Bloodstock Open Air – Three weeks to go!

BLOODSTOCK HQ is a-buzz with activity with just over three weeks to go!   There’s still more bands to announce and we also welcome the return of the brutal-yet-amazing ‘Battle Of The Nations UK’ historical fighting team!

 

The New Blood stage on Friday sees a brace of additions; Hertfordshire melodic death metal outfit and Luton ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ finals winner, COUNTLESS SKIES (www.facebook.com/countlessskies) and Gothenburg, Sweden’s WE ARE THE CATALYST (www.facebook.com/WATCofficial) – who also won DELAIN’s competition with Metal Hammer magazine to win a support slot on the Dutch symphonic rockers’ UK tour.  Joining the New Blood bill on Saturday are Midlands-based prog metallers, MARTYR DE MONA (www.facebook.com/martyrdemona, groove metal outfit and Norwich M2TM winners, SOULBORN (www.facebook.com/soulborn) and self-proclaimed ‘hobo sludge’ gang and Reading’s M2TM winners, VICTORIAN WHORE DOGS (www.facebook.com/VWDBAND).  Sunday welcomes London death metallers SKARTHIA (www.facebook.com/skarthia), hard rock funk/schplunk metal men and London final M2TM winners, WRETCHED TOAD (www.facebook.com/wretchedtoad) and lastly, the winners of the ‘Metal To The Masses’ Hobgoblin online video upload competition, Newcastle groove metal beasts, TOMBSTONE CROW (www.facebook.com/tombstonecrowofficial).

 

Over on the Jagermeister Stage on Friday, hard rock four-piece CITY OF THIEVES (www.facebook.com/cityofthievesuk) join the fray.  On Saturday, the blues-based rockers PIG IRON (www.facebook.com/pigironmc) grab a slot, as well as stoner/sludge squad, MORASS OF MOLLASSES (www.facebook.com/MorassOfMolasses) and straight out of Valhalla, the truest of true cover bands, HANOWAR (www.facebook.com/Hanowartruemetal); a bit like Manowar, but…well, you do the math!  Lastly for this announcement, Sunday sees horror-metal punksters, THE HELL PUPPETS (www.facebook.com/hellpuppets) join the Jager bill.  Final additions to all stages will be announced next week!!

 

There’s plenty more on site to see and do besides watching the awesome bill!  Returning this year for Friday-Sunday are the very popular BATTLE OF THE NATIONS UK historical fighting team!  These guys have to be seen to be believed.  Catch their regular ‘demonstrations’ (read: ‘full-on’, no-holds-barred fighting with broadswords, maces and plenty of other historical weaponry) in their designated pen in the main arena.

 

All these stellar bands are on the bill!  Friday’s headliner TRIVIUM and special guests SABATON, Saturday’s headliner WITHIN TEMPTATION and special guests OPETH, Sunday’s headliner ROB ZOMBIE and special guests BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, plus CANNIBAL CORPSE, IHSAHN, SEPULTURA, ORANGE GOBLIN, DEATH D.T.A, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, 1349, NAPALM DEATH, DARK ANGEL, ARMORED SAINT, BELPHEGOR, OVERKILL, ENSIFERUM, AGALLOCH, KORPIKLAANI, PRO-PAIN, ENSLAVED, RAGING SPEEDHORN, XERATH and WOLF.  Over on the Sophie Lancaster stage, there’s headliners DELAIN, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, GODFLESH and ARNOCORPS, LAWNMOWER DETH, MORDRED, ETHEREAL, ONSLAUGHT, OAF, CONAN, PLANET OF ZEUS, GODSIZED, plus many many more.

Rob Zombie will headline Bloodstock 2015

ROB ZOMBIE is confirmed as Sunday’s 2015 main stage headliner, bringing his mind-blowing full production to Catton Park.  

ROB ZOMBIE exclaims, "I am so ready to get on a plane, and get my ass over to merry ol' England for BLOODSTOCK.  We've had some of the best shows of our lives over there and can't wait to add this to the list.  Besides, it's called ‘BLOODSTOCK' so how could it not be bloody fucking fun?”

