Less than four months to go and BLOODSTOCK HQ is a hive of activity! With the ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ heats well under way and finals scheduled to kick off in May, the booking team are racking up more and more bands for the UK’s best metal weekender this August!
Brit death metallers, VALLENFYRE step into a main stage slot on Saturday. The band recently tore up the stage on the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise in Florida, so check out what’s in store via this fan-filmed footage of the band steaming through ‘Savages Arise’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9Z0Mb7FxqE. Warm up your necks for August!
Progressive tech metal group, BRUTAI are set for a Sophie Lancaster stage slot on Friday. The hotly tipped band are set to release their debut album this summer, so be sure to catch ‘em on the Sophie stage to hear the new material. Get the gist on their sound via the video for ‘Deep’ here – https://youtu.be/zrYnWehkSCQ.
Also joining Friday’s Sophie bill are female-fronted Dutch metallers THE CHARM THE FURY. The band’s new album, due Autumn 2016, is said to be influenced by Pantera and Slipknot. No strangers to the Euro festival circuit, here’s hoping for a taste of the new tunes at BLOODSTOCK! Meanwhile, watch the video for ‘Colorblind’ from their last album at: https://youtu.be/Ri5qMMonxrE.
Extreme tech beasts, META-STASIS also join Friday’s Sophie ranks. Following the band’s recent tour of India that saw them play to festival crowds of 25,000, META-STASIS are back in the studio working on their third album. The masked Anon describes it as "throwing out the rule book, cutting edge, boundary redefining electronic death metal". Check out their video for ‘Disintegrate’ taken from the 2015 album, ‘The Paradox of Metanoia‘ here – https://youtu.be/6GyxpOxtYGQ.
Already announced for 2016 are our three headliners, TWISTED SISTER (in their last ever UK show), MASTODON and SLAYER, plus special guests BEHEMOTH, GOJIRA and ANTHRAX. Also on the bill are FEAR FACTORY, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, SYMPHONY X, SATYRICON, PARADISE LOST, DRAGONFORCE, METAL ALLEGIANCE, STUCK MOJO, ROTTING CHRIST, MISERY LOVES CO, GHOST BATH, VENOM, UNEARTH, DIAMOND HEAD, GOATWHORE, ACID REIGN and many more. Additional bands are still to be announced.
BLOODSTOCK HQ is currently a hive of activity, with even more bands being confirmed for this August’s best heavy metal weekender.
Joining the Ronnie James Dio stage are the recently reformed industrial outfit, MISERY LOVES COMPANY. The band inform us, “The UK was always special to MISERY LOVES CO, our very first show outside of Scandinavia was in London and without the support of the British people we probably would have stayed in Scandinavia for ever, listening to ABBA, eating herring and dreaming of the outside world… MISERY LOVES CO + Britain = a true love story. Now, when we return to the stage, we’re extremely happy to showcase our industrial demons in front of the British crowd once more. Doing a summer of festivals without coming to the UK would have been a failure, so, we can’t wait to come to BLOODSTOCK!” Check out a clip of ‘My Mind Still Speaks’ – https://youtu.be/ZiPENHSeFYM.
Opening the RJD stage on Saturday are Brit tech metallers, CAMBION. As proud BLOODSTOCK alumni (2012/2014), the band are currently at work on their debut album, having released the Virus Extended Edition EP in 2014. Check out the video for ‘Heterodox’ here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpeerilbWqU, and keep up with plans for the album street date over at http://www.cambionofficial.co.uk/.
Stepping into the Friday night headline slot on the Sophie Lancaster stage are NWOBHM icons, DIAMOND HEAD. The likes of Metallica have often stated that without DIAMOND HEAD, they’d probably not exist, such is the Stourbridge band’s influence. Check out this fan-filmed clip of the ‘Big 4’ (Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax & Megadeth) covering DIAMOND HEAD’s classic ‘Am I Evil’, joined by the band’s very own Brian Tatler – https://youtu.be/K9P-H_Qd908. Brian and his cohorts are set to release their first album of new material in over 8 years on 22nd April, simply titled ‘Diamond Head’. Don’t miss ‘em at BLOODSTOCK!
Also joining Saturday night’s Sophie stage shenanigans are Brit metallers, KRYSTHLA. The band’s debut album, ‘A War Of Souls And Desires’, can be snapped up at their Bandcamp – http://www.krysthla.bigcartel.com/. Also check out the video for lead track ‘Luminosity’ here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjJwiBVlcFc.
