The 22nd Rock & Blues Custom Show at Pentrich promised an excellent line up of bands. The event included regular favourites such as Blackfoot and Saor Patrol, a 48 hour Custom Bike Build off, an aerobatic display and stunt bike displays.
There were also Bikini Babe, Tattoo and Beer Belly competitions and a wide array of merchandise stalls, along with the usual exhibition of bikes to admire.
 | | Aerobatic |
There was a constant stream of people through the exhibition tents doing just that throughout the weekend. The Cross Pistol Saloon (aka the beer tent) put on a good selection of bands, many of them local, including the well known Derby group Neverland on Saturday night, and ran the heats of the competitions there throughout Friday and Saturday. On the main stage, Waysted saved the day on Friday by coming on early and giving a great performance when Skinny Molly couldn’t make it. Nothing, including the torrential rain on the opening day, which turned the show ground into a virtual mud pit, was going to put a damper on the weekend. Blackfoot closed the show on the main stage on Friday evening with a fantastic performance, full of energy, with the crowd in the palm of their hands. Saturday looked to be a much better day for the weather with sunshine helping to dry out the muddy conditions for the thousands of people there. Local band, Fat Stan opened at the Cross Piston Saloon with a lively set, before the finals of the Bikini Babe, Beer Belly and Tattoo competitions. The custom show trophy presentations were made away from the main stage area due to the muddy conditions, and the band line up continued there instead. Up and coming band Rise to Addiction followed the ever popular opening from Saor Patrol on the main stage. The charismatic vocals and energetic performance of singer Leigh Oates gave a great front to the excellent lead guitar work from Steve Wray and John Slater, and the awesome bass of Rob Naylor, with Aynsley Dickinson really giving it some on drums. Definitely a rising band to watch in the future.
AntiProduct gave a very visual performance with some very punky tracks. A. Product, lead singer, really had the crowd jumping with “Bungee Jumping People Die” after a brief sortie up to the front of the crowd, when he realised the stage was higher than he thought! The Damned gave a great performance with some of their obvious favourites, leaving the crowd calling for more. Thunder had the crowd absolutely jumping for the whole of their set, proving their popularity hasn’t diminished over time. They covered older tracks and played their new single 'I Love You More Than Rock 'n' Roll”, taken from their latest album 'The Magnificent Seventh'. After a half hour break, 'The Australian Pink Floyd Show' was announced to a roar of approval and it was obvious that the majority of the crowd had been waiting for these guys. If, like me you’re a huge Pink Floyd fan and never got to see them live, then make a point of seeing the Aussies when they tour the UK next March. They were absolutely outstanding and the closest many of will get to the real thing. With an original Pink Floyd light show for the set, they proved again how well Floyd music lends itself to a huge outdoor setting. They sounded fantastic and the light show was amazing, covering classic Floyd tracks from Dark Side of The Moon, The Wall and Division Bell to name a few. From half way back in the crowd it was almost deafening during Another Brick In The Wall and Comfortably Numb, almost outdone by the audience singing along with Shine On Your Crazy Diamond. The crowd covered almost every available space in the ground, transfixed for the set of almost two hours, and were shouting for more even after the encore, finishing the show on Run Like Hell. An absolutely outstanding end to the great line up of bands on the main stage. One thing that has to be mentioned about the weekend, was the outstanding job done with regards litter and keeping the facilities clean. You couldn’t fault it. Walking back after the crowd had dispersed on the Saturday night, there was litter everywhere, and yet at 7am on Sunday morning it had all been completely cleared up by the crew. It’s the behind-the-scenes care and attention that helps make the Rock and Blues Custom Show a constant success every year, come rain or shine, and this year was no exception. Alli Price | 
