It’s a Saturday night in Gloucester and the rock contingent are out in force to party with Massive Wagons on their final date of a UK tour, and like so many of their other shows, the Guildhall is completley sold out.
First up though is Viking metal band LN, who’ve made the trip down from Newcastle just for this one date. Clad in chainmail, hessian, leather and face paint they’re shrouded in mist (well, dry ice, but lets not spoil the image) they begin with an atmospheric performance. From gutteral growls to melodic vocals there’s variety in their set as they largely explore nordic mythologhy. The song titles themselves; ‘The Slaughter’, ‘Fenrir’ and ‘Draugr’ are enough in themselves to know what to expect and despite not being musically aligned to the headliners their set it compelling and they’re well recieved by the Gloucester crowd, which is further evidenced by the brisk sales of their new EP at the merch desk.
It has been just a month since Massive Wagons‘ latest offering, Live At The Great Hall, went straight in at number 3 on the rock charts. A magnificent document from a band known for their incendiary live shows, it has provided the perfect appetiser for this run of dates. As the last strains of the Sex Pistols’ ‘Pretty Vacant’ fade over the PA the Wagons take to a stage considerably brighter than their predecessor and get things underway with bombastic new song ‘Everywhere We Go’. They really do seem to have a knack of getting down songs with big hooks and huge sing a long choruses. Without pausing for breath, the follow it with more of the same with ‘Fun While It Lasted’.
Many of their songs have transcended into anthems; musically upbeat you can choose to either dance to or headbang to, or both as chaotic and endearing frontman Baz Mills clearly demonstartes throughout. Lyrically they are relateable to the fans whether that’s the us against the world attitude of ‘Missing On TV’ and ‘Fuck The Haters’ or when addressing mental health on ‘Please Stay Calm’. But if it’s straight ahead hard hitting rock you want, there’s plenty of that on the menu too. ‘House Of Noise’ and ‘Banging On You Stereo’ proving why the Wagons are one of the best live bands around in 2026. Social media is covered succintly in closing track and fan favourite ‘China Plates’ with a scorcing solo from Adam Thistlethwaite.
Back for the encore sees the raucous Rick Parfitt tribute ‘Back To The Stack’ generating some serious heads down boogie, while closer ‘In It Together’ not only reflects the cameraderie that is evident within the band, but also applies to the band and its’ fans. By now a trademark, Baz boards an inflatable dinghy to surf through the crowd. He almost makes it back to the stage but succumbs to the waves as the dighy capsizes about five rows from the front. You hear a voice “I’m alright” and there’s a huge cheer. He makes it back to the stage for the finale. It’s a glorious end to a fabulous show and in 2026 you won’t find a better good time rock ‘n’ roll band than Massive Wagons.
Setlist:
Everywhere We Go
Fun While it Lasted
Please Stay Calm
Missing on TV
Fuck the Haters
Germ
Hero
Glorious
Night Skies
The Good Die Young
Generation Prime
House of Noise
Bangin in Your Stereo
China Plates
Encore:
Back to the Stack
In It Together