Expect to witness a spectacular range of ROB ZOMBIE classics as well as choice cuts from the band’s most recent studio album ‘Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor’.  Check out this cut of ‘Superbeast’ from last year’s ‘The Zombie Horror Picture Show’ DVD, which captured Rob and his Zombie bandmates John 5, Piggy D and Ginger Fish on the road and get a taster of what’s in store; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsw8koMaZXU.

In addition to that big news, don’t forget that BLOODSTOCK’s ‘Rock Society’ memberships went on sale at 9am today, 31st October.  The BLOODSTOCK ‘Rock Society’ is effectively the festival’s ‘Members Club’, offering not only a 10% discount on your weekend ticket (and that’s on top of the already discounted early bird ticket if you’re quick enough!), but it offers punters all sorts of other cool benefits like priority access to the signing tent, special tours of backstage & production areas so you can see what goes on ‘behind the scenes,’ as well as access to the VIP Serpents Lair bar, plus a Rock Society laminate with your name and membership number, and plenty more besides.  The memberships are limited to just 300 and sell out very quickly every year, so don’t delay if you want to pick one up. Last year, these sold out that morning!  Full details can be found at http://www.bloodstock.uk.com/pages/rock-society.

Bands already announced for 2015 are Saturday’s headliners, WITHIN TEMPTATION and special guests OPETH, plus DEATH TA, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, CANNIBAL CORPSE, IHSAHN, SEPULTURA and DARK ANGEL.  More bands will be announced soon! BLOODSTOCK will be held at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 6th-9th August 2015.

Sophie Lancaster stage announced for Bloodstock

Friday’s Sophie stage headliners are Greek extreme metal overlords ROTTING CHRIST.  Much revered, ROTTING CHRIST were one of the first black metal bands in the region, forming back in ‘87 and going on to create the genre’s Greek signature sound of the 90’s. The band are touring Japan and Thailand in early 2014, and are looking forward to headlining the Sophie stage at BLOODSTOCK, commenting “Proudly on the roster of one of Bloodiest festivals around! It will be an honour to perform for our English Metal brothers. Until then… KEEP THE TRUE METAL SPIRIT ALIVE!”  Their eleventh album, ‘Κατά τον δαίμονα εαυτού’ is out now via Season of Mist.

Into female-fronted metal bands?  Swedish metalheads SISTER SIN, led by the feisty Liv Jagrell, close out the Sophie stage on Saturday.  The Gothenburg based band will be blasting out tunes from their best-selling third album, ‘Now And Forever’, which debuted on the Swedish album charts at #6, and have been honing their live chops touring with road dogs Motorhead, Otep, and Arch Enemy, among others.  

Bloodstock is delighted to welcome Sunday’s Sophie headliners, the reunited classic NWOBHM shredders, SATAN.  Be sure to check out their latest Listenable Records album ‘Life Sentence’.  It’s been 26 years since their last release!  Metal Hammer recently described it as, “A bolt straight out of the NWOBHM’s glorious heyday, this is all galloping melodies, ripping riffage, and enough fist-pumping moments to make Manowar look like My Dying Bride. A sensational return and a serious shout for best straight-up heavy metal album of 2013.”

BLOODSTOCK 2014 is shaping up to be the biggest and best one yet, with early bird and rocksoc tickets selling out in record time and weekend tickets flying out the door!   Friday night’s headliners are New Orleans sludgemeisters, DOWN.  Joining them to head up Saturday night are black metal overlords, EMPEROR and closing out proceedings on Sunday are the mighty thrash legends, MEGADETH.  Also announced so far are AMON AMARTH, OBITUARY, CROWBAR, HATEBREED, LACUNA COIL, CARCASS, PRONG, CHILDREN OF BODOM, SAXON, DECAPITATED, FLOTSAM & JETSAM, PRIMORDIAL and EVIL SCARECROW.  More bands and other cool things on site will be announced shortly.

Four new bands added to Bloodstock 2014

BLOODSTOCK 2014 is thrilled to announce the addition of four more awesome metal bands to the main stage bill.