With Easter weekend also looming, BLOODSTOCK are once again gearing up the website’s very popular Easter Egg hunt, as they’ve done in years past. Will you be one of the lucky winners of a pair of weekend tix with camping?! Click over to the BLOODSTOCK website at www.bloodstock.uk.com on Good Friday 25th March to take part.
Already announced for 2016 are our three headliners, TWISTED SISTER (in their last ever UK show), MASTODON and SLAYER, plus special guests BEHEMOTH, GOJIRA and ANTHRAX. Also on the bill are FEAR FACTORY, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, SYMPHONY X, SATYRICON, PARADISE LOST, DRAGONFORCE, METAL ALLEGIANCE, STUCK MOJO, ROTTING CHRIST, GHOST BATH, VENOM, UNEARTH, GOATWHORE, ACID REIGN and many more. Additional bands are still to be announced.
Headbangers….ready!?! The BLOODSTOCK gladiators have been out marauding and have rounded up five more metal beasts for your entertainment this August. First up, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY join the Ronnie James Dio main stage bill. Now reunited with Pepper Keenan up front, BLOODSTOCK’s faithful can look forward to a slew of classics from their three-decade-plus career.
Pepper tells us, "It’s been a real pleasure after all this time to get back with the COC lads and start jamming again and creating music. We are having a blast! We've have had so much support from all over the globe and landing on a fest like BLOODSTOCK really sums it up. We’re honoured and cannot wait to up the fuckin' hammers in the middle of nowhere in merry ol' England! Thank you! Ohh yeah, don't forget me cider ….!”
CoC kicked off 2016 by launching their own ‘Wiseblood’ beer with the Three Floyd’s Brewing Co, announced a US run with Lamb of God & Clutch, and are also hard at work on a brand new album. Get the latest news at www.coc.com UNEARTH also join the BLOODSTOCK bill for the first time.
If you’re fast, you can get clued up on their new material in time for August by picking up current album, ‘Watchers of Rule’ at a discounted price of around a fiver over at their merch store – http://unearth.merchnow.com/products/185256/watchers-of-rule-cd Wherever they can, BLOODSTOCK is proud to bring you bands who don’t often grace UK shores, so joining the main stage bill to play their first ever UK show are atmospheric US black metal outfit, GHOST BATH.
Local heroes, EVIL SCARECROW also make a triumphant return!
As serious contenders for the ‘most fun had on stage’ prize, what do they make of their return? “We’re back! Again! We’re like the BLOODSTOCK house band or maybe a bad STD that you can’t get rid of. Either way, we’re hoping to bring our biggest ever show and even some new material. After the historic, record breaking crowd of 2014, we’re looking forward to being back on that stage, although a custom-built, floating glass pyramid ‘Scarecrow Stage’ would have been nice. We’re genuinely overwhelmed and beyond excited to be back partying with our BLOODSTOCK brothers and sisters.” Keep up with Scarecrow’s shenanigans via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Evil.Scarecrow
Also, joining the Sophie stage bill are XII BOAR. A big slab of rock n' roll-infused, southern-fried metal, this power trio are determined to make sure everyone has a good time. Ric Flair raves, "We are absolutely thrilled to be bringing our trademarked XII BOAR grooves to BLOODSTOCK. This year's line-up is already beyond words and we're so stoked to be a part of it. Get your dancing shoes on and get down to the super massive XII BOAR sound as we're assembling the biggest party BLOODSTOCK has ever seen! See you there!”
BLOODSTOCK is breezing through February with another clutch of confirmations for 2016’s best heavy metal weekender.
Headlining the Sophie Lancaster stage on Thursday night, our welcome party night, will be PHIL CAMPBELL’S ALL STARR BAND. The Motorhead axeman will also officially open the newly christened ‘Lemmy’s Bar’ with the first drink at 5pm!! Were you there in 2013 when Phil and his band played ‘Killed By Death’ on the Jagermeister Stage? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGe85gq2ZU4. Come along to Catton Park early, pitch your tent and kick off the weekend’s festivities with Phil at Lemmy’s Bar!! You know Lem would approve!! If you’re on Instagram, go follow Phil’s brand new page (@phil_campbells_all_starr_band).
