Festival Reviews

Since the inaugural Bloodstock in 2001, there has been a sense of community  among fans of the Midlands festivals. In a way – it’s similar to it’s biggest adversary Download, with the difference being: this is one big METAL family. There are bands here who wouldn’t go down the same way they would at Donington Park. Which most see as ...

FRIDAY After the syrupy Graham Bonnet Band (who got things going early at around 4pm Friday with a great set of recognisable toons — what a fab start!) we careened with sufficient buzziness straight into a sizzling set from the unbelievably-wunderbar! American rockers Last in Line (the original line-up of Dio) with the terrifically cool Viv and Vinnie who brought shouts of joy ...

2000Trees is, without doubt, a community. To use the cliché, like-minded music fans assemble in the Cotswolds countryside every year to see their favourite underground artists and discover some new bands to add to their Spotify playlists and vinyl collections. In the usual festival circles, there was some debate regarding this year’s headline choices – but however you felt about ...

After a five hour car journey with two pit stops and sweltering heat we finally made it to UK Tech Fest at Newark Showground. Being my first time at the festival I had absolutely no idea what to expect, I had heard a ton of great reviews, but was wondering if they were over exaggerated by fans of the festival. ...

Another fantastic and historical year of Download Festival has sadly been and gone. It’s a bit like the rock and metal Christmas in a way. Think of this week as being a 7-day boxing day. For once we had very minimal rain (not great for goths and gingers like me!) but bringing an extra sheen to the weekend – plus ...

All good things must come to an end, and this mindset hangs heavy in the air of the final day of Hammerfest 2017. As bleak as it feels, it’s not going to dampen any spirits, as roaring hordes of horn-throwing metal fans are racing to kick-start the glorious finale. Opening the ‘Young Blood’ portion of the festival is the Birmingham ...

There’s a lot of tired and hungover people lumbering around this morning as Hammerfest’s attendees wander to the arenas to open up the first full day of the festival’s ninth instalment. Despite the alcohol induced hindrance, there’s a sizeable swathe of metalheads making their way to the second stage to see something very exciting indeed. Desert Storm open up proceedings inexpert ...

Well, here we are; back for another instalment of the legendary Hard Rock Hell United Hammerfest, and if the first day is anything to go by, the quality is damn high. The sun is beating down on the black shirted, leather jacket-clad festival attendees, and the mood is understandably, ridiculously jubilant. Opening the entire festival with a song described as ...

Well, it feels like we’ve barely started, but we’re on the dawn of the final day of this year’s Hard Rock Hell AOR. The whole event has been excellent so far, and the organisers have certainly saved the best til last. Let’s dive right in. Power is the optimal word for Häxan. There are few things more impressive than a ...

Gloriously, the gods of weather have treated us here at Hard Rock Hell by getting all of the rain out overnight so we don’t have to suffer through it. This is especially welcome as the suffering is real. If you don’t have a hangover this morning, you are not experiencing a rock and roll festival properly. With pounding headaches, a ...