Bloodstock Open Air Festival

News - 3rd February - ICED EARTH & SEPULTURA CONFIRM EXCLUSIVE APPEARANCES AT BLOODSTOCK 2012
Metal titans ICED EARTH and thrash icons SEPULTURA are the latest additions to BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012, joining an already stellar line up that includes headline sets from ALICE COOPER and BEHEMOTH, as well as exclusive appearances from WATAIN, special guests DIMMU BORGIR, HATEBREED, BLACK DAHLIA MURDER & many more.

ICED EARTH were born in 1985, formed by Jon Schaffer – a determined, street-tough kid with the drive to create a band to make his heroes Judas Priest, KISS, and Iron Maiden proud. The band released its riff-heavy self-titled debut album in 1990 and never looked back. Nine studio albums – considered masterpieces of metal – cemented the band’s reputation for crafting exceptionally well-made music, the centerpiece of which being Schaffer’s trademark rhythm guitar style and powerful, in-your-face lyrics that often combine themes of self reliance, a healthy distrust of authority, history, and science fiction.
He says:
"We are looking forward to returning to Bloodstock in 2012, our second time after 2008. The UK shows we played on our World Dystopia Tour last fall were some of the best on the tour and we cannot wait to bang our heads with the UK minions again!"

SEPULTURA is one of the major names in metal history. From their humble beginnings 27 years ago, these Brazilians went on to create a legacy, influencing a whole generation of younger bands and becoming a true institution. Despite rough times due to significant line-up changes, nomadic relationships with record labels and various changes in the overall musical environment, SEPULTURA have never backed down, continuously following their path, always re-emerging stronger than ever before.

At their only UK show of 2012, SEPULTURA will remind the BLOODSTOCK crowd why they are South America’s biggest metal export, with a classic set featuring timeless anthems such as “Arise”, “Beneath The Remains”, “Troops Of Doom” “Refuse/Resist”, “Territory” and many many more.

With tickets selling faster than ever before, BLOODSTOCK 2012 is destined for a sell-out this year. Over 100 bands - the majority of which are exclusive appearances - and a ticket price of only £115 for four days of metal magic INCLUDING camping - BLOODSTOCK offers metalheads the most attractive ticket in the UK.

News - 24th January - TWO EXCLUSIVE APPEARANCES ANNOUNCED FOR BLOODSTOCK 2012!
Black metal Legends MAYHEM and death metallers NILE added to the Bloodstock bill as EXCLUSIVE UK shows for 2012!

Both bands are also making their Bloodstock debuts!

News - 23rd January - COSTA RICA'S SIGHT OF EMPTINESS RETURN TO BLOODSTOCK!
Festival organisers are pleased to announce the return of melodic metal titans SIGHT OF EMPTINESS who made their UK debut back in 2007 opening the main stage at Bloodstock after being voted by the public as the winners of Bloodstock’s Online Unsigned Competition.

Since then the band have worked tirelessly and gone on to achieve so much in the last 4 years. They were handpicked by Megadeth and Amon Amarth to support their shows in their homeland of Costa Rica and are now the biggest metal band in Costa Rica and Central America spanning 7 countries.

News - 10th January - DEICIDE CONFIRM ONLY UK APPEARANCE OF 2012 AT BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR
BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR starts the year with a fantastic announcement, confirming Floridian death metal legends DEICIDE’s only UK show of the year.

Always at the forefront of the death metal movement, DEICIDE was an original pioneer of the brutal sound and imagery associated with the Florida death metal scene. In 1987, Glen Benton and Steve Asheim teamed to launch one of the most talked about, controversial and venomous crusades in metal history and have since risen to International notoriety, releasing two of the highest selling death metal albums of all time.

Now they bring their blasphemous brutality to BLOODSTOCK for the first time, offering the only chance to catch them live in the UK this year.

NEWS - 25th November - BEHEMOTH RETURN TO HEADLINE FRIDAY NIGHT AT BLOODSTOCK 2012!
Polish blackened death metal monsters BEHEMOTH have announced an exclusive UK festival appearance at BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012. Originally scheduled to perform at the 2010 event, the band were forced to cancel after frontman NERGAL was diagnosed with Leukemia. After undergoing treatment including a bone-marrow transplant, the enigmatic frontman is fighting fit and ready to bring BEHEMOTH’s brutality back to the UK:

"Bringing Behemoth back to Bloodstock in 2012 was our mission, they have been one of the MOST requested bands we have ever been asked for” states festival booker Vicky Gregory. “We know the fans will give them one hell of a reception. The show is their full production and what better place for them to return than as headliners for the Friday night”

NEWS - 23rd November - SANCTUARY, GRAND MAGUS AND BLACK DAHLIA CONFIRMED FOR 2012!
Reformed Seattle Thrash heroes SANCTUARY will make their first UK appearance in over 20 years at BLOODSTOCK this summer. Featuring frontman Warrel Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard, SANCTUARY rose to fame in the late 80’s after releasing their debut album “Refuge Denied”, produced by Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine. Two years after releasing their second album, “The Mirror Black”, the four piece disbanded, with Dane and Sheppard going on to form NEVERMORE.

