RIVAL SONS + CREEPING JEAN FOLKESTONE LEAS CLIFF HALL TUESDAY 8TH JULY 2025

The fact that Rival Sons are not a bigger band continues to be a source of bemusement to me. Though Zeppelin comparisons don’t seem to have done Greta Van Fleet any harm, there are some who claim Rival Sons are just too derivative, too much of a throwback. To my ears, they are quite simply the distillation of all that rock and roll should be; an irresistible marriage of almighty riffs, thundering drums and vocals that erupt with an other-worldly power. And yet, tonight’s show at Folkestone’s Leas Cliff Hall isn’t a sellout. It’s not that the band are lacking exposure; in the last few weeks I have seen them on enormous stages, as support to Guns N’ Roses at Wembley Stadium, and as part of the lineup at Villa Park for Black Sabbath’s monumental Back to the Beginning. But as headliners, they remain confined to these modest venues. Great news for those of us who recognise their brilliance, but not a reflection of what I feel they deserve. 

In Jay Buchanan, the Sons have a uniquely gifted vocalist, capable of tenderness and soul, but also fiery outbursts that would have positioned him as one of the greats had he been doing his thing in the 70s. Pairing a sharp suit with bare feet, he is a hypnotic presence as he prowls the stage, so much that you would struggle to look anywhere else if he wasn’t backed by one of the finest bands to have emerged in the last 20 years. Guitarist Scott Holiday, the self-proclaimed ‘Mr. Fuzz Lord’ seems to breathe incredible riffs; if you assume all the good ones have already been taken, the likes of ‘Electric Man’, ‘Open My Eyes’ and ‘Pressure and Time’ are here to prove you wrong. Michael Miley is equally formidable, making his presence known from the back of the stage, adding real weight with his drumming that is both elegant and powerful.  

There is barely a moment to breathe through the first half of the set, one absolute banger following another, a welcome barrage of classic rock par excellence featuring the slinky ‘Tied Up’ and pummelling ‘Get What’s Coming’. Buchanan first addresses the audience before ‘Shooting Stars’, dedicating it to all who are “living through the long dark night” of war. Interrupting the preceding heavier numbers, it feels particularly striking, performed by Buchanan alone, with only an acoustic guitar to accompany his voice. The lyrics are a poignant reminder of the importance of love over hate, the audience clapping in all the right places a reminder of the unifying power of music. 

Rival Sons are in the enviable position of drawing from an incredible catalogue that has maintained a level of quality many bands could only dream of. It is pleasing to hear the diversity that has crept into their sound over the years. ‘Mosaic’ is a beautiful ballad, melodic and catchy, with a chorus that builds to something truly cathartic. ‘Feral Roots’ is reminiscent of Zeppelin at their most spiritual, Holiday even utilising a twin-necked guitar to alternate between the gentle jangling verses and explosive choruses. ‘Rapture’ is a slow burn with it’s unusual, slower place, but proves ultimately just as satisfying as anything else the band have produced. These men know what they’re doing, and I am happy to follow them wherever they choose. 

‘Secret’ concludes the set, further evidence that ‘Great Western Valkyrie’ should be regarded as the band’s magnum opus. It’s transformed here into a magnificent, wandering epic that somehow integrates a little ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ before returning to where it started. It’s a song that reveals bassist Dave Beste as a bit of an unsung hero, holding that wonderful bouncing riff throughout, leaving Holiday free to solo over the top. It’s the Sons last show on this UK run, a fact that is greeted with both cheers and boos from the crowd. Hopefully it won’t be the last time we see them here in Folkestone, but if there’s any justice, bigger stages beckon.