Bloodstock

BLOODSTOCK’s Festive Treat – Watch 5 New GOJIRA Live Clips from 2025

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Fresh off BLOODSTOCK’s inaugural Winter Gathering, this holiday season BLOODSTOCK gifts metalheads something seriously heavy: five exclusive, newly released, pro-shot videos from GOJIRA’s earth-shaking 2025 headline performance, individually re-engineered with the band’s sound engineer to create the best and heaviest listening experience possible. Dropping across the holiday period, these live cuts capture the French titans at full power – a perfect festive binge for fans hungry for riffs.

Your essential festive viewing includes “Stranded,” the groove-driven anthem from their 2016 released Magma opus, which airs first, blazing with the ferocity that made it a modern classic. “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!),” which made waves after the band’s blistering performance during the Paris 2024 Olympic opening ceremony, drops next. “Only Pain” follows, also taken from Magma, and showcases GOJIRA’s signature blend of precision and emotional weight.

Next, the band’s crushing take on “Under The Sun,” performed earlier this year at the special Back To The Beginning celebration, delivers a bold, sludgy tribute to the iconic Black Sabbath. Finally, “The Gift Of Guilt,” the soaring, cathartic fan favourite from their 2012 critically acclaimed album L’Enfant Sauvage, wraps up the year with the kind of emotional punch only GOJIRA can deliver.

Watch a trailer for the incredible video series here: https://youtu.be/IfRUYCFsaKQ or by clicking below. 
Tracks will premiere at 6pm GMT on the following dates:
19/12/25 – “Stranded”22/12/25 – “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)”24/12/25 – “Only Pain”26/12/25 – “Under The Sun” (Black Sabbath cover)28/12/25 – “The Gift Of Guilt”

Watch on BLOODSTOCK’s Official You Tube.



While you’re waiting for the final episodes of Stranger Things to land, don’t miss this full-blown celebration of one of the most standout headline sets in BLOODSTOCK history! Whether you’re reliving being in the pit or you’re experiencing the magic you missed for the first time, consider this your front row ticket to one of 2025’s most mind-blowing, dazzling sets.



And don’t forget! While you’re warming up the ol’ air-guitar fingers, 2026 is already calling. Looking for a Christmas present? You can still grab the final weekend tickets for the Kyrr (quiet) campsite in the ticket store – all other weekend standard and VIP tickets are now sold out.A limited number of day tickets are also available.

You can also grab some stocking stuffers like a S’tan bobblehead (on sale for just £5) in the merch store.

BLOODSTOCK’s 25th anniversary is going to be truly unforgettable.

BLOODSTOCK 2026 is delighted to present RJD headliners LAMB OF GOD, SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, JUDAS PRIEST, and SAXON. Sophie Lancaster stage headliners will be CRYPTOPSY (None So Vile 30-year anniversary set), WEDNESDAY 13, LEPROUS, and CARPENTER BRUT. You’ll also be able to see BODY COUNT, SEPULTURA, MUNICIPAL WASTE, DEATH ANGEL, TESTAMENT, NORTHLANE, BLEED FROM WITHIN, VENDED, ORBIT CULTURE, THE SCRATCH, IMPERIAL AGE, LIFE OF AGONY, OF MICE & MEN, BIOHAZARD, 200 STAB WOUNDS, THE HELL, BLACK SPIDERS, SHINING, NEVERMORE, EVIL SCARECROW, HEAVYSAURUS, SKYND, PARTY CANNON, BATTLESNAKE, INHUMAN NATURE, KITTIE, CASTLE RAT, GRAPHIC NATURE, BOOTYARD BANDITS, EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS, HIDDEN INTENT, SELLSWORD, NECKBREAKKER, SEETHING AKIRA, HAMMER, STAMPIN GROUND, URNE, CELESTIAL SANCTUARY, THROWN INTO EXILE, VIKING SKULL, BOUND IN FEAR, IMPERIUM, FROGLORD, MUSHROOMHEAD, DREAM STATE, TRIVAX, MANTIS DEFEATS JAGUAR, BLOOD COUNTESS, GURT, OUTERGODS, FLAYED DISCIPLE, NOISEPICKER, ACID THRONE, and ALUNAH. 

With many more bands & additional on site entertainment still to be announced, this will be the must-attend celebration of 2026!

For the most up to date festival information, visit the official website at bloodstock.uk.com.
BLOODSTOCK 2026 will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 6th – 9th August, 2026.
Happy holidays from everyone at Bloodstock.

BLOODSTOCK detail new tickets & infrastructure changes

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Guess who just dropped ticket news? BLOODSTOCK, that’s who. And BLOODSTOCK’s not stopping there – your post-festival feedback has sparked some exciting infrastructure upgrades for 2026. Plus new merch is on the way, and for the easiest camping experience ever, you can now snag a pre-pitched tent. Read on…

First – mark your calendar and set your alarm, all tickets detailed below will go on sale at 9am on Wednesday 29th October at the official ticket store. Don’t hang about if you’re keen, because all tickets are available in limited quantities! 


Following a recent site meeting, BLOODSTOCK can confirm that the KYRR CAMPSITE will return in 2026! So, if you’d thought your chances of snagging a weekend ticket for BLOODSTOCK were high and dry, think again! As before, it’s important to note that Kyrr will be a quiet campsite, and buying a Kyrr ticket means you can only camp in the Kyrr campsite.

Adult Kyrr tickets (full weekend inc camping Thu-Sun) will be £210 (+ fees). There will also be a child Kyrr ticket available priced £69 (+ fees), for children aged 4-11 years old. Under 4’s go free. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian 18 years or over. The Kyrr campsite will be available from Wednesday if you have also bought a Wednesday early arrival ticket (available separately in the ticket store)!

Note: if you buy a Kyrr ticket and arrive by car, in 2026 you will park in the main public car park and can fast track by crossing the road at the traffic lights from the main car park straight into the Kyrr campsite to collect your Kyrr wristband. If you buy a Kyrr ticket and are coming by coach, you will need to collect your Kyrr wristband from the main entrance box office (next door to the coach drop off point).



Sisters (of Mercy?) photo:@LimSangPhotography

CAMPERVANS! BLOODSTOCK heard your prayers, and a handful of extra campervan tickets (priced £130 + fees, without power) will also go on sale at 9am, Wednesday 29th October. They’re going to go fast, so be ready.

DAY TICKETS! If you can’t make it for the full event or perhaps you haven’t been before and want to do just a day to see what it’s like, pick your favourite day and grab a day ticket! These do not include camping or access to the campsites.

Adult day tickets for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are priced £99 (+fees). You have access to the main arena from 10am – 2am on the day your ticket is for.

Child day tickets Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are priced £59 (+ fees) and are for children aged 4-11 years old. Under 4s go free. They also have access to the main arena from 10am – 2am on the day the ticket is for. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian 18 years or over at all times.

With the main stage open especially for 2026 on Thursday too, you can also buy tickets just for Thursday! Thursday tickets give access to the main arena from 4pm – 2am. Adult Thursday day tickets are priced £59 (+ fees), child Thursday tix are £39 (+ fees, aged 4-11). 

PARKING! Coming by car? Day parking on Thursday costs £15 (+ fees) and covers 3pm – 3am. Day parking Friday, Saturday, or Sunday costs £20 (+ fees) and covers 9am – 3am. Full weekend parking costs £30 (+ fees). Note, these are advance booking prices, parking purchased on the gate on the day will be £5 more expensive. To pre-book parking, go to the official ticket store.

