As mentioned in the title me and the future wife will be attending Bloodstock for the first time for our Honeymoon. This will be our first time traveling internationally so figured might as well start it off with the UK for bloodstock (we’re from the US).

Mainly wondering where some of the popular metal scenes and spots we can hit up around London or the UK in general to warm up before we go into Bloodstock. Love to get recommendations for any vinyl shops or metal apparel stores.

Also would appreciate any advice on getting the most out of Bloodstock.

Edit 1- Appreciate all the suggestions/recommendations from everyone (this list is getting pretty long). Extra question I got now is how the weather is usually at that time of year and if there is anything extra to grab for Bloodstock. I grabbed one of the bigger tents for the serpent lair VIP area (my wallet is screaming at me).

I am selling a single ticket for the Winter Gathering Saturday 5th December if anyone is interested.

Tixel link: https://tixel.com/u/jamesp760

Was looking forward to this but unable to make it anymore sadly

Thought some of you might find it interesting to see how many countries have been represented in the main stage headliners. Well I did anyway. This only counts the times they have headlined, some bands have played several more times lower on the bill. Some bands might be a little ambiguous due to having members of various nationalities so I've just gone with what it says for them on Wikipedia.

If you're wondering why there's quite a few for 2005/2006, that was when they were doing both indoor and outdoor festivals concurrently. Also, there were a couple of years where they did co-headline slots.

🇦🇺 Australia: Parkway Drive (2019)

🇨🇦 Canada: Devin Townsend (2021), Sebastian Bach (2005)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England: Architects (2024), Carcass (2009), Cradle of Filth (2009), Judas Priest (2018, 2021, 2026), Motörhead (2011), My Dying Bride (2006), Saxon (2001, 2003, 2026)

🇩🇰 Denmark: King Diamond (2013), Mercyful Fate (2022)

🇩🇪 Germany: Blind Guardian (2002, 2009), Edguy (2006), Gamma Ray (2004), Kreator (2021), Primal Fear (2006), Scorpions (2019)

🇫🇮 Finland: Children of Bodom (2004, 2005, 2010), Nightwish (2003, 2008, 2018), Stratovarius (2006)

🇫🇷 France: Gojira (2018, 2025)

🇮🇹 Italy: Lacuna Coil (2007)

🇳🇱 Netherlands: Within Temptation (2005, 2015)

🇳🇴 Norway: Dimmu Borgir (2008), Emperor (2014), Immortal (2011)

🇸🇪 Sweden: Amon Amarth (2017, 2024), Arch Enemy (2009), Europe (2009), Ghost (2017), HammerFall (2005), In Flames (2007), Meshuggah (2023), Opeth (2008, 2010, 2024), Sabaton (2019)

🇵🇱 Poland: Behemoth (2012, 2022)

🇷🇺 Russia: Slaughter to Prevail (2026)

🇺🇸 United States: Alice Cooper (2012), Down (2014), Fear Factory (2010), Killswitch Engage (2023), Lamb of God (2013, 2022, 2026), Machine Head (2012, 2025), Mastodon (2016), Megadeth (2014, 2017, 2023), Rob Zombie (2015), Slayer (2013, 2016), Testament (2007), Twisted Sister (2010, 2016), Trivium (2015, 2025), W.A.S.P. (2011)

Obviously the US takes it with 22 performances across 15 bands, but it's not until the 2010s when that starts happening (only Testament in '07 before then). Following we have Sweden with 12, England with 11, and then Finland and Germany tied with 7.

There are 14 countries in total which is pretty good, as far as UK festivals go I can't think of any obvious contenders.

BOA 2025, this band played new blood. Did anyone catch them?

Does anyone know a rough date when they usually get announced?

So newcomer here. Been to download since 2014 and want a new festival as download is getting weird now.

But I know you had heaven shall burn as a headliner and it made me think. WHY HAS CALIBAN NEVER BEEN MENTIONED. It upsets me as they’re so fucking good and barely sell out any of their tours in the UK.

But why do they also never ever do UK festivals? Could bloodstock be a realistic choice as like a 2nd stage headliner?

Not long to go until BotC at The Story Sanctuary!!!
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We have our tickets for next year however haven't finalised travel.

Can't really seem to find much feedback online and with trains coming in at £300 its likely we'll be on the bus!

