A concert in a medieval castle? Don’t mind if I do! Warwick Castle was conquered by British rock band The Darkness on a beautiful summer day.
The last few days have been pretty crazy with so many shows, but tonight was another special one! Warwick Castle, originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068, has seen its fair share of battles over the years.
However, tonight the castle was conquered not by guns, swords, or cannons, but by guitars, bass, drums, and a bit of campiness. The Darkness, along with The Southern River Band, delivered a stellar show.
THE SOUTHERN RIVER BAND
Aussie rockers The Southern River Band opened up tonight and boy I don’t even know where to start. First off, they are absolutely amazing! I was talking to a few people that saw them a few days prior in their own show, and their enthusiasm talking about them made me excited. As it was a castle, the band decided to dress up in proper attire and as knights and monks they entered the stage.
From the get-go, their energy in playing, jokes and banter was spot on. Formed in 2013, the Australian outfit has released so far 3 albums, with the 4th one coming soon (August). I know I say it a lot, but this band has some killer energy! Honestly, it is difficult to stand still with them rocking out. Lead singer Callum Kramer is a king in getting your attention and truly knows how to make his guitar sing.
A kick ass band and some of my favourite songs of them were Cigarettes (Ain’t Help Me None), Watch Yourself (You’re Gonna Hurt Somebody), Vice City III and Stan Qualen. Go check them out if you love some proper rock n roll!
THE DARKNESS
British rock sensation, The Darkness, has been on my wish-list to see for a long time, so to say I was excited about this show is an understatement. The downside of anticipating a band for so long is that it can sometimes become overhyped and not live up to expectations. Thankfully, that was not the case tonight! The band came and conquered this mighty castle with their catchy riffs, amazing vocals, and thundering sound.
Formed in 2000, The Darkness skyrocketed into the mainstream with their debut album, Permission to Land, in 2003. The album sold over 1.3 million copies and features some of their biggest hits, including “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.” Apart from drummer Rufus Taylor, who joined in 2015, the band still features its original members from that breakthrough album. Justin Hawkins on guitar and vocals, Dan Hawkins on guitar and Frankie Poullain on bass are such an awesome bunch to watch.
The show was absolutely amazing and went by way too fast. The high energy and absolute bangers, combined with fireworks, sparkles, and fire, made it a scorching performance. What made it even better was how each band member’s talent was highlighted throughout the night. Dan Hawkins is a killer rhythm guitarist, while Frankie Poullain brings a thunderous, enormous sound with his bass. Rufus Taylor is an incredible drummer who fits the band and its mix of personalities perfectly. And to top it off, there’s Justin Hawkins—a once-in-a-generation talent with killer lead guitar skills, unmatched energy, and a voice that hits every note. His banter only added to the experience.
Seeing Justin paraded through the crowd while playing guitar was absolutely awesome. I had countless favourites from the night, but Heart Explodes definitely topped the list—it was so beautiful live! Of course, hearing the big hits, especially one of my personal favourites, Rock ‘n’ Roll Deserves to Die, was incredible too. The Darkness did a killer show and boy this whole night was incredible. The Southern River Band was a perfect support and I can’t wait to see both bands again!