The very mighty New Orleans sludge metal crew, CROWBAR make a return to Catton Park in 2014 for a UK festival exclusive.  Led by riff lord, Kirk Windstein, who recently stepped down from his longtime tenure with BLOODSTOCK headliners DOWN, to concentrate energies full time on his own band CROWBAR, Kirk and the boys are hard at work on a brand new album set for a 2014 release.  Like many metal artists who’ve played Catton Park before, Kirk loves BLOODSTOCK and is looking forward to a return visit, enthusing; “CROWBAR can’t wait to bring our NOLA doom back to BLOODSTOCK in 2014!  It’s our 25th anniversary, so expect a few surprises in our set.  New record, new bassist and a whole new CROWBAR attitude!!!  Get ready for the heavy!!!”  Meantime, check out their video for ‘The Cemetery Angels’ from 2011’s album, ‘Sever The Wicked Hand’ here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy5UnS6QSo0.

Florida death metal pioneers, OBITUARY are also set to lay waste to BLOODSTOCK’s main stage. The band have been working hard on their ninth studio record and accompanying documentary. This will be their first new music since 2009’s ‘Darkest Day’ and is set for independent release next year in the wake of a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign (which saw the guys raise more than 6 times their original target).  When not making music, the band are involved with drummer Donald Tardy’s feline welfare programme, Metal Meowlisha, and organise fund-raising initiatives such as ‘Headbanger’s Furball’.  The band say: “We are very excited to be a part of BLOODSTOCK 2014.  It's been 4 years since OBITUARY played the festival and we are looking forward to returning.  We’ve been hard at work in the studio and can’t wait to bring our new album to UK fans and perform some new songs along with all the old classics.  BLOODSTOCK is the UK's true metal fest, so we are honoured to be invited and to bring some Florida Death Metal to our British fans!  Hang on to your ass, this is gonna be fun!!”  For the latest OBITUARY news, keep your eyes on their Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/ObituaryBand.

Finland’s CHILDREN OF BODOM are set to play their only UK show of 2014 on BLOODSTOCK’s Ronnie James Dio main stage.  The band released their eighth studio album ‘Halo of Blood’ in June, when Metal Hammer magazine declared, “not only have CHILDREN OF BODOM produced a diverse collection of defiantly brilliant metallic tunes, but also their most accomplished achievement to date.”. And if you’re looking for something extra special, the band have also recently made available a limited run of white or silver ‘Halo of Blood’ vinyl. Check out the video for lead single, ‘Transference’ at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kQ73UgGIRU.  The five-piece are currently shredding their way across Europe with 2014 BLOODSTOCK compadres, DECAPITATED. Learn about all things Bodom over at http://www.cobhc.com/.

BLOODSTOCK also favours hard-working bands from the UK, and are excited to welcome back the hugely popular EVIL SCARECROW; this time to an opening slot on Saturday’s main stage!  Having packed out the Sophie tent last year, the Nottingham band are more than thrilled at the prospect. ”We are astounded, a little scared, but beyond delighted to have been invited back to BLOODSTOCK, especially as we are returning to the Main Stage which guarantees nobody suffers the discomfort of a full tent!  BLOODSTOCK is the biggest and best UK heavy metal festival and we're truly honoured to be playing the same stage as so many bands who have influenced and inspired us.  The line up this year already looks phenomenal.  We promise to up the Scarecrow game to give BLOODSTOCK’s faithful the best in Evil entertainment!  Bring on the METAL!"   The band are currently plotting their new album which is planned for a 2014 release, and hop over and check out the Pledge Campaign for their 2013 BLOODSTOCK DVD here.  A portion of the proceeds goes to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/evilscarecrowboa2013dvd.

With the three 2014 headliners already announced, the event is shaping up to be the strongest yet.  Friday night’s bill toppers are New Orleans sludgemeisters DOWN.  Joining them to head up Saturday night are black metal overlords, EMPEROR and closing out proceedings on Sunday are the mighty thrash legends, MEGADETH.  Also announced so far are SAXON, DECAPITATED, and FLOTSAM & JETSAM.  More bands will be announced shortly.

Megadeth to headline Bloodstock 2014

BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR FESTIVAL is thrilled to announce that MEGADETH are confirmed to headline the Sunday night slot in 2014.