SITE CHANGES! As always, BLOODSTOCK is By The Fans, For The Fans. Festival HQ have read all your post event feedback, held some meetings, walked around the site, and can now confirm two major site changes for 2026. 
Due to the popularity of the Sophie Lancaster stage and the increased production that bands are now bringing in, BLOODSTOCK is increasing the size of the Big Top! The stage will remain enclosed rather than open air, but will be noticeably larger in 2026. 

The EMP stage is on the move! This stage will return in 2026, but at a new location in the main arena, meaning it’ll no longer compete with the thundering flow of metalheads from the main stage & neighbouring sound. BLOODSTOCK can therefore also significantly increase the viewing space, so both fans and bands have a better experience!



PRE-PITCHED TENTS! Tangerine Fields and BLOODSTOCK are inviting metal fans to go greener next summer by booking pre-pitched tents in the ASGARD campsite – a simple switch that slashes single-use tent waste and makes arrival effortless. Just turn up to a ready-to-go tent, and when the festival’s over, Tangerine Fields packs it all away! No hauling gear, no missing poles, no packing down. Bonus: any sleeping bags left behind are donated to charities, keeping gear in use and out of landfill. With tents stored close to the festival, transport miles and emissions are also cut.  Reusing complements recycling and takes sustainability one step further. Interested?

Book through Tangerine Fields, bring your festival ticket, and enjoy a greener, hassle-free BLOODSTOCK!

HOT NEW MERCH! Get ready, because some brand new items are set to launch in the official merch store on Halloween, 31st October! Maybe you’re getting ahead on your Christmas shopping?

Look out for an uber cool black-on-black design which you’ll be able to get on a tote bag, flat cap, hoodie, apron, and glass Christmas bauble! While you’re waiting, the Halloween t-shirt is on sale now, this year’s oh-so-stylish Christmas jumper is now available, and have you seen the battle jacket yet?  Shop here.
DID WE MENTION TIXEL YET? If you’ve missed out on your preferred ticket type, all hope is not lost, because if you sign up to official resale partner Tixel, you might still be able to snap up your preferred ticket type. Simply set an alert for notification if your tickets of choice become available, or pre-authorise your card in advance, so no need for constant checking back. Tixel also allows you to safely re-sell tickets to a new home if plans have changed. You can sell ALL ticket types, including installment plan purchases.

Click through to https://tixel.com/uk/bloodstock-tickets for more information on how it works. 

BLOODSTOCK 2026 is delighted to present RJD headliners LAMB OF GOD, SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, JUDAS PRIEST, and SAXON. Over on the Sophie Lancaster stage, the headliners are CRYPTOPSY (None So Vile 30-year anniversary set), WEDNESDAY 13, LEPROUS, and CARPENTER BRUT. You’ll also be able to see SEPULTURA, MUNICIPAL WASTE, TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, NORTHLANE, BLEED FROM WITHIN, VENDED, ORBIT CULTURE, THE SCRATCH, IMPERIAL AGE, LIFE OF AGONY, OF MICE & MEN, BIOHAZARD, 200 STAB WOUNDS, THE HELL, BLACK SPIDERS, SHINING, NEVERMORE, EVIL SCARECROW, HEAVYSAURUS, SKYND, PARTY CANNON, BATTLESNAKE, THROWN INTO EXILE, INHUMAN NATURE, KITTIE, CASTLE RAT, GRAPHIC NATURE, BOOTYARD BANDITS, EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS, HIDDEN INTENT, SELLSWORD, NECKBREAKKER, SEETHING AKIRA, HAMMER, STAMPIN GROUND, URNE, CELESTIAL SANCTUARY, VIKING SKULL, BOUND IN FEAR, IMPERIUM, FROGLORD, MUSHROOMHEAD, DREAM STATE, TRIVAX, MANTIS DEFEATS JAGUAR, BLOOD COUNTESS, GURT, OUTERGODS, FLAYED DISCIPLE, NOISEPICKER, ACID THRONE, and ALUNAH.

BLOODSTOCK’s 25th anniversary is going to be truly unforgettable. With many more bands & additional on site entertainment still to be announced, this is the must-attend celebration of 2026!

For the most up to date festival information, visit the official website at bloodstock.uk.com.

BLOODSTOCK 2026 will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 6th – 9th August, 2026.

BLOODSTOCK ADDS TESTAMENT AND THROWN INTO EXILE FOR 2025

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Have you recovered from the last BLOODSTOCK announcement yet? Well hold onto your battle jacket, because your cries of delight over that news can only be matched by today’s reveal.

BLOODSTOCK can now confirm that 2026’s stellar line-up will be further enriched by Bay Area thrash icons TESTAMENT, who have been ripping the UK a new one this month already. With more than 40 years of excellence and influence under their belt, miss their set on the Ronnie James Dio main stage before BLACK LABEL SOCIETY on Sunday at your peril. While you wait, they’ve just dropped their brand new album, Para Bellum, only yesterday via Nuclear Blast – check out its first single ‘Infanticide A.I.’ here.

TESTAMENT will be joined by their thrash pals from further down the Californian coastline, LA based THROWN INTO EXILE. If you aren’t familiar with them yet, get your ears around clobbering new single ‘Eternal Nothingness’ here and if it makes you want more, grab their last EP, Passageways, too. They’re currently shredding across the US with the Cavalera brothers and Fear Factory.
You’re welcome, thrash fans!
If you missed the news earlier this week, standard weekend tickets for 2026 are now SOLD OUT. However, all hope is not lost, because if you sign up to official resale partner Tixel, you might still be able to snap up your preferred ticket type. Simply set an alert for notification if your tickets of choice become available, or pre-authorise your card in advance, so no need for constant checking back. Tixel also allows you to safely re-sell tickets to a new home if plans have changed. You can sell ALL ticket types, including installment plan purchases.

Click through to https://tixel.com/uk/bloodstock-tickets for more information on how it works. 

Stay tuned for more info to come soon on day tickets and last year’s new Kyrr campsite. 

If you’ve already snapped up your tickets, Wednesday early access is also available in some campsites for those who want to max out their BLOODSTOCK experience. For early access or to pre-book parking, go to the official  ticket store. 

BLOODSTOCK 2026 is delighted to present RJD headliners LAMB OF GOD, SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, JUDAS PRIEST, and SAXON. Over on the Sophie Lancaster stage, the headliners are CRYPTOPSY (None So Vile 30-year anniversary set), WEDNESDAY 13, LEPROUS, and CARPENTER BRUT.

You’ll also be able to see SEPULTURA, MUNICIPAL WASTE, TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, NORTHLANE, BLEED FROM WITHIN, VENDED, ORBIT CULTURE, THE SCRATCH, IMPERIAL AGE, LIFE OF AGONY, OF MICE & MEN, BIOHAZARD, 200 STAB WOUNDS, THE HELL, BLACK SPIDERS, SHINING, NEVERMORE, EVIL SCARECROW, HEAVYSAURUS, SKYND, PARTY CANNON, BATTLESNAKE, THROWN INTO EXILE, INHUMAN NATURE, KITTIE, CASTLE RAT, GRAPHIC NATURE, BOOTYARD BANDITS, EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS, HIDDEN INTENT, SELLSWORD, NECKBREAKKER, SEETHING AKIRA, HAMMER, STAMPIN GROUND, URNE, CELESTIAL SANCTUARY, VIKING SKULL, BOUND IN FEAR, IMPERIUM, FROGLORD, MUSHROOMHEAD, DREAM STATE, TRIVAX, MANTIS DEFEATS JAGUAR, BLOOD COUNTESS, GURT, OUTERGODS, FLAYED DISCIPLE, NOISEPICKER, ACID THRONE, and ALUNAH.