In addition to Phil and friends, two more bands get added to the Sophie Lancaster Stage. Brit extreme metallers THE KING IS BLIND are delighted to return to Catton Park, following their crushing BLOODSTOCK debut in 2014 and release of their debut album, ‘Our Father’ (Cacophonous Records) last month. Frontman Stephen Tovey tells us "The BLOODSTOCK crowd welcomed us with open arms and raised fists on our last visit, so on the back of ‘Our Father’, we’re primed and chomping at the bit to bring a savage and energetic set of the heaviest metal to Catton Hall this August. You bring the beers, the horns and the headbanging, we’ll bring the riffs and the truly crushing metal.” Watch the first video from their ‘Our Father’ album at https://youtu.be/Ua-4Q5-R7Ks then pay homage via http://www.facebook.com/TheKingIsBlind. We’re sure the Lannisters send their regards.
Homegrown doomsters, WITCHSORROW also join the bill. Says frontman Necroskull; “It gives us no small amount of pleasure to once again rain doom down upon BLOODSTOCK. It is an incredibly special place for us, and we are incredibly proud to stand alongside Twisted Sister, Venom, Slayer, and Paradise Lost in bringing heavy metal madness to Catton Park. Doom forever. Forever doomed.” Check out their track ‘Made Of The Void’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwmrlMcqF08, taken from their ‘No Light, Only Fire’ album. Grab it for just £7 over at their Bandcamp page – https://candlelightrecordsuk.bandcamp.com/album/no-light-only-fire.
LAST CALL for the Deposit Scheme!!! There’s also just a couple of weeks left to sign up for BLOODSTOCK’s very popular payment plan. This year it’s even more manageable to pay for your ticket in stages, with the scheme expanding the number of payments from 3 months to 5 months. To pay this way, just sign-up before 29th February. The 1st payment of £34.80 is payable immediately, then 4 additional payments of around £30 will debit your account on 28th of March, April, May and June. (Exact amounts; £27.80 for Mar/Apr/May, £31.30 in June to include postage). Sign up over at http://bloodstock.seetickets.com/event/bloodstock-2016/catton-park/902838. We regret that VIP tickets are NOT available via the payment plan, although pending VIP availability, you could purchase a VIP upgrade in July or August and still be in time for the festival!
Already announced for 2016 are our three headliners, TWISTED SISTER (in their last ever UK show), MASTODON and SLAYER, plus special guests BEHEMOTH, GOJIRA and ANTHRAX. Also on the bill are FEAR FACTORY, SYMPHONY X, SATYRICON, PARADISE LOST, DRAGONFORCE, METAL ALLEGIANCE, STUCK MOJO, ROTTING CHRIST, VENOM, GOATWHORE and ACID REIGN. Many more are still to be announced.
Wipe away those January blues, because BLOODSTOCK has three more bands locked and loaded, ready to level Catton Park in August!
The METAL ALLEGIANCE project joins the bill! You never know who’ll show up on stage at a METAL ALLEGIANCE show, but the line-up confirmed so far includes Testament’s Alex Skolnick, Death Angel’s Mark Osegueda, Anthrax’s Scott Ian & Charlie Benante, Russell Allen from Symphony X, Gary Holt from Slayer & Exodus, Mike Portnoy of Twisted Sister/numerous other projects, plus METAL ALLEGIANCE leader, Mark Menghi. Mike Portnoy says “I'm so excited for Metal Allegiance to make their UK debut at one of the most metal festivals on Earth! The perfect audience to share this brotherhood of metal with." Who else might step into their ranks for the day? You’ll have to be at BLOODSTOCK to find out!!
Also joining the 2016 line-up are Atlanta’s rap metal pioneers, STUCK MOJO. Having reformed in 2014, the band are active once more and this year celebrate the 20th anniversary of their second album, ‘Pigwalk’. Check out the video here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOL6htxn-tc. The band have been working on a new album with producer Andy Sneap. Stay tuned on the latest news on the release over at www.facebook.com/StuckMojo.
Mighty New Orleans metallers, GOATWHORE also join us as Friday’s Sophie Lancaster stage headliners! The band are hard at work on their new album which is expected to see the light of day later this year. Check out the video for ‘Bearing Teeth For Revolt’, shot at NOLA’s infamous ‘House of Shock’ – https://youtu.be/tJkju9-919s. Get clued up on the band over at their main website – http://www.goatwhore.net/.
BLOODSTOCK’s very popular Deposit Scheme for 2016 has undergone a few changes this year and it’s now even more manageable to pay for your ticket in stages, with the scheme expanding the number of payments from 3 months to 5 months. Less to shell out each month! To pay this way, just sign-up at any time before 29th February. The 1st payment of £34.80 is payable immediately, then 4 additional payments of approximately £30 will debit your account on 28th of March, April, May and June. (Exact amounts; £27.80 for Mar/Apr/May, £31.30 for June to include postage). Get signed up over at http://bloodstock.seetickets.com/event/bloodstock-2016/catton-park/902838. We regret that VIP tickets are NOT available via the payment plan, although pending remaining VIP availability, you could purchase a VIP upgrade in July or August and still be in time for the festival!
