Anna Hyams

Anna has been a festival fanatic since her first ever outing to Download Festival back in 2001, she's got eclectic tastes and covers everything from metal to EDM and loves a chance to try out new festivals. Anna has covered a few European festivals like Snowbombing and Wacken Open Air, but mainly hits up her UK faves; Download, Bestival and Bloodstock!

Bestival Soundsystems and New Music Announced

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Bestival is proud to present a host of new names joining our multi-ringed circus of love. With heavyweight soundsystems, dancefloor stalwarts and must-see new acts, don’t miss four days of magical music and circus-themed trickery on over 20 stages and micro-venues in eight unique arenas, at the most colourful show on Earth, now in the heart of the summer, on the Lulworth Estate, Dorset.

Rob da Bank says: “Teaming up with mates and compadres who run record labels, parties or raves is what Bestival has always been about and this year wont disappoint as we bring over Marrakech’s Oasis gang, roll out the one and only David Rodigan, our first and only Resident For Life with his Ram Jam party, as well as some drum and bass mayhem from Goldie and Metalheadz and the Ram crew… turn up the control!”

We’ve teamed up with Marrakech festival and house music haven, Oasis, for an Oasis x Bestival soundclash with sets from Amelie Lens, Nastia, Butch, La Fleur, Benjamin Damage, Alex Niggeman back to back with Denis Horvat & Amine K. Rattling your ribs on a serious rig, we’re are honoured to welcome Ram Jam back to the dance with sets from incomparable reggae auteur Rodigan, plus original nuttah Shy FX, turntable conjurers The Nextmen &Venum Sound.  Legendary junglism comes courtesy of Metalheadz with sets from main man Goldie, plus double drop pioneer Randall, first lady of drum n bass DJ Storm and Ant TC1.

Expect super-rave behaviour from the Raindance crew with ultimate oldskool action from Rat Pack, Rachel Wallace, Liquid, Billy Daniel Bunter, Uncle Dugs, Nebula 2 and Nookie. And big system banging flavours come from the airwaves next generation Radar Radio with sets from Jossy Mitsu, Conducta, Kenny Allstar, Amy Becker, DJ Argue & Master Peace andMartha. Plus, we’ll have Shogun Audio Pres Alix Perez, Technimatic, Pola & Bryson, Glxy &SP:MC & Visionobi and Ram Records with Loadstar going B2B with DC Breaks and Mind Vortex.

And keeping it fresh and correct we’ll have live music and DJ sets from The Big Moon, The Heatwave, Justin Robertson, Purple Rave with Rob da Bank & Tayo, London Contemporary Voices: Guilty Pleasures, House of Pharaohs, Mt Wolf, Jethro Watson, Thomas Urv, Ellie Prohan, Tasha, Gilded Pleasures, Jim 8-Track, Eden Pardey, Cooking With Sherry, Ian & Rob and Roast Beatz.

BLOODSTOCK ROLL OUT SIX MORE

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Bloodstock roll out six more bands –

Joining us in a Friday Ronnie James Dio main stage slot are British thrash icons ONSLAUGHT. The band are working on their new studio album set for release later this year via AFM Records, so expect the world premiere of a brand new song at BLOODSTOCK! The band tell us “ONSLAUGHT have always loved playing at BLOODSTOCK, the UK’s finest metal festival and this year the show is going to be something special indeed! We’ll see you maniacs at the front!” Get warmed up by watching the video for ‘The Sound of Violence’.

Also nabbing a Friday slot opening the main stage are British metal crew, FEED THE RHINO. The quintet’s latest album, ‘The Silence’ landed last month via Century Media with lead track, ‘Heedless’ landing its premiere via Daniel P. Carter on the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show. Have a listen! The band tell us “We are beyond honoured to be performing at this years BLOODSTOCK Festival. See you in the Pit!"

Japanese power metal ladies, LOVEBITES join us for a slot on Friday’s Sophie Lancaster stage. The five piece release a new mini-album, ‘Battle Against Damnation’ on 6th June, but if you’re not up to speed on the band, make sure you investigate this video for ‘Shadowmaker’ and additional news info over at their Facebook page.

