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WinterStorm

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WinterStorm
GenreHeavy metal, NWOBHM, hard rock
DatesLast Weekend of November
Location(s)Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland
Years active2016 – present
FoundersIan McCaig
Capacity850
Websitewww.winterstorm.co.uk

WinterStorm is a music festival held annually in the seaside town of Troon, South Ayrshire.

History

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Since 2016 it has been held in Troon Town Hall,[1] a location that overlooks the beach and the Firth of Clyde. The event is split over two stages, the Main Stage hosts the headline acts in the Concert Hall, it has a capacity of 600 standing plus 250 seated upstairs.[2] The second stage, known as the Sessions Stage, has a capacity of 160[3] and hosts up and coming bands and artists as well as an acoustic event on the Sunday following WinterStorm; known as After the 'Storm. StormBreakers, a Battle of the Bands type event, has been held to give acts a chance to win a place on the Sessions Stage.[4]

WinterStorm was conceived by Ian McCaig[5] who is also the Festival Director and promoter of South Beach Sessions. South Beach Sessions is an ongoing programme of live music events which have included bands such as Rhino's Revenge, Pat McManus, Big Country, Stiff Little Fingers, Snakecharmer as well as a number of tribute acts.[6]

The volunteer staff that run the event are known as 'StormTroopers. The main stage event is compared by Tom Russell, with Pete K Mally comparing the Sessions Stage.

WinterStorm branded merchandise and catering includes-

  • WinterStormer Ayrshire Pie - Brownings the Bakers based in Kilmarnock.[7]
  • WinterStormin Ices - Ayrshire Ice Cream makers The Forum Cafe.[8]
  • Strathaven Ales WinterStorm Ale Cask Beer.[9]
  • Winterstorm stick of rock.

The Arran Mountains (Goat Fell) that can be seen from the Troon venue are the inspiration behind the WinterStorm logo.

Regular features of WinterStorm include-

  • The WinterStorm Deckchair - a giant 6-foot deckchair available for bands and festival goers to have their photograph taken on.[10]
  • The WinterStorm Beach Clean - volunteers clean Troon Beach on the morning of the second day. For their efforts they receive a goody bag and a wee dram of whisky.[11]

In November 2019, The Temple of the King Bench was unveiled. It was an original design iron-worked bench installed on the beach promenade. It acts as a memorial for lost musicians and absent friends. The dedication was supported by the Troon Blackrock Pipe Band and Doogie White who played an acoustic version of "The Temple of the King" (by Rainbow) - whose lyrics are inscribed on the bench "With just one wave of his strong right hand – he's gone to the Temple of the King".[12]

In 2018, WinterStorm launched a charity single. It is a cover of AC/DC’s "It's A Long Way to the Top" featuring 1st Troon Boys Brigade Pipe Band. Side B has a cover "Bad Motor Scooter" a song by Montrose. Musicians that played on the single were Chris Glen (Sensational Alex Harvey Band), Doogie White (Rainbow and Michael Schenker Group) and Paul Mcmanus (GUN). The organizations to benefit from the single are dementia-based charity Playlist For Life and the See Me project aimed at reducing the stigma of mental health in youths.[13]

At WinterStorm V the Main Stage was officially renamed to the Steve Strange Stage in memory of the Northern Irish music agent, who died on the 25 September 2021.[14]

2016 - WinterStorm I

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South Beach Acoustic Sessions Stage
Day 1 – Friday 25 November Day 2 – Saturday 26 November
Colin Kennedy Band Audiohaus
Jamie Angus Scarlett Randall
Mandulu & Hephzibah 2D
Kris Mulholland Stoney Broke
Lisa Kowalski Steve Grozier
November Lights Long Day Living
Gordon Harrow
Fallen Arches
Redwood Ridge
Main Stage
Day 1 – Friday 25 November Day 2 – Saturday 26 November
FM Ricky Warwick Fighting Hearts
Toseland Last In Line
Praying Mantis Inglorious
Tygers of Pan Tang The Amorettes
The King Lot Vega
Concrete Kingdoms Mason Hill
Bloodlines
The Hyena Kill

