LIVE REVIEW: BUCKLE & BOOTS 2026 - THE PADDOCK STAGE - GASOLINE & MATCHES - KATY HURT

Undoubtedly one of the stranger events of the Buckle & Boots Festival, was the artistic mash up between Gasoline & Matches & Katy Hurt. Both acts have had their celebratory Main stage moments at the festival and so a trip to the Paddock Stage could be misconstrued as a step backwards, but a true mix - now that could be something special.

For this was not to be one act strumming support while the other played, this was a real interchange between the two acts, that would throw up some truly interesting moments.

To the left of the stage as #TEAMw21 looked there was Katy Hurt and Gabe on guitar, while to the right Gasoline & Matches with Steve sporting a "Dolly Parton" T Shirt. Dramatic electro drums set the scene before Katy announced "Are you ready for 1 night only?". It was then double guitar riffs for "Wish I Could Give You Up". The chorus was now awash with Gasoline & Matches on additional backing vocals, before Sally Rae then opened up the second verse. It set the precedent for how things were would then unfold.

Katy would take up the tambourine for "Afraid To Fall", everything was amped up more, Steve would throw in his first solo, and with two lead guitarists on stage there was always going to be a degree of shameless posing throughout the set.

It was back to Katy for the third song, and there is no festival anywhere that cannot fail to be lifted by playing "Before The Ice Melts". A personal #TEAMw21 favourite, now with three voices on the chorus and a face off between Steve and Gab. To be honest, #TEAMw21 were to busy enjoying ourselves to make any sort of notes, it was just such good unadulterated fun. On playing the final notes the Paddock Stage all but erupted.

For "Smiling Viper", Katy was back on tambourine, impressively adding a snake like hiss to her percussion playing. It was the unexpected interactions that made the evening whether it be Sally Rae adding actions to "See Ya Later" or even better when taking the second verse on "Sounds Good In A Bar". The audience would sing along in on this real, feel good set. Here at #TEAMw21, we'd always thought "Never Have I Ever" was Sally Rae's tour de force, but wait, Katy was now singing the wordy second chorus word perfect.

By now everyone was standing and a finale of "Revved Up" saw more of the guitar posturing, it was all great fun and one of the highlights of the weekend without a doubt.