With 135 days to go to BLOODSTOCK, are we allowed to start a
countdown yet?! Spring is officially here and though the festival has some
disappointing news to share first, there is also a plethora of excellent news
and lots more still to reveal while we’re (im)patiently waiting for August to
roll around. You can also tune in to the next Facebook Live on Thursday, 6th April at 7pm.
We can’t promise festival management will be wearing Easter bunny ears, but we
can promise some Easter goodies. Keep an eye out on BLOODSTOCK’s socials
next week too for a little Easter competition…!
Unfortunately, we have to share that both Nonpoint and DevilDriver
have pulled out of the festival this summer. Putting on a festival involves
a lot of moving parts, and BLOODSTOCK is as disappointed and frustrated
as its audience when things crop up which the festival has no control over -
after all, BLOODSTOCK wants to deliver the very best possible festival
for you and works hard year round to curate an stellar line-up. Dez from
DevilDriver has shared the following message and we wish Dez all the best with
his continuing recovery of course.
Hello Bloodstockers, this is Dez from DevilDriver.
In 2021, I came down with Covid which left me with heart problems. I had
to live downstairs in my house, as I could barely walk more than a few feet
without collapsing. I, in fact was saying goodbye to my family at the
time and didn’t think I would pull through.
I took 2022 off and very slowly started to walk one block, then two
blocks, and had to fight my way back very hard - it took me 14 months to get to
a point where I could perform again on stage.
My cardiologist (who saved my life) has asked me to not take any long
flights this year at all, as we monitor the situation.
It has been a very long road for myself and my family, but I am
returning to form. Even on tour now with DevilDriver, I must do the show, then
go straight to my bunk to rest, as I still have inflammation in my lower heart
and it‘s that what’s preventing me from taking flights overseas. So it is
with the heaviest of hearts that DevilDriver must pull down our long awaited
Bloodstock performance. I am sorry if this causes any inconvenience and I
hope within the next 12-24 months to get the all clear from my doctor to fly
and tour overseas.
I want you all to know it’s thinking about touring, being onstage again
,and playing music that's actually helped me to survive this.
I love you all, please be good to each other and I’m grateful for any
prayers you can send our way as they will certainly be well received. We
certainly would not be pulling out had health not come into play.
We sent Bloodstock a mail regarding this a little ago, but due to us
being on a tour bus, we have now realized it went to our outbox and had not
sent, so that’s where the confusion is with Coal Chamber announcing US shows at
that time. We see Bloodstock as extended family to us and feel horrible our
mail didn’t get sent.
Stay blessed,
Dez Fafara
BLOODSTOCK is delighted to announce that the legendary, Norwegian black metal
icon ABBATH will step in to fill the
breach on Saturday’s Ronnie James Dio main stage. Rarely in the UK, and not at BLOODSTOCK
since IMMORTAL’s headline slot in 2011, this is certifiably a set
not to be missed!! ABBATH declares, “We're really looking forward to
be coming back to the UK to shake the Bloodstock foundation. It's been way too
long!” Get up to speed with this full stream of latest release ‘Dread
Reaver’, out now via Season Of Mist, or watch the video for ‘Dream
Cull.’ Better hone your meme skills, too.
With Nonpoint dropping out, the previously announced, almighty BOSSK are moving up the Sophie
Lancaster stage bill to takeover their slot, and BLOODSTOCK can also
reveal the addition of crossover thrash beasts PEST CONTROL to keep your heads
bangin’. Trot over to Bandcamp to investigate
their tunes, including latest release ‘Don’t Test The Pest’, released just last
month.
The festival is more than just bands though! BLOODSTOCK is excited
to welcome the UK's biggest rock and metal fitness company ROCKFIT for
the first time! Renowned for an amalgamation of cardio, dance, and some serious
body-sculpting set to a pure rock and metal playlist for those that like it
loud, if you’re not sleeping in then ROCKFIT will be the perfect way to
shake off the night before and limber you up for the pit! Squatting to Slayer,
singing your lungs out, and even the occasional viking row, there will be a
45-minute open air class kicking off Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the
main arena at 10:15am! RockFit @ Bloodstock is going to be a seriously
unique festival fitness experience for metal fans by metal fans to leave you
feeling energised and fit for the pit!
