Youth, vigour, determination and vitality spring to mind when you hear Young Blood. I first saw them at Power’s Bar in Kilburn at one of our own events and they managed to leave a dynamic imprint on everybody there that night. As it had been a while since I last caught up with Swindon’s finest (not Paulo DiCanio), I was interested to see what steps they’d taken as a live act, and in what direction? Boy Oh Boy, like a grown man watching Quantum Leap, I was excited.

Scorching sun and pockets of conversation were the backdrop to which Young Blood arrived at and what a scene! Though initially nervous, front man Ben soon began to manoeuvre with a swagger and along with their trademark infectious chorus’, was able to produce fits of laughter to accompany the ever-growing interest from the crowd.

“This is a song about wanting to have sex when you get in very drunk after a night out, but your girlfriend is also very sober, and all the emotion surrounding that” was the precursor to one of the highlights of the set. Pumping bass, four-to-the-floor drums, and a powerful vocal delivery was met with appreciation from an audience who were now firmly arriving on their feet.

Like a bull at a barn door, Young Blood finish the day as strong as anybody I’m likely to see this weekend. After smashing down the barrier between crowd and band like pro’s by singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to a keen fan, they proceeded to finish the set by playing their memorable track ‘I Won’t Die Young’ out to the symphony of a reciprocating crowd.

What a start to the weekend!