Already announced for 2016 are our three headliners, TWISTED SISTER (in their last ever UK show), MASTODON and SLAYER, plus special guests BEHEMOTH, GOJIRA and ANTHRAX. Also on the bill are FEAR FACTORY, SYMPHONY X, SATYRICON, PARADISE LOST, DRAGONFORCE, ROTTING CHRIST, VENOM and ACID REIGN. Many more are still to be announced.
As the calendar turns to the final month of the year, BLOODSTOCK are excited to announce their Sunday night headliner for 2016! The very mighty SLAYER are set to close out the festival at Catton Park next August.
Having recently released their twelfth studio album, ‘Repentless’, which has been their most successful to date, SLAYER are on truly blistering form! Check out their brutal, yet epic video for ‘Repentless’, starring Machete star Danny Trejo: https://youtu.be/yjb0j9l1sz4.
Legendary SLAYER axeman, Kerry King comments; "I’m looking forward to heading back to Bloodstock, as always! Come party with SLAYER and watch us wreck the place!!"
Already announced for BLOODSTOCK 2016 are TWISTED SISTER (their last ever UK show), MASTODON, GOJIRA, ANTHRAX, SATYRICON, BEHEMOTH, DRAGONFORCE, ROTTING CHRIST, VENOM and PARADISE LOST. Many more are still to be added.
Early bird weekend tickets with camping are available now, priced £120 (+ booking fee) from http://bloodstock.seetickets.com/event/bloodstock-2016/catton-park/902838. BLOODSTOCK is family-friendly and welcomes rockers of all ages! A weekend ticket with camping for kids aged 4 – 11 is just £35 (+booking fee) and if your little mosher is under 4, they can join you for free (Note: all children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian over the age of 18)! Campervan pitches are already on sale and these move very quickly, so pick yours up ASAP to avoid disappointment. Rock Society passes are already sold out.
Hot on the heels of their MASTODON announcement last weekend, BLOODSTOCK are thrilled to confirm that their Friday night headliner will be TWISTED SISTER.
Not only that, this will be the only UK show on the band's ‘Farewell 1976 – 2016’ tour, so your last chance to catch the band live in the UK, as they are set to call it a day after the untimely passing of their drummer AJ Pero earlier this year.
Guitarist Jay Jay French comments: “Our journey in the UK that began in Wrexham in 1982, ends with Bloodstock 2016! Without the recognition that we received from our UK fans, the world would never have known nor would we ever have reached our 40 year milestone!”
TWISTED SISTER join the bill alongside Saturday’s headliners, MASTODON, plus Friday’s special guests, BEHEMOTH and VENOM.
BLOODSTOCK will be held at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 11th-14th August 2016.
Friday 24th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 25th August at Leeds Festival
THE MACCABEES’ third album ‘Given To The Wild’ was released earlier this year to massive critical acclaim and soared into the UK charts at Number Four. The South London five-piece are enjoying a hugely successful year so far, and with a sold out Brixton Academy under their belts The Maccabees are further cementing their status as one of the most exciting British bands of our time. We welcome them for their first headline appearance on the NME/Radio 1 Stage.
FOSTER THE PEOPLE have garnered a huge amount of critical acclaim and public adoration on both sides of the Atlantic since the release of their debut album ‘Torches’. With last year’s feel-good hit of the summer ‘Pumped Up Kicks’, word of their music spread in a manner that was shockingly quick, even in the age of endless internet churn with everyone agreeing on one thing: this was a band on the cusp of an undeniable breakthrough and Foster The People show no sign of slowing down.
Band of the people, THE COURTEENERS, head to Reading & Leeds Festival ahead of the release of their third studio album, the follow up to 2010’s ‘Falcon’. With the Manchester four-piece eager to road test new material, head honcho Liam Fray recently declared their new sound as “industrial Motown”. An incredible live band, this could be one of the years most talked about performances.
Hot on the heels of his eighth album ‘A + E’, erstwhile Blur guitarist GRAHAM COXON returns to solo business with a hotly anticipated appearance on the NME / Radio 1 stage. The critics have been positively slavering over this latest outing and will undoubtedly see this appearance over-subscribed.