2017 - WinterStorm II

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Jägermeister Sessions Stage
Friday 24th - Saturday 25 November
Lisa Kowalski
Stone Pony
Upshot
Anna Sweeney
Derek Martin
Jamie Angus
Losing Ground
Ken O’Hara
Matt Scott
Redwood Ridge
Scott Nicholl
Mendualu & Hephzibah
Main Stage
Day 1 – Friday 24 November Day 2 – Saturday 25 November
Heavy Pettin’ Glen White McManus
Tyketto The Quireboys
Bernie Marsden Graham Bonnet Band
Praying Mantis DARE
Stone Broken Tygers of Pan Tang
Attica Rage Mason Hill
Syteria Rock Goddess
Bigfoot Massive Wagons
Till Death Do Us Part The King Lot
Anchor Lane
Black King Cobra

2018 - WinterStorm III

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Jägermeister South Beach Sessions Stage
Day 1 – Friday 23 November Day 2 – Saturday 24 November
Concrete Kingdoms Black King Cobra
ZANG Syteria
Reds’ Cool Burnt Out Wreck
Rising Souls Terry Brock
Mandulu & Hephzibah Twin Heart
The Brink Matt Pearce & The Mutiny
Redwood Ridge Resin
Till Death Do Us Part
Katalina Kicks
Main Stage
Day 1 – Friday 23 November Day 2 – Saturday 24 November
GUN Glen White McManus
Magnum The Dead Daisies
Sin Dogs Wayward Sons
Oliver/Dawson Saxon Geoff Tate's Operation Mindcrime
The New Roses Girlschool
Anchor Lane Bernie Torme
Quartz Eden’s Curse
Departed No Hot Ashes
Tomorrow is Lost Trucker Diablo
Kane’d
Everyday Heroes
After the ‘Storm Acoustic Sessions
Day 3 – Sunday 25th November
Steve Overland
Geoff Tate
Terry Brock

2019 - WinterStorm IV

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Day 1 – Friday 29 November Day 2 – Saturday 30 November
Ablaze Mad Haven
Hollowstar Joanovarc
Gin Annie Everyday Heroes
Uproar Dead Man’s Whiskey
Toi Baleful Creed
Swamp Born Assassins Tomorrow is Lost
Darkness Divine IDestroy
Main Stage
Day 1 – Friday 29 November Day 2 – Saturday 30 November
Skid Row Glen White McManus
FM Last in Line
Diamond Head H.E.A.T.
Myke Gray ft Kim Jennett Uli Jon Roth
Pete Way Band Tygers of Pan Tang
Those Damn Crows Praying Mantis
Grand Slam The Amorettes
Pat McManus Band The Brink
Outlaw Orchestra Burnt Out Wreck
Control the Storm
After the ‘Storm Acoustic Sessions
Day 3 – Sunday 1st December
Nathan James
Uli Jon Roth
Danny Vaughn

2020 - WinterStorm V (Cancelled)

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WinterStorm V was due to take place on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th November 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The announced lineup at the time of postponement was: -

South Beach Sessions Stage
Friday 27th – Saturday 28 November
Beth Blade
Chemia
Daxx & Roxanne
Empyre
King Creature
Nitroville
Rigid Soul
Scarlet Rebels
She Burns Red
Sons of Liberty
Tantura Vultura
Theia
Wildheart
Main Stage
Friday 27th – Saturday 28 November
Ali Maas & Micky Moody
Collateral
Gin Annie
Glass Tiger
Hardline
Hollowstar
Mason Hill
The New Roses
Vandenberg
Vardis
Weapon UK
Witchfynde

2021 - WinterStorm V

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Jägermeister South Beach Sessions Stage
Day 1 – Friday 26 November Day 2 – Saturday 27 November
Sons of Liberty Beth Blade & The Beautiful Disasters
Fallen Mafia Daxx & Roxanne
Jason Sweeney Bastette
She Burns Red EMPYRE
Battalion of Flies White Raven Down
Rigid Soul
Main Stage
Day 1 – Friday 26 November Day 2 – Saturday 27 November
GUN King King
Inglorious Hardline
Mason Hill Tribute to Steve Strange
Cats in Space Alcatrazz
Geordie Girlschool
Hollowstar Anchor Lane
Florence Black Weapon UK
Bad Actress Chantelle McGregor
Collateral
Gin Annie
After the ‘Storm Acoustic Sessions
Day 3 – Sunday 28th November
Nathan James
The Nimmo Brothers
Toby Jepson