This will be the thrash icons’ first appearance at BLOODSTOCK.  In a career nearing 30 years and counting, MEGADETH has sold more than 38 million albums worldwide, earning five consecutive platinum albums in the US and numerous accolades along the way, including 11 GRAMMY® nominations.  The band’s latest studio album released in June, ‘Super Collider’, reunites firebrand frontman Dave Mustaine once again with guitarist Chris Broderick, bassist David Ellefson, and drummer Shawn Drover.  The release debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200 and #22 on the UK album chart and notched up Top 40 album chart debuts in a further 22 countries worldwide.

Megadeth

MEGADETH also recently released a live DVD of last year’s ‘Countdown To Extinction’ 20th Anniversary tour.  Check out this video of MegaDave and the guys thundering through the title track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYzUIKnGVvk.

MEGADETH’s founder, frontman and visionary, Dave Mustaine comments: “2014 is the 20th Anniversary for ‘Youthanasia’, and we are celebrating that by headlining the Bloodstock Festival in the glorious UK.  Every year MEGADETH and our UK fans get closer and celebrate another year of metal greatness together. This is the beginning of 2014…the best is yet to come.”

Tickets for 2014's event are already on sale at ‘early bird’ prices, £115 for a 4-day weekend ticket with camping.  Don't delay, as once the limited ‘early bird’ allocation is gone, it's gone, and tickets revert to full price.  Pick ‘em up now at http://bloodstock.seetickets.com/.

In other BLOODSTOCK news, the festival is very proud to announce their recent win at the LIVE UK MUSIC BUSINESS AWARDS 2013 in the ‘Best Festival (under 15K cap)’.  The second ‘Best Festival’ accolade in a row, after picking up 2012’s UK Festival Awards gong for ‘Best Medium sized Festival’!   Long may it continue!!

Already announced as Friday night bill toppers are New Orleans sludgemeisters DOWN. Joining them to headline Saturday night are black metal overlords, EMPEROR.  BLOODSTOCK will be the only UK performances for both bands.

In 2013, over 1.2 million fans from across the world logged on to watch the bands on the BLOODSTOCK main stage, via the Daily Motion live link.  This year was BLOODSTOCK’s biggest ever attendance at just shy of 14,000 and with a site licence of 15,000 we are expecting the 2014 event to sell out in advance, so don’t wait too long to get your tickets!

BLOODSTOCK will be held at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 7th-10th August 2014.  Keep up to date with the very latest info on BLOODSTOCK’s official sites at www.facebook.com/bloodstock and www.bloodstock.uk.com.

Bloodstock announce three more bands for 2014

First up, Polish death metal legends DECAPITATED. This will be the band’s first appearance at BLOODSTOCK! Decapitated are hard at work on their as-yet-untitled sixth studio album, set for release in 2014 via Nuclear Blast. Decapitated excitedly declared, "Bloodstock, here we come!!! Finally, after many years, it's time to play at one of the biggest metal festivals in the UK. Can't fucking wait! It's an honour to perform on the Bloodstock stage for so many people. Hopefully we will kick your asses with our new album! See you soon!" Not familiar with the band yet? Check out the title track from their last record, ‘Carnival is Forever’ at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1Wpo8j1Ta0 and then stay up to date with the band on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/decapitated.

Joining them, BLOODSTOCK luminaries SAXON will be returning to the festival in 2014! The legendary British metalheads released their twentieth album ‘Sacrifice’ in February, via UDR, featuring stunning cover art from BLOODSTOCK founder and fantasy artist Paul Raymond Gregory. Watch the video for the album’s title track at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d_6BkhKPAk. In November, the band will release ‘Unplugged And Strung Up’, a 14-track collection of alternative takes on classic SAXON tracks. Get full details at: http://www.saxon747.com.

Saxon

All hail! US thrash metal icons FLOTSAM & JETSAM will also appear at BLOODSTOCK 2014! Did you know? The band’s 1986 debut album (which featured Jason Newsted) was awarded an impressive 6K score by Kerrang! magazine, the first in Kerrang!’s history. The band are currently working with Pledge Music on a full remake of their classic second album ‘No Place For Disgrace’. To pledge and for regular updates, including preview video clips from the studio, visit: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/npfd. FLOTSAM & JETSAM are also touring in support of latest, eleventh studio album ‘Ugly Noise’. Keep tabs on the band at: http://www.facebook.com/flotsamandjetsam.official and http://www.flotsam-and-jetsam.com/.

