is the first time I have seen a band use several ukuleles on stage, which I found particularly impressive. Their set was ultimately fun, making their Yorkshire anthems an atmosphere that was impossible not to enjoy.

M60 were next to play. Having recently gained more popularity recently, the band proved why. Their setlist included HONEY, LEMONADE, DARLING and SOUTHPAW, before they gave the crowd insight to a new song OLD TOWN. They closed their set with their most popular track I DON’T MIND. The band truly did prove to the crowd why they were creating a storm recently becoming one of the most promising new and upcoming bands. Their guitar sound filled the festival with a similar sound to bands such as The Ks or The Clause, making them easily a band with a great amount of potential.

Before long, one of the first major acts came to the stage, 90s band CAST. Still absorbing their much-deserved attention after touring with OASIS last year, they seemed firmly back on point. The band opened their set with FREE ME, before introducing SANDSTORM as one of their songs that kickstarted their career. The chemistry between the band is apparent, which made their hour-long set more memorable.

 They then went into FINE TIME, another of their more best-known songs. Many people had their arms around each other and were jumping to one of the songs that soundtracked the 90s. The audience became somewhat more subdued as they moved onto BEAT MAMA. It was good to see the band play some songs that they have not played as frequently in recent years. They then introduced one of their latest songs POISON VINE. After playing their next track, CALL YOUR NAME, they reflected on the past year and announced that recently they have been living the dream. CAST immediately went into LIVE THE DREAM. POWER used the acoustic guitar, delivering the song with a performance that sounded effortless.

One thing that is impossible to overlook is just how impressive JOHN POWER’S voice is, alongside his skills within the music industry. His dancing, singing and guitar skills are all iconic, and it was clear that many members of the audience were mesmerised. They then went into their hit WALKAWAY. The response was immediate. Almost everyone in the tent was singing along, while many put their arms around another and swayed. After the initial part of the song, most phones went away, and the majority of people were living in the moment. 

They then went into another new song FREE LOVE, to which many people began to head out of the tent. TOMORROW CALL MY NAME and FLYING were also played, before the band closed their hour long set with GUIDING STAR. The energy once again increased as hands flew up, and more dance moves were thrown.  Before heading off stage, POWERS thanked the audience and stated that “music is a unifying thing” and that everyone in the tent had “something in common right here right now”. It was clear that CAST had managed to bridge generations within the crowd, judging by the response to WALKAWAY AND GUIDING STAR, their music remains every bit capable of bringing people together even three decades later.

Now, what sets this festival apart from usual ones is that there is a circus in-between acts. Before EMBRACE took to the stage, they had a man on a highwire who walked along to Fontaines’ Starburster. This made the wait between bands just as interesting as the bands themselves, giving the festival a unique quality.

Next, it was time for EMBRACE, and as my favourite band, they were the act I had been looking forward to the most. They opened their set with ALL YOU GOOD GOOD PEOPLE, with frontman DANNY MCNAMARA immediately engaging with the audience, pointing at people as he usually does.

 They then went into one of their latest singles, ROAD TO NOWHERE, announcing that their album AVALANCHE made it to the top 5, their best-selling album in the last 20 years. They then turned back to their earlier material with COME BACK TO WHAT YOU KNOW, a classic that gained the band much recognition from the crowd. Next came SOMEDAY from their most popular album Out of Nothing. Despite being around for the last 30 years, it was clear from the audience that the band still have it, their songs still well-known. 

The atmosphere slightly shifted as WE ARE IT came on, a song that DANNY often points to fans who have their hands in the air, dancing or singing their hearts out, making the experience feel rather personal. The band encouraged people to dance and jump along, after asking how many people in the audience were over 50 and then 60 before jokingly warning them not to overdo it. 

STOP, another song from AVALANCHE was the next song they played. As the album’s second single, it provided another opportunity for the band to showcase their more recent music before returning back to their biggest hits.

They introduced their next song NATURES LAW as their highest charting single. The iconic introduction sounded through the tent. I may be slightly biased as I do after all have the lyrics tattooed, but there was no denying the reaction it received. EMBRACE sounded incredible, with the vocals of the MCNAMARA brothers standing out in particular.

They then said that the next song, COMING HOME, from their latest album is their personal favourite from their new material. Though it was not a particularly familiar song to the audience, it received a great reaction. RICHARD MCNAMARA was then left to the stage to sing his iconic song REFUGEES, delivering an incredible vocal performance that showcased an alternative sound of the band.

They closed their set by playing their two biggest hits GRAVITY and ASHES, once again the band encouraged the audience to jump around and let loose, bringing the set to an energetic conclusion. Before leaving the stage, the band told the audience to enjoy the next acts, calling RICHARD ASHCROFT the Mohammed of indie rock.

Next to the main stage was THE FRATELLIS who opened with HENRIETTA straight into BABY DON’T YOU LIE TO ME. Much of the audience were dancing along to the band, capturing the essence of a festival. They then  went on to play a cover of YES SIR I CAN BOOGIE, a song that is a regular within their setlists. This was met by a completely positive response as the audience seemed to know the catchy lyrics. 