London death metallers, DE PROFUNDIS join us in a Sophie stage slot on Friday. The band are readying the release in May of new album, ‘The Blinding Light of Faith’. Get a load of this new track ‘Bastard Sons of Abraham’ and then view the array of purchase options (digital, physical and special bundles) over on their Bandcamp page.

Brit thrash outfit REPRISAL also land a Friday Sophie slot. Their new album, ‘None Survive The Sun’ lands this Friday 30th March via Hostile Media. Feast your eyes on the video for ‘Nephila’ and head over to pick up a copy of the album at

http://reprisal.bigcartel.com.  

Progressive death metal New Yorkers UNCURED land a slot on Sunday’s Sophie stage. Having just wrapped a 28-date US run with Soulfly, the four piece come to Europe this Summer to play shows with their friends in JASTA. Check out their video for ‘Stygian Valley’ below and if you're curious for more, get further info on the band over on their Facebook page . 

Our first phase of BLOODSTOCK club nights start on Monday 16th April! More will be added for June/July, so don’t despair if your local rock club isn’t listed. Get along to one of the following events, check out some tunes from BLOODSTOCK bands old and new, and be in with the chance of winning weekend tickets or related giveaways. Expect fun ways to win tickets – previous year’s events featured the likes of bucking broncos, endurance tests, and air guitaring! Check your local club for details, as dates may be subject to change. Events for April/May run as follows:

 

Mon 16th April – Reading Coalition

Fri 20th April – Camberley Agincourt

Fri 27th April – Bristol The Hatchet

Fri 27th April – Woking Schism

Sat 28th April – Birmingham Eddie's Rock Club

Sat 28th April – Sheffield Corporation

Sat 5th May – Exeter Catacombs

Sat 5th May – Brighton Envy

Sat 5th May – Hanley JJ's

Sat 12th May – Southampton – Engine Rooms

Fri 25th May – Bristol The Hatchet

Sat 26th May – Birmingham Eddie's Rock Club

Sat 26th May – Sheffield Corporation

 

Bestival Announce Friday Headliner – SILK CITY

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The Bestival team are extremely excited to announce yet another exclusive for 2018! Diplo and Mark Ronson’s brand-new project Silk City is our exclusive Friday night headliner at this year’s midsummer show on the Lulworth Estate. 

Rob da Bank says: “We don’t like doing the same thing as other festivals here at Bestival HQ… so for our Friday night headliner we’ve booked something you’ll never have seen in Europe or probably the world. Two of the best party-starting DJs with a new stage show packed with surprises back to back… ladies and gents, boys and girls, please welcome Diplo and Mark Ronson aka Silk City to the stage! 

They’re long-time friends of Bestival, so we are ecstatic Diplo and Mark Ronson have chosen our 15th anniversary celebrations to make their European debut as Silk Citywith a UK festival exclusive set. And if there’s one thing you can guarantee, it’s that this pair know how to rock a party.  Two of music’s greatest names together on the Castle stage, with you, us and some big, big tunes, it’s already got legendary written all over it.

Destined to be monumental, do not miss your first ever chance to catch Silk City as they join fellow exclusive headliners London Grammar and Jorja Smith, plus MIA’s only confirmed UK headline festival appearance and an ever-eclectic line-up featuring Grace Jones, Plan B, Chaka Khan, First Aid Kit, Mura Masa, Rudimental (DJ Set), Hot Chip (DJ Set) and many, many more.

First acts for Bestival 2018 announced!

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Behold the most audacious performers to ever have graced Bestival’s green fields. From UK festival exclusive headliners, soul divas and sonic heroes to the ‘must see’ acts of 2018, these are the sights and sounds that will define four days of mind-altering music and circus trickery on over 20 stages and micro-venues in eight unique arenas, at the most colourful show on Earth, now in the heart of the summer, on the Lulworth Estate, Dorset.

