Friday
Swan & Heron stages
These stages will operate alternately so you will be able to see all of every band if you wish.
Both stages, and the bar, are housed within one marquee to protect you from the weather.
Nektar
NVRF EXCLUSIVE SHOW
This is the ONLY show anywhere in the UK/Europe!
This is the LAST EVER show in the UK or Europe!
The show will be at least 2 hours long!
They will premiere new album "Mission To Mars" with a 3D visual projection - glasses will be provided!
Nektar, formed in 1969, are a band of British prog and rock pioneers who developed their craft to huge success initially in Germany. As contemporaries of early Yes, Hawkwind, Man and Pink Floyd they developed many extended conceptual compositions interspersed with rock gems. Still led by original member ‘Mo’ Moore (bass & vocals), Nektar has captured the imagination and admiration of listeners the world over with their multi-media concerts, melding a jam-band vibe with superb musicality and a visual cornucopia that perfectly complements the performance.
Gryphon
Legendary and unpredictable, the antidote to genres, Gryphon celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2023 and remain as impossible to pigeonhole as ever, blending progressive, folk, rock, classical and early music. Successful throughout the 1970s, touring with Yes, Steeleye Span and Mahavishnu Orchestra, Gryphon stunned their faithful admirers with the 'ReInvention' album in 2018, followed by 'Get Out Of My Father’s Car' two years later. Back on the road again, Gryphon are once more wowing their global fan base and winning new audiences with their originality, humour and stunning virtuoso musicianship.
Deborah Bonham Band
Deborah Bonham, over the course of an impressive career, has established herself as one of the finest Blues, Rock and Soul singers that the UK has produced. A string of critically acclaimed original albums, collaborations and captivating standing ovation concert performances, from the Royal Albert Hall and London Palladium to the Amphitheatres of the USA 'Stars Align Tour' with Paul Rodgers, Jeff Beck and Ann Wilson of Heart, have consistently garnered glowing reviews.
Square Wild
Winners of Prog magazine's 2023 award for best unsigned band, followed by a battle of the bands for a slot at Bloodstock, Square Wild are confusing audiences around the land by playing thoughtful, original music that keeps going to places you don't expect! You'll find inspirational lyrics mixed with tales of fantasy, hook-laden rock anthems that might veer into ska or samba, inventive drumming reminiscent of some of the greats, mesmerising guitar, the odd bass solo and then there's Lucy's vocals and stage presence. Most likely thing you'll hear from the crowd? "Wow, wasn't expecting that!"
Austin Gold
All the way from.... Peterborough! Austin Gold's debut album “Before Dark Clouds” showcases ten original songs blended in a melting pot of influences to come together as something that is really very special – think Bad Company meets Foo Fighters with hints of Pink Floyd. From heavy guitar riffs, to the most delicate heart-felt ballads, from atmospheric sonic landscapes, to hook-driven melodies. The band, of David James Smith (vocals & guitar), Lee Churchill (bass), Adam Leon (keyboards) and James Pepper (drums), have been building a reputation as one of the best live acts around.
Pearl Handled Revolver
Pearl Handled Revolver have travelled a long way to get to 2023. Thankfully, over the last decade they have had the decency to send regular updates of their escapades. Their four EPs, two Live albums and four studio albums chart a journey from the limits of primal blues, via unlikely liaisons between cult film scores and bare bones Stoner Rock, to blackened psychedelic soul music.
Ebb
With a melting pot of influences that flowed and evolved into modern prog rock... a sound forged during years of touring in various line-ups and expressed through top-notch musicianship... Ebb are a genre-defying group of five women and one guy with a mission to 'Bring Prog to the People!'.
Not to be missed live, Ebb are an emotional gig experience that will lift you out of your daily life and blast you into the stratosphere. You loved them at NVRF 2023 - so we just had to bring them back!
Derecho
​​Derecho hold the distinction of being the very first band to play at the first NVRF - so we thought it only right to bring them back! “An original take on gothic-tinged, emotional rock. Frontwoman and songwriter Jo Ash is a gift to the genre, with a voice that soars and swoops through the rolling thunderclouds”. So said The Musician in November 2019 when they reviewed Derecho’s album ‘Beneath A Stained Glass Sky’, and you’ll hear a few echoes of Kate Bush, Siouxsie Sioux and Evanescence in the band’s original music.