Joining them with be Michigan metallers THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and Swedish metal merchants GRAND MAGUS.

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER has crammed quite a bit into its 10 years together - five albums, three EPs and a DVD (2009's MAJESTY). The face-melting Detroit quintet has made a career out of being unpredictable - unhinged, unclassifiable and unrepentant, all in the best possible ways, expect a fiercely vicious barrage of brutal modern metal at their BLOODSTOCK debut. Says frontman Trevor Strnad:

“We are excited to bring our brand of drunken mayhem to Bloodstock in 2012!!! Prepare for the most epic circle pit of your mortal lives!!!”

GRAND MAGUS bring their familiar trademark sound for their only UK festival appearance of 2012, melding traditional riffs and melodies that rock in the same league as Judas Priest and Dio. With lead singer JB’s distinctive, unique voice and monster riffs, backed by a rhythm section that lends new meaning to the word heavy, GRAND MAGUS’s exclusive return to BLOODSTOCK will be a most welcome one.

NEWS - 9th November - ALICE COOPER NAMED AS FIRST HEADLINER FOR 2012!
Hot on the heels of his Welcome 2 My Nightmare tour, notorious shock rocker ALICE COOPER comes to CATTON HALL for his only UK festival appearance of 2012.

Unless you’ve had your head buried in the sand for the last five decades, the godfather of theatrical rock needs no introduction, and needless to say, organisers are delighted to have such a prolific and legendary artist join the BLOODSTOCK line up. Festival booker Vicky Gregory comments:

"As Bloodstock organisers but more importantly Huge fans of Alice Cooper, we are thrilled to have such an iconic artist close proceedings on the Sunday night! We have been after Alice for a number of years and are extremely excited to see him grace the Ronnie James Dio stage and guarantee this will be a performance not to be missed"

With a world class headliner already in place and two more to be announced - as well as over 100 bands from across the world of hard rock and metal - there is no festival offering better value, with four day weekend camping tickets available at just £90 if booked by 15th December.

NEWS - 31st October - DIMMU BORGIR JOIN LINE UP AS SPECIAL GUESTS!
On the RONNIE JAME DIO main stage, Norwegian Black Metal superstars DIMMU BORGIR return to BLOODSTOCK for their only UK show of 2012, taking next year’s first Special Guest slot. Undoubtedly Norway’s biggest Black Metal export, DIMMU BORGIR are one of the scene’s leaders, seamlessly blending ferocious metal with epic classical orchestration to create one of extreme music’s most instantly identifiable sounds.

Joining them are hardcore metal heroes HATEBREED. Ultra-aggressive and punishingly heavy, a HATEBREED show will demand - and command - your undivided attention with their brutal, boot-to-the-teeth heaviness.

Another band who’s only UK performance of 2012 will be on BLOODSTOCK’s RONNIE JAMES DIO stage are none other than CORROSION OF CONFORMITY - or C.O.C for the initiated - who bring their original line up to CATTON HALL for a very special set. Together again after 25 years, Reed Mullin, Woody Weatherman and Mike Dean reunite to bring the spirit of 1985 to Derbyshire, with tracks from their hugely influential crossover classic “Animosity”.

Over on the SOPHIE LANCASTER stage, British Black metal Bruisers ANAAL NATHRAKH make their only UK festival performance of 2012. Created for one purpose - to be the soundtrack for armageddon, the audial essence of evil, hatred and violence, the true spirit of necro taken to its musical extremes

NEWS - 20th September - PARADISE LOST RETURN AFTER 7 YEARS & WATAIN MAKE THEIR DEBUT!
BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR has revealed the latest additions to next year’s line up. England’s own masters of misery PARADISE LOST join the 2012 line up - which already boasts ORANGE GOBLIN and ANVIL - to return to BLOODSTOCK’s main stage, having played the first ever outdoor event in 2005. One of the most successful and influential bands the British metal scene has ever produced, PARADISE LOST are true pioneers, with their early blend of death/doom giving way to the more melodic sound that defined the gothic metal genre.

Joining them are Swedish Black Metal misanthropists WATAIN, who make their BLOODSTOCK debut at a very special slot on the RONNIE JAMES DIO stage. Festering in the Black Metal underground since 2000, WATAIN’s rise through the ranks has been an impressive one, with Erik Danielsson’s dedication and conviction setting them apart, leading the band to become one of the most prolific acts on the scene today

NEWS - 30th August - FIRST BANDS ANNOUNCED FOR BLOODSTOCK 20121
BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR has revealed the first two names for next year’s festival taking place at Catton Hall August 9th - 12th

The first act confirmed for the RONNIE JAMES DIO main stage next year are legendary Canadian comeback kings ANVIL. ANVIL are true defenders of the faith, having never lost sight of their vision to create uncompromising, dyed in the wool heavy metal. They have been on a rock ‘n’ roll journey for the past 30 years and while few bands can make it to the three year mark, ANVIL have closed in on three decades of the most un-compromised and ear pleasing metal known to headbangers

