Morning! ……and another good day for the weather …we must all be dreaming surely! That’s three in a row for perhaps the first time over a weekend this Summer and more likely at all at a Festival this year!

It’s another strong turn-out today too.

Looking forward to another excellent lineup today, with apologies again to those that were missed due to the necessary clashes at an event like MoS.

First up on the Firestarter Stage are Gianni Scalera & The Jury, covering at late notice for Big River whose singer, Adam Baron is currently unwell (best wishes to Adam for a speedy recovery). Gianni Scalera & The Jury deliver a faultless set of contemporary infused Hard-Rock which is difficult to pigeon hole (all the better for that!), and a good size crowd loved it. Excellent job!

Phoenix Lake open up on The Phoenix stage, which is very apt!, with their Symphonic Metal sound, and give an uplifting performance underpinned by a great Hard-Rock delivery and lovely vocals.

Preacher Stone set the Inferno Stage on fire from the off, with their humdinger of a proper Southern Rock sound! Tribute to Marty (Hill) the founder and guitarist of Preacher Stone who passed earlier this year is evident with Ben Robinson playing his guitar for much of the set. Nick Nguyen (guitar) is the new member of Preacher Stone and has seamlessly integrated with the band. Preacher Stone are the real deal and bring the party to Mote Park for everyone to enjoy. Hell Yeah!

Oli Brown and the Dead Collective are in for These Wicked Rivers who cannot attend due a family emergency (all the best to them and their extended family). The whole set was mesmerising, mixing power trio Blues and near-Prog alongside sublime harmonies and just amazing guitar work. Oli (Brown), Sam (Wood) and Wayne (Proctor) delivered one of the truly stand-out performances of the day. There was a lovely touch throughout the set and also at the very end, with a ‘Lampshade’ sitting on the stage and making an appearance in the photos in tribute to These Wicked Rivers.

Darnell Cole & The Vibe take the Firestarter Stage under their wings and deliver a faultless Bluesy show to a large crowd who lap it up. The Vibe have a real feeling with soul and groove aplenty and are the perfect tonic for a Sunday afternoon in the sunshine in Kent (vs a vs Southern California).

Jared James Nichols pummels the Inferno Stage with his heavy hitting power trio delivery which is most enjoyable, and closes with a superb rendition of the Sabbath Classic ‘War Pigs’.

The Karma Effect on the Firestarter Stage bring the ‘dirty sweet Rock n Roll’ party to everyone in the crowd and keep the tempo up all through the show.

Living Colour offer up their genre busting show to the Inferno Stage and give everyone a lift with their funky Metal. A perfect Sunday afternoon crowd-pleaser.

Larkin Poe on The Phoenix Stage came on with a really strong and energetic performance of Roots Blues Rock which went down a treat with the large crowd. The Lovell sisters’ vocal and guitar work is exemplary and is backed up by a solid rhythm section. Larkin Poe surely picked up another decent tranche of followers this evening.

Mr. Big closed the whole weekend on The Inferno Stage with their ‘Big Finish’ career closing tour and show and delivered a great set including all their big tunes, even allowing for Eric Martin’s hospitalisation in Maidstone (there was a risk that Eric wouldn’t make it to the gig due to complications from a recent fall, but he pushed though and delivered the goods). The band are technically absolutely excellent. Bill Sheehan and Paul Gilbert being pretty much the best around.

The Sun sets on the second MoS, and what a great Festival it has been. Friendly, well organised and with a really good selection and coverage of bands for everyone to enjoy.

A great event, see you all next year!

Oz (photos: Oz and John Bull).