Robert Jon & The Wreck / The Picturedrome / Holmfirth
A picturesque drive across the Peak District and deep into Last of the Summer Wine country and nestled between the hills, the beautiful town of Holmfirth. Sat right in the heart of the town is the Picturedrome, originally the Holmfirth Valley Theatre, built in 1913. Bought in 2003 and renamed the Picturedrome, it remains a cinema, but almost a live music venue. And what a treasure it is buried away, with some impressive artists travelling to play here.
Tonight, it’s the turn of Southern US blues rocker Robert Jon & The Wreck.
Queueing to get in, there’s a healthy early crowd, snaking up the hill and down the street. On entering I get my first glimpse of it’s stone floors and walls and iron balcony – stunning !
Up first in support are Manchester country, bluegrass / folk band The Cornelius Crane.
Fronted by vocalist / guitarist Stephan Wilson, along with Daniel Adams (drums), Mark Adams (bass) and guitarist Jonny Roberts they released the “EP Too” in 2012, “The Cornelius Crane” EP in 2013 and the single Soul in the Lightningsingle in 2014.
Stephan and Jonny work so well with each other, Stephan providing the rhythm on his hollow bodied Gretsche while Jonny delivers some incredible riffs with his Gibson Les Paul Custom.
The Cornelius Crane sound has a raw edge to it, a grittiness that is closer to the southern US than their native Manchester. The addition of some classic keys gives the tracks a warmth and depth too.
Stand outs for me included Oklahoma and Me which is packed with rolling beats and a blues bassline that at times has an almost reggae edge to it. This one would totally be at home on the southern trail as Stephan delivers some fantastic weather-beaten vocals delivering the dark, snappy lyrics, with lines like “ “I’m a snake in a box, I will bite when you open it up...”. Packed with emotion and originality, it’s a belter.
Another awesome track is They Sail Like They Never Heard A Song from “EP Too”. This one really has the crowd joining in with some great bluesy riffs from Jonny as they supplement the languid vocals. It has a harsh edge, but some incredible harmonies thrown in as well. It has a kind of psychedelic weave going on as well which I really enjoyed with some dark sentiments running the lyrics, such as “slumberland mattress shapes are kicking me in the head”. That cross over between blues rock and psychedelic rock works so well.
The Cornelius Crane are the perfect set up for Robert Jon & the Wfreck, with their blues / bluegrass roots shining through. Stephan is also great with the crowd, talking and joking between songs, bringing them along for the ride. And what a ride it is, which stretches and crosses genre boundaries with ease, mixing traditional country, folk and bluegrass rock, with more blustering rock and psychedelia.
Magical stuff indeed.
Setlist
Dead of night
Oklahoma and me
The Cage
Killrose
Soul in the lightning
They Sail like they never heard a song
Stompu
River
It’s mid-June and warm outside, and the Picturedrome is packed now, many of the crowd in Robert Jon t-shirts. The temperature is rising significantly.
Robert Jon & the Wreck are an American five-piece blues rock and Southern rock band. Formed in Orange County, California back in 2011, they’ve released ten studio albums to date from 2011’s “Fire Started to 2025’s stunning release “Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes”. The line up currently consists of Robert Jon Burrison (vocals & guitar), Andrew Espantman (drums), Warren Murrel (bass), Henry James (Schneekluth) (guitar) and Jake Abernathie (Keyboards). A hard working and much renowned touring band, and one I’ve seen before, who always seem to deliver the goods. This tour is focused on new material from the most recent album “Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes”.
The five piece rockers step into the limelight to cheers from the Kirklees crowd and they dive right into Waiting for Your Man which has a raw, intense rhythm to it, courtesy of Andrew & Warren. Standing centre stage is the imposing figure of Robert Jon in khaki shirt and flat brimmed western hat, be unleashes the first chords of the night. The crowd are swaying and dancing along and heartily singing the lyrics right back at him already.
Sitting Pretty is a real standout, one of the singles released from the most recent album and the album’s opening track, “Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes”. The riffs build in intensity and speed backed by that Hammond organ sound, and it bursts into life with Robert’s vocals. Robert and Henry duel guitars so so well, Robert providing the heart and beat to the tracks, whilst Henry delivers some spectacular riffs – he’s something to behold in full flow. It’s a rip roaring blast from start to finish. Warren in his dark shades paces back and forth with a broad grin.
While Sittin’ Pretty is all pace and power, Back to the Beginning Again released as a single in 2025 changes the mood dramatically, delivering a deep dark brooding country interlude. Warren’s bass takes centre stage here delivering the heart of the track, the bass hooks being utterly catchy, that just force you to stomp your foot.
The mood changes again with the honky tonk piano intro to Better of Me, also taken from “Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes”, another one that has the crowd rockin’ along with. The chorus sections are so catchy everyone is singing along.
The pace slows again for perhaps the highlight of the set, the heart breaking Ashes in the Snow a stunning vocal performance from Robert Jon delivering some incredible emotional lyrics of two people trying to hold on to hope…. And love, with lines such as “Right now we’re feelin’ like we’re broken, Empty and barely alive. Something inside keeps us hoping, Two people tryin’ to survive. Days in the sun, Beat the days in the rain”.
“A house without love, Is a house full of pain. We’re just going through the motions, Pretendin’ everything’s alright. How can we find our true emotions, If all we’re livin’ is lies”.
It’s simply stunning and delivered with passion and emotion. The closing lines tug hard at the heartstrings…. “Can’t let our hearts run cold, When the fire burns low. Don’t let our house full of love, Turn to ashes in the snow”. I’m not sure there’s a dry eye in the house.
The album’s title track Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes is a moment of peace in a tornado of sound, a delicate interlude… subtle, almost acoustic, with Robert Jon’s vocals taking on a mellow tone.
The main set closes with Cold Night, before they return for one more, the fantastic Do You Remember taken from “Last Light on the Highway” released in 2020. It bursts into life and is packed with memorable riffs and harmonies throughout, it’s refrain of “do you remember” taken up and shouted back by the crowd. A track looking back at those crazy days of youthful love, adventure and freedom. It’s a great way to end any set, rich with emotion, nostalgia and hope.
An incredible night, tucked away between the hills high in the peaks. Robert Jon & The Wreck are a force to be reasoned with delivering some outstanding southern blues country rock
A wonderful album, brought to life in spectacular fashion.
Setlist
Waiting for Your Man
Blame It on the Whiskey
Sittin' Pretty
Back to the Beginning Again
Better Of Me
Arroyo
Keep Myself Clean
Ashes in the Snow
Heartbreaks and Last Goodbyes
Oh Miss Carolina
Cold Night
Do You Remember
