30/06/2026
Cheers to Lyric Lounge Review for this review of our show at Valefest in May!
As darkness descends, the festival tent belonged entirely to Urban Voodoo Machine. Transforming the space into a late-night, bourbon soaked carnival, the band delivered a set that was equal parts theatrical spectacle and joyous celebration, with every song accompanied by a sense of mischief and infectious energy. We watch a lot of bands every year but Urban Voodoo Machine always stand out when we get the opportunity to see them due to their musicianship, their compelling stage presence and their fantastic songs.
‘Empty Plastic Cup’ has a compelling melody and tells of a world destroyed by greed. Urban Voodoo machine know how to captivate a crowd and the room is full of people dancing, stomping their feet and singing along. ‘Living In Fear’ tracks some of the shame and tragedy of contemporary society with references to the Windrush Scandal and Grenfell Tower Tragedy, showing that the lyrical content of the songs is as meaningful as the flamboyant performance power of the band. Its ska-spangled rhythm with frontman Angel’s strong vocal delivery has the audience dancing. ‘No Bail Blues’ swaggered into life with a heady mixture of calypso rhythms and country-blues grit. The crowd responded enthusiastically, embracing the singalongs and call-and-response moments that gave the performance such a communal atmosphere. It was impossible not to be drawn into the revelry unfolding on stage.
Much of the set’s unique character came from the band’s colourful musicianship. Slim’s accordion work added another layer of personality, while cries of ‘Olé!’ rang out across the tent and the band danced around the stage. The saxophone-led melodies brought a rich, celebratory quality that elevated the music into something truly distinctive and unforgettable.
‘Rusty Water’ and ‘Love 666’ roared with blues-rock swagger, maintaining the momentum and keeping the audience fully immersed in the band’s strange and wonderful world. Meanwhile, ‘While We Sleep’ combined stop-start rhythms and audience backing vocals with a timely warning about vigilance, proving that beneath all the carnival chaos lay songs with something meaningful to say. A great headline to an absolutely superb line up and there’s still a whole day left to go.
Saturday morning shenanigans start with the great Maynard and Holyday ‘get your ball in’ challenge, which I realise only makes sense if you are there, but skilled shots result in dubious alcoholic beverages and lots of fun all-round. We then head to watch Pete Drake, who is always entertaining b...