2022 - WinterStorm VI

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Sessions Stage
Day 1 - Friday 25th November Day 2 - Saturday 26th November
False Hearts Stay For Tomorrow
Stormchaser Pete K Mally Stand Up
Novustory Cassidy Paris Kinstrife
The Reinforcements Dawn After Dark
North Atlas The Outfit (with Chris Glen)
New Generation Superstars Kinstrife
Wicked Smile
The Steve Strange Main Stage
Day 1 - Friday 25 November Day 2 - Saturday 26 November
Edge of Forever Clann an Drumma
Absolva Sons of Liberty
Daytime TV Hardwicke Circus
Sari Schorr Ashen Reach
Kingdom of Madness: Classic Magnum Rebecca Downes
Blaze Bayley Marco Mendoza
Scarlet Rebels Sunstorm
Eclipse Vardis
The Treatment
Crazy Lixx
After the 'Storm Acoustic Sessions
Sunday 27th November
Ronnie Romero
John Corabi
Sandi Thom
After the ‘Storm
Sunday 27th November
Big Country
From The Jam
The Skids

2023 - WinterStorm VII - "Legends and Legacies"

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In a change to the usual Friday and Saturday festival format, and After the 'Storm on Sunday, The Legends and Legacies of WinterStorm features the addition of a Thursday night line-up, and will touch on the best of the past seven years. Bernie Marsden was on the original Saturday line-up, but sadly passed in August 2023. He was replaced by Graham Bonnet and Tyketto.

Sessions Stage
Day 1 - Thursday 23rd November Day 2 - Friday 24th November Day 3 - Saturday 25th November
Matt Pearce And The Mutiny Noturnall The Brink
Sin Dogs Bastette Wicked Smile
Bad Actress The Penetrations Syteria
Glasgow Pete K Mally Stand Up Rigid Soul
Electric Gypsy Chantel McGregor Acoustic
The Blue Lena
The Steve Strange Main Stage
Day 1 - Thursday 23rd November Day 2 - Friday 24th November Day 3 - Saturday 25th November
Michael Schenker Group Massive Wagons Graham Bonnet
The New Roses Uli Jon Roth Tyketto
Chez Kane FM Praying Mantis
The Pat McManus Band Focus Doogie White and Friends
Romeo's Daughter Tygers of Pan Tang Ashen Reach
Gin Annie Paul Di'Anno Clann An Drumma
Jim Kirkpatrick Chantel McGregor
Lyin Rampant Trucker Diablo
Cassidy Paris
After the ‘Storm
Sunday 26th November
Danny Vaughn
The Nimmo Brothers
Jason Sweeney

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Band Line Up | Winterstorm Rock Festival | Troon | Scotland". Winterstorm.co.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Troon Concert Hall, Troon". Skiddle.com. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  3. ^ "South Beach Sessions - Troon | Live Music Venue". Yellow.Place. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  4. ^ "StormBreakers | WinterStorm supported Live Music Events". Winterstorm.co.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  5. ^ "New Troon Winter Storm event approved". Ayr Advertiser. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Musical Sessions are Back on Main Beach". Retrieved 6 March 2023 – via PressReader.
  7. ^ "Introducing The WinterStormer Pie". Winterstorm.co.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  8. ^ "WinterStormin Ices". Winterstorm.co.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Strathaven Ales behind WinterStorm Cask Beer". Winterstorm.co.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  10. ^ "WinterStorm Deck Chair | Rock Fan Selfies | #RockingChair". Winterstorm.co.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  11. ^ "WinterStorm | Reduce Single Use | Rock Fans | Beach Clean | Troon". Winterstorm.co.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Saturday Planner". Winterstorm.co.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  13. ^ "WINTERSTORM TO LAUNCH CHARITY SINGLE • TotalRock". TotalRock.com. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Steve Strange: Music stars lead tributes after death of NI agent who was industry 'titan'". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
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