Tickets for 2014's event are already on sale at ‘early bird’ prices, a bargainous £115 for a 4-day weekend ticket with camping.  Don't delay, as once the limited ‘early bird’ allocation is gone, it's gone, and tickets revert to full price.  Pick up your discounted tickets now at http://bloodstock.seetickets.com/.

This year, over 1.2 million fans from across the world logged on to watch the bands on the BLOODSTOCK main stage, via the Daily Motion live link.  2013 was BLOODSTOCK’s biggest ever attendance at just shy of 14,000 and with a site licence of 15,000 we are expecting the 2014 event to sell out in advance, so don’t wait too long to get your tickets!

Already announced as Friday night bill toppers are New Orleans sludgemeisters DOWN. Joining them to headline Saturday night are black metal overlords, EMPEROR.  BLOODSTOCK will be the only UK performances for both bands.

Down announced as headliner for Bloodstock 2014

BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR FESTIVAL is thrilled to reveal that New Orleans sludgemeisters DOWN are to headline the Friday night at BLOODSTOCK 2014.  The show will be a UK exclusive.

2014 also sees the pencilled release of ‘DOWN IV: Part 2’, the second in the band’s series of EPs.  The opus follows in the footsteps of ‘DOWN IV: Part 1 – The Purple EP’, which hit stores last winter to a flurry of critical acclaim.  The band have been hard at work in recent weeks demo’ing material at frontman, Philip Anselmo’s infamous ‘Nodferatu’s Lair’ studio, outside of New Orleans, LA.  Check out the video for Part 1’s lead track, ‘Witchtripper’ here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWmNdZSqlqw.

Arguably one of the finest metal frontmen of his generation, Philip Anselmo is looking forward to setting foot on BLOODSTOCK’s hallowed soil, stating: “We are more than elated to be a part of BLOODSTOCK FESTIVAL this coming year!  This should be a blast, and I hope everyone shows up to support this great event!"

Bassist, Pat Bruders adds: “I’m looking forward to another great time at BLOODSTOCK FESTIVAL!   When I was there two years ago with Crowbar, it was a blast!  DOWN is getting ready to tear it up at BLOODSTOCK in 2014, so get ready people!  Let’s BRING IT!!!!!"

Down

Tickets for 2014's event are already on sale at ‘early bird’ prices, a bargainous £115 for a 4-day weekend ticket with camping.  Don't delay, as once the limited ‘early bird’ allocation is gone, it's gone, and tickets revert to full price.  Pick up your discounted tickets now at http://bloodstock.seetickets.com/.

This year, over 1.2 million fans from across the world logged on to watch the bands on the BLOODSTOCK main stage, via the Daily Motion live link.  2013 was BLOODSTOCK’s biggest ever attendance at just shy of 14,000 and with a site licence of 15,000 we are expecting the 2014 event to sell out in advance, so don’t wait too long to get your tickets!

Already announced as Saturday night headliners are black metal overlords, EMPEROR, who are only playing a very select number of shows in 2014.  BLOODSTOCK is to be their only UK performance and EMPEROR's currently announced 2014 show at Germany's Wacken Festival is already sold out.

Earthtone 9 and more added to Bloodstock lineup

BLOODSTOCK FESTIVAL are excited to announce a whole batch of new additions for all three stages.  There’s only seven weeks left to the most metal weekend of the year!!  Have you got your tickets yet?!

Opening Friday’s main stage, and fresh off the back of the release of ‘IV’, their first album in ten years, are British post metallers, EARTHTONE 9.  The band are stoked to find their way to Catton Park’s hallowed ground, commenting "Earthtone 9 have never played Bloodstock, so we could not be more excited!  It's one of our only gigs this year, so we are truly going to make the most of it. There may well be some drinking!"  You can pick up a free download of their single,‘Horizon’s End’ at this link; http://www.pledgemusic.com/widgets/4136.

On Sunday’s Sophie Lancaster stage, SACRED MOTHER TONGUE get added.  Having received huge plaudits for their second album, ‘Out of the Darkness’, and live shows, the Northampton based band are building quite the name for themselves.  Check out the video for ‘A Light Will Shine’, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGY1bUEW1mc.