Roadhouse
Formed in 1991, Roadhouse are one of the UK's top festival bands, featuring a two girl singer, two lead guitarist line up including Chris Walker, ex Skinny Molly now on lead guitar. Roadhouse have released 12 critically acclaimed albums, latest is '2,000 Miles On The Road' which reached number 7 in the IBBA charts. They have played in festivals across Europe/UK including Glastonbury, the National Blues Festival, The Skegness Festival of Rock and Blues (13 Times) plus many others.
Friday
Kingfisher stage
This stage will usually offer a clear contrast to the bands in our other marquee.
Papa Shango
We put them on at NVRF 2023 - and a few wondered what on Earth we were doing! Then you saw them... and life was never the same again. "Please can we do it again?" they asked. "We want them back" you said. So here they are... Self described as a circus rock act with mayhem and madness guaranteed to leave jaws dropped, Papa Shango mix all the elements to give the audience something very, very different! Once described by Herts Live as "Highly skilled musicians with fine song writing nous, they’re nothing like anything you’ve seen or heard before”, the NME (no less) countered with “The internet killed live music… Papa Shango are saving it”!
Big Wolf Band
The Big Wolf Band live shows incorporate hard edged blues rock with dynamic highs, lows and a high energy filled set that incorporates everything you want to see from a live band. Big Wolf Band has wowed audiences, festivals, and promoters up and down the country. One of the UK’s best blues rock outfits continue their rise with their biggest headline tour to date promoting their new album “Rebel’s Journey”. Are you ready to run with the pack?
Mother Black Cap
After hugely appreciated performances at last years HRH Prog & Danfest and a well received release of the first new album for 10 Years - Caveman TV - the band are looking forward to playing this years NVRF.
They bring their brand of classic prog in the style of Floyd, Camel, Focus etc, add a splash of 80's neo-prog and a dash Spock's Beard and you've got some great songs and music to enjoy. But the band also entertain with humorous stories, gimmicks etc - you will be entertained!
Autumn Killers
The band was set-up just before lockdown in 2019, but never really got to gig before covid struck. Whilst in Lockdown they thought they would try something different. They spent months sending music back and forth via email as they couldn't see each other. What came out of this was their highly acclaimed debut album DARKSIDE which was released in 2021. The past 2 years they have gigged from Bournemouth to Scotland which has helped to build a fanbase. The follow up to their album comes out in Autumn 2024
The Tirith
The Tirith are a genuine prog band from the 70s, and reformed in 2010 to fulfill the dream, releasing their debut album “Tales from the Tower” to critical acclaim in 2015. The band play an original brand of guitar based prog supplemented by keyboards. They have appeared at numerous festivals including Danfest, HRH, Fusion, Prog for Peart and Sonic Rock Solstice. 2019 saw the release of their 2nd album “A Leap into the Dark”, followed by their 3rd album “Return of the Lydia” in October 2022.
Shaw's Trailer Park
Shaw's Trailer Park are a Brighton/UK based dustbowl psych/garage rock band. Punchy rock n roll mixed with longer guitar fuzz battles! Recent reviews have have ranged from “Insistent riffing and catchy ear-worm tunes… Even a bit of Wilko Johnson in there!” via “…could have been created anytime between 1966 and today, timeless hardcore garage rock..." to “Kozmik, trippy and all the better for it! Some lovely walls of sound – Old Skool and New Skools collide!”
Delfinia
Delfinia was started in 2013 in Ukraine as a studio project of Konstantin Naumenko (the vocalist of one of the best Ukrainian power metal bands - Sunrise). The debut full-length studio album "Deep Elevation", with participation of many famous musicians from around the world, was released in 2019 and got a good reviewer’s response from around the world.
In 2023 due to the war in Ukraine, Konstantin and Daria (keyboard player) moved to the UK and built the new line up for Delfinia, which became a Northampton-based band.