BLOODSTOCK’s 25th anniversary is going to be truly unforgettable. With many more bands & additional on site entertainment still to be announced, this is the must-attend celebration of 2026!

For the most up to date festival information, visit the official website at bloodstock.uk.com.
BLOODSTOCK 2026 will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 6th – 9th August, 2026.

BLOODSTOCK ANNOUNCE BODY COUNT FOR 2026

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It’s happening. After years of fans requesting it, BODY COUNT are finally set to tear up BLOODSTOCK in August 2026.  The Grammy-winning crew led by Ice-T will make their long-overdue debut as special guests on the Ronnie James Dio main stage on the festival’s final day, Sunday 9th August, playing directly before headliner JUDAS PRIEST.

No strangers to controversy or crushing riffs, BODY COUNT have been a rallying cry for raw, unapologetic heavy music since the early ‘90s. Born from Ice-T and guitarist Ernie C’s vision to fuse street grit with blistering metal, the band has built a reputation for leveling every stage they set foot on. With a Grammy win for Best Metal Performance (for ‘Bum-Rush’ off their Carnivore album) under their belt, they’re louder, harder, and more relevant than ever. 

Festival director Vicky Hungerford comments, “After 10 years of trying we FINALLY get Body Count to Bloodstock!!! This is going to be one of the most memorable shows the festival has ever seen and how timely it’s going to be a part of our 25th anniversary celebration!” 

Tickets are flying fast – snap yours up now at the ticket store and be part of history at BLOODSTOCK’s silver anniversary! Wednesday early access is also available in some campsites for those who want to max out their BLOODSTOCK experience. Day tickets will go on sale at a later date.

BLOODSTOCK’s 25th anniversary is going to be truly unforgettable. With many more bands & additional on site entertainment still to be announced, this is the must-attend celebration of 2026!

BODY COUNT join an already heavy-hitting lineup including RJD headliners LAMB OF GOD, SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, JUDAS PRIEST, and SAXON. Over on the Sophie Lancaster stage, the headliners are CRYPTOPSY (None So Vile 30-year anniversary set), WEDNESDAY 13, LEPROUS, and CARPENTER BRUT.

You’ll also be able to see SEPULTURA, MUNICIPAL WASTE, DEATH ANGEL, NORTHLANE, BLEED FROM WITHIN, VENDED, ORBIT CULTURE, THE SCRATCH, IMPERIAL AGE, LIFE OF AGONY, OF MICE & MEN, BIOHAZARD, 200 STAB WOUNDS, THE HELL, BLACK SPIDERS, SHINING, NEVERMORE, EVIL SCARECROW, HEAVYSAURUS, SKYND, PARTY CANNON, BATTLESNAKE, INHUMAN NATURE, KITTIE, CASTLE RAT, GRAPHIC NATURE, BOOTYARD BANDITS, EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS, HIDDEN INTENT, SELLSWORD, NECKBREAKKER, SEETHING AKIRA, HAMMER, STAMPIN GROUND, URNE, CELESTIAL SANCTUARY, VIKING SKULL, BOUND IN FEAR, IMPERIUM, FROGLORD, MUSHROOMHEAD, DREAM STATE, and TRIVAX. Many more bands are still to be announced!

For the most up to date festival information, visit the official website at bloodstock.uk.com.

BLOODSTOCK 2026 will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 6th – 9th August, 2026.

BLOODSTOCK ANNOUNCES 27 MORE BANDS FOR 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

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As plans for BLOODSTOCK’s 25th anniversary get underway, the festival has unveiled another 27 bands for 2026’s monumental event. With heavyweights, cult favourites, and rising stars joining the awesome bands already announced, this year’s line-up is shaping up to be one for the ages. And there are still plenty more names yet to come, with approximately 125 bands in total set to appear. Did you know? BLOODSTOCK is going to open the Ronnie James Dio main stage on Thursday now as well! Early bird, campervan, and VIP tickets are already sold out and weekend tickets are over 90% gone, so act quickly to get tickets if you don’t want to miss out!
And so to the bands… 

THURSDAY – RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

Headlining the opening night on the Ronnie James Dio main stage are none other than British heavy metal legends SAXON. With over four decades of anthems and an iron-clad reputation for blistering live shows, SAXON’s triumphant return to BLOODSTOCK will kick off the weekend in classic style. Expect a masterclass in pure heavy metal power.

Also joining Thursday’s main stage are BLOODSTOCK favourites EVIL SCARECROW, who bring their eccentric, theatrical brand of tongue-in-cheek metal mayhem, and HEAVYSAURUS, the dinosaur-costumed heroes delivering family-friendly metal fun. Previously announced for the Sophie Lancaster stage, HEAVYSAURUS now stomp onto the RJD stage for maximum roar.

FRIDAY – RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

Prepare for the unnerving, true crime inspired, industrial sounds of SKYND, the outrageous brutal slamming, death metal riot of PARTY CANNON, and the serpentine heavy rock theatrics of BATTLESNAKE.

SATURDAY – RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

Warm up your necks, thrash-fuelled crossover aggression comes courtesy of London’s INHUMAN NATURE, flying the flag for the new generation of feral thrash.

SUNDAY – RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

Closing the weekend in ferocious style, BLOODSTOCK is thrilled to host the BLOODSTOCK debut of Canadian alt-metal pioneers KITTIE. Joining them are occult doom bringers CASTLE RAT – all hail the Rat Queen, boundary-smashing modern hardcore crew GRAPHIC NATURE, and Wild West metal rabble rousers BOOTYARD BANDITS (from Worcester no less).

FRIDAY – SOPHIE LANCASTER STAGE

Unleash the chaos with German grindcore absurdists EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS, Australian thrash squad HIDDEN INTENT, UK medieval power metallers SELLSWORD, Danish death metal beasts NECKBREAKKER, electro nu-core party-starters SEETHING AKIRA, and rising Scottish extreme metal outfit HAMMER.

SATURDAY – SOPHIE LANCASTER STAGE

Expect no compromises from UK hardcore institution STAMPIN GROUND, genre-bending heavy hitters URNE, death metal purists CELESTIAL SANCTUARY, swaggering stoner rock bruisers VIKING SKULL, down-tempo brutality from BOUND IN FEAR, technical groove maestros IMPERIUM, and amphibian doom oddballs FROGLORD.