Rob da Bank says: “Here come the girls…and a few boys too! Yes, it’s Bestival 2018 and we’re here with the first wave of our all-singing all-dancing line-up. With UK festival exclusive headliners London Grammar and Jorja Smith to legends in the game Chaka Khan, Jimmy Cliff and Grace Jones, and always representing the new blood from Mura Masa and IAMDDB to Mabel and Idles, we’re covering all bases. As any Bestival veteran knows we don’t just do music, so come and check our Hot Yoga, Dubstep Dodgem rides, wood-fired hot tubs, AmbientLand craft tent, East 17’s Christmas Party!, and loads of circus-based trickery, including a Human Cannonball, high wire fire walking and a pretty buff strongman popping up on the Main Stage.”

Commenting on their exclusive headline set, London Grammar’s Dot Major said: “We are so excited to be coming back to Bestival this year! Our show there back in 2014 was one of our favourite shows we have done on home shores. I’ve been going along for years as it’s such a magical festival and this time we get to headline! ? can’t wait to see you all there.”

Bestival 2018 will see UK festival exclusive headline sets from London Grammar on Saturday night, Jorja Smith on Thursday in the Big Top, and a huge and very special Friday headliner still to announce, with M.I.A. closing the show before our fireworks finale on Sunday evening.

There’s no shortage of heroes, legends and bona fide superstars full of circus-themed swagger with standout sets from Grace Jones, Plan B, Chaka Khan and First Aid Kitplus Mura Masa, Sundara Karma, Thundercat, Jimmy Cliff, David Rodigan & The Outlook Orchestra and Stefflon Don among many others confirmed to appear on the Castle Stage.  And our gargantuan and all-embracing Big Top line-up features Django Django, IAMDDB, Kelela, Mike Skinner & Murkage present Tonga and many, many more.

DJ sets and outlandish PAs include, in alphabetical order, 2Bears, Amelie Lens, Bez’s Acid House, Bicep (DJ Set), Billy Daniel Bunter & Raindance, Chali 2na & Krafty Kuts, Craig Charles, Denis Sulta, East 17’s Christmas Party, Faithless (DJ set), Gilles Peterson, Goldie presents Metalheadz, Honey Dijon, Hot Chip Mega Mix (DJ set), Jaguar Skills, Norman Jay, Ram Records, Rodigan presents Ram Jam, Rudimental (DJ Set), Sink the Pink, So Solid Crew a Vic Reeves reggae set and Wookie & Matt Jam Lamont, with many more selectors signed up to our unholy order of rhythm.

And there are psychedelic sideshows and extraordinary attractions to satisfy the soul in eye-popping venues including Temple, Bollywood, HMS Bestival (AKA The Port),Stacey’s, AmbientLand, Caravanserai, Club Dada and a magnificent charm of stages and immersive micro-venues scattered across our boutique campsite wonderland.

As ever Bestival goes far beyond the music, and this year’s circus-themed arcadia is no exception featuring an array of tableau and temptation with Fat Gay Vegan, Feast Collective, Free Haircuts, Slam Poetry Yurt, Gong Healing, 5k Campsite Run, Dubstep Dodgems, Black Light Forest Party, Yoga Nidra With Rob da Bank, Human Ball Pit, Musical Vegetable Orchestra, Wood Fired Hot Tubs, the WI, the World’s Largest Confetti Cannon & Disco Ball, Fireworks, Witness The Fitness Tent, Lit Tent, Loop Sessions, the Love Bot, Rainbow Astronauts and much more. See below for the full line up so far.

Bestival 2018 Line-Up So Far:

Castle Stage: London Grammar / M.I.A. / Grace Jones / Plan B / Chaka Khan / Special Guest / Mura Masa / Sundara Karma / Thundercat / Jimmy Cliff / David Rodigan & The Outlook Orchestra / Stefflon Don / Kojey Radical / Dubioza Kolektiv / Gentleman’s Dub Club / Songhoy Blues / The Cuban Brothers / IDLES / This Is the Kit / Chaka Demus & Pliers / OMG! It’s the Church / L.A. Salami / Son of Dave

