The Wildhearts Live – New Blood, Classic Mayhem, and a Blistering Encore! – Rock City

16 March 2025 rocknews

The Wildhearts live review Rock City Nottingham – A New Era Begins

Dirt Box Disco

Dirt Box Disco brought their signature mix of humor and heavy-duty punk to Rock City, delivering a raucous, no-holds-barred set that had the crowd bouncing from start to finish. Their tongue-in-cheek lyrics and raw, punchy energy made for a set that was as fun as it was ferocious.

Kicking off with “I Don’t Wanna Go Out With You,” they wasted no time getting the audience fired up. Tracks like “Second Hand Sex Toys” and “Cinderella’s Motorhead Tattoo” kept the chaos alive, while “My Life Is Shit” closed things out in true Dirt Box Disco style—loud, cheeky, and utterly unforgettable.

The visual spectacle was just as wild as the music. The drummer sported a rainbow rig, while the lead singer, donning a wrestling mask with safety pins and red print leggings, embodied punk in its rawest form. The blue-faced guitarist, rocking an army helmet and skirt, and the bassist in a furry hat completed the band’s outrageous look.

“You don’t want to see us without this gear on. You’ll either be sick or get an erection,” the frontman joked, much to the delight of the crowd. After each song, he turned to the people on the balcony, playfully asking them to rate their performance.

With songs about drinking, fucking, and rock ‘n’ roll, there was no pretense, just pure unfiltered fun. The crowd sang along to the second song, “Rock ‘n’ Roll,” as if it were a punk rock anthem, and the band’s banter between tracks kept everyone engaged and laughing. At one point, the girlfriend’s sister even had the entire audience singing along, proving just how contagious the energy was.

For Nottingham fans who can’t get enough, Dirt Box Disco will be back in town on November 4th, tearing up the Old Cold Store. If this gig was anything to go by, you won’t want to miss it.

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Jim Jones All Stars

Jim Jones all stars brought their signature firestorm of rock ‘n’ roll chaos to the stage, delivering a set that was pure, unfiltered energy. Blazing through tracks like “Cement Mixer,” “Burning Your House Down,” and the ferocious “Rock N Roll Psychosis,” they hit the crowd with their trademark mix of pounding piano, raw vocals, and relentless guitar riffs.

They even threw in “Troglodyte,” a cover of The Jimmy Castor Bunch’s funk classic, giving it a grittier, high-voltage twist. Closing with “512,” they left the audience in a sweat-drenched, adrenaline-fueled daze—exactly what you’d expect from a band that treats rock ‘n’ roll like a full-contact sport.

The sheer number of band members—eight in total—meant the stage was packed, but they used every inch to its maximum potential. The energy was off the charts from the moment they stormed on stage, even earlier than scheduled because they simply couldn’t wait. Everyone in the crowd was bobbing and rocking along to the infectious rhythm, fully immersed in the wild spectacle.

Jim Jones was a force of nature, his animated movements and expressive gestures adding to the sheer intensity of the performance. At one point, he leaped onto the crowd barrier, singing directly into the phone camera of a front-row fan, making for an unforgettable moment of rock ‘n’ roll intimacy.

It was their first time at Rock City, but they made it their own, filling the venue with swinging saxophones, cowbells, and some of the most enthusiastic keyboard playing you’ll ever see. Their new single, “Going Higher,” set to drop in April, promises to keep the momentum going with its upbeat, high-energy vibe.

Jim’s guitar was a sight to behold, featuring a skull motif bridge that perfectly matched the band’s raw, rebellious aesthetic. Behind the kit, stand-in drummer Blake Davies held everything together with thunderous precision, proving to be a worthy addition to the chaos.

From start to finish, this was a show that left no prisoners—a relentless, no-holds-barred rock ‘n’ roll experience that will be burned into the memories of everyone lucky enough to witness it.

Perfect support for what was coming next.

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Rock City A Historic Venue for The Wildhearts

Rock City, Nottingham, is sacred ground for The Wildhearts. Over the years, this legendary venue has witnessed countless unforgettable performances from the band. However, this time was different. With a revamped lineup, Ginger Wildheart remains the heart and soul of the group, but the fresh faces have injected a whole new energy into the live experience. The Wildhearts have never been boring, but now they’ve taken their electrifying performances to another level. They raced to the stage with blasts of CO2 and showers of sparks flying through the air. Ginger took center stage and rolled out the opening songs at a lightning pace.

The Wildhearts’ Setlist & New Album Highlights

Kicking off with “Suckerpunch,” the band wasted no time launching into chaos, delivering their signature mix of melody, aggression, and raw rock ‘n’ roll attitude. The setlist was stacked with fan favorites, including “I Wanna Go Where the People Go,” “Vanilla Radio,” and “Everlone,” while five tracks from their latest album proved that new material hits just as hard as the classics.

From the opening notes to the final encore, The Wildhearts delivered a relentless, high-energy show. The crowd was fully engaged, singing along, moshing, and embracing the raw power of the music. It was a night full of songs from their earliest to their latest album, and every single person on the floor of Rock City was bouncing and dancing in a mass of sweaty bodies. From the youngest fan to the oldest, everyone was screaming along so loudly at points that they completely drowned out the band.

Ginger took a moment to share a story about the first time they played Rock City. Back then, they were in the green room contemplating splitting up. Then Andy Copping, the then-Rock City DJ (and now king of Download Festival), turned up with two magnums of champagne and told them they’d be headliners one day. And here they were, decades later, proving him right in the most explosive way possible.

With the house lights up, Ginger proclaimed that Nottingham had been the best night of the tour so far, then followed it up with the ultimate frontman declaration: “I want to fuck everyone here tonight.” That got the crowd roaring even louder, as if they weren’t already at full volume.

He also made sure to thank the fans for buying the new album and getting it into the charts, adding with a cheeky grin: “It’ll piss a lot of people off, and I like that.”

Missing Geordie in Wonderland – The Only Flaw?

If there was one minor criticism of the night, it was the absence of “Geordie in Wonderland” from the setlist. In my opinion, this song should always be played, if only for the massive singalong that it guarantees. Despite that, the show was an undeniable triumph, proving once again why The Wildhearts are still one of the most exciting and enduring rock bands around.

The Wildhearts Are Back & Better Than Ever

With this revitalized lineup and a fresh, high-energy approach, The Wildhearts are far from slowing down. Rock City once again became their kingdom for the night, and it was a privilege to witness this new era unfold. If you haven’t yet caught this lineup in action, do yourself a favor and get to a gig – you won’t regret it.