There are few things more quintessentially British than standing in a field of unrelenting rain, desperately trying to keep your shoes intact while waiting for a rock band to come on stage. Yet, despite the conditions, there was little sign of the weather putting a damper on Saturday at Rock N Roll Circus; if anything, the rain seemed to become part of the experience.
The Don Valley Bowl quickly turned into a mud bath as relentless rain pounded the venue, yet the crowds poured in for a sold-out Saturday headlined by Wunderhorse. The supporting lineup, featuring Irish alt-rock band Basht, ignited the day with raw energy ahead of their debut album release. Gurriers followed with an intense post-punk sound that stirred the audience into a chaotic mosh, while Westside Cowboy brought a blend of indie, country, and Americana that made their debut album a summer favourite. Baxter Dury added his own flair with a flamboyant performance filled with sharp wit and infectious dance beats.
One of the biggest statements of the day came from the second stage, as despite the persistent rain, Bleech 9:3 pulled a huge crowd, with fans braving the mud to pack themselves outside and watch the emerging Irish rockers. A sound both raw and infectious felt almost tailor-made for the conditions, with the response from the crowd feeling far bigger than their second-stage billing suggested. By the time they finished, it was difficult not to wonder whether Bleech 9:3 might have been better suited to the main stage in the first place.
By the time Wunderhorse took to the main stage at 9pm, the Big Top was packed. As their logo flashed before the band emerged, the crowd reaction was immediate. Opening with ‘Midas,’ Wunderhorse were met with a roar that made it immediately clear why this was the only sold-out day of the festival. The crowd knew every word, throwing them back at frontman Jacob Slater with an intensity that barely let up for the rest of the set.
‘Teal’ prompted one of the biggest singalongs of the night, while ‘Butterflies’ and ‘July’ proved how deeply Wunderhorse’s tracks have embedded themselves with their audience. Slater is equally comfortable interacting with the crowd, at one point, he teases them over ‘Purple,’ suggesting that perhaps if they had got moving sooner, they might have earned the song. They didn’t play it, though, leaving the fan favourite firmly off the setlist. The band also look towards what’s next; ‘Kerosene’ sits comfortably alongside their established material, while their rendition of ‘Born Under a Bad Sign’ added another dimension to their set.
Wunderhorse don’t need the spectacle of Rock N Roll Circus to make an impression; they create their own. Everyone leaves soaked and exhausted, with the band making an extremely convincing case that next time they play Sheffield, it’ll be in a much bigger tent.
