Steel Paws Festival 2025: Highlights

Boasting a stellar lineup of grassroots rock bands at Sheffield's Sidney and Matilda venue, Steel Paws is a festival that purrs loudly with excitement! Formerly known as 'Mogstock', the one-day festival raises funds for The Sheffield Cats Shelter. Let's take a look at some of my personal highlights of the day!

Alabama Crow

Opening up the festival with a pounding energy of heavy, country/blues inspired rock were Scottish outfit, Alabama Crow. Having only formed in 2024, the band have already made their mark on the scene performing at numerous festivals over the summer season including Savfest, Mayor's Fest, Love Rocks, and Wildfire, all to great reception. Their performance at Steel Paws was no exception. This fun-loving band really know how to work a crowd, they are pure joy to watch. Check our their self-titled track below, but be warned its very likely to be stuck in your head for the forseeable.

Heartbreak Remedy

Next up are a band from the Lake District, that beatifully blend a mix of blues, glam and punk into a driving rock n roll 3 piece package. The good times immediately start to roll when this band grace the stage with grooving guitars, driving drums and vicious vocals! With their striking sound and style this band are hard to miss, and personally I feel would go very nicely with a bottle of Jack Daniels! Check out their track, "21 Kings" from their latest album, "Let the good times roll".

DeadBlondeStars

Steel Paws did not dissapoint in the variety of music, and next up were grungey/alt-rockers DeadBlondeStars. This local 5 piece band put on a powerhouse performance akin to that of Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam, only much heavier. These guys are right up my street; lead vocalist Gary Walker certainly gives Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell a run for their money, and the harmonies are just gorgeous. With 3 guitarists on stage you can expect a thick, grungey sound that shows the bands' many layers. Check out their track "Alaska" from their second album, "Metamorphosis".

Not Now Norman

This next band have a presence and an attitude that you simply cannot ignore. Their in-your-face style and punchy, no-holds-barred, hard rock sound is infectious. Hailing from the north east, Not Now Norman have made a name for themselves on the rock circuit performing to rowdy crowds at festivals like Call of The Wild, Savfest and Lindisfarne, as well as gaining airplay on BBC Introducing and Planet Rock thanks to their strong DIY work ethic. These are certainly one to watch! Check out their latest track, "Family Photo".

We Three Kings

Technically a duo, spiritually a trio and proving that you don't always need a stage full of people to make a LOT of noise; its the no-frills, straight-talking, hard-hitting rock band, We Three Kings. They're a delightful combination of riff-filled punk and blues that gets your feet stomping, your head banging and your fists in the air! Manchester has produced some of the finest bands, and these lads (Rich, Pete, and of course, Bonesy) are no exception!

Check out their latest track, "Nothing Without Me".

Apriori

Another trio that makes a lot of noise, and they certainly did this weekend when they closed out the festival with a bang, its the band that often gets their name pronounced wrong (I myself have been guilty of this... sorry)... Apriori (no apostrophe)! This band have got some killer tracks that will have you singing your heart out along with Tony's piercing lead vocal and insane guitar shreds, Mousey pounding the drums like a wild animal, and Mark's unwavering energy and fast finger-work on the keyboards. Apriori are a much-loved band on the scene and its easy to see why. Check out the title track to their latest album, "Voodoo Love".

A huge thank you to Phil, AKA Catman, for inviting me to Steel Paws this year it was an absolute pleasure, and of course for putting on another awesome festival with some amazing bands and all for a great cause!

Pics courtesy of Nick Ashton Photography: nickashtonphotography.co.uk

Steel Paws: https://www.facebook.com/mogstock/about?locale=en_GB

Sheffield Cats Shelter: https://thesheffieldcatsshelter.org/