With the follow up to 2009’s critically acclaimed ‘Manners’ under construction, we welcome PASSIONPIT to this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival. Hailing from Massachusetts, expect a blend of new electro dance tunes and old favourites.
Alternative rock band, THEBLACKOUT are Sean Smith, Gavin Butler, Matthew Davies, James Davies , Rhys Lewis and Gareth Lawrence. With a new album scheduled for release in August, these very special shows at Reading & Leeds will give fans a unique preview.
Always a favourite at festivals THEHIVES are sure to get things jumping with their infectious, thrilling garage rock hits. With new single ‘Go Right Ahead’, a sax-laden, glam-rock stomp hitting the airways now and previewing new album ‘Lex Hives’ due in the summer, Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist, Nicholaus Arson, Chris Dangerous, Dr. Matt Destruction, and Vigilante Carlstroem will bring the sound of the summer to the NME/Radio 1 Stage.
This year sees SPECTOR graduate from their BBC Introducing Stage debut at last year’s festival with a well merited position on this year’s NME/Radio 1 stage. Nominated for the BBC Sound Of 2012 the band, fronted by one Fred Macpherson, were formed in 2010 and have released a trilogy of singles through Luv Luv Luv. With a debut album slated for later in the year this East London based five-piece bring their melancholic widescreen pop to the stage at Reading & Leeds.
Following inclusion on the BBC’s Sound Of Poll, Brooklyn’s FRIENDS are taking 2012 by storm. Armed with one of the singles of the year, ‘I’m His Girl’, and the captivating follow up ‘Friend Crush’, expect these shows to be the talk of both sites come the August Bank Holiday weekend.
With debut album ‘Breakfast’ unleashed last month, CHIDDY BANG are ready to step into the limelight. You’ll have heard their MGMT sampling breakthrough track ‘Opposite Of Adults’, and with time spent touring with Tinie Tempah, are sure to be ready to deliver one of the shows of the year.
www.chiddybang.net
Brooklyn’s HERE WE GO MAGIC make their first foray to Reading & Leeds this year. The band who came to the attention of Nigel Godrich with their 2010 album ‘Pigeons’ have just released the fruits of those joint labours – ‘A Different Ship’ which had Spin Magazine saying “…this is the sort of music that would happen if Paul Simon had made ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’. Yes it’s that good”. Get there early and see what the fuss is all about.
Saturday 25th August at Reading Festival / Sunday 26th August at Leeds Festival
Hailing from El Paso, Texas AT THE DRIVE-IN came, conquered and released three albums: ‘Acrobatic Tenement’, ‘In/Casino/Out’, the EP ‘Vaya’, and their ultimate swansong ‘The Relationship of Command’ which is now cited in dispatches as one the most important albums of its genre. Then they split. Now it looks like the many who were never able to see this incendiary live act back in the day will have their dreams fulfilled with this NME/Radio1 stage headline show. This band are name checked and revered by fellow musicians and fans alike and this, their ONLY UK FESTIVAL APPEARANCE will definitely be unmissable.
On the eve of their fifth album ‘In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull’ THE CRIBS make a return to the scene of one (or two) of their best ever shows. Recently reverting back to their near legendary three-piece status the band continues to evoke passion amongst their fiercely dedicated and ever growing fanbase. The Jarmans – brothers Gary, Ryan and Ross have always been fiercely independent, proud of their DIY ethos and from their early days adept at writing great songs leaving a catalogue of classic punk rock brilliance, battle scars and memories. The Cribs will once again be thrilling, spilling, entertaining and engaging.
MASTODON have never really done anything the ‘conventional’ way. The Atlanta-based band formulated their own brand of highly-skilled hard rock over a decade ago when others were rehashing 80’s metal, and went on to mastermind a string of complex concept albums. With new album ‘The Hunter’ hitting the Top 10 in the US last year the band are picking up more and more fans – head-banging will be compulsory at this scorching show.
Canadian punks BILLY TALENT come to Reading & Leeds Festival with expectations for their upcoming fourth album riding high. The band, led by vocalist Ben Kowalewicz had been playing together for almost a decade before a name change lead to a record deal and their debut eponymous album was released in 2003. “A sh*t-hot, world-dominating hard-rock band has grown out of these four former Mississauga teenagers' shared high-school dreams of … well … growing into a sh*t-hot, world-dominating hard-rock band” is how they describe themselves. Check it out for yourself at the NME/Radio 1 Stage.
