Black Star Riders Bound For Glory @ Academy Sheffield

by | Nov 19, 2017

In their short lifetime, Black Star Riders have managed what few bands achieve in a career and that is to create a dedicated fan-base who will travel many miles to see them perform their cheerful blend of good-mood hard rock – many of whom made their way to the O2 Academy in Sheffield last week. Listening to Black Star Riders, I sometimes wonder if this is what Springsteen would have sounded like if he was Irish.

Black Star Riders (Gunnar Mallon)

Black Star Riders (Gunnar Mallon)

Giving emerging bands a shot, Black Star Riders were supported by the fantastic Dirty Thrills from London, Bristol-based Tax The Heat, and Swedish hard blues hippy rockers Blues Pills (). Having never heard Dirty Thrills before, I was pleasantly surprised by the deep-raw rocking sound that the quartet was able to generate and get the crowd suitably in the mood for the fantastic musical pleasure that was to follow.

Dirty Thrills (Gunnar Mallon)

Dirty Thrills (Gunnar Mallon)

Tax The Heat (Gunnar Mallon)

Tax The Heat (Gunnar Mallon)

Tax The Heat (Gunnar Mallon)

Blues Pills (Gunnar Mallon)

Blues Pills (Gunnar Mallon)

Black Star Riders (Gunnar Mallon)

Black Star Riders (Gunnar Mallon)

Black Star Riders (Gunnar Mallon)

Black Star Riders (Gunnar Mallon)

Black Star Riders (Gunnar Mallon)

Black Star Riders (Gunnar Mallon)

Black Star Riders (Gunnar Mallon)

Black Star Riders (Gunnar Mallon)

Black Star Riders (Gunnar Mallon)

Black Star Riders (Gunnar Mallon)

Black Star Riders (Gunnar Mallon)

Black Star Riders (Gunnar Mallon)

With their origins as Thin Lizzy, in the past five years Black Star Riders have clearly developed their own unique sound. Being great musicians and showmen through and through who know how to thoroughly entertain, Black Star Riders are a band you should go see whenever you get the chance.

Photography by Gunnar Mallon at O2 Academy Sheffield on 15 November 2017

Alice Cooper & Joe Perry of Hollywood Vampires @ The O2 (Kalpesh Patel)

Hollywood Vampires Return To The UK with Massive Summer 2026 Tour

Rock supergroup Hollywood Vampires have announced a major UK tour for August 2026, marking a highly anticipated return for one of rock’s most charismatic supergroups. The run of dates will see the band perform across arenas and landmark outdoor venues, reaffirming their reputation as a formidable live force and a passionate custodian of rock ’n’ roll history.

Megan Moroney (Amber Asaly)

Megan Moroney Unveils New Anthem ‘Wish I Didn’t’ Ahead Of Third Album ‘Cloud 9’

Megan Moroney steps confidently into her next era with the release of her bold new single Wish I Didn’t, a fiery yet feel-good anthem taken from her forthcoming third studio album Cloud 9, due for release on 20th February.

Emmy Meli (Press)

Emmy Meli Returns With New Single ‘Other Things’ And Announces London Headline Show

Emmy Meli begins a bold new chapter with the release of her latest single Other Things, taken from her forthcoming EP All About Love, due out on 13th February. The new track signals a confident evolution for the Californian artist, pairing emotional clarity with refined, soulful songwriting.

The Grahams (Julian Gross)

The Grahams Share New Single ‘Georgette’ And Announce UK Headline Tour

Longtime musical partners Alyssa and Doug Graham return with Georgette, the latest single taken from their current album The Bridge, and announce a UK headline tour set for March 2026.

NOTHING (Luke Ivanovich)

NOTHING Unveil New Single ‘Toothless Coal’ And Announce UK & Ireland Tour Dates

Philadelphia shoegaze heavyweights NOTHING have kicked off 2026 with the release of their new single toothless coal, the latest track to be taken from their forthcoming fifth studio album a short history of decay, due out on 27th February.

Converge (Jason Zucco)

Converge Announce New Album ‘Love Is Not Enough’ And Share Stark New Single ‘We Were Never The Same’

Converge have shared a powerful new single, We Were Never The Same, offering another stark glimpse into their forthcoming album Love Is Not Enough, due for release on 13th February.

Mika @ Latitude Festival 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

MIKA Announces Intimate UK Stripped-Back Shows To Celebrate New Album ‘Hyperlove’

MIKA has announced a special run of intimate, stripped-back performances and in-store talks across the UK to celebrate...
Matt Cardle (Martin Wagdin) expanded

Matt Cardle Returns With New Single ‘Fading Lights’ And Announces First Album In Seven Years

Matt Cardle kicks off 2026 with renewed purpose as he unveils his brand new single Fading Lights, marking the beginning of a bold new chapter for the multi-platinum artist. The track is the latest preview of Cardle’s forthcoming album The Great Escape, due for release on 10th April and set to be his first full-length record in seven years.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing