With just 4 weeks to go , we are close to selling out on VIP tickets with only a few left so anybody that wants a VIP ticket we urge you to buy now and avoid disappointment. VIP tickets give you access to the backstage hospitality area for the whole weekend where you might even be lucky enough to meet one of your favourite bands, a goody bag full of surprises, your very own toilets and showers and a much quieter camping experience for those of you who really do need your beauty sleep, and of course the VIP car park is just a stones throw from the VIP camping area.



Thursday Night is PARTY night set to start with a bang with the infamous 4 DJ’s of the Apocalypse, then for a Bloodstock FIRST we introduce a comedian set to put you all in a great mood ahead of the weekends bands !! To thrill the crowds we have the ever sexy and very entertaining FUEL GIRLS who are going to set the night on fire (not literally we hope) with their full on stage show, this we have been promised will involve some crowd participation so don’t be shy  To cool you all down we then have a set from the 4 DJ’s followed later in the evening by a full stage show by the well known circus madman...DOC INSANE!!! To finish the night we expect you ALL to be at your vocal best for the most quality FULL ON METAL Karaoke event of the year! Spandex, Denim & leather is a must for this one 



Expect a weekend full of wall to wall entertainment including Bloodstock’s famous Metal Karaoke, the International Metal Market, Stunt shows, Guitar Hero competitions, fairground rides, the Bloodstock legendary Unsigned Stage showcasing the best of new & unsigned talent and not to mention the BEST 100% Metal Line up on the main stage the UK has EVER witnessed. Over 70 METAL bands across 3 stages including many UK EXCLUSIVES, the weekend promises to be the ONLY metal event of 2009 you absolutely must not miss!

Full Weekend with camping tickets and day tickets are still available as are a very limited amount of VIP tickets - so what are you waiting for!

Tickets are priced at:

£ 95.00 Full Weekend
£ 45.00 Day Ticket

GO TO- www.bloodstock.uk.com

LINE UP SO FAR:
EUROPE, CARCASS, ARCH ENEMY, BLIND GUARDIAN, CRADLE OF FILTH,
SATYRICON, APOCALYPTICA, AMON AMARTH, SAXON, KREATOR, SODOM, MOONSPELL,KATATONIA, ENLSAVED, TURISAS, MUNICIPAL WASTE, CANDLEMASS, ANATHEMA, DIE APOKALYPRISCHEN REITER, ENTOMBED, EQUILIBRIUM, INSOMNIUM, THE HAUNTED, GIRLSCHOOL, WOLF, SABATON, MILLION DOLLAR RELOAD, BATTLELORE, BEHOLDER, UNCLE ROTTER, PYTHIA, CELESTY, ARTHEMIS, THE ROTTED, TRIBE, GODSIZED, AGBOTT, ANTERIOR, XERATH, VENTFLOW, BISON HAMMER, BLOODSHOT DAWN, DIVINE CHAOS , SNAKEBITE, ALTERNATIVE CARPARK, BLINDFOLD ASIDE, GODS OF HELLFIRE, GREEN RIVER PROJECT, VALLENBROSA , SOLSIKK,THEY WILL RISE, NEFARIOUS, NYE, SWITCHBALADE SCREAM, INTERNAL CONFLICT, EIBON LE FURIES, SANCTORUM, INNER EDEN, SOWER, PRIMITIVE GRAVEN IMAGE, BIOMORTAL, LEFT TO BLEED, SEVERED HEAVEN, OMT... plus more tbc


Regards

Bloodstock Team

Blimey, is it really only a matter of weeks before we all start packing again for the UK’s most brutal metal gathering set in the quiet ..“Cough... not for long” and picturesque village of Catton in the heart of England - BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR

Well now’s the time to also keep your ears and eyes well and truly open... pay attention or you’ll miss out. Over the next few weeks we’ll be shouting from many heavy metal roof tops belonging to the likes of Scuzz TV, Metal Hammer, Terrorizer, Rock Radio and many of your other favourite music mags, radio and TV music channels offering up some mighty prizes in celebration of another amazing Bloodstock festival experience. We’ve got a staggering number of X-box and play station consoles including Guitar Hero games and the Guitar Hero Metallica World Tour kits up for grabs. We also thought that for those Bloodstock virgins with no prior experience ... we’d put together a video teaser to give you a taste of what’s to come. Check out the latest Bloodstock youtube.

Don’t forget to keep tuning in to our mighty Podcasters Mongo, Gimli, Angel of Metal and Mike/aka Prozz who have been embraced by an army of listeners – break yourselves in gently boys and girls – go to www.bloodstock.podomatic.com .

With a capacity of just 10,000 and our strongest line up in Bloodstock history, tickets are flying out faster than ever... don’t say we didn’t warn you - if you haven’t bought your ticket yet at just £95 for 3 full days of metal across 3 stages with loads of added entertainment throughout the weekend.... WHAT THE F! #K YOU WAITIN FOR!

LINE UP SO FAR:
Europe, Carcass, Arch Enemy, Blind Guardian, Cradle of Filth, Saxon, Amon Amarth,
Satyricon, Apocalyptica, Anathema, Enslaved, Entombed, Candlemass, Municipal Waste,
The Haunted, Katatonia, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, Kreator, Equilibrium, Turisas, Wolf, Battlelore, Sabaton, Girlschool, Moonspell, Million Dollar Reload, Beholder, Arthemis, Celesty, Pythia, Gods of Hellfire, Internal Conflict, Nefarious, The Green River Project, They will Rise, Vallenbrosa, Inner Eden, Solsikk, Alternative Carpark, Godsized, Sanctorum, Tribe ...with many more to be announced

14 – 16 AUGUST 2009
CATTON HALL, WALTON ON TRENT, DERBYSHIRE

FULL WEEKEND TICKET - £95.00 + booking &postage fee

Regards

Bloodstock Team

Well our hearty metal brethren - we are all working into the wee small hours here at Bloodstock HQ putting together some of the finer touches to make this years festival the most brutal metal experience in history. With just a few slots left for the main stage we’ll have some more announcements coming very shortly. But in the meantime here are just a few updates for you not to be missed.

NEW BLOODSTOCK CLOAKROOM
We’ve just released the New Bloodstock Cloakroom tickets to allow you to secure your personal valuables on site over the whole weekend – don’t lose your valuables, keep them safe and secure all weekend. Although the number of Cloakroom tickets are limited so buy in advance from the Bloodstock shop to avoid disappointment.

BLOODSTOCK PODCAST’S - Get a taste of all that’s to come this August 14 – 16 2009.
Join the hoards of Metal Heathens who are tuning into the heaviest metal listening on the planet. Check in to the latest Bloodstock PODCAST’S hosted by the mighty Mongo, Gimli, Angel of Metal and Mike/aka Prozz as they tirelessly bring you the best of Bloodstock old and new. Featuring their favourite tracks from this years bands as well as an impressive compilation of the cream of the Unsigned. With a mix of Interviews news and gossip of all that’s to come, as well as the odd competition to win tickets to the best metal party of 2009. Don’t want to miss out on the most brutal metal from the UK’s No.1 Metal festival? GO NOW TO www.bloodstock.podomatic.com WARNING! Not for the faint hearted.

BLOODSTOCK UNSIGNED STAGE - update
The METAL2THEMASSES finals are upon us between May and July with venues from around the UK and Ireland playing host to the absolute BEST the unsigned metal scene has to offer all vying to get a slot on this years Unsigned Stage – the competition this year is incredibly tough as there are so many bands deserving of a slot - we just know you’re gonna be blown away by the sheer quality of the Bloodstock Unsigned stage this year.

SOPHIE LANCASTER STAGE - update
The Sophie Lancaster stage will offer up loads of entertainment well into the early hours. The Fuel Girls will help to warm up the party on the Thursday evening, Doc Insane’s offerings of nails, blood and gore – not for the queasy among you! With The 4 DJ’s of the Apocalyspe and the Infamous Metal Karaoke for those with mighty lungs you can party to your hearts content.
GUITAR HERO - Let the power of your voice join forces with the might of the sticks and the nimble fingered Gods of Shredding on the Sophie Lancaster Stage. If you believe you can scream out some vocals, spin some riffs or Explode on the drums, here is your chance to impress in the Bloodstock Guitar Hero METALLICA 2009 competition extravaganza. Some great prizes up for grabs here.

Tickets are selling faster than ever so if you haven’t got yours yet don’t miss out on the biggest Metal Party on the 2009 UK calendar –TO BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW CLICK HERE .

LINE UP SO FAR:
Europe, Carcass, Arch Enemy, Blind Guardian, Cradle Of Filth, Fear factory, Saxon, Amon Amarth,
Satyricon, Apocalyptica, Enslaved, Candlemass, Municipal Waste, The Haunted, Katatonia, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, Kreator, Equilibrium, Turisas, Battlelore, Sabaton, Girlschool, Moonspell, Million Dollar Reload, Beholder, Arthemis, Celesty, Pythia, Gods of hellfire, Internal Conflict, Nefarious, The Green River Project, They will Rise, Vallenbrosa, Inner Eden, Solsikk, Alternative Carpark.

14 – 16 AUGUST 2009
CATTON HALL, WALTON ON TRENT, DERBYSHIRE

FULL WEEKEND TICKET - £95.00 + booking &postage fee


Regards

Bloodstock Team

www.bloodstock.uk.com
webmaster@bloodstock.uk.com

Check-out the latest video from The Clan Destined; the critically acclaimed side-project from Sabbat and ex-Skyclad front-man Martin Walkyier. The Clan Destined video to the track "A Beautiful Start To The End Of The World" is taken from their debut c.d. entitled "In The Big Ending...", which has recently been released by Lime Records (Lime CV013). "In The Big Ending..." was recorded and produced by legendary guitarist/producers Andy Sneap and James Murphy at Sneap's world-renowned Backstage Studios. Much of the video footage was filmed at Bloodstock Open Air 2007, with the very kind support and assistance of Vicky Gregory and the rest of the Bloodstock Open Air team.



The Clan Destined video was directed, filmed and edited by the award-winning Blue Dog Films; who as you will see made an excellent job of taking Walkyier's initial concept and transforming it into an outstanding visual masterpiece. The Clan Destined are currently busy working on writing the music to their follow-up c.d., and are also looking forward to a future live appearance at Bloodstock Open Air.

Please visit their official website www.theclandestined.com or myspace page www.myspace.com/martinwalkyier for further information .

Regards

Bloodstock Team

STAMP - OUT - PREJUDICE - HATRED + - INTOLERANCE - EVERYWHERE
The Bloodstock Team are very proud to announce their 3rd Stage (previously known as the Lava Stage) will be renamed this year ‘The Sophie Lancaster Stage’.

They felt this would be a fitting tribute to a young girl who was brutally attacked along with her boyfriend in 2007 while walking through her local park in Bacup, Lancashire. Sophie and her boyfriend were singled out not for anything they had said or done, but because they looked and dressed differently. Unfortunately Sophie later died in hospital following the injuries from this vicious and unprovoked attack.

Bloodstock organiser Paul Gregory said “It is our hope that renaming the stage will help to keep Sophie’s memory alive and raise awareness to our society that this kind of brutal behaviour will not be tolerated”.

Sophie’s family have set up THE SOPHIE LANCASTER FOUNDATION. Through the Foundation they hope to provide training to professionals in order to raise awareness of the prejudice and violence faced by people from alternative subcultures. The foundation will develop and deliver workshops tackling the issues and challenging pre-conceptions. They will work towards offering advice and information to whoever may need it. This foundation will continue the campaigning in the same dignified manner adhered to since the attack on Sophie and her boyfriend Rob though the S.O.P.H.I.E. Campaign.

Sophie's brother, Adam Lancaster said “What happened horrified more people then we could ever know, not just the attack but the pointlessness of it all. We thank you for your thoughts and wishes and look forward to being involved with Bloodstock in 2009."

Two acts that will perform on the stage include female fronted Goth / Metal band ‘Pythia’ who were brought together by a love of gothic literature and Metal. PYTHIA are a group of classical and metal inspired musicians who believe that music is a lifestyle that should be lived only by the brave and true of heart. Bloodstock also welcome back crowd favourites ‘BEHOLDER’, who on their latest release ‘Unleash The Hell’, have written and recorded a track dedicated to the memory of Sophie entitled – ‘You’ll Never Take Us Down’. With BEHOLDER’S wild antics, powerful material and their strong support of the Sophie Campaign, it promises to be a fitting tribute.

BEHOLDER – www.myspace.com/beholdernews

PYTHIA - www.myspace.com/pythiamusic

If you wish to make a donation to THE SOPHIE LANCASTER FOUNDATION you can find out how to do this by visiting www.myspace.com/inmemoryofsophie

For the latest news on the Bloodstock festival line up and buying tickets go to www.bloodstock.uk.com

Regards

Bloodstock Team

Administering a mighty mid-morning shot of symphonic adrenalin, Swedish metallers, Cloudscape deliver a high-octane wake-up call of captivating proportions.

Clinging to a can of Carlsberg for essential onstage sustenance, enthused frontman, Mike Andersson proposes a toast to the crowd before the band resume their trademark technical blizzard of sublime soundscapes and guitar-fuelled melodrama. Despite a momentary meandering of appreciation illustrated by an errant voice in the crowd who utters an eloquent, “Fuck off” in reply to Andersson’s tremulous falsetto, the audience are, for the most part, utterly enthralled.

Resplendent in a Slash-like ensemble of velvet shirt and skin-tight black leather, bassist, Hans Persson unleashes a mighty succession of thunderous riffs as Andersson wields the mike stand with glittering, stadium rock showmanship. By turns majestic and anthemic, “Will We Remain” features immaculate, face-melting axemanship while “Darkest Legacy” is slick with cinematic ambience. Andersson’s lavish, almost operatic tones soar effortlessly above a mind-bending array of otherworldly electronica. Showcasing both tireless stamina and agility throughout, Andersson’s vocal capacity makes for a truly compelling performance.

Poignantly emotive yet packing sufficient heavy metal artillery to largely escape the much abhorred power genre, Cloudscape are epic theatricality incarnate.

Author: Faye Coulman

This years Bloodstock Open Air festival has already been tipped to be THE heavy rock /metal festival of 2008 not to be missed. 10,000 metal heads will descend on the picturesque village of Walton On Trent, in Derbyshire expecting to rock out to the finest metal line up the UK has ever witnessed.

The campsite opens Thursday at 12 noon giving you plenty of time to set up camp for when the festivities begin. The Guitar Hero 3 Tent and Lava Stage and bar will be open on Thursday at 12 noon to welcome you all. Here you will enjoy all the revelry of Metal Karaoke, a couple of surprise bands to warm you up for the weekends metal onslaught as well as head banging to the tunes of the infamous 4 DJ’s of the Apocolypse … all this until the early hours.

To follow on from this - Friday, Saturday and Sunday will see the main stage treat you to the most quality metal line up of 2008. Headline acts - Opeth, Dimmu Borgir and Nightwish with Special Guests Helloween, as well as Iced Earth, At The Gates, Soulfly and Soilwork, to name just a few.

UK EXCLUSIVE - Sunday night headliners ‘Nightwish’ will close the festival with a spectacular performance as they are bringing their entire pyro’s light show never before seen in the UK.

We have the cream of the UK unsigned metal acts on the Scuzz Underground Stage ready to shock your senses, and for those of you who just want to catapult yourselves into space we also this year have fairground rides, the International Metal Market plus Guitar hero 3 Champion competition madness and much much more

Full weekend tickets with camping are just £85. Limited day tickets are on sale at just £45. Tickets on sale through our secure online shop at www.bloodstock.uk.com plus selected HMV stores around the UK - _you can also purchase from SEE tickets, Ticketwebb, Piccadilly, Gigantic, Ticket Factory and Last minute or call the 24 hour ticket hotline: 0871 2200260

Band line up:

Friday: OPETH, HELLOWEEN, SOULFLY, PRIMAL FEAR, DESTRUCTION, AKERCOCKE, TYR, PRAYING MANTIS, EVILE, SAINT DEAMON,

Saturday: DIMMU BORGIR, ICED EARTH, SOILWORK, NAPALM DEATH, MOONSORROW, COMMUNIC, SWALLOW THE SUN, ELUVEITIE, MOB RULES, CLOUDSCAPE

Sunday: NIGHTWISH, AT THE GATES, OVERKILL, AS I LAY DYING, KATAKLYSM, GRAND MAGUS, ALESTORM, CROWNING GLORY, HEAVENS BASEMENT


BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR
Date: 15th 16th 17th August 2008

Venue: Catton Hall, Walton on Trent, Derbyshire

Tickets - Full weekend Tickets with Camping - £85
Day tickets - £45
Child tickets £35

Make sure you Purchase your Car parking Ticket !!



Regards

Bloodstock Team

www.bloodstock.uk.com

.

Merchants of Metal

“It helps me, being the eternal optimist – a requirement for any mad idea,” comments Paul Gregory, founder and promoter of Bloodstock festivals. Faye Coulman documents the unprecedented success of the UK’s most prestigious extreme music event to date

While the likes of Glastonbury and Download annually sate mainstream appetites, heavy metal enthusiasts were left wanting where live entertainment was concerned, until the birth of Bloodstock in 2001. Forged from a mutual appreciation for heavy metal, organisers Paul Gregory and Vince Brotheridge were struck by a marketing concept which was at once creative and commercially viable.

“We chose to bring little known acts from Europe to perform at a UK festival instead of them performing at smaller venues in London,” Paul explains. “Our talent-luck for bringing bands from Europe for their UK debut is where we gained our reputation.”

Since the festival’s distant origins as an indoor event in 2001, Bloodstock witnessed fifty per cent expansion each year thereafter, which culminated in the launch of Bloodstock Open Air 2005. Though the UK is largely esteemed the homeland of heavy metal, prior to the advent of B.O.A, Britain was the only European country without its own major, open-air metal event. Paul and Vince have now fully established and conquered their highly specific niche in the music industry. The pair’s business awareness and artistic vision was successfully reconciled in the form of promotions and website design body, AMust4music. An acclaimed artist, mf Paul’s numerous cover art projects provided ready-established connections with a range of reputable acts, including classic rock legends, Saxon. His dark, iconic designs also constitute the focal point of both Bloodstock’s promotional web features and merchandise. Ever innovative in marketing approach, Paul remarks: “We are always looking at developing new merchandise and have bespoke artwork year on so as to not bore with the same old same old.”

In close proximity to conveniently placed sources of accommodation and local eateries, The Assembly Rooms, situated in the heart of Derby, presented the ideal venue choice for the original indoor festival. Despite the initially crippling costs, Bloodstock 2001 received rave reviews from both local and national press, as well as an enthusiastic reception from 700 fans. “We were always confident,” Paul reflects, “but it’s been a hard road with a lot of casualties.”

The capacity of the indoor festival, capable of hosting 2,500, presented a considerable limitation given the sell-out success of Bloodstock 2004. In 2005, plans for open-air expansion, to be run alongside the original indoor event, were announced. Given the festival’s limitless scope for international talent and diversity, it seemed only appropriate that Bloodstock should embody the vast, outdoor characteristics of its European counterparts. Long-time friend and business associate, Thomas Jensen, of Germany’s Wacken festival, extended his marketing expertise to the prospective venture. Catton Hall, in South Derbyshire, satisfied the problematic search for an outdoor venue, given its suitably secluded location and capacity of 10,000. Paul and his cohorts’ tireless dedication precipitated a marketing triumph born of overseas ideology coupled with the loyal, intimate values of the regional metal scene. mf

“Bloodstock started with a team of people with an idea to put on a festival of the music they all loved,” Paul affirms. “We have a loyal fan base that help with the festival’s ever-growing need for helpers. Our motto: ‘By the fans for the fans’ are not just words.”

In 2005, an interview with Metal Hammer accurately identified the source of Bloodstock’s marketing ingenuity. Paul told the magazine: “I think a lot of promoters are only going to book things that are sort of big at the time. That’s where we’ve got our niche,” he stated before concluding: “We’re not followers, we’re leaders.”

Not since the greatly mourned departure of Donington’s Monsters of Rock festival had the British metal scene anticipated a live event of such gargantuan import. While Bloodstock continued its annually staggering rate of expansion, the promotions team endeavoured to raise the profile of the festival by every conceivable means. In addition to the team’s marketing scheme, corporate titan, HMV rendered tickets readily available to the public, displaying promotional flyers and posters nationwide. Together with leading rock and metal cable and satellite TV show, Scuzz, Bloodstock received a tremendous publicity boost. As many aspiring entrepreneurs will appreciate, Bloodstock’s early promotional measures, though inventive in strategy, suffered considerable financial limitation.

Of the team’s enterprising origins, Paul reminisces: “I believe we did quite a good job in our early promotion efforts given our lack of knowledge at the time. We mf had street teams, advertising, obviously, in all the metal magazines and local papers. We had a very limited budget, which at the time was almost zero.”

In light of his own seasoned expertise, he urges fledgling promoters to: “Work on the basis that nobody has ever heard of your festival. Street teams, advertising, radio, television if you can get it and mostly be creative - think out of the box.”

Despite the extraordinary success enjoyed by Bloodstock 2007, Paul remains steadfast in his prevailing ethos of self-promotion and dedication to the local metal scene. Media exposure was extended also to the unsigned sector of the festival via an Internet facility, which allowed for the uploading of music videos created by aspiring artists. Undoubtedly the promotional core of the thriving operation that is Bloodstock, the official website offers still further marketing opportunity for both upcoming promoters and musicians.

Perhaps the organisation’s greatest initiative thus far, “Metal 2 The Masses” 2008 aims to further media exposure for both Bloodstock and more minor sectors of the industry alike. Promoters are requested to purchase a franchise of “Metal 2 The Masses”, producing an invaluable association with the reputable name of Bloodstock Open Air. Online voting for various groups of unsigned artists, presented by each independent promoter, begins in June. It is anticipated that the venture will do much to raise the profile of live metal in its entirety, providing promotion for Bloodstock while establishing a sound basis for future developments in this sector of the industry. mf

Although Bloodstock occupies a specialist niche, fellow subcultural industry professionals have proved consistent in their support of the organisation. In breakthrough year 2005, Metal Hammer music magazine cited Bloodstock as Britain’s best independent metal festival. Acclaimed extreme metal publication, Terrorizer, also revealed Bloodstock as the No.3 Biggest Musical Event, based on the results of a readers’ poll held in 2006. As anticipation for the 2008 festival nears its dynamic climax, Terrorizer’s June edition hails Bloodstock as one of the metal scene’s most celebrated forthcoming events.

“Bloodstock hasn’t strayed from its original ethos as a metal meeting for metalheads…” the article enthuses. “Those European metal superfests oughta start worrying; Bloodstock is bringing metal home

If so, you've just got to compete for the title of....……… "Bloodstock Open Air Festival 2008 - Guitar Hero 3"


Ok………..this is your big chance to show the world that Guitar Hero 3 and all that axe wielding talent you have wasn’t just for Christmas. If you’re the next legend just waiting to be discovered and idolised and can answer yes to the following questions then do not hesitate to let us guide you along the path of guitar glory.

• Ever wanted to show what you can do with your guitar?

• Are you an expert exponent of Guitar Hero 3?

• Got what it takes to win a regional heat and earn your place at the final, taking place at the UK’s biggest Metal Festival?

• Think you can be the overall winner and play in front of a crowd of thousands with a real band behind you?

For all budding lead guitarists who just know that they fully deserve the ultimate Rock God prize, a ridiculous bag of related goodies and products PLUS VIP Festival tickets, then this is the competition for you.

Bloodstock Open Air Festivals has joined forces with GUITAR HERO 3 to bring you an unbelievable opportunity to compete for this annual Title and Prize. We already have several hosts lined up to work with us as we put on the mother of all shows at dedicated Guitar Hero 3 events around the country. If your Rock Society, Student Union, Club or venue wants a piece of the action, please get them to contact us at the numbers below .

All bases are covered with official GH3 products and equipment provided at Heats held at locations across the UK in May/ June 2008 as we search for our first Guitar Heroes. We’ve got Ticketing partner tixmob.com on board who provide a revolutionary, electronic, convenient and green method to enter with a unique ticket reference number purchased via mobile phone. So all we need now is YOU!

Any enthusiastic venues that want to play host to GUITAR HERO 3 in partnership with Bloodstock Festivals should make contact as soon as possible.

From 2 April you can enter the competition and get all the vital details, terms and conditions on www.bloodstock.uk.com


For more information

Competition and Venue Details : Jason 07891 399 672 or webmaster@bloodstock.uk.com

Media Enquiries : Clive 07882 352 742 or clive@bloodstock.uk.com

For Full Festival news and performer details, please log onto www.bloodstock.uk.com

As the dark days of winter draw in, there’ll be no time for hiding away or hibernation for the Bloodstock team as we continue to assemble what promises to be the festival’s best ever line-up. Already for BOA 2008 we’ve confirmed legendary outfits Opeth, Dimmu Borgir, Primal Fear and the recently reformed At The Gates alongside newer talent in the shape of Moonsorrow, Swallow The Sun, Communic, Evile and Eluveitie. If that lot has whetted your appetite, let’s just say that we have many further exciting announcements coming your way in the next few weeks that’ll have you polishing your tent pegs in furious anticipation of August 15th…


ROCK SOCIETY

The new Rock Society memberships which were launched on October 31st have been selling fast, so for those of you still ‘thinking about it’, now is the time to get over to Bloodstock Store and sign up fast as there are just 150 available!

For just £20 a year, Rock Society members receive:

1. Laminated Rock Society pass with your name and number on it.

2. 10% discount on all Bloodstock merchandise and tickets purchased online. (Discount applies until 15th December 2007).

3. 10% Discount on all Bloodstock merchandise purchased at the festival. You’ll need to bring your Rock Society pass with you to claim your discount.

4. Backstage tours at Bloodstock 2008.

5. Your name on the `Thank you` page in the official Bloodstock programme.

6. Early priority entry to the festival signing area.

7. Option to renew a week before anyone else.

8. Access to the Bloodstock Rock Society forum where you can chat with new members like yourself as well as our lifetime members who have supported Bloodstock since the beginning.

Official Rock Society passes will be sent out by post within ten days of purchase and you’ll need to bring these with you when attending Bloodstock 2008.


BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2008 TICKETS

Tickets for Bloodstock Open Air 2008 are currently on sale and you still have until December 15th to take advantage of our massive pre-Christmas discount which holds tickets at just £61 each. Tickets purchased after this date will be priced at £85, so early bird buyers will save a massive £24!

Bloodstock tickets make great Christmas presents too!


Click HERE to buy your Bloodstock tickets NOW!

Regards

Bloodstock Team

www.bloodstock.uk.com

A quick HELL-OO from Sight Of Emptiness, we just arrived back in Costa Rica. We got delayed a few days, due to the Hurricane hitting Mexico. We were supposed to have a layover there, so our first flight was cancelled. Some of us had to stay an extra day in Amsterdam (what a great place)!



Our time in England, and especially the Bloodstock festival, was amazing. Everything went by so fast and we are still jetlagged and showlagged. We played in front of a great crowd, met some great people, great musicians, drank some great beer and did not get any great sleep! Of course we are going to give you guys a longer story about all the great things we have been experiencing, but for now here are a few photos and comments from each band member.

Bloodstock Festival Setlist:
Truth Of A Lie
In Death State
Chapter Of Hatred
Visions
Witness Of Your Murder
Desolation Whispers
Death In Fire (Amon Amarth Cover)

Roberth
An experience I will not forget easily. Im part of Costa Rican Metal history here...no other band has play at an Open Air in Europe so far, so Im happy as hell. When I was in the stage I almost couldnt believe that this dream was a reality, the crowd went nuts and that help me to give my best.
The bands that impressed me the most:
Arch Enemy and Testament.

Freddy
I was really nervous, but as soon as I put my feet on the stage I feel a good vibe. During show I give all the best. The crowd support made me feel so happy and gave me more confidence.
The bands that impressed me the most:
Nevermore was the highlight for me since 2 of my favorite guitarrist play with the band.

Diego
A dream come true, very excited cuz of the response of the crowd.
The bands that impressed me the most:
Arch Enemy was the best band.

Rodrigo
Even though a lot of people were at the camping area, the turn out and the crowd reaction surpass my expectations. To top it all the threatment we recieved from the organizers was top notch all the way throught.
The bands that impressed me the most:
Nevermore over all, the most professional show were In Flames, Dark Tranquility and Arch Enemy. Fintroll and Epica were unexpectecly good

Eduardo
Since I was a little kid I kind of knew that music was gonna take me to great places and was going to make my dreams a reality. Here I am, just returning England, recovering from the first one. The show went awesome, too many things in my mind before and after...but thanks to our Tour Manager Niclas, doubts and questions were solved and answered within minutes.
Showtime my dear amigos, strange sensations invaded my body...good karma all around, great weather, plus lots of metalheads around supporting a band that for their first time was presenting their art to an audience hungry of good metal. For now I will like to say: Im happy as hell and living the style of life Ive been fighting for since metal become a vital part of me.
The bands that impressed me the most:
Nevermore, In Flames, Testament, Arch Enemy and Dark Tranquillity.

More to come once we get some sleep...SOE

Greetings Metal Heads

What a great weekend, hope you all enjoyed yourselves and returned home safely without too much of a hang over?

Firstly can I start by thanking you all for yet another fantastic Bloodstock and for giving the festival your support, we had some amazing bands this year and have received from the bands a lot of praise for a great festival and even greater fans !!!