Big Top: Jorja Smith / Django Django / IAMDDB / Kelela / Mike Skinner & Murkage pres. Tonga: Holy Goof, Donea’o & Jaykae /  Mabel / Not3s / Kojo Funds / Charlotte de Witte / Agoria (Live) / Ghetts / Mr Jukes / Casisdead / Lotto Boyzz / Sink the Pink / Phil Taggart pres. Slacker: Ratboy, Shame, Superfood, Black Honey, Confidence Man, Touts & whenyoung / We Are Scientists / Nilüfer Yanya / House Gospel Choir – Frankie Knuckles Special / Hak Baker /Adrian Sherwood / Caravãna Sun / Grace Carter / Mellah / The Correspondents / Kitty, Daisy & Lewis/ Blossom Caladron / Beans on Toast / Dutty Moonshine Band / Digital Love: A Tribute to Daft Punk / London Astrobeat Orchestra Perform Talking Heads / Elvana: Elvis Fronted Nirvana / Park Hotel

Temple: Rudimental (DJ Set) / Bicep (DJ Set) / Amelie Lens / Solardo / Denis Sulta / Mall Grab / Honey Dijon / Artwork / Camelphat / Flava D / Palms Trax / Objekt / Nastia / Eli & Fur / Alex Niggemann / Benjamin Damage / Amine K / Mella Dee / Moxie / Darkzy / FineArt / HAAi / Jamz Supernova / Goldierocks / Tasty Lopez / Bradley Gunn Raver

Bollywood: Goldie pres. Metalheadz / Rodigan pres. Ram Jam / Ram Records: Loadstar B2B DC Breaks B2B Mind Vortex / 2Bears / Billy Daniel Bunter & Raindance / Rob da Bank / Radar Radio / FooR / Happy Meals / Nathan Dawe / Biig Piig

HMS Bestival (AKA The Port): Faithless (DJ set) / East 17’s Christmas Party / Jaguar Skills / Chali 2na & Krafty Kuts / So Solid Crew, Wookie & Matt Jam Lamont, Shogun Audio pres. Alix Perez, Technimatic, Pola & Bryson, Glxy & SP:MC & Visionobi / Bez’s Acid House / Stanton Warriors / Big Freedia / DJ Brace / Jodie Harsh & Friends / Kiddy Smile / Savage / Schlachthofbronx / Buttmitzvah / Hard Cock Life

Stacey’s: Gilles Peterson / Hot Chip Mega Mix (DJ set) / Norman Jay / Craig Charles / Donna Leake / Andy Blake / Reach Up – Disco Wonderland / JazzHeadChronic pres. The South London Soul Train / Shaka Loves You / Amy Alsop / Perry Kaye

AmbientLand: Chris Coco / Jane Fitz / Mix Master Morris / Flying White Dots / Flying Mojito Bros

Caravanserai: Temple Funk Collective / Urban Voodoo Machine pres. The Gypsy Hotel / Buffos Wake / Chainska Brassika / Ska V Goldsmith / My Baby / John Fairhurst / Junior Jungle / DJ Chris Tofu / DJ Penny Metal / DJ Ecklectic Mick / New York Brass Band

Club Dada: Vic Reeves (Reggae set) / Reggae Roast ft. Natty Campbell / DJ Shepdog (Nice Up!)

Ezra Collective / Jazz Re:freshed / Henge / King Lagoon’s Flying Swordfish Dance Band / Tokyo Sex Wail / Captain Cumbia / Wara / Immigrant Swing / Movimientos / DJ Chris Tofu / Thrill Collins

White Mink Electro Swing Club / Choreograff: ft. Tension Breakers v. Swing Patrol with New York Brass Band, Natasha Khamjani & more. Pus Many More Stages & Micro-Venues Across the Lulworth Estate.

THE HUMAN CANNONBALL COMES TO BESTIVAL!

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Circus and immersive theatre have always been at the heart of Bestival, and this year the most colourful show on Earth is raising the high wire to bring you a circus-themed spectacular to blow your minds. Celebrating 250 years of a world where only the most courageous and audacious need apply, we are ridiculously excited to reveal that Human Cannonball, Rodrigo Pérez will be joining us, among a host of incredible performers, sideshows and curiosities on the Lulworth Estate this 2-5 August 2018*.

Bestival ringmaster Rob da Bank says: “in my other life as Ringmaster Robby I’m pretty darn excited about having a Human Cannonball flying across the Lulworth Estate in August. Rodrigo is the best in the business and will not disappoint. Watch ya heads!”

