H.EA.T // Art Nation // Chez Kane // Live Review // The Fleece // Bristol

I wasn’t sure how well attended this one would be, and as I entered the Fleece in time for Chez Kane it seemed to be reasonably quiet. When she starts, however, the crowd has tripled, and the seven-thirty start time hasn’t proved to be the death knell it can be. I’ve been a fan of Chez Kane for a while now, and this is my first time seeing her live, so when she bounds out to give us ‘Too Late For Love’ I’m overjoyed when she absolutely nails it, her powerful vocals cutting though the very tight band she’s surrounded herself with. Situated front and centre I lose some of the vocals that people at the back get clearer, but it’s worth it to experience a real performer with great songs. The opener is followed by the stomping ‘All Of It”, also from her debut, and the rest of the nine songs draw from that and the follow-up ‘Powerzone’. She looks like she’s really enjoying herself, and confesses that she’s been in at H.E.A.T for ages to let her support them. True or not, she’s a good fit and the crowd makes all the appreciative noises. The band around her are tight as hell, with one guitarist bouncing around like Dave Lee Roth on crack and providing all the photographers with a good target and a massive smile. Forty minutes goes fast, and as ‘Powerzone’ finished and they take a picture with the crowd, I’m a very happy punter who would absolutely see her again.

Review: Alan Holloway

Photography: Emma Painter

Pacific Curd Photography

It’s a Frontiers triple header tonight, and second on the bill are Sweden’s own Art Nation, a band I’m quite new to despite their having been around for a decade. Their first-ever UK gig starts unusually, as Alexander Strandell seems to have accidentally turned his microphone off. He belts out his words to ‘Brutal & Beautiful’ with passion but no one can hear him, with one guy at the front holding his phone up, having no doubt written “His mic is off” or similar and waving it at guitarist Christopher Borg. When he finishes the message gets through and the mic is turned on, and they get away with it because the backing music was pretty sweet, a very heavy style of Melodic Rock that’s quite intense. This is reinforced when they follow up with ‘Thunderball’ – complete with vocals! – an aggressive and melodic powerhouse that goes down very well. The band are a four-piece, having borrowed Chez Kane’s invisible keyboard player, and are all dressed in black. It’s a bit of a downer and would be better suited to a band called Vlad & The Impalers or something. To be fair to the band it’s pretty much what they wear in the song’s video. Unusually, they only get half an hour compared to Chez Kane’s forty minutes, but the six-song setlist provides plenty of entertainment even if they lack the nuance of the opener’s oeuvre.

https://www.facebook.com/artnationswe

Review: Alan Holloway

Photography: Emma Painter

Pacific Curd Photography

H.E.A.T are a popular band. Seriously, I had no idea that this sort of stuff was still popular with everyone else, but a packed Fleece says otherwise, with the trio of late teens girls by me who know every word showing it’s not just old farts either. Whilst I’ve seen H.E.A.T before it was with Erik Gronwall at the front, and they were very impressive then. As you may or may not know, original vocalist Kenny Leckremo had to leave the band because of a heart condition, rejoining them in 2021 after an operation. The support bands’ stuff is removed, giving them plenty of room to play about in, and as they bound out to the latest release ‘Disaster’ everyone at the front is partially blinded by some white lights exclusive to the headliners. From the off, it’s very clear that not only is Kenny fit and healthy but he’s also a major rock star. A massive grin plastered on his face, he bounces about like a young Joey Tempest, with vocals to die for and a repertoire of catchy bangers to die for. Stood at the front centre I get WAY too much exposure to Kenny’s crotch as he stands right on the edge to encourage participation, but the aforementioned girls certainly aren’t complaining. The band, as with the openers, really seem to be having a good time on this, the first night of their tour. ‘Disaster’ is the only new track, as the album is still a few months away, but the other fourteen are all solid gold, and the crowd vociferously joins in with the likes of ‘Beg Beg Beg’, ‘Hollywood’ and the classic ‘1000 Miles’, but to be honest just about everything in a H.E.A.T set is a singalong. Drummer Don Crash gets his moment as the others take a break halfway through, drumming along with Queen’s ‘Flash’ to great effect, getting the crowd to sing ‘We all love the drummer’ because, well, you would, wouldn’t you? At one point Kenny gets a bit emotional at the fact he’s here, back with the band he founded back in 2007, making everyone love him that bit more of course. Throughout the night he proves to be an outstanding frontman, a ringmaster who is totally in control like only the best can be. By the time they close with the slower ‘Tearing Down The Walls’ just about everyone would follow him to Hell and back, and that’s the sign of a true legend of rock.

