Bulldog Bash Review

This year The Bulldog Bash, celebrated its 20th Anniversary. I don’t know what I was expecting, but what I got was something that’s like no other festival in the country. You can’t call Bulldog a Music festival, it really is its own thing and so time needs to be spent describing the beast before moving onto the excellent bands that were performing. Firstly, Bulldog hasn’t a commercial bone in its body and the sudden realization that it wasn’t ruled by Nu-metal loving under 18’s took me back to better times. Having said that, the atmosphere is very family friendly and you’ll feel safer there than any other festival (there was no trouble all weekend). Don’t be put off by the fact that it is run and self policed by the Hells Angels or that the first shop to greet you in the massive tent market is “The Stolen Tool Company”, selling samurai swords, fantasy blades, Machetes and 2 knives for a fiver, because the realization that everyone must have taken up this deal would make anyone think twice about starting trouble, yet alone the several hundred strong Hells Angels who in truth are the friendliest lot I’ve ever met at a festival. Its obvious these guys really go out of their way to make it an awesome festival, with a 24 hour bar and even “mobile bars” which pass through the tents in a “stop me and by one” situation, just like the army of ice cream vans doing the same. Then there’s the full size fun fair, the marquee of pool tables, the regularly serviced and cleanest portaloos I’ve seen at a gathering and of course, the drag strip. Between demonstrations of rocket bikes, spinning Ferraris, appearances by ex-stuntman Eddie Kid and trick bike riding, the quarter mile drag strip is open to all with “Run What You Brung”. From learners on scooters to tricked out Nitrous bikes, they all try to beat their best time over a standing quarter mile. Unfortunately I think my times might have been faster if I got off and pushed! Other entertainment came from the custom show tent, with some of the sleekest and most unusual bikes you’ll ever see, then there’s the semi naked girls soaping down bikes, the wet t-shirt competition and of course, the strippers on the main stage at the end of each night. I can’t say much about these girls before the 9pm watershed, except that they (and their toys) are very much the real thing. Perhaps put the kids to bed before going to see them and if you’re part of a couple and volunteer to go on stage, expect to find your sleeping bag outside your tent when you return. The girls aren’t the only entertainment after the bands finish. The dance tent runs all night. Step inside and you’ll be greeted with the sight of rave heads and bikers alike getting down to top class dance DJ’s as well as industrial techno acts like Lab-4 and Hellraiser. So, onto the bands: Alongside the main stage and the dance tent is the UK Unsigned Stage, which showcases up and coming UK talent. State Of Serenity fired off a powerhouse set, with blistering bass and crunching guitars. Doom/Death metal merchants Black River Project covered two Hellraiser movie tunes, 'Pinhead' and signature tune 'Let The Rivers Run Black' which while not original certainly got heads nodding. Later as I pass the stage I am forced to keep going as I hear the terrible noise of Oprah mixed with heavy metal. I am later told it was Invey. Certainly the reason earplugs were invented! Arriving late on Thursday night, I was saddened to hear that I had missed Chas & Dave, having only seen them on vintage TOTP footage I fancied seeing their cockney knees up. They were followed by a band named Hellraiser (not the same Industrial Hellraiser from the dance tent I believe), who are potentially a rather good rock covers band. Hells Bells, the well known AC/DC tribute were the first nights headliners and while they look the part, I felt the vocals were more screaming and less about the melody of AC/DC. Still, a great show and after a few pints everyone was dancing. The next day I take some time off from racing down the dragstrip to see Rattlesnake Remedy. These guys had a very catchy single earlier this year and if you like your rock with a hint of the American south, mixed with a bit of LA glam then you should check them out. Skindred were the next to come to my attention and took to the stage with a rather rocking “Imperial March” before launching into 'Babylon'. With vocalist Benjii encouraging everyone to move, people were headbanging and skanking by the time 'Selector' and 'Pressure' were played and as 'Nobody' rounded the set off, everyone was bouncing. Halifax Doom metallers Paradise Lost follow Skindred with a complete change of pace. However with their gothic melodic metal provided an upbeat set capped with 'Just Say Words'. Friday’s headliners The Almighty not only returned for their third appearance at the bash but actually reformed for it, after their charity appearances late last year. Their brand of diesel and gasoline fuelled rock'n'roll was perfect for the bash and makes you realize at what point Metallica went wrong. They perform a full on set of Almighty anthems with 'I Know' and 'Destroy' powering out of the stage. Finishing the set with a sing along 'Wild And Wonderful', Ricky and the boys are dragged back for a rousing cover of the Sex Pistols 'Animal'. Come back lads and show all these new bands what “metal” means!! Day 3 and I settle down in the Main stage tent from 5pm to watch the show. The Answer are a band I cant recommend highly enough on CD with a Black Crowes, AC/DC style of music and a smattering of slide guitar thrown in for good measure they are an excellent band to listen to. Live they were average but this was more to do with the main stage being in a tent which means that if you aren’t highly entertained by stage presence, you soon decide to sit down to listen rather than watch. Breed 77 on the other hand kept you staring at the large screens as they bounced around the stage with their corn row hair styles and stylish red and black outfits. You can feel the energy from the stage all the way back to the bar as they deliver their flamenco flavoured rock to an appreciative crowd. Hundred Reasons are next and having seen them at Download this year I decided they were worth watching again. They performed well but with a little less energy than normal as to many of the biker crowd they were an unknown name. Those who stayed to listen were certainly turned into fans by the end. As dark fell, Pitchshifter stormed the stage, a hyper active 'Wafer Thin' getting things off to a flying start. Ripping through a burning set of Pitchshifter favourites, including classics 'Microwaved', 'Hidden Agenda' and 'Genius', the whole crowd was awash with the bands energy. 'Please Sir' and 'W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G' finish off an excellent set. Since Friday afternoon there had been rumors amongst the press that Motorhead were to be “secret” headliners for the anniversary bash. Unfortunately it was announced on Saturday evening that due to difficulties getting Lemmy into the country it wasn’t to be! The organizers should have finished the night with Pitchshifter and an extra hour of topless dancers, but in a perfect example of just how hard the Hells Angels work to make the punter get value for money (and who can complain at £50 on the gate for a full weekend?), they found a last minute Replacement. However, Dogs D'Amour didn’t cut the mustard, especially as they were missing members and for many were unknown. So it was a good job that the anniversary firework display turned out to be the longest and most impressive ever known to man. It was truly amazing and how the Angels didn’t cry watching their hard earned dosh explode in the sky for approximately 30 minutes I’ll never know! So while other hardcore festival goers carried on dancing till dawn, most of us staggered back to our tents with a happy grin, knowing that we had been part of yet another excellent Bulldog Bash! Tom M