The Human Cannonball, Rodrigo Pérez says: “Firing yourself out of an enormous cannon takes a man of a high calibre. Luckily, I’m a cannonball kind of guy. Come and be amazed as I shoot through the sky, flying over your crazy, smiling faces.”

Today (January 9th) marks the 250th anniversary of Philip Astley’s first circus performance at Westminster Bridge. The Bestival crew always aims to please, so what better way to keep the tradition alive and well and to celebrate that landmark than by announcing that, rather than mere glitter, we are shooting an actual person from a cannon?! One of the most daring and dangerous acts ever to grace the circus, the Human Cannonball, is guaranteed to dazzle crowds this August at Bestival.  

Following his family tradition, Rodrigo Pérez is one of the world’s most acclaimed proponents of the art. Fired from the barrel of a custom-built cannon, Rodrigo will fly up to 25 metres through the air as the crowds go ballistic! It’s trigger happy fun and a truly astonishing sight that must be seen to be believed. Do not miss out, come and witness the circus.

There are many more delights to be unveiled in the coming weeks including an all-embracing music line-up, jaw-dropping circus feats, bearded ladies, sword swallowers, sideshow shenanigans and more, so come one, come all, grab your tickets while you can, for the circus is about to begin.

NEW YEAR, NEW BANDS FOR BLOODSTOCK 2018

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BLOODSTOCK are excited to make their first band announcement of 2018!

Tickets for 2018 are flying out the door, with less than 50 VIP tickets remaining. Do not delay if you’re planning on joining us in the Serpent’s Lair! Standard tickets, as well as the very popular Deposit Scheme and the last few camper van pitches are all currently available in the ticket store. So, about those band announcements…

JASTA & FRIENDS are set for a Ronnie James Dio main stage slot on Sunday! As a great friend of BLOODSTOCK, we’re thrilled to welcome Jamey Jasta, frontman of Hatebreed, Kingdom of Sorrow and Icepick, back to the festival with his solo band, JASTA. However, this is not just JASTA, this is JASTA & FRIENDS, so expect some special guests to jump on stage for various songs, just for the BOA faithful at BLOODSTOCK 2018! Guests will be revealed in due course, but we can tell you that the mighty Kirk Windstein (Crowbar, Down, Kingdom of Sorrow) will be one of them! Jamey says, “I’m beyond excited and honoured to have my first UK show with JASTA be at the mighty Bloodstock Festival! So many legends have graced the Bloodstock stages, we will channel their energy and give the fans a killer set with some special surprise guests!” Check out JASTA’s recent video for ‘The Same Flame’ here – https://youtu.be/P7PnbooaTOE.

VENOM INC also join Saturday’s main stage bill! With new album, ‘Avé’ released via Nuclear Blast last year, the seminal British metal icons will be bringing both classic tracks and new to BLOODSTOCK next August. Check out the lyric video for ‘Avé Satanas’, taken from that album here – https://youtu.be/Xt_yGt0ET0U and get ready to welcome The Demolition Man, Mantas and Abaddon to Catton Park!

Our Saturday night Sophie Lancaster stage headliner will be ORPHANED LAND! The ground-breaking band’s new album, ‘Unsung Prophets And Dead Messiahs’ is set for release later this month via Century Media and features guest appearances from Blind Guardian’s Hansi Kürsch, Tomas Lindberg from At The Gates and Steve Hackett. Check out the epic album teaser here – https://youtu.be/GNm20DFCO7Y.

Also joining the bill are the hotly tipped Danish prog metal outfit VOLA, who join the Sophie stage bill on Saturday. The band are hard at work on their new studio album, set for release through Mascot Records this year. Get a taster of their sound via the video for ‘Stray The Skies’ taken from 2016’s debut album, ‘InMazes’ – https://youtu.be/EipdyUZfrG0.

If you haven’t grabbed your ticket yet and are a bit stretched post-Christmas, BLOODSTOCK’s payment plan helps ease the ‘lump sum’ shock of paying for your ticket by breaking it into five smaller, more manageable amounts. Sign up in the ticket store any time before 28th Feb for an initial deposit of £36.00. Thereafter, four additional instalments of £29.00 will debit your bank account on 3rd April, 1st May, 1st June and 2nd July respectively. Find out full details and sign up over at https://bloodstock.seetickets.com.

