The Best Hard Rock and Metal Festivals in the UK
A Brief Guide to the Biggest and Best Metal Festivals in the UK
Apr 1, 2009
The Reading and Leeds Festivals might have their share of hard rocking acts but this guide looks at the festivals aimed exclusively at fans of metal and the heavier end of the rock music spectrum.
Download Festival: Line-up and Details
What: The spiritual successor to the Monsters Of Rock festivals held annually at the same venue between 1980 and 1996, Download is now the UK's premier metal and heavy music event.
When: 12th-14thth June
Where: Donington Park, Leicestershire
Headliners: Faith No More, Slipknot, Def Leppard
Best of the rest: Korn, Limp Bizkit, Motley Crue, Marilyn Manson, Pendulum, The Prodigy, Whitesnake, ZZ Top, Trivium, Dream Theater, Chris Cornell, Killswitch Engage, Down, Dragonforce, You Me At Six, Anvil, Clutch, Dir en grey, Duff McKagan’s Loaded, Lawnmower Deth
Bloodstock Open Air: Line-up and Details
What: The UK's biggest independent metal festival takes place in the incongruous setting of the grounds of a grand stately home. Expect serious riffage, devil's horns signs and metal karaoke after the bands have finished. Oh yes.
When: 14th-16th August
Where: Catton Hall, Derbyshire
Headliners: Arch Enemy, Cradle Of Filth, Europe
Best of the rest: Carcass, Battlelore, Katatonia, Municipal Waste, Saxon, Blind Guardian, Apocalyptica, Candlemass, Enslaved, Kreator, The Haunted, Girlschool, Amon Amarth, Gwar, Moonspell, Satyricon, Turisas
Hammerfest: Line-up and Details
What: A brand new event for 2009, the inaugural Hammerfest is sponsored by Metal Hammer magazine and will bring a host of metal acts to Prestatyn’s Pontins holiday camp for sun, sea and slashing, serrated savagery. Actually, you can probably scratch the ‘sun’ bit.
When: 24th-25th April
Where: Pontins Holiday Camp, Prestatyn, North Wales
Headliners: Opeth, Saxon
Best Of The Rest: Paradise Lost, Sepultura, Hammerfall, Skindred, Cathedral, Alestorm, Grand Magus, Sabbat, Tyr, Exit Ten, Annotations Of An Autopsy, Trigger The Bloodshed, Dream Evil, Wolf
The Bulldog Bash: Line-up and Details
What: Run for bikers by bikers (the Hell's Angels-run security consistently ensures the event is both safe and far more trouble-free than other events of its size), The Bulldog Bash is about more than just bands. Yep, there'll be grizzly rock acts aplenty but they'll be competing for attention with drag racing, stunts, custom bikes and decidedly un-PC attractions like the topless bike wash and wet T-shirt competitions.
When: 6th-9th August
Where: Shakespeare County Raceway, near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Headliners: TBC
Best of the rest: Stingchronicity, Hell’s Bells (AC/DC tribute), UFO, Oliver/Dawson Saxon, Hammerlock, Never The Bride, Adam Bomb, Tyla and the Dogs D’Amour
Damnation Festival: Line-up and Details
What: Now in its fifth year, Damnation might still be a toddler but it’s one capable of giving any passing ankles a seriously nasty bite. Designed to focus on the more underground end of the metal spectrum, this one-day indoor festival featured the likes of Carcass, My Dying Bride and Napalm Death last year and was voted Terroriser magazine’s event of 2008. Held as it is later in the year than most other festies, the line-up is not generally announced until nearer the time but watch this space…
When: 24th October
Where: Leeds University Student Union
Ghostfest: Line-up and Details
What: It might have skipped a year in 2007 but with more than 30 bands spread over two days, Ghostfest made a welcome return last year and in 2009 will once more be bringing together the best in metal and hardcore from the UK and beyond.
When: 27th-28th June
Where: Rio’s, Leeds
Headliners: Despised Icon, Whitechapel
Best of the rest: Sylosis, Exit Ten, Your Demise, The Eyes Of A Traitor, Trigger The Bloodshed, Viatrophy, Martyr Defiled
Click here for a guide to some of the UK's lesser known rock and alternative festivals.