SUNDAY – SOPHIE LANCASTER STAGE

Round off the weekend with the masked industrial spectacle of MUSHROOMHEAD, soaring alt-rockers DREAM STATE, and blackened extremists TRIVAX.
CHARITY FUNDS RAISED AT BLOODSTOCK 2025

BLOODSTOCK is also proud to share the incredible fundraising achievements from the 2025 event, supporting charity partners Metal For Good and The Sophie Lancaster Foundation. Guest & media donations raised a fantastic £11,698, with the always popular T-shirt Amnesty adding another £2,120, making a grand total of £13,818 – split equally to provide £6,909 for each charity. In addition, Shepherd Events, who run the BLOODSTOCK bars, made an extra contribution to The Sophie Lancaster Foundation by donating bar tips and running ‘spin to win’ competitions, plus Christopher Roberts and Taylan Rodgers, who worked tirelessly on the bars all weekend, generously donated their entire earnings. That pooled £1725 and Alan Shepherd then rounded it up to give The Sophie Lancaster Foundation an additional £2000.

Katy Baker, Co-Founder of Metal For Good, said:“We have been blown away by the generous support of the Bloodstock team and their wonderful festival goers. We raised a huge amount of money from our stand and through donations from the festival and the merch amnesty, all of which will support incredible community projects using music to change lives. The weekend itself was amazing, so many great bands, smiley faces and brilliant partners – including The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, who we are honoured to share the charity donations with. Thank you to everyone for putting on such an incredible event!”
Help make BLOODSTOCK better! If you attended this year, complete the exit survey here to give your feedback and help with suggestions for 2026! Be sure to leave your details at the end for a chance of winning standard weekend tickets for next summer!

Tickets are flying fast – snap yours up now at the ticket store and be part of history at BLOODSTOCK’s silver anniversary! Wednesday early access is also available in some campsites for those who want to max out their BLOODSTOCK experience. Day tickets will go on sale at a later date.

Important date alert: Applications for accessible access will open at 9am BST on October 11th. For more info and details on how to apply, click here.

BLOODSTOCK’s 25th anniversary is going to be truly unforgettable. With many more bands & additional on site entertainment still to be announced, this is the must-attend celebration of 2026!

BLOODSTOCK 2026 will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 6th – 9th August, 2026.

Already announced to perform at BLOODSTOCK 2026 are RJD headliners LAMB OF GOD, SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, and JUDAS PRIEST. Over on the Sophie Lancaster stage, your headliners are CRYPTOPSY (None So Vile 30-year anniversary set), WEDNESDAY 13, LEPROUS, and CARPENTER BRUT.

Joining the fun over the full event are SEPULTURA, MUNICIPAL WASTE, DEATH ANGEL, NORTHLANE, BLEED FROM WITHIN, VENDED, ORBIT CULTURE, THE SCRATCH, IMPERIAL AGE, LIFE OF AGONY, OF MICE & MEN, BIOHAZARD, 200 STAB WOUNDS, THE HELL, BLACK SPIDERS, SHINING, and NEVERMORE!

For the most up to date festival information, visit the official website at bloodstock.uk.com.

        

BLOODSTOCK ANNOUNCES 25 BANDS FOR 25TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2026

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BLOODSTOCK is delighted to return to Catton Park in August 2026 to celebrate its 25th anniversary  – will you be there to celebrate this momentous occasion with everyone?

With 2025’s event fully underway with headliners TRIVIUM, MACHINE HEAD, and GOJIRA melting faces this weekend (alongside 120+ more bands), BLOODSTOCK cordially invites you to get excited for 2026 too, by revealing the first 25 bands set to make 2026 the festival’s best year yet. 

You can snap up tickets immediately at the on site box office at an early bird price, saving yourself the booking fee. More info on all ticket types and on sale dates is further below.

BLOODSTOCK is overjoyed to welcome back titans of groove metal, the unmistakable LAMB OF GOD as Friday’s headliner on the Ronnie James Dio stage.  Frontman D. Randall Blythe states, “We are thrilled to return to headline Bloodstock in 2026! The UK is one of our favourite countries in the world to play and Bloodstock is one of our favourite festivals. And to Bloodstock security… I will make sure I have my pass on me at all times. See you next August!” 
BLOODSTOCK is always keen to give fresh faces the opportunity to show what they’re made of and step it up to headliner status. Without further ado, Saturday’s RJD headliner will be none other than the crushing SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL. That gives you a year to get up to speed with their just released, new album ‘Grizzly.’ Beware of bears on site from tomorrow… 
BLOODSTOCK salutes one of our most iconic metal bands on Sunday, who are celebrating more than fifty years of making heavy metal history. Who else to headline then, but metal gods JUDAS PRIEST. The pioneering group have so many classic tracks, you should start debating what the set list will look like now. 



Over on the Sophie Lancaster stage, your Thursday headliner will be tech death Canadians CRYPTOPSY, with a None So Vile 30-year anniversary set. Friday’s headliner sees the Duke of Spook, WEDNESDAY 13 at his spellbinding and macabre best.

On Saturday, Norwegian progressives LEPROUS will close out the stage. And to wring out any last energy you might still have after JUDAS PRIEST have finished with you on Sunday, dark synth artist CARPENTER BRUT will wrap up the weekend in dazzling fashion.

Who else might you catch on the Ronnie James Dio main stage over the festival? BLOODSTOCK can reveal the legendary SEPULTURA will appear as part of their final farewell tour, see them while you still can. Sure to challenge the crowd surfer record again, are you ready for MUNICIPAL WASTE?

Speaking of pulverizing, you won’t want to miss seminal thrashers DEATH ANGEL lay down the law. Fans of modern metalcore should get revved up about the confirmation of Australian squad NORTHLANE and Scottish bruisers BLEED FROM WITHIN.

But if nu-metal is more your thing, then Des Moines massive VENDED will be just what you are hoping for. There’s plenty of excellent talent coming over from mainland Europe too with melo-death Swedes ORBIT CULTURE added to the line-up.

For a musical curveball, how do you feel about Irish traditional music mixed with heavy metal? THE SCRATCH will offer you a chance to find out. Don’t be downhearted symphonic & power metal fans, you haven’t been forgotten – IMPERIAL AGE are coming to make all things right.

2026 also sees the inimitable LIFE OF AGONY return to BLOODSTOCK, after sadly a medical emergency forced cancellation in 2022 – they will be worth the wait! And that’s not all, Californian rockers OF MICE & MEN are also locked in, plus hardcore giants BIOHAZARD, who are sure to create one of the most impressive pits of the weekend too.

But the fun doesn’t stop there! There’s plenty of headbangin’ shenanigans to be had over in the Sophie tent all festival too, not least with Jurassic levels of entertainment coming from HEAVYSAURUS (yes, we like dinosaurs).

Cleveland death metallers 200 STAB WOUNDS and THE HELL also join the affray to blow any cobwebs away, and if that’s not enough, Sheffield crew BLACK SPIDERS bring some rock n roll classic riffs guaranteed to get the party in full swing. For something a little more avant garde, maybe a blackjazz set from Norwegians SHINING will take your fancy.

Have we saved the best for last? We know you’ll be pleased with the very long awaited return of NEVERMORE!
BLOODSTOCK WELCOMES HEAVY METAL TRUANTS

After thirteen annual cycle rides from London to Download Festival, the Heavy Metal Truants are thrilled to announce that next year will see them charting a new path to glory — destination: BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR.
Co-founded in 2013 by then Metal Hammer Editor In Chief Alexander Milas and Iron Maidenmanager Rod Smallwood, the Heavy Metal Truants have so far raised over £1.5 million for four children’s charities: Teenage Cancer Trust, Nordoff & Robbins Music Therapy, Childline, and Save the Children. Since its beginning, this unique initiative has been spearheaded by a three day, 30-person, 175-mile cycle from London to the gates of a major metal festival, and next year that destination is BLOODSTOCK.