If you already know you can only attend for one day, sign up for a day ticket reminder email as day tickets will not go on sale until next summer. Register your day ticket interest here – https://www.seetickets.com/register/bloodstock.

With Friday night headliners, JUDAS PRIEST, Saturday headliners, GOJIRA and Sunday’s bil toppers, NIGHTWISH already announced, as well as EMPEROR, DEVILDRIVER, WATAIN, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, WEDNESDAY 13, FOZZY, COMBICHRIST, BLOODBATH, MR BIG, KAMELOT, DORO, ORDEN OGAN, SEPTICFLESH and MEMORIAM so far, 2018 is shaping up to be another stellar year for BLOODSTOCK.

 

DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES NEXT ACTS FOR 2018

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Download Festival, the world’s premier rock event, has announced some of the biggest rock acts in the world including Marilyn Manson, Parkway Drive, Rise Against, BODY COUNT ft. ICE T and more. The three-day festival takes place 8-10 June 2018 at the spiritual home of rock in Donington Park, Leicestershire. Tickets are on sale now at downloadfestival.co.uk/tickets.

Download is proud to welcome back the Antichrist Superstar himself Marilyn Manson, fresh off the release of critically acclaimed new album Heaven Upside Down. The goth rock veteran is more energised than ever and set to bring his renowned live show to Donington next year.

Since 2003 Aussie rock titans Parkway Drive have gone from strength-to-strength, pushing boundaries with their epic live performances. Having ascended to the forefront of modern metal with their latest critically acclaimed album Ire, their ferocious crushing breakdowns and stadium-sized choruses have them high on people’s lists for future headliner contenders.

 

Parkway Drive said:

“Parkway Drive are super stoked to be returning to Download for 2018. It's always a highlight for us to play Download and this time around we're aiming to top it all. We can't wait!”

British modern metal institution Bullet for My Valentine have also been confirmed to perform at Download Festival next year. The Welsh powerhouse have conquered the heights of Wembley Arena along with fellow UK torchbearers Asking Alexandria who will be taking to the stage with a hero’s return of their original infamous vocalist Danny Worsnop.

 

Matt Tuck of Bullet For My Valentine said:

“We're so excited to be playing next year's Download Festival!! It's been 5 long years now since we last performed at Donington Park, so we're more than ready to get back on that legendary stage and do what we do best. See you there!”

 

Ben Bruce of Asking Alexandria said:

“We have been waiting for half a decade to say this again, “DOWNLOAD WE ARE COMING FOR YA!”. Download festival is hands down one of the most exciting festivals in the world to play and so we have decided to bring our biggest show to date over with us. We cannot wait to see you all there. In the words of this year’s legendary headliner, Mama I’m coming home”

Pivotal punk rock heroes Rise Against will have fists thrown in the air, with their ferocious socio-political rock. Expect a high energy, kinetic performance from one of the world’s biggest authentic punk bands, who’ve proved their lasting worth to the genre. Joining the line up are LA Glam Rockers Black Veil Brides, Swedish extreme tech-metal trail blazers Meshuggah, and post hardcore legends Alexisonfire whose performance will be a long-awaited return to Download Festival.

Mind-blowing “metal phenomenon on a mission” BABYMETAL are confirmed to make their second official Download performance. This UK exclusive appearance will see the return of their thunderous metal, mixed with infectious J-pop that’s taken the world by storm. With figurehead Ice T at the helm, Body Count’s mix of harsh political messages and powerful hard-core sensibilities have made the rap metal icons unmissable, as well as In This Moment who are led by the entrancing Maria Brink and ready to bring a gothic, industrial, metal spectacle to make Download proud.

 

BABYMETAL said:

“We are so happy to announce that we will be playing at Download UK!! We were last there in 2016 and it is an absolute honour to be returning to this prestigious festival next year. Can’t wait to go back and see everyone there!”

