These Wicked Rivers/Hayseed Dixie -
The Octagon Hall, Buxton, Saturday 10th October, 2026
This evening is going to be special. Special because it is a triumph for These Wicked Rivers, who have been together for 12 years and just released their 3rd album in the shape of the quite wonderful 'Fire & Folklore'. These Wicked Rivers are a band who have grown and risen the hard way, the proper way, by constant touring and making music that touches the listener in an emotional way.
Just as important is the fact that not only are they consummate musicians they are really nice blokes that always find time for their fans, or should I say ‘family’, because that is how they make us feel. But before we get into what is quite possibly the gig of the year let’s talk about the support band.
The openers of the night. Hayseed Dixie are not your typical rock band, just take a look at their name a play on AC/DC, they are from America and basically reinvent Heavy Metal songs and turn them into Rockgrass, a form of hillbilly Country played with banjos, mandolins, fiddles and other acoustic instruments. They have been around since 2000, though I have been aware of them this is my first time seeing them in action.
It is clear from the off that they don’t take themselves too seriously, yet they are serious musicians, the emphasis is definitely the fun factor! John (Barley Scotch) Wheeler is among the craziest wide-eyed frontman you will ever see, wild hair and clothes to match, even swigging straight from the Whiskey bottle and at one point using said bottle on the strings to create a great screeching sound!
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The rest of the band have plenty of character from shiny heads to massive beards, they certainly know how to perform and I can see the crowd love them. There are great coordinated moves and plenty of movement around the stage, plus the swigging as they do from the Whiskey and wine bottles, is it just ‘tea’? Who cares!
However for me the joke wears thin, a bit like watching Tim Vine and his quick-fire puns, 15–30 minutes is enough, making a career out of other people’s songs makes Hayseed Dixie little more than a glorified covers band, by the end of the hour I had had enough, sorry it just got too much. 'Breaking The Law', 'Ace Of Spades', 'War Pigs', 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' & 'Freebird', were amongst those played, you get the gist.
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Setlist: Shine On/The Healing/Horse To Water/Ain’t No Smoke/Love To Love/Sing Another Song/Rise/Brother Oh Brother/Better Man/Woodland Queen/Stories/The Family/When The War Is won/Black Gold/Don’t Pray For Me.
Now then the reason we are all here is to celebrate the rise of These Wicked Rivers, a band from just down the road in Belper, like many here we have travelled from a bit further afield from near Norwich in Norfolk, a round trip of over 300 miles. They have a line-up of John Hartwell (Vocals/Rhythm Guitar), Arran Day (Six String Wizard), Adam Brewell (Bass), Dan Southall (Drums) & Rich Wilson (Keyboards/Harmonica).
The pubs, restaurants and hotels are packed with TWR fans, everyone seems excited, that excitement is magnified from the moment we step inside the Octagon. As is their norm and their emphasis on ‘family’ the stage is covered in a colourful array of lamps, clocks, carpets, hatstands, drapes, making you feel like you have just dropped in to your grandparent’s home, either that or you’re at an episode of the Antiques Roadshow.
Everything about the evening has been so well thought through; photographs can be taken in front of a Wicked Rivers backdrop, messages written on small cards and hung on the family tree, and even a beard trimming service. Wicked!
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When the music starts with ‘Shine On’ we all become one, one big family. The new album is central to the night’s festivities being played in its entirety, just as it should be having reached number one in the UK Rock & Metal chart and nineteen in the overall UK chart, a feeling of happy euphoria envelops the venue. Cherry picked fan favourites, like ‘Black & Gold’ & ‘The Family’ are scattered through the set, as the sound of a band on fire fills the historic dome with power, beauty and finesse that is alive and real. Each member looking like they are having the time of their collective lives, so are we!
Visually TWR are organic, exciting and exhilarating as together they blend their instruments into a cacophony of creative sound, the keyboards, the drums, the bass lines, the lead guitar and the vocals are mesmerising. At the mid-point together we ‘Rise’ there is no other way to explain the feeling. If this has been your first time seeing the band then when it comes to ‘The Healing’, metaphorically speaking you have been “baptised in the river”, the river of the Wicked’s music.
Like most of you reading this I have seen many, many bands live, very few can create a togetherness and feel that draws and bonds people together like this. That is what makes TWR so special, they embrace you individually, then collectively. The music touching you maybe spiritually, certainly emotionally. It is impossible to pick a single highlight, my guess is ‘Stories’ is potentially high on the list for many. ‘Horse To Water’ & ‘Better Man’ are also high points for me personally. ‘Don’t Pray For Me’ closes proceedings in climatic fashion, if only they could ‘Sing Another Song’ Wow!
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As is always the case with this fantastic group of people as the show ends, they have time to meet, shake hands and speak to their adoring family, photos may not be obligatory but they feel almost compulsory, like something in your family album. This performance and show might not go down in history but it will certainly go down in Folklore.
From my family to yours, thank you. Hopefully you have not reached your Peak yet, but you are certainly in that District.
By Paul Mace