Simon RushworthCall Of The Wild Festival reinforced its reputation as the UK’s best emerging rock and metal jamboree — hosting three days of high-octane action. Check out the highlights from day three.
There’s a reason fast-rising glamster Bobbie Dazzle has become this year’s go-to support for a slew of rock and roll legends.
Opening slots with Alice Cooper, Vixen/Lita Ford, Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Luke Morley and Sweet have all been secured on the back of fabulous debut Fandabidozi.
And on this evidence turning up early to any and all of those shows is an absolute no-brainer.
Frontwoman Bobbie is a born entertainer and Call Of The Wild witnessed a future festival headliner early Sunday afternoon.
Merry Go Round and Antique Time Machine were written to get fans of T Rex, Slade and Wizzard on their feet. Razzle dazzle.
No band worked the Call Of The Wild ‘compound’ harder than pretty boy Parisians HARSH.
And a sensational Southall Lawless stage show wrapped up a hugely successful weekend for the sleaze-soaked, melodic rock powerhouse.
Slick moves and some sassy grooves made for a spellbinding mid-afternoon set — for 40 magical minutes it was like 1987 all over again.
Frontman Albert Arnold is the Gallic version of Axl Rose and this was like a day trip to Paradise City for fans schooled in the Sunset Strip.
This was a HARSH lesson… in pure pop rock perfection.
Strangely, bluesy behemoth Silveroller didn’t pack out the Trailblazer tent despite bringing bucket loads of retro cool to Lincolnshire.
No matter. Those au fait with the natural heirs to The Temperance Movement were treated to a sumptuous collection of Free-wheeling tunes.
And Rushonrock wouldn’t have been anywhere else on a summery Sunday afternoon.
It’s comforting to know that classic rock’s future is in the safest of hands — Jonnie Hodson is a studious and strident standard bearer for the genre.
Given the brilliance of this showing it’s easy to forget that Silveroller are still to release their debut album. That day can’t come soon enough.
Brave Rival joined the Call Of The Wild bill at the last minute but better late than never when it comes to their heady brand of immersive rock and soul.
Swooning singer Lindsey Bonnick might well belong in a smoky Soho bar circa 1920 but she’s just as much at home letting rip in a Lincolnshire field.
Debut Life’s Machine dropped as recently as 2022 but Brave Rival have fast become staples of the burgeoning NWOCR scene since then.
There’s no substitute for seriously affecting songwriting and this is a band that knows how to craft something really special.
Brave Rival have never lacked courage and this gutsy set bristled with ambition.
Marisa & The Moths continue to create quite a buzz. Another statement of intent from the angsty alt rockers reinforced a soaring reputation.
More sets like this and one of the UK’s most intriguing live acts will be leaving Call Of The Wild in the rearview mirror. Maybe they already have.
Songwriter Marisa Rodriguez is a barrelling force of nature unburdened by the pressure to conform.
And if the Moths never set out to be divisive scene disruptors then they’re confidently growing into the role.
Like Lzzy Hale at her angriest and Courtney Love in her prime, Rodriguez is riotously appealing. Watch the Moths fly.
Kardang had never played a gig outside of their native Norway until Call Of The Wild’s final day.
It was a show that will live long in the memory of the lucky few who stumbled across the Trailblazer tent during a brief downpour.
The on-stage energy was off the scale and in firebrand frontman Chris Williams the Scandi crew boast a wrecking ball of rock and roll passion.
Mixing Volbeat with AC/DC and The Wildhearts with Buckcherry, Kardang’s intoxicating cocktail of crowd-pleasing, riff-fuelled cliches captured the hearts and minds of the wide-eyed Wolfpack.
Throwing caution to the wind, Williams ripped off his shirt and swung from the rafters as a crazy show became increasingly unhinged.
Band of the weekend? Maybe. Flekkefjord’s finest were on fire!
They say Trench Dogs’ bark is worse than their bite.
In fact, it’s less of a bark and more of a painful kennel cough.
It’s fair to say frontman Andy Hekkandi’s vocal style is an acquired taste.
Some may say two foxes mating might sound sweeter.
But get past the bizarre Alvin and The Chipmunks-meets-Vince Neil squeal and there’s no escaping the fact that Trench Dogs can pen a killer tune.
The band’s sleazy glam in the style of New York Dolls went down a storm ahead of Michael Monroe’s hotly anticipated headline set.
And Hekkandi is oddly captivating at the helm of a band for whom style clearly trumps substance. Or just odd. We’re not really sure.
Michael Monroe is a bona fide rock and roll treasure who, like the perfect single malt, gets better with age.
Young Drunks & Old Alcoholics alike continue to be drawn to the ageless Finn and for very good reason.
Monroe is the deliberately chaotic master of his craft — still, after all these years, living far too fast to die young.
Sure, the decision to surround himself with a crack outfit of casually cool musicians is very much part of the appeal.
Time and time again a meandering show looked set to drift into utter disarray only for Steve Conte or Sami Yaffa to step in and save the day.
There’s method to the madness where Monroe is concerned and who better to bring down the curtain on 2025’s Call Of The Wild?
They really don’t come wilder than the former Hanoi Rocks frontman. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Check out or round up of Day One here.
All the Day Two action is here.
And subscribe to Rushonrock’s YouTube Channel to enjoy a raft of Call Of The Wild content.
Images courtesy of Call Of The Wild.