I have had several emails and browsed the forum so to help clear up a few issues, give out praises to the well deserved and to dish out some no no’s to the very few misguided I feel it only right I try to answer your queries.

We all do our very best to make sure your festival improves each year and to a greater extent I think this year we achieved this. Lack of toilets were a major issue this year, that won’t be the case next, we will also have showers on the campsite, a much requested item. It’s not rocket science, when we get it wrong or, you rightly tell us and if it’s achievable we’ll fix it.

Onto our plans for 2008, in order for us to make Bloodstock Open Air the festival all you guys want to be proud of like of our European counterparts, we have to look carefully at our current situation. Running two festivals back to back is financial suicide and means at best you do both badly, as the capacity of the venue is limited and the bands we would like to see at the indoor are not affordable to make the venue work, it makes no sense to continue. The alternative is no Festival “period.” This as many of our decisions has been hard but one we had to make at this juncture. However we will re kindle the Christmas show and I’m not saying the indoor is gone for good, once we have the open air the festival where we want it to be we will revisit it.

Ticket Prices

Bloodstock is NOT some corporate money grabbing machine, neither is it a charity, a rise in ticket price is not a way of making a quick buck but a natural consequence of the festival’s spiralling costs due to our commitment to make it the best it can be, that said we’ll keep prices for next year the same as this years price if you purchase your ticket between now and 15th December 2007, any tickets purchased after 15th December will be priced at £ 85, this will give all you loyal Bloodstockers the opportunity to snatch what is and believe me a bargain.

Tickets for Bloodstock Open Air 2008 will go on Sale from September 1st and can be purchased Online in the Bloodstock Store !!

All tickets will be despatched before Christmas so they also will make ideal Christmas presents !!!

We have also taken on board emails received from lots of metallers that could not attend this year as they have children, with this in mind we have introduced a Child ticket, if you have children aged between 4 – 11 you will be able to purchase a ticket for them at the reduced rate of £ 35, children aged 0 – 3 will get in for free !


The misguided, I received some complaints about certain individuals setting fire to wheelie bins, Bloodstock has always been a friendly safe festival something we’re all proud of, we will NOT tolerate to be polite the misguided element these people ruin it for others, be warned our security is to be doubled next year, another reason for our cost increase. The campsite, we will endeavour to have a quiet area for those not wishing to be part of the mayhem created by those who want to party till dawn.

Bloodstock’s ethos for the fans by the fans is born out by the number of metal heads that give their time and energy behind the scenes to put the show on, from production, Merchandise to street teams, all working tirelessly throughout the year to give us all a true Metal festival to be part of and proud of.

Next years Bloodstock Open Air is set to be even bigger than this year, we are liaising now with some amazing bands and we aim to have some band announcements with you shortly, we appreciate your comments on bands and we read ALL band requests you guys put forward !!

Keep it heavy keep it safe

Cheers

Paul

Greetings, metal fans!

Firstly, let me introduce myself, I'm Dj Sly AKA 'Death' - of 'The 4 Dj's Of The Apocalypse'. More about that later, for now I want to tell you about the storming weekend of pure metal that was HELLFEST 2007.

Myself and my crew had the good fortune to be asked to represent Bloodstock at this years HELLFEST in France. If you haven't heard about it you should have! (And you can check out a full lineup at www.hellfest.fr .

We set off on Thursday armed with exclusive BOA t-shirts and bags full to bursting with Bloodstock flyers. On arrival at the airport we found that we were not the only metallers from England heading to the fest, in fact only about 5 people on our flight weren't, let the fun begin! The entire plane was a buzzing sea of hair and black shirts. We land in Nantes and set off en mass to find Clisson and the fest. 1 bus, 2 trams, 1 train and a walk later we arrive at the Hellfest campsite. The queue wasn't too bad and soon we were inside setting up our tents when the skies opened on us, but we were in high spirits and slightly drunk now so we just didn't care. Soon the tents were up and we set about getting to know people, it was surprisingly easy to make friends considering our meagre French and soon we were chatting with people from all around the world.

The next morning we were up bright and early and off to collect our entry passes. Unfortunately there was a generator fire on the main stage and the arena was flooded by heavy rain so the fest didn't get started till about 4pm rather than the original 1pm but we all keep ourselves amused with chants and beer. The main downside to this was missing about 9 bands, including LAMB OF GOD. The first band on the main stage was CHIMAIRA and they blew us away! We'd just made it into the VIP bar for a beer when they came on and the walls began to shake with the sound of METAL. The day continued in a truly metal style with bands like DESTINITY, MASTODON, HACRIDE, HATEBREED and the mighty MACHINE HEAD. The finale of the day was SLAYER and they played with all the enthusiasm of a band playing their first festival and all the talent of guys that have been doing it for years. At this point I have to sneak in the fact that while we were standing backstage listening to MACHINE HEAD we had the pleasure of getting our picture taken with the legendary KERRY KING! Hell yeah! The headlining act was meant to be KORN but they pulled out 'Due to severe weather....' (full statement found at www.korn.com ) .