If the ROCKFIT workout gets you hot under the collar, then BLOODSTOCK
also has the perfect thing to cool things down. BLACK ICE-CREAM is back!
Suitable for all ages and a refreshing ginger and lemon flavour, it’ll be
available in the main arena all festival. Possibly the perfect summer accessory
for you to watch ABBATH’s unholy set with?
Have you explored BLOODSTOCK’s official YouTube channel yet? Do subscribe too
so you don’t miss any exciting premieres - like the four new clips from Behemoth’s
scorching 2022 headline performance that are debuting this month! You can watch
‘Deathless Sun’ and ‘Off To War’ now, with two more mind-blowing songs to come!
Get the lowdown here.
BLOODSTOCK’s very popular club nights kick off from Friday 7th April!
Taking place all over the country, which one from this list below is your
closest? Grab your mates, hit the dancefloor, and perhaps you’ll be a lucky
winner coming home with a free pair of weekend tickets - every club night will
be running a competition! If none of these are near you, fret not, there
will be more party nights at other locations through June and July revealed
soon.
APRIL
Fri 7th April - Guildford, Schism
Sat 8th April - Newport (Isle of Wight), Strings
Fri 14th April - Bristol, The Lanes
Fri 21st April - Manchester, Satan's Hollow
Sat 22nd April - Liverpool, The Shipping Forecast
Fri 28th April - Warrington, FC2
Fri 28th April - Cardiff, Metro's
Sat 29th April - Camberley, Agincourt
Sat
29th April - Stoke-on-Trent, The Sugarmill
MAY
Sat 6th May - Brighton, Above
Fri 12th May - Bristol, The Lanes
Sat 20th May - Newcastle, Reds Bar @ Northumbria Uni Students Union
Fri 26th May - Warrington, FC2
Fri 27th May - London, Elektrowerkz
Sat 27th May - Southampton, Suburbia
Sat 27th May - Stoke-on-Trent, The Sugarmill
Sun 28th May - Exeter, The Cavern
Never been to BLOODSTOCK before and just want to come for a day
to check things out? Can’t do the whole weekend this summer but don’t want to
miss all the fun? A limited number of day tickets are on sale now in the
ticket store. Adult day
tickets are £75 and if you’d like to make it a family day out, child day
tickets are £25 (mini moshers under 4 can come for free), plus booking fees.
Ready for the full weekend experience? VIP and campervan tickets are already
sold out, but you can still get standard weekend tickets in the ticket store!
Watch BLOODSTOCK’s latest trailer at: https://youtu.be/y4cL0i4vFSU.
Planning your travel yet to BLOODSTOCK? Big Green Coach
will drop you & your gear right inside the festival gates for minimal
walking, from all around the UK. Get more info at BIG GREEN COACH.
For more travel info, look under the info section on BLOODSTOCK’s official
website here.
BLOODSTOCK’s 2023 Ronnie James Dio main stage headliners are KILLSWITCH ENGAGE,
MESHUGGAH, and MEGADETH. Also appearing are HELLOWEEN, IN
FLAMES, BIOHAZARD, EMPLOYED TO SERVE, ROYAL REPUBLIC, SACRED REICH, HEAVEN
SHALL BURN, SEPULTURA, FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY, CROWBAR, CANDLEMASS, TRIBULATION,
SEETHING AKIRA, UGLY KID JOE, DECAPITATED, GATECREEPER, ZEAL & ARDOR, KING
810, UNTO OTHERS, URNE, ALL HAIL THE YETI, DEAD LABEL, BOSSK, CHURCH OF THE
COSMIC SKULL, BROTHERS OF METAL, GUTALAX, UUHAI, INVISIONS, COBRA THE IMPALER,
TROLLFEST, SKYND, WARKINGS, FROZEN SOUL, THE VIOLENT INZIDENT, TRIBE OF
GHOSTS, DAKESIS, THE ENIGMA DIVISION, THE GREY, EYES, TUSKAR, STENGAH,
OVERTHRONE, TORTURED DEMON, CASKET FEEDER, GAEREA, BLOODYARD, WOLFBASTARD, SKIN
FAILURE, WITCHSORROW, WYTCH HAZEL, HATE, BLACK COAST, STRIKER, ZETRA and
more. Lots are still to be announced!
Get full festival information at bloodstock.uk.com.
BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 10th-13th August 2023.