“Heavy Metal Truants is more than a cause – it’s a family, and our success and longevity is testament to the power of this metal community which we are so proud to be a part of,” said Milas. “The help and generosity we’ve had from our friends at Download Festival has been nothing less than legendary, but after 13 years, the timing felt right to carry the torch to new, hallowed ground. The response from Bloodstock when we floated the idea was nothing short of phenomenal.”

Adam Gregory, Director of Bloodstock, adds, “Bloodstock is honoured to have been chosen to have the baton passed to us from Download. As we join together with the Heavy Metal Truants on the next part of their incredible journey, I’m confident our fans will continue supporting such a monumental effort from HMT and everyone involved for some truly amazing causes.” The 2026 ride will invite cyclists of all backgrounds and abilities to take up the gruelling challenge of cycling 175 miles with a single goal: raising vital funds for kids in need. As in previous years, the Heavy Metal Truants will also include a series of virtual challenges so walkers, runners, and cyclists from all over the world can also support and take part.

JOIN THE RIDE! You’ll be in good company! See some of the previous pedal-to-the-metal family below!
Sign-ups for HMTXIV are open NOW.

For updates and registration: www.heavymetaltruants.com Follow on social: @hmtruants

BLOODSTOCK confirms final bands for 2025 & more

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With only a little over 3 weeks to go until it’s time to make your annual pilgrimage to Catton Park for BLOODSTOCK, let’s reveal the final bands performing this year… and a few more details on other cool on site entertainments too!

With this last wave of Metal 2 The Masses winners now locked in, 2025’s BLOODSTOCK lineup is complete — and it’s packed with underground heroes! From thrash to tech-death to ambient metalcore, these new additions to the Timothy Taylor New Blood Stage prove once again that the future of heavy music is in very safe and very loud hands.
Friday welcomes Merseyside champions OGUN, pioneers of “Pyar Scouse Metal” and masters of melodic thrash chaos. Reformed in 2022, the Liverpool wrecking crew have gone from strength to strength, recently dropping their debut album World Of Hate — and they’re ready to tear up the stage. Joining them, Brighton’s victors DEVILHUSK channel disillusionment, self-doubt, and existential fury into a genre-smashing metalcore assault. Unapologetic, restless, and raw, they’re quickly becoming the scene’s most ferocious new antagonists.

Saturday brings Coventry’s top dogs EXORCISM, blending death metal’s savage bite with thrash’s razor-edge speed. Formed in 2023, these young extremists have already forged a name for their explosive sound and uncompromising live shows. Meanwhile, from Devon & Cornwall’s competition, winners FIGHT THE CHAMP slam down dynamic nu-hardcore energy, packing heavy riffs and an all-out performance guaranteed to ignite the pit.

Sunday wraps up with MONOCHROME, who took first place in Bristol, an ambient-infused metalcore force weaving chaotic breakdowns and ethereal choruses into a sound that’s as haunting as it is heavy. Finally, Burnley’s conquerors SURYA bring a lethal mix of tech and deathcore aggression, fusing surgical precision with crushing grooves to finish the weekend on a devastating high.

As Metal 2 The Masses organiser Simon Hall puts it, “Yet again the M2TM has unearthed some astounding fresh talent, as it has done for over 20 years. The commitment of promoters, venues, fans and of course the bands, is a testament to the strength in depth of the underground, not only in the UK but also with our European and Scandinavian partners. A huge thank you to all those who work tirelessly to give these bands the platform they so richly deserve.”

Congratulations to all the newly announced bands and to every act who fought their way through the M2TM finals — your future fans are waiting!


And if all that new blood on the lineup wasn’t enough to keep you buzzing… it’s time to reveal the name of BLOODSTOCK’s premium new coffee blend, a hand-crafted battle cry in liquid form. With so many great submissions, multiple people suggested the final names — so to keep things fair, all those who suggested the winning names were pooled, and winners were drawn at random from each group.

The tribe has spoken, all suggestions given thoughtful contemplation – BLOODSTOCK is pleased to introduce HALLOWED GROUNDS.

Congratulations to Kat Johnson-Williams, whose epic winning entry now becomes part of BLOODSTOCK lore. Kat scores a pair of weekend tickets to BLOODSTOCK 2026, a 1kg bag of the exclusive HALLOWED GROUNDS blend, and, of course, eternal bragging rights.

A huge shout-out also goes to our runners-up: BREWTAL AWAKENING by readybeckx and BLOOD ROASTED RITUAL by Rain Rochester. Each will receive a 250g bag of the limited-edition coffee to help fuel a future mosh.
HALLOWED GROUNDS is no ordinary brew. Crafted by Coffee Central Roasting Co., it combines specialty-grade Robusta from Uganda’s Clarke Farm — bold, smooth, and loaded with caffeine — with naturally processed Central American Arabica, rich with dark fruit and chocolate notes. The result is a deep, intense, and energising coffee designed to keep you going from the first riff to the last encore.

For those wanting to get their hands on it, HALLOWED GROUNDS is available to pre-order in a limited run of 250g retail packs via Coffee Central’s webshop and will ship from July 23. A further retail run will follow later this summer, and QR codes placed around BLOODSTOCK will make ordering easy during the festival. A small number of packs will also be on sale on site.

VIP ticket holders will find an exclusive edition pack included in their official festival goodie bags! And if you want to try it fresh on site, HALLOWED GROUNDS will be brewed and served exclusively at Gregory Catering outlets across the festival, including VIP, Niflheim, and Ironwood campsites.

A huge thanks to everyone who entered and helped name this new part of BLOODSTOCK history. Enjoy the brew — and see you in the pit.
There’s even more chaos on the menu this year to fire up your festival spirit. Enter THE HUNGER PIT — BLOODSTOCK’s brand new on-site competitive food challenge, hosted by the one and only festival foodie, Ollie Eats.

3 days. 3 challenges. Zero regrets (probably).

Friday launches with CURRY ON SCREAMING — think you can handle BLOODSTOCK’s hottest curry? It’s spicy, it’s loud, and it might just change your life (or at least your weekend).

Saturday brings the SPUDSTOCK SHOWDOWN in partnership with the legendary Spudman and Ollie Eats. This spud-eating team championship match promises absolutely no mercy for the humble potato — only glory (and maybe indigestion). If that’s a-peeling, be sure to sign up in advance, the path to star(ch)dom awaits.

Sunday rounds things out with BUNNY CHOW DOWN, presented with festival vendor Bunnymans. One loaf. One champion. The challenge? Be the fastest to demolish a full Bunnychow and earn your place in BLOODSTOCK’s hall of infamy. 

All the madness goes down each day at 5:40pm in the Battle Arena. Sign up, bring your appetite (and maybe a strong stomach), and put your mouth where your horns are.
Have you visited BLOODSTOCK’s awesome Rock And Metal Gallery before? Situated next to the signing tent, it’s a definitely-don’t-miss attraction over the festival (and it’s air-conditioned, if you needed another reason to visit). 
The incredible, specially-designed bust of iconic MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy (containing some of his ashes) returns after last year’s unveiling, as it will every year, so metalheads can pay their respects. 

