Media Review - Around The Houses And Back Again By Matt Dixon

There was an extraordinary clash of bands on Sunday night when Marillion, Down and the Down N Outz all had sets that overlapped with each other - so what else could we do but try to see all three?

The way the schedule was set meant that the Down N Outz started about 45 minutes before Down, so we managed to see a big chunk of their set.

Joe Elliott was in fine voice and clearly revelling in the band's opportunity to play some of his favourite songs of all time. The problem - and this was acknowledged by Joe himself - was that almost no one else in the crowd knew the songs as well as the band. These may have been covers, but they were pretty obscure songs for an act opening for the headliner. As a result the crowd were not able to immerse themselves into the set as much as they would have liked. And as the Ian Hunter appearance was not due to happen until towards the end of the set we made a move to watch a couple of the other bands, with the idea of heading back for Ian's bit.

At 8pm the end of the Down N Outz set was approaching so we made a move back over to the Main Stage for the Ian Hunter part of the show, and while the two songs that he did perform ('Once Bitten Twice Shy' and 'Who Do You Love') were sublime, what happened next was a little odd.

As soon as 'Who Do You Love' ended a voice not belonging to anyone from the band came over the PA to say thanks for listening to the Down N Outz, and no one was more surprised than the band. The mics were cut and there was a mild kerfuffle side stage as the band remonstrated that they needed to keep playing. It was a shame for all concerned, as Joe was obviously having a blast singing with his hero, Ian Hunter was performing to a big crowd once more and the audience were enjoying a unique show.

By Matt Dixon @ Planet Rock 2010.

Media Review - High Voltage Day Two By Malcolm Dome

Joe Elliott is leading his troops - well, the Quireboys - through a Down 'N' Outz set of Mott The Hoople related covers on the main stage. It's entertaining, but the real star is a three-year-old girl who shows the sort of moves that could make her a star in 15 years. It sums up this festival that 40-somethings on stage are playing songs almost older than themselves and getting a three-year-old into the music. Priceless. The generation barrier is hereby abolished. But it's when Ian Hunter walks on that everything tales off. The man's a rock star. And the way he leads with an acoustic guitar on Once Bitten, Twice Shy is a lesson.

By Malcolm Dome @ Classic Rock 2010.

Media Review - Rhythm at High Voltage Day Two By Rich Chamberlain

On first glance Joe Elliott's Down 'N' Outz - the Def Leppard singer and The Quireboys playing rare tracks by, or connected to, Mott The Hoople - seem a fairly shameless vanity project. Somehow though it works. The songs are great and the band are tight, even if drummer Phil Martini fails to crack the merest hint of a smile all set - not even when Ian Hunter comes out for a guest spot.

Unfortunately things turn a little sour towards the end of the set as Joe and the boys are cut short, presumably for overrunning their allotted time, leaving the Def Lep man looking none too pleased to say the least as he tries to use a now switched off mic to make himself heard over the wave of advertisements now blasting out of the main stage speakers.

By Rich Chamberlain @ Music Radar 2010.