Photo: WENN
The 2015 Vans Warped! Tour UK has had its sceptics from the day the lineup was announced. Somewhat "controversial" band bookings led many fans to question, after the year-long absence, whether the expensive ticket was worth it.
The day didn’t get off to the best fashion, with delays getting the crowd into the arena late, causing further delays on the main stage performances and forcing bands to cut short their sets; not a popular move.
First up to awake the crowd were The Word Alive, who put on a lively show and did the opening crowd duty fair justice. Bar the stage time delays, the transition between stage acts flowed smoothly.
It was a welcome return for Metro Station making their first UK appearance in 6 years. "We split up 5 years ago, but we promise never to let you guys down and do that again,” beamed frontman Trace Cyrus, who gave fans a memorable trip down memory lane for 'Shake It'.
To the second stage, where Fearless Vampire Killers were not having the set they wanted. A set of technical problems meant that frontman Kier Kemp’s voice couldn’t be heard above the band and terrible feedback would screech back. It didn’t stop the band once they reached their stride though, and they gave the crowd a respected show.
There were no such problems for main stage titans Attila, who had by far the biggest circle pit of the day, aiming for a world record of getting the crowd around the entire hall and soundboard; it didn’t quite work but was an impressive sight.
The disappointment of the main stage acts came from Memphis May Fire, who had plenty of the crowd behind them, and yet the performance was a static display, and a lack of interaction made for a way below par show.
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes stole the show for the second stage. It was business as usual for the frontman, who wasted no time leaping into the crowd and ordering a circle pit around him.
Heck were last up on the Kevin Says stage, and took the interaction to a new level, with the microphone stands and drumkit brought into the crowd for their fast and furious short headline slot.
Co-headliners Asking Alexandria had an impressive pyro show, with new vocalist Denis Stoff proving he wasn’t out his depth for a headline show in terms of performance, but it was a poor live vocal display.
The pyrotechnics show was all in force for Black Veil Brides and the experienced quintet ended the day respectfully but not memorably. The crowd was behind them in strong voice from start to finish; but it wasn't the headline performance that the event and historic venue demanded. Make no mistake, both are headline acts - just not festival ones.
Subsequent fan reviews for Warped! 2015 won't be as positive as its hosts might have wished. The event has so much promise but there are still lessons to be learnt from its consistently successful American counterpart.