Also added to the Sunday Sophie stage line up are relentless road dogs, BREED 77. Bound to deliver a pummeling performance, these energetic Gibraltan bruisers are sure to bust out some new tunes from their latest album ‘The Evil Inside’, which was released in March.  You can watch the video for recent single ‘Bring On The Rain’ at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIx-T1iWNYI.

A whole raft of acts are also set to grace the JAGERMEISTER stage.  The stage is perfectly placed in the main arena with massive passing crowd pull due to its placement, and time slots are arranged to capitalize on main stage changeovers.  Performances show a different side to the artists’ repertoire, offering up new and old material with many venturing into cover version territory.  Friday’s bill includes solo artist MITCHELL EMMS, medieval metallers RAVENAGE and 80’s-styled newcomer, MIA KLOSE (check out her Bloodstock clip here: http://youtu.be/i1Z7cPCaT-k).  Saturday’s line up rolls out the inimitable EARLS OF MARS, Stoke on Trent aggressors BALLS DEEP, and rowdy riffmeisters CAVORTS, while Sunday’s features prog death metallers BETRAEUS, Sacred Mother Tongue’s shredmaster ANDY JAMES’s GUITAR CLINIC, and the self-proclaimed “progressive epic”outfit, OPERATION ERROR.

BLOODSTOCK tickets are on sale now, priced £125 (plus booking fee) for a weekend pass with camping.  VIP ticket packages and upgrades are also available.  Look up all the info on BLOODSTOCK 2013 so far, plus all kinds of cool coverage from 2012’s event over at www.bloodstock.uk.com or www.facebook.com/bloodstock.

BLOODSTOCK takes place at Catton Park in Derbyshire on 8-11th Aug 2013 and features SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, KING DIAMOND, ANTHRAX, DEVILDRIVER, GOJIRA, AVANTASIA, EXODUS, DEATH ANGEL, MUNICIPAL WASTE, VOIVOD, WHITECHAPEL, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, GAMA BOMB and many more. 

Gojira set to destroy Bloodstock

BLOODSTOCK are thrilled to announce that French super-heavyweights and Metal Hammer Golden God Award ‘Best Live Band’ nominees, GOJIRA, have been added to the Saturday line-up.   Still basking in plaudits for current album, ‘L’Enfant Sauvage’, the earthquake-inducing four-piece stole the show on the recent 2013 Jagermeister UK tour.  Frontman Joe Duplantier enthuses, “Hey everybody!  We are super excited to play Bloodstock again this year, we had an amazing time back in 2010.  Looking forward to seeing all of our UK fans again and kicking your asses!”   Sure to be one of the live highlights of the weekend, cast your eyes over this festival clip of fan-favourite track ‘Flying Whales’ and see the treat that Bloodstock’s in for: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRIVJ7aLHTE.  Oui, oui!  Tres bien!!!

Bloodstock 2013

Need a lift to BLOODSTOCK?  Or driving there and want some cash for the empty seats in your car?  BLOODSTOCK have linked with GOCARSHARE to make it easy.  Simply register where you’re travelling to/from, or the route you’re taking, and then wait for drivers/passengers to get in touch!  GOCARSHARE is integrated with Facebook, so you can check out the profiles of your possible travel buddies.  Learn more at: http://gocarshare.com/page/about.  Plus… if you’re the driver, be in with a chance to win FREE VIP camping for you and your passengers in the 'Serpents Lair' when you GOCARSHARE to BLOODSTOCK.   Log your journey before 1st August to receive a qualifying car bumper sticker!  For details on how to find your ride or fill your car, click through to http://gocarshare.com/festival/bloodstock.

More club promo nights have also been added for May, June and July, so get along to one of the following events, check out some tunes from BLOODSTOCK bands old and new, and get in with the chance of winning tickets or related giveaways.

