NVRF 2026 ~ 3rd-6th September ~ Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincs
The UK's boutique Classic Rock, Prog and Blues Festival
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.
FM
Formed in 1984 when singer Steve Overland and his brother, guitarist Chris teamed up with drummer Pete Jupp and bassist Merv Goldsworthy, FM were soon touring with the likes of Tina Turner, Foreigner Gary Moore and Bon Jovi on their "Slippery When Wet" tour. For the next nine years FM consolidated their position at the forefront of British melodic rock, touring extensively as headliners and also joining bands such as Status Quo and Whitesnake.
And FM haven't stopped since. Headline tours both in the UK and overseas, special guest slots touring with Foreigner, Journey, Thin Lizzy and Heart and numerous major festival appearances. In 2024 their 40th Anniversary saw the release of their fourteenth studio album 'Old Habits Die Hard'.
Corky Laing's Mountain
Corky Laing is a legendary powerhouse drummer, songwriter, singer, and raconteur. He is best known as the drummer of the bands Mountain (1969-) and West, Bruce & Laing (1972-74). Over his 50+ years career, he has written, recorded, and performed with the who-is-who of rock. Since 2015, Corky has been touring the world with Corky Laing’s Mountain, a band that celebrates Mountain’s musical legacy with passion and authenticity.
Ebb
Hailed as one of the bands of the year by many who came to the first three NVRFs, the award-winning Ebb are back again as one of our Fab Five. 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's ever growing show will give you an emotional experience that will lift you out of your daily life and blast you into the stratosphere.
Pearl Handled Revolver
Pearl Handled Revolver have travelled a long way to get to where they are now. 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. They've also fitted in two previous appearances at NVRF and we're very pleased to have them back again!
Lesoir
Lesoir, a five-piece band from Maastricht, Netherlands, formed in 2009, has steadily grown a global fan base. In 2019, they toured Europe with Riverside, and their self-released album Mosaic earned widespread acclaim. During the pandemic, they released the 20-minute epic Babel, which sold out quickly. In 2022, they began recording their sixth album, Push Back The Horizon, produced by John Cornfield and Paul Reeve (Muse). The album, set for release by V2 Records in 2024, explores human relationships, life’s complexities, and collective action.
Hellfire Club
Famed for their thunderous live show, the Hellfire Club is a seditious hard rock band hailing from Brighton, UK. The band will tell you inspirations are drawn from both sides of the pond stretching back to 70’s UK rock/metal scene, through sleazy riffs of the Sunset Strip, all the way through to today’s stadium filling rock anthems. Cutting and clever lyrics cover multiple bases including unity, politics, equality… and even the proletariat spirit of stringing up the tax man…
Paulie Boy Blues
​Paulie Boy Blues (and the Yorkshire Puddings) are a transatlantic blues-rock powerhouse blending raw American soul with gritty Northern English edge. Fronted by the electrifying U.S. guitar slinger Paulie Boy Blues and anchored by Newcastle’s own Harry Stalker and Adam Crooks, this trio delivers a sound steeped in the spirit of Hendrix—but with a voice entirely their own. Fiery, authentic, and unfiltered, they don’t just play the blues—they literally are pure blues.
The Soul Revival
The Soul Revival has been making waves in the rock music scene with their latest release, "Dark Shadows In My Heart." Formed in 2023, The Soul Revival quickly garnered a dedicated fanbase with their dynamic sound and captivating stage presence. Drawing inspiration from classic rock legends while infusing their unique contemporary edge, the band has carved out a distinct niche in the music world.
Members of The Soul Revival are not just musicians; they are storytellers, conveying raw emotion and powerful narratives through their music
Alphaline
AlphaLine is a four-piece band from Berkshire & Surrey, seamlessly blending trip-hop, jazz, funk, ambient electronica, and alternative psychedelic rock into a sound that's uniquely their own. Influenced by Massive Attack, Porcupine Tree, the fires of transformation, and the pulse of the underground, AlphaLine crafts immersive sonic journeys rooted in soul, grit, and cosmic wonder. Step into the enigmatic world of 'Electromagnetic', where ethereal melodies weave through pulsating rhythms, resonating with echoes of distant galaxies and untold secrets. AlphaLine will be releasing a second album in 2026
Kingfisher stage
This stage will usually offer a clear contrast to the bands in our other marquee.
Spriggan Mist
Appearances at events up and down the country, together with all three previous Nene Valley Rock Festivals has ensured The Spriggs audience has grown and grown. Their version of Prog is diverse , blending overdriven guitars with instruments such as saxophone, recorders and whistles - a perfect backdrop for charismatic vocalist Fay Brotherhood to tell stories in that unique singing voice. Sometimes described as folk or pagan rock, their outlook is certainly progressive. Another band you told us you loved, and who knows what to expect from them this time around!
The Claire Hamill Band
Fronted by pioneering British singer-songwriter Claire Hamill — known for her work with Wishbone Ash and Steve Howe of Yes — the Claire Hamill Band brings a fresh, powerful sound that bridges folk, rock and progressive music. Drummer Sonny Flint (formerly of Martin Turner ex-Wishbone Ash, who played Nene Valley last year) joined Claire in late 2024, and together with Sean Elliott (guitars) and John Nicholls (bass) they formed the band. Expect soaring vocals, rich melodies and dynamic, heartfelt songs from their latest album Troubadour.
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The Dead Can Wait
The Dead Can Wait play 80's style classic rock. Their debut album In Lumine was released with a fantastic reaction in Oct 24. The bands classic but modern sound has been likened to Iron Maiden and Queensryche. Hailing from Reading, three of the band members originally met back in the 1970s with a chance meeting bringing them back together in 2024. The album was recorded and produced by Asia guitarist John Mitchell and you may recognise the bass player and drummer from festival favourites The Room.
Cry For Mercy
Raw, high-octane performances that blend grit, soul, and authenticity. Playing original songs from their critically acclaimed new album 'This Machine', released on 4 April 2025 and earned 4.5-star reviews and praise as "one of the best UK blues-rock albums of 2025". Cry For Mercy have electrified stages alongside acts like The Quireboys, Danny Bryant, Pat McManus Band, Chantel McGregor, and Warrior Soul.
The band has earned glowing praise from critics, such as "luxurious guitar work" and "muscle-bound drumming"!
Sonic Tapestry
Sonic Tapestry were formed in Crewe Cheshire in 2009. Starting out playing progressive rock/metal covers the band always wanted to write their own songs. They began to introduce original numbers during shows and eventually became a fully fledged original prog band. Influenced by many of the legendary prog band's... Pink Floyd, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Gentle Giant, Yes, Marillion etc they put emphasis on melody and harmony in their own tunes. The band released their first album 'Aftermath' in 2016 and their second album 'Into The Sun in 2024'.
t.b.a.
We're not able to announce this one just yet!