You’ll be able to see an entire wall from influential artist ROGER DEAN (Asia, Yes), and another spanning their career from heavily involved Saturday headliners MACHINE HEAD. Acclaimed illustrator MARK WILKINSON (Marillion, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden) returns with a special 3D artwork and a portrait. You’ll also find exclusively curated exhibits including a TRIVIUM-inspired, custom-built guitar by steel sculptor PAUL CUTTING, six new Blood Work paintings from OLIVER G ANDREW (painted using his own blood), and band member portraits from tattoo artist & painter DANNY EDWARDS.

Rick Lovatt will be showing his astonishing, customised BLACK SABBATH HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORBIKE, previously on display at the Home of Metal in Birmingham — learn more about that here – and you can see some early, original Black Sabbath-themed artwork from KRUSHER JOULE.

In addition, you can see band-signed, original BLOODSTOCK artwork from over the years. Open Friday – Sunday of the festival, be sure to make some time to stop by and check it out!

Horns up if you have started packing for BLOODSTOCK! Not yet? To help you put your festival look together, EMP are offering a special 20% off for BLOODSTOCKers, with the code BOA20! And they’ve created a dedicated Bloodstock store if you want some help narrowing down the many choices! Patches, caps, t-shirts, long-sleeves, bags, even cropped sweatshirts and mugs – EMP has you covered. If you’re a member of their Backstage Club, you can also win VIP tickets for this year! Enter now: emp.me/9it8. Ts and Cs apply.

Stay tuned for news next week on cup recycling and other green initiatives, welfare info, the gaming arena, a food & drink round-up, and more.

Coming early on Wednesday? Amongst other entertainment, Wednesday night Movies In Midgard are confirmed to start at dusk (around 9pm-ish) and include The Lost Boys and Shaun Of The Dead.  If you already have a weekend ticket, a limited number of Wednesday early access passes are available for an add-on cost of £25 for those who want to max out their BLOODSTOCK experience, staying in any of the standard campsites (including Kyrr if you have a Kyrr-specific ticket) or the campervan field. This option is not available for the VIP or accessible campsites. 

Head to the ticket store to see all currently available options including pre-bookable car parking.
If you’ve missed out on your preferred ticket type, sign up to official resale partner Tixel. Simply set an alert for notification if your tickets of choice become available, or pre-authorise your card in advance, so no need for constant checking back. Tixel also allows you to safely re-sell tickets to a new home if plans have changed. You can sell ALL ticket types, including instalment plan purchases, plus any tickets sold via Ticketmaster or other third party ticket outlets. Click through to https://tixel.com/uk/bloodstock-tickets for more information on how it works. 

If you’re thinking about travel options, consider Big Green Coach, for the closest drop off on site. Check out all details here and reserve your spot for a £1 deposit. There are 34 pick-up locations this year, including: Birkenhead, Bournemouth, Bradford, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Carlisle, Chester, Coventry, Crewe, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Gloucester, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newport, Nottingham, Norwich, Oxford, Plymouth, Preston, Sheffield, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland, Swansea, Taunton, Worcester, and York.

Get more festival information over at bloodstock.uk.com. Watch a trailer here.

BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 7th-10th August 2025.

Nights out with BLOODSTOCK + more bands announced

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With 4 months still to go before you can shout BLOODSTOCK is next week, festival HQ has got all the details of some raucous nights out to help you pass the time and get a sneak peek at some of the freshest talent to perform at BLOODSTOCK this August, in rock clubs around the country and at the Metal 2 The Masses tour dates which kick off imminently! Plus, even if you can’t make any of those events, read on for the low down on 8 hellacious acts who’ve already seen off all the challengers to claim spots on the Timothy Taylor New Blood stage, so you can discover your new favourite band right now.

Have you been following the earlier events of BLOODSTOCK’s phenomenally successful Metal 2 The Masses (M2TM) scheme? If not, now’s the time! The final 31 tour dates are locked and loaded! With a different line-up every show, one band from each night will be selected to join the line up on the Timothy Taylor New Blood Stage this August.
With 31 regions taking part, across the UK, Poland, Norway, and Cyprus, 2025 marks the biggest Metal 2 The Masses scheme yet! The first final kicks off in Cyprus on April 11, but you can get details of all venues and dates on BLOODSTOCK’s website, Facebook, or by clicking the region below.

LONDON | CYPRUS | BRISTOL | COVENTRY | BURNLEY | DEV & CORNWALL | MERSEYSIDE | BRIGHTON | OXFORD | NORTHANTS | NOTTINGHAM | STOKE | CHELTENHAM | KENT | NEWCASTLE | HITCHIN | SOUTH WALES | NORTH WALES | NORWAY | SOMERSET | BIRMINGHAM | EAST ANGLIA | ESSEX | MANCHESTER | SOUTHAMPTON | LEICESTER | SHEFFIELD | LEEDS | BELFAST | SCOTLAND | POLAND
Kicking off at the beginning of May are this year’s riotously fun BLOODSTOCK CLUB NIGHTS! Another fun way to get out there and support your local venues and perhaps take home some BLOODSTOCK tickets while you’re at it! With only a very small handful of festival tickets left available to buy, every club night will have a ticket competition on the night and you might just be the lucky winner!

Party nights line up as follows, air guitaring is optional: 

Sat 3rd May – York, Bluebox – Deadbolt
Sat 10th May – Manchester, Rebellion – Deadbolt
Sat 17th May – Bristol, Basement 45 – Apocalypse
Sat 31st May – Brighton, Above – Apocalypse
Sat 31st May – Southampton, Sobar – Apocalypse
Fri 6th June – Glasgow, Cathouse Fridays
Fri 6th June – Guildford, All Bar One – Schism
Fri 20th June – Cardiff, Metros – Heresy
Sat 28th June – Stoke-on-Trent, The Sugarmill – Devil’s Night
Sat 12th July – Nottingham, The Sal – Hexx
Fri 18th July – Exeter, The Cavern – Altern8
Fri 25th July – London, Elektrowerkz – Voodoo
The best (days and) nights out in August are of course those you can spend at BLOODSTOCK! With such high quality acts applying to the festival this year, here’s the low down on 8 bands who have already been locked in to make everyone wish the New Blood tent was twice the size.

Friday welcomes Mancunians THE MACHINEST (video), offering up a particularly gnarly and intense flavour of industrial extreme metal, for fans of Anaal Nathrakh and The Berzerker. They’ll be joined by Hertfordshire-based squad LOWDOWN (video), firm believers in riffing like their lives depended on it, who’ve just signed to Damage Records for their debut.  If you’re a fan of Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, Ghost, Heilung or Nightwish, save some space in your schedule to catch Northern powerhouse LN (video) and their transcendental blend of Pagan/Viking metal. 
Did they foresee they’d be joining Saturday’s bill? FORTUNE TELLER (video) is the power metal brainchild of Ross McLennan (Ingested, Viscera, Abhorrent Decimation), paired with Meyrick De La Fuente, Ian Rockett, and Theresa Smith (Metaprism). Saturday also adds prog metallers HEKZ (video), who’ve been splendidly described by Prog magazine as sounding like “Queen having a barney with Dream Theater as Rush and Iron Maiden duke it out on the sidelines.” 

