Camden Rocks is absolutely one of our favourites on the festival calendar here at Room Thirteen, and much like in previous years we’re all set to provide you some of the best coverage of Camden’s biggest party. 200+ Bands, 20 Venues at just 30 Quid? We challenge you to find a festival featuring such a varied level of quality at such an incredible price. Now with 200+ bands it does make our jobs that one bit harder when writing up a preview feature, so rather than spending years writing about every band we’ve hand selected THIRTEEN of the top bands at this year’s event. We should say now though, that Camden Rocks should truly be utilised as a discovery tool. There are quality bands dotted around from when it kicks off around 12pm all the way through to the headliners - it is genuinely one of the best festivals to generally wander around and discover something new. So without further ado!
Turbowolf
Off the back of the very successful launch of the band’s second album Two Hands, Turbowolf’s popularity is absolutely rocketing at the moment. They’re no strangers to this festival, two years ago they nearly caused a riot in The Monarch, last year they smashed the Electric Ballroom in a mid afternoon slot and now this year they return once again in a blaze of glory to headline The Barfly. On record they’re brilliant, but in a live setting Turbowolf are in a different league. If last year’s show at The Barfly is anything to go by, this will be absolute carnage.
Turbowolf are headlining The Barfly at 21:30pm
Skindred
Skindred are another of those beasts live - a band who undoubtedly raise their game on stage. With this being the case the fact that they’re placed in the sweaty confines of The Underworld at Camden Rocks this year spells absolute bedlam. They’ve not had any new material out since Kill The Power but they always pack their set lists with all the crowd favourites. The Newport Helicopter should also be certainly interesting in this intimate setting. Safe to say you’ll need to get down early to ensure you get in to this one.
Skindred are headlining The Underworld at 21:15pm
Bullet For My Valentine
Bullet For My Valentine had disappeared for a little while. Their last release Temper Temper didn’t quite hit the heights they perhaps would have liked and has been pinpointed as a key element to the band’s arguable decline. But with the announcement of the ‘Secret Headliner’ and B4MV, we see a band rejuvenated and ready to smash their way through again. Their set will scream of this level of desire and will likely make all the right headlines immediately after the event.
Bullet For My Valentine are headlining The Electric Ballroom at 21:15pm
While She Sleeps
We held off posting this preview, because let’s just say we heard whispers that one of the biggest bands of 2015 so far were being added to the line up. While She Sleeps have been absolute workhorses this year, touring relentlessly off the back of the brilliant Brainwashed and their hasn’t been a bad thing to say about any of their live shows. They’ve upped their game and have the heavy music scene gripped firmly by the neck at the moment.
While She Sleeps are playing The Electric Ballroom at 19:45pm
Feed The Rhino
Another band who have worked extremely hard over the years and built themselves up through extensive touring schedules and new material are Feed The Rhino. All of this has truly paid off as they will have the opportunity to grace the Main Stage at Reading & Leeds later in the summer, but as has been evident for years now, whether they’re on a big stage or a small one they give it their absolute all every single time.
Feed The Rhino are playing The Barfly at 20:15pm
Funeral For A Friend
Another band who seemed to have only been around for bits and pieces in the last few years, Funeral For A Friend are all set to make Camden Rocks a memorable one for them and their fans as they’re all set to play three shows at different venues across the day in what will certainly be a bit of a nostalgia trip for many. Expect the band to plough through a huge selection of crowd favourites, because with three set lists to fill we’re sure there will be some absolute gems and rarities across the day.
Funeral For A Friend are playing The Black Heart at 16:00pm, The Barfly at 19:15pm and headlining Dingwalls (Main) at 22:30pm
Black Moth
Another Room Thirteen favourite, Black Moth are another band who have garnered widespread critical acclaim since the release of Condemned To Hope and they continue to back that up with an excellent track record live. Their riff fuelled machine will have heads banging from the first note. Awesome band.
Black Moth are headlining The Black Heart at 22:00pm
Martyr Defiled
Raising the ‘heavy’ a touch or two, Martyr Defiled are strong in the riff game. Their album No Hope No Morality was very well received and has ultimately raised the game in the Deathcore/Metalcore scene. Martyr Defiled have been able to embellish a really unique approach bringing forward a certain level of intricacy to their music with clear influences from the likes of Meshuggah rather than it just being mind numbing beat downs. Should provide a seriously punishing mid afternoon mosh or two.
Martyr Defiled are playing The Underworld at 15:00pm
Ginger Wildheart
One of the real stories of last year’s event, Ginger Wildheart has been invited back to Camden Rocks again this year and should be all ready to deliver a set stacked full of just as many classics and as much entertainment as last year. The queue for his gig in 2014 was staggering which is testament to Ginger’s popularity - basically get there early!
Ginger Wildheart is playing Proud at 16:00pm
Hawk Eyes
Much like many of the bands we’ve chosen as highlights this year, Hawk Eyes have always worked extremely hard on the live scene, something which again appears to be paying off as they’re all set for some huge shows at the European Sonisphere’s and elsewhere. They always bring an excellent energy live, something we expect to see yet again at this year’s festival.
Hawk Eyes are playing The Stillery at 20:00pm
God Damn
Similar to Hawk Eyes, God Damn’s hard work has begun to pay off massively recently with them being granted the amazing opportunity to support Foo Fighters on one of their dates this summer. A lot of this is due to their excellent live shows as the duo in the band create a phenomenal sound which so many others would be envious of upon seeing them. Excellent band with extremely bright things in their future.
God Damn are playing The Electric Ballroom at 14:00pm
Anti-Nowhere League
There are a host of legendary Punk figures dotted around the line up this year, including the likes of Richie Ramone and Glenn Matlock from Sex Pistols fame. Amongst those then are Anti-Nowhere League whose 35 year career has been influential to so many. Expect a set list spanning their extensive discography and of course So What.
Anti-Nowhere League are playing at Dingwalls (Main) at 19:45pm
In Search Of Sun
In Search Of Sun are another of our favourites here at Room Thirteen and having seen them at one of the Camden Rocks showcase events a couple of weeks ago, needless to say this is definitely a band you should check out. Their energy as a band is infectious and the dual guitar work will have you humming riffs and licks for the rest of the day. Top band.
In Search Of Sun are playing at The Monarch at 16:00pm
So there you have it! We’re aware that a lot of those clash and we’re just as upset as you about that but as we’ve already said, Camden Rocks is a fantastic event not only to see the bands you love, but for the bands you’ll discover along the way.