These Wicked Rivers/The Virginmarys -
Storey's Field Centre, Cambridge, Thursday, November 20th, 2025
'Rock & Roll Odyssey Tour'
Setlist: Just A Ride/You’re A Killer/Trippin’ New York City/Northwest Coast/Portrait Of Red/My Nettle/White Knuckle Riding/Where Are You Now/There Ain’t No Future/When The Lights Go Down/Bang, Bang, Bang.
Openers tonight are The Virginmarys from Macclesfield and it's my first live experience of them. The duo comprised of Ally Dickaty (Vocals/Guitar) & Danny Dolan (Drums) certainly know how create an atmosphere as they deliver a set that features fan favourites and fresh cuts.
There are some monstrous riffs and some enormous drums as Dolan barely stays seated. Dickaty looks like he has just stepped off the set of Peaky Blinders looking a bit menacing as he delivers a fiery furnace of fury from his fretboard, his vocals hitting the spot perfectly.
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The songs come fast as they are played with raw intensity, which turns the venue into a sweaty mess. Their Wikipedia page describes their music as; Rock, Punk & Alternative, throw in the word Modern and you will have some idea what it sounds and feels like.
I have to say they were more than memorable. They were intense and gave it their all. It all ends with a ‘Bang, Bang, Bang! and I look forward to my next encounter.
Setlists: Evergreen/Black Gold/Force Of Nature/When The War Is Won/Riverboat Man/Sign Of The Times/Lonely Road/Just To Be A Man/Rise/The Family/Testify/Shine On/Horse To Water/Don’t Pray For Me.
Over the last 18 months or so I have witnessed Theses Wicked Rivers 3 times, tonight it will be my 4th. I have seen this incredible band blow supposed bigger bands away.
To use a football analogy, on paper the opposition don’t have a chance, but then again, the football is played on grass not paper. These Wicked Rivers have 2 albums to their name; a 3rd is on the way as I write this review. Both debut, 'Eden' and sophomore release, 'Force Of Nature' are good but they don’t really capture the true raw majestic sound that they create live.
Vocalist, John Hartwell tells me after the show that they will be doing their best to capture that magic with the new release. Back to my analogy, music is played on a stage not on plastic. On stage is where it really connects and means something, well everything.
Having recently seen These Wicked Rivers on the Churches Tour I was well aware of what to expect from them, the music creates an ebb and flow that currently makes them one of the must-see bands out there. At the Storey’s Field Centre there was a very noticeable rise in temperature as Rainbow’s 'Long Live Rock 'N' Roll' exploded through the speakers, the vocal volume of the punters rising with it.
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Then we get the huge presence of John Hartwell, who is immediately in command with his bourbon-soaked voice. Actually, I have forgot to mention the stage which is adorned as always with scarves, lampshades a hatstand and other paraphernalia which creates a homely vibe (well for me anyway) which sets our headliners apart from the rest.
Guitarist extraordinaire Aaran Day, looks like he wants to set the world on fire as he begins bending the strings to his will and constantly turning like a in perpetual motion spinning top, frequently kicking out a leg.
‘Evergreen’ kicks off proceedings, followed by ‘Black Gold’ & ‘Force Of Nature’, by this point even those who are only just beginning their Odessey with this Derby based band are in awe.
Hartwell’s between song banter is not just welcoming, it is captivating, it embraces you like you embrace a friend into your home, it is this warmth that makes it all so special, we are one big family. Jon Hallam on bass bounces and bobs, his hair taking on a life of its own as he delivers the bottom end.
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On keyboards you have the multi-talented Rich Wilson, who sprinkles a rich tapestry of sounds over the music, Wilson can be a hard man to see, partly because of the size of the stage, but mostly because Hallam occupies most of the space immediately in front of him, give him more room please where possible.
Dan Southall on drums supplies all the beat you need as his sticks dance with dexterity over his set. He is the perfect symbol of their ever-increasing success! Let’s briefly return to guitar wizard Mr Day. His playing of his Gretsch guitars is awesome.... and when the twin neck comes out... wow!
Moving on with the show, highlights are to frequent to mention but ‘Riverboat Man’ is one of these, building gently around pounding drums, before the vocals then everything else comes in. If you haven’t seen the video check it out. From what I can tell we get treated to two new songs from the forthcoming album (please tell me if I am wrong about these).
‘Sign Of The Times’ comes just before the midway point, apart from being in the setlist, I can find no live clip of this. ‘Horse To Water’ comes later and starts with tasty guitar courtesy of our hat wearing and bearded six string man. It is a song that is mid-tempo and kinda countrified blues, it is a nice addition to the set.
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‘Don’t Pray For Me’ closes the show in magical fashion and proves that These Wicked Rivers are on the ‘Rise’, something I can ‘Testify’ to. As always, the band have plenty of time to chat to everyone which creates ‘The Family’ vibe and ethos.
Superb!
By Paul Mace