Simon Rushworth
It’s that time of the year when we turn the spotlight on the bands you simply can’t afford to miss at this year’s typically eclectic 2015 Download Festival.
As usual RUSHONROCK will be on site – come rain or shine – for the full three days bringing you the very best news and reviews from the UK’s biggest and best rock and metal fest.
And to get you in the mood we’ll be pointing you in the direction of the cream of the crop – with Thin Lizzy offshoot Black Star Riders next up.
Band: BLACK STAR RIDERS
When: Saturday June 13 18.25-19.10
Where: Zippo Encore Stage
Who: Formerly Thin Lizzy – and still keen to celebrate that legacy in their live set – the Black Star Riders are unquestionably a must-hear band in their own right thanks to back-to-back albums that capture a classic sound and give it a modern twist. Founders Scott Gorham and Ricky Warwick have formed an instinctive on-stage partnership but it’s the criminally underrated Damon Johnson who is the true driving force. If – as the weather forecast suggests – Castle Donington will be mid-deluge by Saturday evening then this is the band to brighten the mood.
Why: You won’t hear Lizzy classics played by Gorham anywhere else and you won’t hear new classic rock delivered with such drive and dedication. Black Star Riders could easily earn a fortune as a heritage act but new album The Killer Instinct demands to be heard such is the quality of the anthems on offer. The only downside is that too many great songs won’t make the cut during a 45-minute set.
Listen out for: Finest Hour – the finest moment on the band’s brand new album.
For fans of: Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, The Almighty
What we said: ‘Gorham’s intro to Emerald was spine tingling but Johnson’s scorching solo earned one of the biggest roars of the night. The laid-back attitude belies an acute attention to detail and he no longer plays second fiddle to one of the biggest names in the business. In fact Johnson is taking on more and more of BSR’s wide and varied workload – excelling as much on the Thin Lizzy classics as he does on the band’s brilliant new material.’ From March 2015 Newcastle O2 Academy show.