MIIKE SNOW are back and return with their new album ‘Happy To You’ later this month. The hugely talented Stockholm-based three-piece have previously dabbled in the DJ scene and in punk bands, alongside electro and new wave, which lead to writing and production stints with the likes of Madonna and Britney Spears. Now ready to step out of the studio again, these shows are a must see for all music fans.
Anticipation is high for the return of SANTIGOLD and her new album ‘Master of My Make-Believe’ and this show will be the perfect opportunity to see this high-rising artist. Last year’s collaboration ‘Go’ with Karen O of the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs was described as a "brittle and brilliant brawler of a track" by the NME and ‘Disparate Youth’ the first track released from the new album is also picking up plaudits. Citing Aretha Franklin, Devo, James Brown and Siouxsie and the Banshees as influences, this is an eclectic and exciting singer not to be missed.
Set to tear up the festival season this summer, DRY THE RIVER are one of the most talked about artists of the year. With three years and over 250 shows already under their belts, they released their debut album ‘Shallow Bed’ to rave reviews last month, with NME declaring they’ve made an “accomplished, luxuriant, expertly crafted” record. Get down to the front early for these sets.
Glasgow’s TWIN ATLANTIC follow a successful 2011 with the release of their Gil Norton produced ‘Free’ album. The quartet cut their collective teeth with slots supporting the likes of Gaslight Anthem, Angels And Airwaves and Taking Back Sunday and as singer Sam McTrusty says “…we’re giving people something to believe in again.” Catch them and believe too…
www.free.twinatlantic.com
Formed by ex. Gallows frontman Frank Carter and ex. Hope Conspiracy and Suicide File guitarist Jim Carroll, PURE LOVE’s debut single ‘Bury My Bones’ has just been previewed on BBC Radio 1. Currently working on their debut album due later this year with producer Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, Pixies), Carter commented "Rock might not have been as popular in recent years, but that's definitely going to change because we haven't released our album yet. I want to make music that's timeless and classic."
www.therealpurelove.com
Sunday 26th August at Reading Festival / Friday 24th August at Leeds Festival
Ed Banger’s JUSTICE make electronic music that everyone can rock to. With riffs now as heavy as their beats, the Grammy-nominated Parisian pair head for Reading & Leeds armed with new album ‘Audio, Video, Disco’. The record has established them as an international force who are equally at home blaring from a dance club sound system or performing in an arena. Expect a powerful and mesmerising headline performance from a truly unique group.
Since releasing their debut album ‘Tourist History’ in March 2010, TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB have rapidly become one of the biggest new success stories in UK music. After selling out headline tours in the UK, US, Europe, Australia, Asia, Japan and South America, playing two successive sold out nights at Shepherds Bush Empire and selling out Brixton Academy in under four hours, the band have deservedly earned both a devoted word-of-mouth live following and huge critical acclaim. The Times have called them “the band of the moment” and NME declared that they have “quietly become one of the UK’s best loved bands".
The release of THE HORRORS’ third album ‘Skying’ saw the band’s already impeccable credentials soar even higher. The record was celebrated across the board by fans new and old as their finest yet and recently won the NME ‘Album of the Year’ accolade. Not that their debut ‘Strange House’ and follow up ‘Primary Colours’ hadn’t already cemented their reputation as one of the most original and ground breaking groups around. Both dense and expansive, insidiously poppy and stubbornly arty, The Horrors are one of the bands you must see at the festival.
SBTRKT returns to Reading & Leeds Festival after last year's triumphant DJ set on the Dance Stage at both sites and live performance on the Alternative Stage in Leeds. This time round, fans will be treated to his famous live show at both sites. His self-titled debut album propelled towards the top of DJ’s playlists around the world with his combination of funk, soul, synths and bass. Fresh from releasing single ‘Hold On’ with Sampha, SBTRKT now has his sights firmly set on the August Bank Holiday weekend.
The legendary vocalist fronting the MARK LANEGAN BAND has sung with some of the greatest bands of the last two decades. Lanegan formed the Screaming Trees in the 80’s and made some of the finest albums of the grunge scene. He’s worked with the coolest names around since and his distinct baritone voice has been described as "as scratchy as a three-day beard yet as supple and pliable as moccasin leather”.
Having wowed the Main Stage last year, THE JOY FORMIDABLE return at the personal request of Foo Fighters to play a very special set. Currently mixing their second album in New York with Andy Wallace, the trio made waves on both sides of the Atlantic with their debut album ‘The Big Roar’ in 2011, NME declaring that ‘its big but it’s certainly clever’ and Rolling Stone thrilling to ‘multi orgasmic crescendoes’. Having recently sold out New York’s Terminal 5, this return to UK shores promises to be a perfect preview of the band’s second album, due later in the year.