Fri 17th May MIDDLESBROUGH The Empire / SUNDERLAND The Independent

Sat 18th May NORWICH The Waterfront / MANCHESTER Jabez Clegg

Sat 25th May GLASGOW The Cathouse / BIRMINGHAM Eddie’s Rock Club / CARDIFF Bogiez

Fri 31st May NOTTINGHAM The Maze

Sat 1st June MANCHESTER Satan's Hollow / STOKE-ON-TRENT  Bunker 13 / SHEFFIELD The Corporation / HIGH WYCOMBE Bucks Uni Student Union

Sat 15th June NORWICH The Waterfront

Fri 21st June    MIDDLESBROUGH The Empire

Sat 22nd June CAMBERLEY The Agincourt / LANCASTER V Bar

Mon 24th June  READING Sakura

Fri 28th June   LONDON Elektrowerkz / ABERDEEN Korova

Sat 29th June SUTTON BRIDGE The Gathering / BIRMINGHAM Eddie's Rock Club / CARDIFF Bogiez / GLASGOW Classic Grand / NOTTINGHAM The Salutation Inn

Sun 30th June EXETER Cavern Club

Thu 4th July     LONDON The Purple Turtle

Fri 5th July        NEWCASTLE Newcastle Uni

Sat 6th July      BRIGHTON Belushi's Below / SHEFFIELD The Corporation / BIRMINGHAM The Asylum / MANCHESTER Jabez Clegg

Sat 13th July    LONDON The Garage

Fri 19th July     SUNDERLAND The Independent / MIDDLESBROUGH The Empire

Sat 20th July    NORWICH The Waterfront

Fri 26th July     ABERDEEN Korova / LONDON Elektrowerkz / GLASGOW The Cathouse

Sat 27th July    BIRMINGHAM Eddie's Rock Club / CARDIFF Bogiez / NOTTINGHAM The Salutation Inn

Sat 3rd Aug      SHEFFIELD The Corporation

Sun 4th Aug     EXETER Cavern Club

For more travel options, including details of coaches from all over the country and shuttles from local train stations, visit: http://www.bloodstock.uk.com/pages/travel-info.

Bloodstock Open Air latest + win tickets!

The award-winning BLOODSTOCK FESTIVAL has started a weekly Facebook lottery, enabling a lucky winner to grab a pair of festival tickets (with camping) every week from now through to the festival in August.  All you need to do to enter is swap your current Facebook cover pic for one of the custom-built Facebook cover banners available at the BLOODSTOCK website;  http://www.bloodstock.uk.com/advertising_banners.  At a random day and time every week, a winner will be selected by the BLOODSTOCK team, from active timelines showing one of the BLOODSTOCK banners in the cover pic slot.  The winners will be notified by private Facebook message, and their name announced on the festival website.  Switch up your cover pic and take part!  You’ve gotta be in it, to win it!

For the 3rd year in a row, Teenage Cancer Trust is to benefit from being BLOODSTOCK charity partner this year.  Fundraising initiatives at last year’s event raised a whopping £4,775 for the TCT.  Money was raised via the guest list scheme (where guests & media are asked for a £10 charity donation in return for their weekend wristband), raffles and a t-shirt amnesty, and this year the aim is to smash the £5,000 target.  This year, the popular t-shirt amnesty returns to the TCT stand in the arena, with old rock & metal tee’s available in exchange for a donation, while festival goers are encouraged to bring along and donate old shirts they no longer want.  There will also be tickets available to a TCT raffle over the weekend, with an exclusive prize for one lucky winner – more details will be announced soon.  Jen Walker, Music Co-ordinator for Teenage Cancer Trust said: “We had a brilliant time at Bloodstock last year, and appreciate all the support from both those behind the scenes at the festival and all of those who popped by the stall and supported us!  Roll on August – and LAMB OF GOD!”

In other BOA news, BLOODSTOCK and their beer-friendly buddies at HOBGOBLIN have also created a special limited edition t-shirt which you can get for a bargain £14.99 at the Hobgoblin e-store; http://www.wychwood.co.uk/shop/products/view/97/limited-edition-bloodstock-t-shirt/.  The special design was created by festival founder and renowned fantasy artist, Paul Raymond Gregory, who has designed and painted numerous classic album covers for rock giants such as Dio, Saxon, Molly Hatchet and Uriah Heep.  If there are any left come August, you’ll be able to pick ‘em up at the festival too.  Look out for the BLOODSTOCK-branded bottles of Hobgoblin beer in your local stores too.  There are 2.5 million of them out there!