On our second morning we realised that our food and more importantly beer supplies were nearly out so we set off into the village of Clisson. As well as being a nice little French town with an impressive castle, Clisson had various cafe's with bands playing on the streets and a local square with a brass oompah band. The first band we saw that day was VADER but we had to tear ourselves away to follow up a recommendation to see GUTWORM on the Discover Stage. On arrival we realised we'd left it too late as the marquee was already bursting at the seams with fans. Our next stop was the Gibson Stage to see KORPIKLAANI then on to the indoor market for a spot of metal merch shopping.

Re-emerging with various cds and t-shirts in our Hellfest bags, we decided to meet some more of the European metal fans and spread the word of Bloodstock. Walking around passing out flyers to the masses, we couldnt help hearing thumping tunes from BRUJERIA. A suitable soundtrack while we worked. While taking a break from flyering, we headed over to the skate ramp. Waiting in anticipation for someone to hurt themselves we heard monstrous riffs coming from the Main Stage, a band by the name of AMON AMARTH. We hadnt heard them before but we came away impressed.

The riffage continued with the likes of NAPALM DEATH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, SWORN ENEMY (a personal favorite of Famine - Dj Of The Apocalypse) and IMMORTAL. The day was capped off by TYPE O NEGATIVE. Not the best performance I have seen from them but they got the crowd going and hearing 'Black Number One' blaring through the French countryside at 1.30am was awesome.

The final day of the festival began in true metal style sharing breakfast beers amongst our new comrades and playing a camp wide game of 'Throw The Ball'. Players from all over the world, even as far as Australia joined in. By lunchtime, we were really feeling the effects of the beer and decided it was time to get a good dose of METAL. We headed over to Stage 2 to catch EPHEL DUATH and SCARVE, wicked. On our way to see KREATOR, we discovered that by collecting 30 empty cups we could get free beer. Our day was getting better and better. Next up were CONVERGE, ORTHODOX and the brutally heavy 1349. The headline acts for Sunday were DREAM THEATER and EMPEROR but i have to say, for us the highlight of the day had to be MEGADETH. An awesome set throughout, even the rain during the mosh pits was appreciated, the first time all weekend.

Hellfest was our first European festival and I have to say I'm hooked; it was the perfect prelude to BOA. If you can afford to go next year, I would strongly recommend it. You will come home with a reawakened thirst for metal. Bring on Bloodstock....

Finally a little more about myself, my crew and our involvement at BOA 2007. We are 'The 4 Dj's Of The Apocalypse', a collective of Dj's from around the UK and you can hear us everyday until 2am in the LAVA Arena playing 'Metal for the fans'.

With that in mind we want you to let us know what kind of tunes you want to hear from us at BOA, so please post your suggestions in the forum.

Keep your eyes peeled for more...


: Dj Sly aka Death - The 4 Dj's Of The Apocalypse :

Bloodstock Open Air is fast approaching and we feel this will be a pinnacle year for the festival, we have stepped up to the next level & still kept the ethos of “ For the fans by the fans “, that will always remain our key statement.

In order for the open air to work well this year & also for Bloodstock to bring the typical Bloodstock bands that you all want to see, we have more established & popular headliners that are better known to UK audiences, this enables us to bring the lesser known in the UK, European bands. The headliners, In Flames, Lacuna Coil, Testament & Arch Enemy are great additions to Bloodstock & this will be their ONLY UK Festival appearances for 2007. Arch enemy also been in the studio recording tracks for their new album following the huge success of ‘ Doomsday Machine ‘ and ‘Live Apocalypse ‘ so hopefully they may play at Bloodstock some of their new tracks ! We are also very pleased to hear In Flames who are headlining the Saturday of Bloodstock Open Air have just been confirmed to be the support band for IRON MAIDEN on their upcoming dates in June in Germany, In flames are also up for a Metal Hammer Golden Gods award for Best Live Band ! Lacuna Coil are currently touring with Stone Sour & will be doing a International Tour shortly with Within Temptation, ahead of their Friday Night headline slot at Bloodstock.

We have aimed to get bands that have repeatedly been asked for and are pleased to confirm Testament as a Thursday Night headliner, with 3 support bands this is an extra night added onto the normal two days, if you buy your tickets before 5th May 2007 this extra night will not cost you anymore, after 5th May 2007 tickets will increase by £ 5, we feel Bloodstock Open Air is THE BEST value for money event in the UK !

With other bands added to the bill such as Dream Evil, Epica, Kiuas, Benediction, Rise To Addiction, Korpiklaani, Legion Of the Damned, Beyond All Reason and still more bands to be announced we aim to have the first sell out Bloodstock Open Air , as the festival grounds have a limited capacity. We will also have the ever popular unsigned stages giving many young up & coming bands the opportunity to gain a fan base and maybe a record deal !!

Please keep watching for more band announcements soon ……………………………

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A VERY METAL 2007 FROM THE BLOODSTOCK COLLECTIVE

All the Bloodstock Team would like to thank our fans & supporters old and new over the past 6 years & wish you all a very very merry christmas !! We will see you all in 2007, until then keep watching the site for more announcements ..........................

Ho ho Ho !!