Having evolved from various outfits, Camden-based quartet TRIBES came to the fore at the start of 2011 and has seen the band accrue plenty of support both in print and on the airwaves. The band’s debut album ‘Baby’ was unleashed earlier this year reaching Top 30 status en route, further embellishing the plaudits already bestowed upon them. If last year’s appearance is anything to go by the tent will be filled to the gills for those to see on of the UK’s finest live acts of recent years.
www.tribesband.com
On its release earlier this year, the self-titled debut album from DJANGO DJANGO was succinctly hailed thus: "It's a dream of the psychedelic tropics, a heady explosion of colours, an album that takes what it means to be in an indie band and gives it a good shake…" This art pop quartet first emerged back in 2009 doing things their way whilst releasing selected tracks, mainlining into the nation's psyche and producing what has been one of the year's highlights.
Young Minneapolis five-piece HOWLER marked their arrival on this side of the Atlantic last year in a barrage of hysteria. Having rapidly signed to Rough Trade Records, they consequently released the ‘This One’s Different’ EP and supported The Vaccines on their Autumn UK tour. Earlier this year saw the arrival of their debut album ‘America Give Up’ with the band showing few signs of slowing up. This summer’s shows mark their debut at Reading & Leeds and will see further clamoring down the front as they play their biggest shows to date.
OF MONSTERS AND MEN’s debut album ‘My Head Is An Animal’ went to Number One on its release in Iceland from where the band hail. Describing themselves as “an amiable group of day dreamers who craft folkie pop songs” they turned into local heroes after winning a yearly battle of the bands competition. This will be one of the first chances to see this highly tipped six-piece.
After re-inventing the word Rocknroll with The White Stripes at the beginning of the 2000s’, Mr JACK WHITE is now playing a solo project. The phenomenon of the year and pop-princess LANA DEL REY is preparing an amazing show for her first festival, an event that she used to enjoy as a spectator when she was a teenage girl; watching rock bands such as Nirvana or the heavy hip hop rappers CYPRESS HILL, back in the line-up of Eurockéennes this year.
Great American artists will play at Eurockéennes this summer, the intelligent metal of MASTODON, smoke-filled rap of WIZ KHALIFA and the Celtic punk of DROPKICK MURPHYS.
There are also two frenchies who bring the house down all over the world, they are called JUSTICE, and they are the most popular electronic music duo “French Touch 2.0”!
We also have various young rap artists from France, ORELSAN and the young collective 1995, all fed by the best French rappers. Native artist, the rocker HUBERT-FELIX THIEFAINE, is coming back to Eurockéennes where he feels like home. Everybody is crazy about their electro-rock and hip-hop show and you won’t miss that this summer: meet SHAKAPONK at Eurockéennes.
From CHARLIE WINSTON’s bohemian folk to the purely pop music of THE KOOKS, without forgetting the legend of THE CURE, the United Kingdom will be well represented during the festival. We will also welcome the come back of the hardcore punks from Sweden: REFUSED (after more than a decade off the stage!)
New band announcements will be made every Tuesday, stay tunned to our website:http://www.eurockeennes.fr/index.php/englishpage. Three Day tickets including camping are currently available on the Eurockéennes website and See Tickets for just 99 euros + booking fee
EUROCKEENNES: ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Eurockéennes is an open-air festival that takes place in Belfort, north east France, attracting over 95.000 festival goers across 3 days each year. You can enjoy over 60 acts including international stars across 4 different stages. Previous editions have seen bands of the calibre of Depeche Mode, Arcade Fire, Jay-Z, Daft Punk or David Bowie performing at the event. The festival takes place at beautiful peninsula of Malsaucy, surrounded by lakes and hills. Visitors from other countries and regions can pitch their tent or sleep in the tepee village at the free campsite.
Dates: 29th June – 1st July Where: Malsaucy peninsula – Belfort (France) Website: http://www.eurockeennes.fr/index.php/englishpage
Line-up so far: The Cure, Jack White, Lana Del Rey, Cypress Hill, Mastodon, Wiz Khalifa, Dropkick Murphys, Justice, Orelsan, 1995, Hubert-Felix Thiefaine, Shakaponk, Charlie Winston, The Kooks, Refused. Tickets: From 44 euro currently available on the Eurockéennes website and See Tickets How to get there: Belfort is located in the North East of France, close to Swiss border. The Basel / Mulhouse Euroairport (Easyjet) is 70 km away from the festival and very easily reachable by highway (40 minutes). Belfort is also easily reachable by train (voyage sncf). From Belfort station, you may take the free shuttles especially provided to reach the festival site and the camping area.
