Bloodstock: Bigger'n'better this year
Bloodstock Open Air Metal Festival will detonate at Catton Hill, Derby from August 14 to 16 - and the family team behind the event are aiming to offer the best metal experience for the most affordable price.
Focusing on bands you don't often see in the UK along with acts they've had requests for, this year's bigger-than-ever bill includes Anathema, Carcass, Arch Enemy, Blind Guardian, Cradle of Filth, Fear Factory, Amon Amarth and many more.
Naturally Saxon are there too (where are they not?) and the show will be closed by Europe. Wonder why? The organisers have their reasons.
Vicky and Rachel Gregory have thought long and hard about the bill and Rachel says: "Europe are a wild-card, but people are saying, 'I'll go with that'. They've sold 20 million records and the festival will go out with a bang.
"Bloodstock is about the European bands you don't often see touring the UK. You'll be seeing a lot of these bands for the first time. But it's a very strong bill. Fear Factory agreed - it took a bit of negotiation but they were looking for a real metal festival to play and you don't get more metal than Bloodstock.
"We've kept the prices low because of the recession. You won't get this much metal for £99 anywhere."
Last year the event heralded the arrival on the scene of Scottish upstarts Alestorm. Vicky says: "Pirate metal - that's class! No one had heard of pirate metal when we had them. And now they're going places."
And with the gig getting bigger every year, the team are making sure the organisation scales up with it. Rachel says: "You've got to make sure 10,000 people are safe over the four days, make sure they have a great time and make sure they go home with a great metal experience behind them.
"I think we can guarantee that."
Bloodstock tickets cost £99.65 for three days and camping. More details at www.bloodstock.uk.com
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