Local Derbyshire lads THE CARTOGRAPHER (video) clinch a spot on Sunday’s line up, a spine-shattering embodiment of modern deathcore. Also part of Sunday’s affray, the evocatively named SPITTING TEETH (video) are sure to wake up the pit – if you dare – with their filthy riffs and relentless and punishing live set.

For a change of pace that day but no less captivating, why not check out Belfast’s alt rock tribe PREYRS (video), featuring singer Amy Montgomery. The group were previously nominated for both Best Live Act and Best Artist at the Northern Ireland Music Prize and are sure to make new fans at BLOODSTOCK!
Did you snap up a ticket yet? Day tickets are now running VERY low (only Friday left!), and weekend tickets have also already sold out, so don’t hang about if you want to join the fun this summer! If you already have a weekend ticket, a limited number of Wednesday early access passes are available for an add-on cost of £25 for those who want to max out their BLOODSTOCK experience, staying in any of the standard campsites (including Kyrr if you have a Kyrr-specific ticket) or the campervan field. This option is not available at present for the VIP or accessible campsites. 

Head to the ticket store to see all currently available options including pre-bookable car parking.

If you’ve missed out on your preferred ticket type, sign up to official resale partner Tixel. Simply set an alert for notification if your tickets of choice become available, or pre-authorise your card in advance, so no need for constant checking back. Tixel also allows you to safely re-sell tickets to a new home if plans have changed. You can sell ALL ticket types, including instalment plan purchases, plus any tickets sold via Ticketmaster or other third party ticket outlets. Click through to https://tixel.com/uk/bloodstock-tickets for more information on how it works. 

If you’re thinking about travel options and your dinosaur isn’t giving you a lift, perhaps consider Big Green Coach, for the closest drop off on site. Check out routes here. 

Get more festival information over at bloodstock.uk.com. Watch a trailer here.

BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 7th-10th August 2025.

BLOODSTOCK’s 2025 Ronnie James Dio stage headliners are TRIVIUM, MACHINE HEAD, and GOJIRA. Headlining the Sophie Lancaster stage will be ME AND THAT MAN, KATAKLYSM, STATIC-X, and OBITUARY. You’ll also be able to see MASTODON, NAILBOMB, MINISTRY, EMPEROR, FEAR FACTORY, LACUNA COIL, HERIOT, ORANGE GOBLIN, CREEPER, KUBLAI KHAN TX, CAGE FIGHT, RIVERS OF NIHIL, FLOTSAM & JETSAM, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, FEUERSCHWANZ, LORD OF THE LOST, PALEFACE SWISS, AUGUST BURNS RED, WARBRINGER, UNDEATH, SPIRIT ADRIFT, THROWN, ALL FOR METAL, BREED 77, HIGH PARASITE, and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD.

Joining them are SHRAPNEL, FAMYNE, KONVENT, THE SPIRIT, GHOSTS OF ATLANTIS, ONE MACHINE, MY DILIGENCE, SHADE EMPIRE, EIHWAR, WATERLINES, PHOENIX LAKE, NEONFLY, WALL, DOGMA, SIGLOS, DEADFLESH, FOURWAYKILL, GNOME, TURIN, LOCK HORNS, OFNUS, ROUGH JUSTICE, IREOSIS, BA’AL, FRAYLE, PENGSHUI, VNDER A CRVMBLING MOON, APATHY UK, and BARBARIAN HERMIT.

Stay tuned for many more bands and on site activities to be announced over the coming months.

Bloodstock gives back…

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BLOODSTOCK’s motto has always been, “by the fans, for the fans.” A new initiative starting in 2025 and being announced today typifies this perfectly. Not only that, BLOODSTOCK is pleased to share two very well-deserving charity partners for 2025’s event, and confirm the return of the CD & t-shirt amnesty, as part of some fund-raising efforts. Read on for more details… 

BLOODSTOCK is excited to announce The 100! A lucky 50 weekend ticket holders will be chosen at random to be a part of a range of special experiences at this summer’s event! 

The 50 metalheads selected will have the option of inviting a +1 to join them, providing they are also in possession of a weekend ticket, to enjoy the following complimentary experiences and perks with them:
Backstage tour and meet & greet with one of the Festival Directors!Load-in tour – high chances of bumping into and watching one of the headliners load in on the main stage!The 100 Goody-Bag. Includes collectable merchandise and limited edition rarities!Your own chill-out undercover area exclusively for The 100 in the arena! Join the private Facebook group for The 100 and get to know your future friends in advance!

As the brain child of the former Rock Soc squad, these unique experiences for The 100 are part of the festival’s way of continuing to give back to you – the best fans a metal festival could ask for. Please note, this experience is not for sale or resale. If you miss out on this year’s perks though, don’t worry, as each year BLOODSTOCK will pick at random another 50 weekend ticket holders to be included in The 100! So keep an eye on your email inbox, because it could be you…
Festival HQ can also announce that this year’s charity beneficiaries will be The Sophie Lancaster Foundation and Metal For Good.

The ever important work of THE SOPHIE LANCASTER FOUNDATION to stamp out prejudice, hatred, and intolerance everywhere is something BLOODSTOCK have been glad to support ever since 2009 when the second stage was renamed the Sophie Lancaster Stage. Their educational work in primary and secondary schools is second to none, but they also work with university/college students and adult learners, as well as offering outreach activities, training, workshops, and presentations. Learn more at: https://www.sophielancasterfoundation.com/. 

METAL FOR GOOD is a registered charity that uses the positive values of rock, metal and other alternative subcultures to make a positive difference in communities. They  provide grants to incredible community groups and organisations who use the transformative power of music to change lives, helping to fund ideas to end inequality, improve wellbeing, and provide life-changing opportunities. Their core values include togetherness, individuality, passion, integrity, and belonging – something we can all get behind. Learn more at: https://metalforgood.org/. 
Both charities will have stands at BLOODSTOCK for information as well as selling merch to fundraise, so be sure to stop by and show them some support. 

Katy Baker, Metal For Good, states, “Metal For Good are absolutely delighted to become one of Bloodstock’s charity partners for 2025. Bloodstock has become such an important annual event for the metal community, and this year’s festival is set to be one to remember. We already know that the Bloodstock community cares greatly about the transformative power of music, and we are excited to get the chance to share our story, and raise funds for incredible community projects using music for good!” 

The Sophie Lancaster Foundation add, “BOA is a very special festival that feels like home for us, the work behind the scenes to give the fans a better experience year on year is mind-blowing! We cannot thank Bloodstock, their brilliant team and all who attend and support us enough.”
WIN THIS!!
The Sophie Lancaster Foundation will also have a very special, ultra rare item to raffle off at this year’s event, donated by owner Adam Carruthers – an artist-signed BLOODSTOCK backdrop from 2005! 

Adam shares the history of this astonishing raffle prize, remembering, “I first went to Bloodstock back in 2004 when it was held in the Derby Assembly Rooms. I remember my friend and I were desperate to see Children of Bodom for the first time, and when we saw that they were headlining this festival we thought it was a no brainer, we needed to go! It was a great festival with lots of bands to see over the two days, it was such a friendly atmosphere, and we got to meet some amazing like-minded metal fans. So the following year when they announced an outdoor festival as well as an indoor festival, I knew it was something I needed to go to. I’d been a fan of metal for a number of years before hearing about Bloodstock, and I think another reason for picking this festival over many other metal festivals was that it has such a friendly atmosphere and Bloodstock has bands playing that no other festival in the UK would put on their bill.