 

Purveyors of garage-punk noise The Hives are confirmed, with frontman Howlin' Pelle Almqvist guaranteed to leave no stone unturned with a set of frantic non-stop rock n’ roll. Making their Download Festival debut are pop punks scousers WSTR who have propelled themselves throughout the last year, as well as emo pop favourites Mayday Parade who are hot off the back of a successful ten-year anniversary tour.

Selling out Brixton Academy and making massive waves as the break out luminaries of UK pop-punk, Wrexham five-piece Neck Deep are returning to Download Festival along with Seattle’s The Pink Slips with their fusion of “synth-pop, punk, dance and vintage rock ‘n’ roll”, fronted by the ferocious GRAVE, daughter of Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan. Last but no means least are rising stars Dream State with their no-nonsense, melodic emo rock which has earned them their debut Download appearance.

Download Festival is the home of rock music and takes place on the sacred grounds of Donington Park, which have been associated with rock since the eighties. The festival attracts icons of rock to its main stage, plus some of the best and hottest new acts in the world. AC/DC, KISS, Metallica, Black Sabbath, The Prodigy, Rage Against The Machine, Slipknot, Linkin Park and many more have all headlined its main stage.

 

New dates and theme for BESTIVAL 2018!

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Roll up, roll up, step this way and be amazed as we reveal our theme for 2018. Bestival, the most colourful show on earth, will celebrate 250 years of Circus, on the Lulworth Estate at a brand-new showtime – 2-5 August 2018.

Ringmaster extraordinaire Rob da Bank says: “Yes fellow Bestivalites it’s time to run away and join the Circus, Bestival style! Bearded freaks, insane acrobats, high wire daredevils, mutant jugglers and an out of control ringmaster all eager for you to join the most colourful show on earth await! And what makes this show even more unmissable is we have moved into peak season August style and will be open a month earlier than usual… so what are you waiting for?”

Featuring the miracles of miracle makers from across the globe, be dazzled and delighted by Art Car Night Circus Parade, Caravanserai flying trapeze, fire eating, knife throwing, bearded ladies (and men!), the Insect Circus Museum, sword swallowing, our hall of mirrors, circus workshops and free haircuts. Plus, be astonished and astounded by all the brilliant Bestival stages and sideshows that you can’t see anywhere else in the world.

But that’s not all. We have a new showtime, too. In response to festivalgoers’ feedback we’ll be opening the gates to Bestival a whole month earlier in 2018. Moving to the heart of the summer, our circus-themed arcadia of discovery will now be held from the 2nd to the 5th of August*.  Do not miss out.

BLOODSTOCK add four more for Halloween

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BLOODSTOCK is excited to announce four more spooktacular bands and add the 2018 Rock Society tickets to the ticket store. 

We’re excited to announce that WATAIN will bring their black metal ritual to headline Sunday’s Sophie Lancaster stage in a UK festival exclusive.  Frontman Erik Danielsson tells us, "Our last performance at BLOODSTOCK in 2012 was also the final date on the ‘Lawless Darkness’ tour.  The sun was setting while we played and the crowd was getting louder and wilder the darker it became.  A very charged atmosphere.  Eager now to return and see what the eventful years that have passed and the force accumulated since then has done to both us and the BLOODSTOCK crowd.  Furthermore, England is of course sacred ground when it comes to Metal in general, so when performing there, the stakes are always high.  May all those that doubt be impaled upon them."  Look out for the band’s long awaited sixth studio album arriving on 5th January 2018!

German power metallers, ORDEN OGAN also land a Ronnie James Dio main stage slot on Saturday.  The band released ‘Gunmen’, their fifth studio album, this summer via AFM Records.  Check out the video for ‘Gunman’ here and get a taster of what’s in store for their set in 2018 – https://youtu.be/JPm46Qgyn24.

Atlanta aggrotech outfit, COMBICHRIST also join the main stage bill for an early slot on Friday.  The band have been working on new music after the release of their eighth studio album, ‘This Is Where Death Begins’ which landed in 2016.  Check out the new track, ‘Broken:United’ at the following link – https://Combichrist.lnk.to/BrokenUnited.

