Stephanie Jewell sat down with Stu McGill from Stormrider Touring ahead of the Stormrider Heavy Metal Festival this weekend, August 23 and 24, which will be the festivals 10 year anniversary. They talked about the early days and the evolution of the festival to now.
Steph: Tell me about yourself?
Stu: I am Stu from Silent Knight and also Stormrider Touring.
Steph: Tell me about Stormrider, how did such a festival come to be?
Stu: It started in 2014 and one of the reasons was because Silent Knight had only been around for a few years and I was trying to find a way to get the band up on bigger billings. I have always booked our own shows so I thought if I put a festival together and invite some bigger bands in, we can automatically play because its our show so we can do what we want. And also because we were touring a little bit in Sydney and Melbourne at the time, meeting heaps of other cool bands, which would have trouble getting to Perth because there wasn’t that many similar style bands here at the time. So I thought if I put on something to specifically cater for the death metal, black metal, power metal and more melodic stuff. It has evolved over the years, the last couple of years its been mostly just power metal bands and thrash metal bands. Its awesome. So that’s how it started!
Steph: Tell me about how the festival has evolved?
Stu: It has changed a few times over the years, the very first one in 2014 started at 2pm and there were maybe 12 – 14 bands, I can’t quite remember. And then we thought 2pm until midnight was a really long day. We did that for a couple of them and then we went to 4pm onwards. The third year we did two stages at Amplifier bar but only a four-hour show. So eight bands, they all got 30 minutes. As soon as one band started, the next one was getting ready. As soon as one stopped, the next one started. Back-to-back on different stages. It was where the bowling alley was, we had a stage there. Then Badlands opened up and gave us more opportunities again. Then Badlands closed down in December so I could not book there anymore. I have had to go two nights at Amplifier for two reasons: One is their liquor licensing is a little bit different because it is in the nightclub district, so can’t open before 6pm and cant go past midnight because they do their club stuff. And its our 10-year anniversary so I thought, why not, we will do two nights and make it big as we can and if it goes great or goes bust, we will see.
Steph: If someone has never been to a Stormrider Festival before, what can they expect? How would you best describe it?
Stu: It has pretty much got the best bands that you could hope for, even the opening acts are absolutely crushing it. They are the best up and coming acts. The headliners are all great bands. We have got the best interstate bands coming over as well. Usually there are a couple of album launches and bands touring their albums as well. On the night there is always something special going on. It is an event; it is not just a gig. You will want to be there from the start and you will want to stay there until the end, and this time you will want to come back the next night too. We have after parties this time too so stick around after midnight and we have cover bands as well so you can stay for as long as you like, until they kick you out. You can sleep in the alley way and then wake up and come back in the next night! We don’t authorize sleeping in the alley way though. Get a kebab and go home.
Steph: Tell me about the interstate guests who are joining the lineup this time around?
Stu: They are all interstate bands; we have got Black Majesty who headlined the very first Stormrider Festival. They have been going for just over 20 years now, so they are doing a 20 years celebration show, which will be awesome and Hanny, their lead guitarist has been a great friend for all that time. He said yes without a second guess. The guys from Orpheus Omega are coming back over which we had play in 2019, and they have just put out a brand-new album like a month ago. We have got Hybrid Nightmares as well which is a black metal band and they are pretty tough and cool guys. They also have a new album out. Then we also have got Elm Street who are another power thrash band from Melbourne as well. They also have a new album out. To get them on, some of them hit me up and some of them I hit up. I have known them all for ages, we have all worked together before and it’s just easy.
Steph: If you could pick any band to add to the lineup in the whole world, alive or dead, who would you get?
Stu: I will give you a red hot exclusive, I was actually going to have Unleash the Archers on this lineup but it just didn’t happen. That was one thing that I wanted to happen. I would love Megadeth, or Iron Maiden or something crazy like that. That would be cool.
Steph: What would you like to tell fans about the Stormrider Festival and what they can expect?
Stu: Expect to have a really fun night, a really great time, there is going to be a lot of merchandise available, all the best bands, a lot of great people to catch up with. A lot of friendly vibes, we don’t want any dickheads in the crowd. Everybody will just get along and have fun, be kind to each other. Enjoy yourselves and get home safely, have great memories and we will do it all again.
A very big thank you Stu from Stormrider Touring. Be sure to get along to Stormrider Heavy Metal Festival, happening Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th August 2024 at Amplifier over both nights, celebrating Stormrider’s 10 year anniversary. Tickets available here.
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Photos: Supplied.