The performances over that weekend were great, from what I can remember as it was almost 20 years ago! Haha! There were a lot of bands there that I had not heard of before, so it was great to check them out and see what they were like. Evergrey was a highlight for me, so much so that I bought their entire back catalogue at one of the stalls in the festival grounds! I can still remember Edguy’s singer climbing up the stage scaffolding to the top and still performing brilliantly! Friday night headliner Sebastian Bach was also great to watch, as he is such a great front man! Again it was Children of Bodom that stole the weekend for me! Alexi Lahio is one of my biggest influences as a player and it was just amazing to see him play, and to see the entire band play an amazing set!

That weekend my friend and I entered a raffle to have the chance of winning the BOA festival backdrop which was to be signed by every band playing the festival. The ticket cost £1. They asked us to put our phone number on the back of the raffle ticket so they could contact us if needed, but the winner would be announced on the Main Stage once it had been drawn. My friend and I watched a few more bands and then headed back to the tent to get some food and have a rest. While at the tent I heard my phone ringing, I didn’t recognise the number and usually I wouldn’t pick it up, but this time I did. When I answered I was told that my ticket had been drawn and I’d won the banner! When I got backstage I saw the banner and had a photo taken, and met Edguy too, before going to watch more bands. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was, it didn’t feel real at the time! The banner was displayed on a wall at my house for a number of years!

I’ve always been to festivals with friends, and we’ve always met up with other people while there. I always feel with Bloodstock that you could go to the festival on your own, but you would never feel on your own. It has always had that amazing friendly atmosphere that had attracted me to this festival. I also think that the range of different bands that are on the bill makes me want to come back to Bloodstock rather than any other festival.
I thought now was the perfect time, 20 years since then, to donate such a great piece of Bloodstock history for a great cause. The Sophie Lancaster Foundation is such an important charity in trying to stamp out prejudice, hatred, and intolerance, and I feel honoured to be able to donate this piece of Bloodstock history to be raffled off to hopefully raise a sizeable amount so the charity can keep on with this work.

Bloodstock has been such an important festival to me. I’ve got a lot of great memories from going there with friends and seeing some amazing music.”

Visit their stand in the main arena this year to see if you can win it!
BLOODSTOCK is also pleased to confirm that the ever popular CD & T-SHIRT AMNESTY will return in 2025! Not familiar? Raid your collections for your shirts (or discs) in good, clean condition that you don’t want anymore and hand ‘em over at the INFORMATION tent in the main arena! Then head to the SIGNING TENT from 10am -12pm, Friday – Sunday, to grab yourself a pre-loved bargain, as they’ll be selling off donated items to add to the fundraising coffers for The Sophie Lancaster Foundation and Metal For Good!


Did you snap up a ticket yet? With Saturday day tickets down to their very last handful, anyone wanting to catch MACHINE HEAD headlining BLOODSTOCK that day needs to hurry up before it’s as sold out as Sunday already is… last warning! With Friday day tickets now picking up the pace too, don’t delay if you want to get in on this summer’s heavy metal fun! If you already have a weekend ticket, Wednesday early access is available for an add-on cost of £25 for those who want to max out their BLOODSTOCK experience, staying in any of the standard campsites (including Kyrr if you have a Kyrr-specific ticket) or the campervan field. This option is not available at present for the VIP or accessible campsites. 

Head to the ticket store to see all currently available options including pre-bookable car parking.
Get more festival information over at bloodstock.uk.com. Watch a trailer here.

BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 7th-10th August 2025.

BLOODSTOCK’s 2025 Ronnie James Dio stage headliners are TRIVIUM, MACHINE HEAD, and GOJIRA. Headlining the Sophie Lancaster stage will be ME AND THAT MAN, KATAKLYSM, STATIC-X, and OBITUARY. You’ll also be able to see MASTODON, NAILBOMB, MINISTRY, EMPEROR, FEAR FACTORY, LACUNA COIL, HERIOT, ORANGE GOBLIN, CREEPER, KUBLAI KHAN TX, CAGE FIGHT, RIVERS OF NIHIL, FLOTSAM & JETSAM, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, FEUERSCHWANZ, LORD OF THE LOST, PALEFACE SWISS, AUGUST BURNS RED, WARBRINGER, UNDEATH, SPIRIT ADRIFT, THROWN, ALL FOR METAL, BREED 77, HIGH PARASITE, and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD. Joining them are SHRAPNEL, FAMYNE, KONVENT, THE SPIRIT, GHOSTS OF ATLANTIS, ONE MACHINE, MY DILIGENCE, SHADE EMPIRE, EIHWAR, WATERLINES, PHOENIX LAKE, NEONFLY, WALL, DOGMA, SIGLOS, DEADFLESH, FOURWAYKILL, GNOME, TURIN, LOCK HORNS, OFNUS, ROUGH JUSTICE, IREOSIS, BA’AL, FRAYLE, PENGSHUI, VNDER A CRVMBLING MOON, APATHY UK, and BARBARIAN HERMIT.

Stay tuned for many more bands and on site activities to be announced over the coming months.

Announcing… BLOODSTOCK’S WINTER GATHERING

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Be part of BLOODSTOCK history!! Will you be one of the very first to bear witness to BLOODSTOCK’S WINTER GATHERING this December?! This brand new, one-day edition of the premier heavy metal summer weekender is set to debut this festive season on 6th December 2025. Raising the roof at the fabled KK’s Steelmill in Wolverhampton, this not-to-be-missed headbanger’s extravaganza will begin at 2pm in order to pack in as much high quality metal as possible. 

BLOODSTOCK are proud to announce the main stage headliner will be none other than legendary Swedish doom metal fiends CANDLEMASS. Celebrating their 40th anniversary, the epic five-piece are still taking stages by storm at festivals across the globe. Look out for their awesome upcoming Black Star EP, slated for release in May 2025. 

CANDLEMASS share, “Candlemass are proud to be a part of the Bloodstock Winter Gathering! We have always felt welcome on British soil and we’re excited to be there once again and deliver our special brand of Swedish doom metal! See ya all soon… Love you!!!”

Joining CANDLEMASS will be very special guests British thrashers VENOM INC (playing Ave in full for the first time ever!), plus hilarious extreme metallers RAISED BY OWLS, Scottish speed freaks HELLRIPPER, thrashcore mainstays TORTURED DEMON, and Welsh heavy hitters KING KRAKEN. 

But that’s not all! BLOODSTOCK’S WINTER GATHERING will also have a second stage for your aural delight, headlined by theatrical devils RED METHOD, powerful metalcore act THUUM, and Mancunian thrashers HELLBEARER, plus artist signing sessions, DJ sets, and more still to be announced.

Tickets cost £49.00 + booking fee, and are on sale right now here! With a strictly limited capacity, don’t hang about if you want to go!

Situated a 20-minute walk from Wolverhampton station and with all-day parking located around the venue for just £2, what better way to give yourself and your loved ones an early Christmas present. As well as a stacked lineup of skull-splitting bands, KK’s Steelmill also offer a range of snacks to satiate your hunger and drinks to quench your thirst from the bar, accepting cash, card, and contactless payments. And if December means you need your big coat, there’s a cloakroom for £1 per item!  

For all the latest info, keep your eyes peeled on the official event website here.