If you’re in two minds about catching this tour then snap out of it and get a ticket. Three excellent bands await a real treat for any Melodic Rock fan. Screw the stadiums, screw the tribute acts, this is where the real rock and roll is, in the smaller venues and played with passion by true musicians who love what they do. Keep those fires burning.

Review: Alan Holloway

Photography: Emma Painter

Pacific Curd Photography

H.E.A.T – 2025 TOUR DATES
Tickets are available at www.heatsweden.com

Jan. 28, 2025 – The Fleece, Bristol, UK
Jan. 29, 2025 – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, UK
Jan. 30, 2025 – Manchester Club Academy, Manchester, UK
Jan. 31, 2025 – Islington Assembly Hall, London, UK
Jan. 31 – Feb. 2, 2025 – Mid-Glamorgan, UK – Planet Rock Winter’s End
Feb. 1, 2025 – KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton, UK
Feb. 15, 2025 – Norrköping, Sweden
Feb. 18, 2025 – Helsinki, Finland
Feb. 19, 2025 – Tampere, Finland
Feb. 21, 2025 – Uppsala, Sweden
Feb. 22, 2025 – Lund, Sweden
Feb. 23, 2025 – København, Denmark
Feb. 25, 2025 – Göteborg, Sweden
Feb. 26, 2025 – Oslo, Norway
Feb. 27, 2025 – Örebro, Sweden
Feb. 28, 2025 – Johanneshov, Sweden
Mar. 1, 2025 – Falun, Sweden
May 1, 2025 – Ciudad De México, Mexico
May 3 – 4, 2025 – São Paulo, Brazil – Bangers Open Air Brasil 2025
May 4, 2025 – Comuna 1, Argentina
May 6, 2025 – Santiago, Chile
May 8, 2025 – Lima, Peru
May 10, 2025 – Bogotá, Colombia
May 23, 2025 – Madrid, Spain
Jul. 11 – 13, 2025 – Mogilovo, Bulgaria – Midalidare Rock 2025
Jul. 17, 2025 – Bremen, Germany – Seebühne Rockt! 2025

January 2025 UK TOUR

SPECIAL GUESTS

ART NATION & CHEZ KANE

TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM
www.myticket.co.uk/artists/h-e-a-t

Bristol, Fleece

Tuesday 28th January 2025

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2 St Thomas St, Redcliffe, Bristol, BS1 6JJ
https://thefleece.co.uk

Nottingham, Rescue Rooms

Wednesday 29th January 2025

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Rescue Rooms, Masonic Place, Goldsmith Street,
Nottingham, NG1 5LB
www.rescuerooms.com

Manchester, Club Academy

Thursday 30th January 2025

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Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PR
www.manchesteracademy.net

London, Islington Assembly Hall

Friday 31st January 2025

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Upper St, Islington, London, N1 2UD
https://islingtonassemblyhall.co.uk

Wolverhampton, KK’s Steel Mill

Saturday 1st February 2025

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Starworks Warehouse, Frederick Street, WV2 4DU
www.kkssteelmill.co.uk

H.E.A.T Announce New album
“Welcome To The Future”

Welcome to the Future’ is now available for pre-order and will be released in multiple formats: CD Jewel case, black vinyl, limited edition Neon Orange vinyl, and Digital.