High Voltage was a triumph. Okay, we know we’re biased, but overall we reckon it’s been the best outdoor festival so far this year – because it was bold and brave enough to bring back ELP,  to back prog and to give us a bill that was all killer, no filler. Roll on 2011.

Check out a selection of rather excellent photographs from High Voltage below. Ah, memories!

Did you spot Yoda on stage with Bigelf?

Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth

The main Classic Rock Stage

Cormac Neeson and James Heatley of The Answer

Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society

Kelly Hansen of Foreigner

Gary Moore

Luke Morley of The Union

ZZ Top

The Metal Hammer stage

The Prog Stage

The Wall Of Death, one of the many fairground attractions at High Voltage

Words: Malcolm Dome

As the sun rises ever higher in the sky, and glasses of water (ahem!) get ever emptier, it’s time to catch a glimpse of Bigelf on the Prog stage, a band with a growing profile. Guess what? They live up to that reputation. Led by the enigmatic, yet charismatic Damon Fix, these fellas deliver a set that brings to mind Atomic Rooster – only with a little more humour. Definitely a band who win over a lot more fans.

Now, it’s time to do the 360 degree head turn, in the time honoured Exorcist style, because there are great bands everywhere you turn. On the Metal Hammer stage, Cathedral are giants as they slam their way through a performance that might owe something to doom and stoner rock, but is actually now a lot closer to early 70s heavy rock. They are a band who just get better and better.

At the same time (phew!), on the Prog stage Dweezil Zappa leads Zappa Plays Zappa through a set that reimagines (ah, that phrase) the catalogue of his father, Frank. Now, you could call this a tribute set, or even a cash in, but Dweezil is such a talented musician – and his band are so inventive – that it ends up being the right sort of celebration. Because the songs are turned inside out and completely retold. Frank himself might smile at the irony of the iconoclastic way his son has approached this heritage.

Foreigner have the ability to be one of the bands of the day, if they stick to a classic set. And that’s what they do. Opening with Double Vision, the band don’t lose sight of the fact that the festival audience wanna dance. So, apart from the title track of new album, Can’t Slow Down, it’s hit after hit after hit. Even those born long after these were recorded are getting into the groove. And when they climax with I Wanna Know What Love Is, with a massive backing choir, we get perhaps the greatest moment in UK festival history. Because while this is being performed on the main stage, the impressive Saxon are leaning into 747 (Strangers In The Night) on the Metal Hammer stage, and Asia are starting their rather excellent mix of new and traditional songs on the Prog stage with Only Time Will Tell. Come on, has ever been a moment in the lengthy narrative of British outdoor shows when three such great songs were being performed at the same time? Remarkable. Only to bettered by…

A week ago, Geezer Butler told Classic Rock that he was dreading playing the Ronnie James Dio tribute set with Heaven & Hell. One can understand why. But chocking back the emotions, Butler, together with Tony Iommi and Vinny Appice, send shivers down the spine as they deliver the ultimate tribute to the man who’s not there. It has to be said that singers Jorn Lande and Glenn Hughes do a stunning job, not only reminding us all of the tragic loss – and there are some truly lum in the throat moments – but also underlining the way Dio’s legacy has united us all. And when Wendy Dio comes on to read out a message for the cancer charity Stand Up And Shout, there are tears in almost every eye,. Mind you, Heaven & Hell also offer the day’s most surreal moment, when Phil Anselmo dashes on during the encore of Neon Knights and snatches the microphone from an aghast Hughes. Hat stand time.

Meanwhile on the Metal Hammer stage, Black Label Society are in hell-raising form, as Zakk Wylde proves his worth as singer and guitarist. While supergroup Transatlantic are inevitably impressive finishing off the day in style on the Prog stage, being joined by Steve Hackett for a landmark cover of the Genesis masterstroke The Return Of The Giant Hogweed.

Finally, as dusk takes orders from the bar, ZZ Top come on the main stage, reminding us once again that they are a titanic mix of great songs, brilliant musicianship and a cunning sense of humour. Is there any better way to end the first day of this tremendous festival? Oh yes… the promise of a second one to come! See ya down the front for that. Roll on the morrow.

With a career that goes back to 1991, Bigelf have three albums and a trio of EPs.  But it was last year’s Cheat The Gallows that really gave them a breakthrough over here, released on Classic Rock’s own Powerage label. Backed up by live shows, the foursome – vocalist Damon Fox, guitarist Ace Mark, bassist Duffy Snowhill and drummer Steve Frothingham – have quickly become new prog heroes.

Their appearance at High Voltage puts the seal on their rise, seeing them play alongside Transatlantic and Asia among others.