Home-grown stoners ORANGE GOBLIN are first to be confirmed for the SOPHIE stage next year. Since the mid 90s, ORANGE GOBLIN have upheld the traditions of great British heavy rock and metal, cementing their place in rock history as pioneers alongside the likes of Monster Magnet, Kyuss, Fu Manchu and Clutch. Since their formation in the late night drinking holes of London’s Soho, the band have risen to the very pinnacle of what they do, earning a reputation as an awesome live band that has seen them share the stage all over the world with the likes of Alice Cooper, Heaven & Hell, Sex Pistols, Kreator, Queens of the Stone Age, Dio, Grand Magus, Witchcraft and many more.

BLOODSTOCK have released early bird tickets for next year’s fest at rock bottom prices. Four day camping tickets for next year’s event - which takes place 9th - 12th August next year - are available now at bloodstock.uk.com for just £90 (plus booking fee) until December 15th 2011.

Line up 2012

Behemoth - headliner Friday 10th August
Alice Cooper - headliner Sunday 12th August
Anvil
Decide
Orange Goblin
Paradise Lost
Watain
Dimmu Borgir
Hatebreed
Corrosion of Conformity
Anaal Nathrakh
Black Dahlia Murder
Sanctuary
Grand Magus
Sight of Emptiness
Mayhem
Nile
Iced Earth
Sepultura

HISTORY

Born out of the desire to build a festival the like that had not been seen since the glory days of Donington's Monsters of Rock, two individuals from totally different backgrounds came together to bring their fellow Metalheads the best Metal festival in the UK, BLOODSTOCK.

Organisers Paul Gregory and Vince Brotheridge first came together when Paul was looking for someone to build his website. Paul met Vince through a mutual friend and soon it became apparent that although their backgrounds differed, their taste in music didn't. After a succession of meetings they agreed to form Amust4music, the umbrella for all bloodstock.

Paul has lived in Derby since he was born, so when he and Vince were looking for a venue for Bloodstock, the Derby Assembly Rooms seemed the ideal solution, surrounded by pubs local eateries and accommodation.

They have the location they had the name, all they needed now was an identity an image to help establish Bloodstock's roots, this is when Paul had the idea of using some of Derby's folk law, 'The Derby Ram' ( No one knows for sure who first spotted 'the finest ram that ever was fed on hay'. Legend has it that this fabulous, fearsome beast was ten yards tall, had a tail like a bell-rope, and the teeth of a regiment of men. The butcher who finally slaughtered the ram was said to have drowned in its blood ).

After Paul painted the first image he decided to give the beast a name, so a competition was held and the name was given, S-tan the name was given by a fan, for fans by fans.

The first headlining band confirmed to play Bloodstock's first show in 2001 was Saxon. This came about as Paul had the good fortune to make the acquaintance of the Band 'Saxon' and their indomitable singer Biff Byford in 1984. He was commissioned to do the artwork for the album and the stage designs, the album was 'Crusader', now a classic in the annals of rock. Paul has painted ten albums to date for the band and has developed a great friendship with Biff and the boys. Saxon were very supportive of Bloodstock and were happy to Headline the very first one day show, alongside Primal Fear, Glenn Hughes, Blaze, Skyclad, Return To The sabbat and many more.

Bloodstock Festival - Line Up 2011
WASP, Devin Townsend, Kreator, Coroner, Tarot, Triptykon, Poison Black, Wolf, Lawnmower Deth, October File, Byfrost, Arthemis, Brezno, Immortal, Rhapsody Of Fire, Therion, Ihsahn, Grave Digger, Angelwitch, The Rotted, Power Quest, Def Con One, Motorhead, Morbid Angel, At The Gates, Nevermore, Hammerfall, Exodus, Tarot, Napalm Death, Legion 1349, Criminal, Primeval, Powerquest, Survivors Zero, Nemhain, Pig Iron, Guardians Of Andromeda, Isolysis, Inferno, Operation Error, The Last in Line

Bloodstock Festival - Line Up 2010
Opeth, Meshuggah, Sonata Arctica, Gorgoroth, Cathedral, Ensiferum, Rage, Ross the Boss, Black Spiders, Under Blackened Skies, Lordaeron, Betraeus, Grieve, Morgue Orgy, Tempestora, Senturia, Splintered Soul, Shrapnel, Credit To Dementia, Archeye, Steelwing, Enforcer, Powerwolf, Childern of Bodom, Fear Factory, Devin Townsend, Amorphis, Obituary, Edguy, Leaves Eyes, Andromeda, Onslaught, Burn The Hive, Echoes Fall, Twisted Sister, Bloodbath, Cannibal Corpse, Korpiklanni, Doro, Holy Moses, Gojira, GWAR, Suffocation, Bonded by Blood plus many many more.....