KNEBWORTH HOUSE has long played host to many rock heavyweights, so it is fitting that one of the most legendary and influential bands of all time make their entry in its guestbook. MOTÖRHEAD make their debut appearance at SÖNISPHERE UK this summer, giving fans their first chance to see songs from the recently released “The Wörld Is Yours” album in a festival setting. The embodiment of all that is Rock’n’Roll, despite playing what Lemmy describes as “raucous, arrogant, paranoid, speedfreak rock n roll”, MOTÖRHEAD are a household name the world over, with successes too numerous to count across their 35 year career.
MOTÖRHEAD are more than just a band – MOTÖRHEAD are a mindset, a belief, a way to live your life, and fitting governors for the society of tens of thousands that will dwell KNEBWORTH’S grounds in search of a loud, party weekend July 8th – 10th. With classics such as “Overkill”, “Bomber”, Born To Raise Hell” and “Ace Of Spades” providing the soundtrack, SONISPHERE is set for its loudest weekend yet.
MASTODON return to KNEBWORTH this summer, having played at the inaugural SONISPHERE back in 2009. Their progressive take on metal has seen them become one of the scene’s biggest names in recent years, with both critics and fans alike heaping high praise on their outstandingly skilled musicianship and songwriting skills. Such is their appeal their hard work has resulted in fans in the mainstream turning their heads, making MASTODON one of those rare metal bands that everyone seems to agree on, resulting in platinum records, Grammy awards nominations and high profile fans.
But on stage, plugged in and ready to rock out is where MASTODON truly shine. With majestic offerings like “March Of The Fire Ants”, “Blood And Thunder” and “Sleeping Giant”, MASTODON’s set at KNEBWORTH this summer will be one that all who witness will remember, and one you do not want to miss.
Festivals are always a great opportunity to catch up with old friends, and there’s no reason why the stage should be any different to the campsite in that respect. SONISPHERE is delighted to reveal the return of IN FLAMES to the UK, who will make their first appearance on these shores since 2009’s Taste Of Chaos tour. Breaking out of the 90s Swedish Death Metal scene, IN FLAMES have gone on to become one of the country’s biggest musical exports, selling millions of albums around the world, receiving numerous awards and achieving an impressive list of chart positions. Currently working on their next release, the band checked in to tell us:
“We have been in the studio since October recording our new album and we can’t wait to come out and play the new song live. The UK has always been very good to us and we love coming back so this is something we really look forward to” – In Flames
Making the long journey over from Down Under, Australia’s PARKWAY DRIVE pay their first visit to SONISPHERE, bringing with them an arsenal of mosh-inducing metalcore. Consistently delivering fierce and energetic live shows, PARKWAY DRIVE have earned a reputation for unforgettable performances, through hard work and heavy touring with the likes of Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying, Bleeding Through and many more. Hot off the back of a UK tour, the promise of PARKWAY DRIVE’s exclusive festival appearance at SONISPHERE is one that is bound to excite the fans as much as the band:
“Holy crap they’re actually letting us play this thing!!!” shouts vocalist Winston McCall. “Sonisphere 2011!!! I don’t think we can really describe how excited we are to play, and I think Jeff will probably die when Metallica play!”
With all three headliners already confirmed – METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH & ANTHRAX, aka THE BIG 4 on Friday, BIFFY CLYRO Saturday and SLIPKNOT on Sunday – SONISPHERE KNEBWORTH is already offering the most impressive names so far for summer 2011. What will undoubtedly be an incredible weekend, SONISPHERE hits the UK on Friday July 8th 2010 – and, as anyone who has been to previous SONISPHERE festivals will know, Friday night is party night. 2011 will be no different, with this year’s theme being Superheroes. Last year saw some great Rocky Horror costumes, and with prizes on offer for the best dressed, don’t think donning your old speedos over your jeans will cut it – only truly heroic efforts will be rewarded!
SONISPHERE KNEBWORTH takes place 8th – 10th July 2011 at KNEBWORTH HOUSE. For tickets and more info go to www.sonispherefestivals.com
Line Up So Far
THE BIG 4 – METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX BIFFY CLYRO SLIPKNOT IN FLAMES MASTODON MOTÖRHEAD PARKWAY DRIVE
