STRAY - Time To Rock 2025 (Festival Blog)

**This is my story. My personal journal account of time at the festival, my thoughts and feelings. This is not a technical review of gigs, but more of a story telling my experiences and activities of attending Time To Rock Festival 2025. Hopefully, this will help inspire your attendance in 2026. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.**

With the rain finished, I was now intrigued by a band called Stray. I didn’t really know anything about them, but a friend told me they were an old school NWOBHM band. Well, that’ll grab my attention as I love that historical movement. Plus, earlier in the day, another friend had messaged me asking if I might want to meet and chat with Stray as she was also their publicist. Ok, I’ll definitely check out their set this afternoon. Rather than take my photograph time for Firewind, I arrived at Pirate Rock Stage in time for the start of Stray. Well, I like Firewind and I’ve seen them before, but Stray had me intrigued. Bolstering the claim of their longevity, I immediately picked off that these were not young kids on stage….lol.

STRAY HAS A HOME WITH MEISTER

Stray‘s first song had me toe-tapping as I readied my camera for songs 4, 5 and 6 that we were allowed in the photo pit. The vocalist/guitarist definitely had some chops as I watched his fretwork, mesmerized. He then asked, “Are we living the dream?” which was the title for the next song. Ok Stray, you have me right here by song #2, some good old time rock n roll, played well by folks who obviously know their way around the instruments. For song three, we were informed that it came from the album Suicide, but I missed the title. “After The Storm” was next up and another great song. During all of these, the band could be witnessed smiling, laughing and clearly having fun. All of that added to the magic that was happening on stage.

“This next song is about people affected by war“, we were told. I believe the track was titled “1600“, but that’s a guess by looking at my notes. Remember that I was unfamiliar with Stray until today, but rest assured, I’m on the trail now and will be searching them up when I reach home. I wouldn’t agree with the statement I was told of them being NWOBHM, to me it’s a little more on the progressive hard rock scale, but don’t get me wrong, I was loving the entire thing! “Our new album is called About Time…..because it was about time!” proclaimed the vocalist/guitarist ahead of a wicked sounding song that may have been called “Black Sun” (or was it “Wax On“?). Wait, what? New album….I must get a hold of this. And how the hell did I miss it?

I definitely have to get ears on these guys when I return home. But as much as I was enjoying the set, I also had to catch a little Firewind and so I took my leave after “Black Sun“.

MEETING STRAYS

Later on, taking a break (and avoiding Nestor like the plague), I sat in the press area chatting with peers until it was time to meet Stray. I had received a message earlier from my friend Helena, who also happened to be Stray‘s publicist. I was not passing up the chance to briefly meet this band and say thanks for a great set today! **As a note: most of the bands do have appointed signing sessions where fans can get autographs and photos as well.** The guys were fantastic as I met and thanked them. I spent a few moments speaking with band leader Del Bromham, who was extremely personable and funny. Hopefully, we can connect down the road for a chat on my radio show. Del was also so very kind in answering my questions about the new album’s availability by handing me a copy! Cheers, Del and Stray!