So, if you’ve not heard the band and want to know what the fuss is all about before the festival, then get the song Counting Sheep – from Cheat The Gallows – for free at http://www.bigelf.com/news/

The website to find out all the info is www.bigelf.com

This is for the song Superstar from the band’s acclaimed 2009 album Cheat The Gallows – released on Classic Rock’s very own Powerage label.

Check out all the fun of the fair (and the circus) of the new Bigelf vid right here.

Find out more about the band at www.bigelf.com

Not all are Classic Rock friendly, but the list of the new additions is:

Bigelf

Delain

Eighties Matchbox B Line Disaster

Heaven’s Basement

Karnivool

Katatonia

Polar Bear Club

Soulfly

The Union

Turisas

The festival have also added a comedy stage, with the first confirmed mirth merchants being:

Jarred Christmas

Sean Hughes

Tim Minchin

Andrew O’Neill

Sonisphere takes place July 30-August 1 at Knebworth. Among the attractions are Iron Maiden, Rammstein, Alice cooper, Iggy & The Stooges, Alice In Chains and Slayer.

Find out more at www.sonispherefestivals.com

The event happens at Solvesborg from June 9-12.

For further details, go to www.swedenrock.com.

20. Down With The Sickness – Disturbed
From the 2000 album The Sickness. One of the first, if not the first, true anthems of the 21st Century, it transcended the nu-metal genre to become part of rock lore. The chorus still resonates with venom. Watch the video here.

19. Jesus Of Surburbia – Green Day
From the 2004 album American Idiot. This is the epic centrepiece of the album’s concept, as Green Day use their pop-punk beginnings as the foundation to explore both musical and lyrical complexities. In its own way, comparable to The Who. Watch GD play it live here.

18. Country Girl – Primal Scream
From the 2006 album Riot City Blues. On which the Scream get back to rock’n'roll basics with a real impact. This is the biggest single of the band’s career to date. Little wonder – it’s a vibrant rollercoaster. Watch the band play it live here.

17. Come To Life – Alter Bridge
From the 2007 album Blackbird. Post-grunge? Yes. Post-Creed? Yes. But with a style and punch all of its own. Great American rock. Listen to the song here.

16. Money, It’s Pure  Evil – Bigelf
From the 2008 album Cheat The Gallows. Here comes a huge stab of psychedelia. Driven by a retro stoner engine that’s fuelled by hints of Beatles style genius, and a warped imagination. You gotta love it. Watch the video here.

15. Check My Brain – Alice In Chains
From the 2009 album Black Gives Way To Blue. Alice In Chains dare to return without the late Layne Staley, and dare to make it all so convincing. Watch the video here.

14. By The Way – Red Hot Chili Peppers
From the 2002 album By The Way. Stadium rock for the Noughties. Brashness gives way to a calming melody line, but with the Chili Peppers’ own momentum. Titanic, in a low-key fashion. Watch the Chilis play it live here.

13. Asking Around For You – Joe Bonamassa
From the 2006 album You & Me. This is where Bonamassa stepped up from being a protégé to becoming a hero. Adding strings to a blues track was daring and risky. But he carried it off. Result: acclaim and stature. Listen to the song here.

12. Are You Gonna Be My Girl? – Jet
From the 2003 album Get Born. Yes, it has similarities to Lust For Life by Iggy, but it also has a life of its own. Inspired by Motown, it adds that unmistakable larrikin Aussie rock lustre. Watch the video here.

11. Modern Day Delilah – Kiss
From the 2009 album Sonic Boom. So, can Kiss still rack out the lines (music, that is)? Hell, yeah. A deceptively simple platform-booted anthem – but only Kiss could pull it off. Watch the video here.

Go here for previous entries in the Classic Rock chart.

* Coming tomorrow on www.classicrockmagazine.com – numbers 10 through to 2.

Feb. 20: Oxford Academy II

Feb. 22: Glasgow Cathouse

Feb. 23: Manchester Club Academy

Feb. 24: Wolverhampton Little Civic

Feb. 25: London Camden Underworld

Bigelf will, of course, also be playing at the High Voltage Festival. For the latest info on this, go to http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/heaven-and-hell-to-play-high-voltage-festival/

Right now, the festival are offering three-day tickets at reduced rates. Go to www.swedenrock.com for the full picture.

The Canadian, who enjoyed massive success in 1982 with his self-titled, debut album and the single Fantasy, joins a bill that already has Rick Springfield, Anvil, Bigelf, Randy Bachman & Fred Turner, Jorn, Unisonic, Sabaton, D-A-D, Saga and Mother’s Finest.

To coincide with this appearance, Aldo Nova is to release his first album since 1991. It’s titled Too Much Sex. (Which could explain why it’s his first album since ‘91.)

Sweden Rock happens from June 9-12 in Solvesborg.

For further info, go to www.swedenrock.com