Also landing an early main stage slot on Friday are British death/grind four-piece, MEMORIAM.  Combining ex-members of Bolt Thrower and Benediction, MEMORIAM’s pedigree is high.  The band of scene veterans are hard at work on the follow up to their debut, ‘For The Fallen’ released via Nuclear Blast earlier this year.  Check out ‘Reduced To Zero’ taken from that opus here – https://youtu.be/Nmucoieg2Lc.

BLOODSTOCK’s Rock Society tickets become available in the store on Halloween morning, 31st October at 9.00am!  The ‘Rock Society’ is effectively the festival’s ‘Members Club’, offering not only a 10% discount on your weekend ticket (on top of the early bird discount if you purchase the Rock Society membership + ticket bundle option), but all sorts of other cool benefits like priority signing tent access, a Rock Society laminate, access to the VIP Serpents Lair bar, a tour of the backstage & production areas to see ‘behind the scenes’, the chance to meet with the festival organisers, a dedicated hangout area in the Rock Society tent on site, a Rock Society Facebook community where you can make friends and get to know your fellow RockSoc members and plenty more besides.  Full details can be found at http://www.bloodstock.uk.com/pages/rock-society.  Memberships are priced at £75, limited to 300 and sell out almost immediately, so don’t delay if you want to pick one up.

Also now in the store are tickets for our new VANAHEIM campervan field.  Due to increasing demand each year, we've made some site adjustments to allow for more pitches.  As such, the new VANAHEIM site is located across the road, directly adjacent to Serpents Lair VIP parking, allowing an increase in size to accommodate 240 campervans, as opposed to just 130.  Campervan pitches always sold through very rapidly, so this allows for more of our metal brethren to join the campervan club.  Tickets for campervan pitches will remain at this year's price of £60. 

With Friday night headliners, JUDAS PRIEST, Saturday night headliners, GOJIRA and Sunday headliners, NIGHTWISH already announced, along with EMPEROR, DEVILDRIVER and NAILS, 2018 is shaping up to be another stellar year for BLOODSTOCK.  

BLOODSTOCK add EMPEROR, DEVILDRIVER, and NAILS to 2018!

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As we creep through October, BLOODSTOCK is very excited to announce three more bands for 2018! 

Joining Friday’s bill in the Ronnie James Dio main stage special guest slot are black metal legends, EMPEROR in a UK exclusive appearance.  Frontman Ihsahn tells us that they’ll be performing a special set based around one of their classic albums.  “We're finally bringing the 20th Anniversary show for ‘Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk’ to the UK!  We’ll be performing the album in its entirety and look forward to celebrating with everyone at BLOODSTOCK!”  Check out a stream of the atmospheric opus here and get excited for next August – https://youtu.be/Jmlhq5rtFXw

Also stepping into a main stage slot on Sunday are Californian circle pit kings, DEVILDRIVER.  Frontman Dez Fafara tells us “DEVILDRIVER is playing BLOODSTOCK in 2018 and we couldn’t be more fucking ready to bring the heavy and get the whole festival moving!  We are thankful for the opportunity and can’t wait to see everyone there!  Get ready to get the fuck in the pit!”  Check out the band doing what they do best in the video for the title track of their current studio album, ‘Trust No One’ – https://youtu.be/XuVibnWHoLA

Hotly-tipped, super brutal three-piece, NAILS land a Ronnie James Dio main stage slot on Sunday in a UK exclusive show.  Frontman Todd Jones informs us, “I've been following BLOODSTOCK and looking at their advertisements online for the past few years, admiring how great a job the festival does having a great mix of underground bands and some of metal's biggest and finest.  We're proud to finally say we're part of what BLOODSTOCK is doing to fight the good fight!  We'll see all you motherfuckers at BLOODSTOCK!!!”  Not familiar with NAILS?  Melt your face with 91 seconds of hardcore intensity via the video for ‘You Will Never Be One Of Us’ – https://youtu.be/hGGGh03jN4w

With Friday night headliners, JUDAS PRIEST, Saturday night headliners, GOJIRA and Sunday headliners, NIGHTWISH already announced for next year's event, 2018 is shaping up to be another stellar year for BLOODSTOCK.