Yasss Queens – It’s a Wednesday night under the big top and the circus has rolled into town. The now well-established five-day fest, Rock n Roll Circus, has gone big this year, kicking things off with a two-night residency from legends (and our future mayor?): Queens of the Stone Age.
Support on night one comes from the equally brilliant Viagra Boys and Fat Dog, and things really kick into gear with the barely-contained chaos of the Swedes. The notorious sports fans confusingly proclaim it’s their first time in Sheffield – despite the fact I definitely saw them at The Foundry in 2022 – before shouting out ’90s SWFC full-back (and fellow Swede) Roland Nilsson, though they mistake him for an ice hockey player. Unhinged and fitting.
Following Viagra Boys, Fat Dog absolutely go off at the Electric Carousel stage. Sweaty, ‘Running’ circle pits get us right in the mood for QOTSA – but honestly, they’re a hard act to top.
Josh Homme and his Queens take to the stage at 9pm for a two-hour tour de force through their back catalogue.
It’s worth saying – I reckon Josh Homme has got some kind of witch’s curse over everyone. Somehow, he appeals to indie kids and metalheads without losing any credibility, still being really fucking cool, and looking like he’d beat you in a fight. It doesn’t seem fair. What devilry is this?
Anyway, tonight they start big – launching into You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar, but I Feel Like a Millionaire, No One Knows, and Burn the Witch. An epic three-song opener.
Josh inevitably has the audience in the palm of his hand. Throughout the set he peppers in praise for the people of Sheffield and asks for our votes when he runs for the city’s highest office. He can easily count on thousands in this crowd.
The set continues to hit the band’s high notes, with a couple of new ones thrown into the mix, before they get to Emotion Sickness, where Josh halts the song after spotting a “RIP Mark Lanegan” flag. The band then launch into Hanging Tree – which Lanegan sang on – as a tribute.
From there on out, it kicks up another gear – an epic, crowd-contributing Make It Wit Chu, a breakneck Go With the Flow, and a massive, pummelling A Song for the Dead to close.
The circus is well and truly in town.
There’s a few tix left for round 2 tonight, as well as the three remaining nights including Rev’s 20th anniversary party, all available here.