They then went to play IMPOSTERS (LITTLE BY LITTLE) and CREEPING UP THE BACKSTAIRS. Both songs were played confidently, and there was something surreal about hearing these songs live in front of such a large crowd. They then played a slightly more well-known song WHISTLE FOR THE CHOIR to which people had their hands up and were truly losing themselves in the moment.

They went straight into LIVING IN THE DARK, FLATHEAD and JEANNIE NITRO. The backing singers were a particular highlight, adding an extra layer of energy to the performance as they danced and performed alongside the band. Their presence constantly drew the attention of the crowd. 

Next, they played VINCE THE LOVEABLE STONER, before going into their track TOO MUCH WINE. The backup singers specially made the show as they performed along to the band playing, taking up a lot of the audience’s attention. THE FRATTELLIS did put on a good show, and sounded in sync, which was enjoyable. There is no doubt that the band is fun to watch perform. Noticeably however, there was little to no interaction between the band and the crowd. Despite this, they did put on a brilliant show.

They went into BABY FRATTELLI, which was impressive as the band stayed at the right tempo for the song, highlighting the band’s musical skills. They then played WE NEED MEDICINE before concluding their set with arguably one of the UK’s most recognisable indie anthems CHELSEA DAGGER. 

This transformed the atmosphere completely causing the crowd to go crazy, as everyone chanted the familiar opening. People were on each other’s shoulders, jumping around, dancing and draping their arms over another. The sea of people bounced about, bringing the tent alive. It was one of those songs that felt incredible to see, as everyone knows it. 

It was one of those moments where the entire crowd of strangers became united by one song, bringing the tent fully to life and providing an unforgettable close to their set.

Between acts, the circus did a short show, showcasing many different abilities such as acts involving fire, tightropes and much more. There were different acts happening from every angle making it hard to just focus on one. This unique experience defines the festival as something different as well as captivating. This also meant younger children found entertainment as well as adults rather than standing around waiting.

Before long, it was time for the main headliner, RICHARD AHSCROFT to take to the stage. Following his support slot with OASIS last summer, and his tour he did near the beginning of the year, it did in fact feel like he has been on top of his game. His headline performance did little to suggest otherwise, the excitement in the tent clear.

He opened his set with a song from his solo career, BREAK THE NIGHT WITH COLOUR. ASHCROFT sure knows how to engage an audience, fascinating them with his dance moves while his band plays their instruments. His voice sounded incredible too. He then went on to play songs from his former band THE VERVE, including WEEPING WILLOW and SPACE AND TIME. 

His raw vocals give the song emotional weight when he performs it live, including going down on his knees, giving the song further emotion that is apparent. The way he captured the audiences’ attention was brilliant. The nostalgia these songs also hold became clear within the tent.

Before playing his next song on this setlist, MUSIC IS POWER, he dedicated it to Dolly Parton as a tribute to her life. As great as the song was live, it did last for approximately 12 minutes, which for an hour and a half setlist did make a difference. ASHCROFT’S tendency to extend several of his songs meant that the setlist ultimately featured fewer tracks than might otherwise have been possible.

He then did an acoustic version of SONG FOR THE LOVERS. This particular track highlighted his strong vocal ability. It was also sweet to see all the couples in relationships within the tent get all close and sway together. After finishing the song, he thanked Yorkshire for creating his dog, Norman, a rather unexpected but amusing moment that added personality to the performance.

After, he played another of his solo songs, HOLD ON. The song adds a personal connection as he directs the lyrics “we are the only ones alive” towards the audience who were all immersed in the moment. ASHCROFT certainly knows how to orchestrate an audience, with the ability to make thousands of people feel as though they are part of something shared.

He then went on a political discussion about war and the financial interests surrounding it. He then dedicated the next one to John Lennon as he claimed “all the best are crazy” hence his nickname Mad Richard. He suggested that he gained that name as he suggests that speaking his mind “unsettles people”. He joked about how that is why he does not do chat shows, alongside referencing his infamous appearance on a radio station. The opening cords for VELVET MORNING rung out across the tent.

ASHCROFT followed with THE DRUGS DON’T WORK, an emotional song that he dedicated to anyone who has someone in heaven. There were many people within the tent crying whilst singing along, which truly did showcase how impactful music can be. He then closed his main set with LUCKY MAN, which has the whole audience singing along, with their arms up and swaying.

This concluded his main set, and he walked off stage, before returning to do another three songs. He played ON YOUR OWN, a Verve song that he does not perform as frequently, which added a nice touch to the set. He then played The Verve’s two most popular songs, including SONNET and BITTER SWEET SYMPHONY. The set concluded at a high, as another classic hit that soundtracked the 1990’s rung out within the tent. Everyone chanted the words back to ASHCROFT.

While his setlist was not particularly long, he managed to keep the crowd engaged despite doing much longer versions of the original songs. Perhaps it would have been good to fit in more of his solo work, however his selection of The Verve songs did go down well. 

This was a perfect close for the night, leaving everyone chanting the song as we walked through the pouring rain and mud. I would return to the Rock N Roll Circus, as they entwined a mix of newer bands with more established names. It was also great to have a festival where acts did not clash, as music ran smoothly throughout the entire day, making all bands’ shows accessible. It was a wonderful finish to the bank holiday and concluded summer perfectly.