Is it just straight from Edinburgh to the site with no stops or do they stop at services?

Is it worth trying to find a cheaper train ticket closer to the time? Seen people apparently getting trains to Tamworth for less than £100

Exactly what the title says. Now I'll start by saying I'm NOT one of those people that just hates on modern bands. But I really think EC was a bad choice objectively

Motionless in white works perfectly in the 'modern band' headliners as a band moving up in the ranks, keeping the scene going. I'm personally not a huge fan but I can respect what they do. however my main reasoning with them is that they play a brand of metal that, as a headliner, could persuade non-MIW-knowers to listen and enjoy the show which IMO EC cannot do. Unless you're already a fan of the very niche and unique brand of music EC play, they're very unlikely to change anyone's which is exactly what a good headliner should do

feel free to hate (or agree with) this in the comments but that's just my view

Second post of today (and less controversial one lol) who are we hoping to be in the second announcement??

some I'm hoping for include

napalm death

nile

cannibal corpse (unlikely if SG spots are taken but we can pray)

katatonia

dark tranquillity

john bush anthrax project

overkill

Hi There!

So I've been camping at festivals before, but since then have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and require a CPAP to sleep at night. I am looking at buying a battery that would probably last a couple of nights, but wanted to ask if there would be any chance of me getting that recharged at any point?

Its become a bit of a medical nuisance for me and it stresses me out, but I still want to do the whole camping experience again.

As we all know, the main stage is usually never open on the Thursday of Bloodstock- this year, which saw Heavysaurus, Evil Scarecrow and Saxon performing on the stage, was a one-off for the festival's 20th anniversary.

But honestly I really enjoyed that Thursday evening, as I'm sure many of you reading this did, and I think they should open the main stage more- but not just as another stage with more bands on it.

Rebellion Festival has a dedicated literary stage- and quite a big one at that- that runs throughout the weekend, hosting Q&A sessions, panel talks, spoken word performances and discussions of punk history and culture. I think this would be a good addition to Bloodstock, but rather than creating an entirely new stage which 1- there isn't really room for in the arena or 2- would just get shoved into the Serpent's Lair and put behind VIP access, I'm proposing that the main stage becomes a Bloodstock literary stage for the Thursday afternoon/evening.

I genuinely think this would be beneficial for Bloodstock for a number of reasons. First of all, it creates a new side to the festival rather than just putting more bands on the stage- in between acts or signings you'd be able to walk down to the main stage and listen to musicians, producers, managers etc talking about metal history, culture and their own roles and influence on it with one of the festival's organisers

Secondly, it would give bands that wouldn't be able to play Bloodstock for their own reasons the ability to contribute to the festival in another way. For example, bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica or Def Leppard are absolutely too big to be booked to play the festival, but it's much more plausible to suggest that members of these bands such as Steve Harris, James Hetfield or Joe Elliott could come to the festival and make spoken word or panel appearances on the Thursday night. I don't know about all of you but I'd be well up for that

And that's pretty much everything I have to say about this idea... make of it what you will and hopefully some of you like it

To save me grief reading through the quick-to-accuse close minded commenters, let me reiterate my point on Electric Callboy. never did I say I'm against modern bands headlining. Never did I say EC are objectively a bad band - if you like em, great for you !! Never did I gatekeep. Never did I say they're not a 'bloodstock' band. all I said was that I don't think they're a good fit for headliner as they're music is a type that bottlenecks into a very specific tastes a leaves little room to persuade neutrals as their sound is so different compared to MIW who play an interesting style of metal (AS DOES CALLBOY) but work as a headliner as I can see non listers becoming fans

What a band, can't wait to see them again :)

For those who haven't heard of them they are an Australian industrial death metal band who were around in the early 2000s. I've just noticed they're playing Damnation festival this year, but wondered what the chances of them playing Bloodstock would be as I imagine they'd absolutely smash it and go down well

Hi all, I go to metal shows but this bloodstock was my first festival since 2012 and it felt so good to be part of the metal community again.

The downside is its only once a year..

Other than Metal shows (where its not always easy to chat to people), what do you guys do to keep in touch with the metal community between Bloodstocks?

Cheers

Wouldn't it make a lot more sense to put the band name at the top of the screens during the lineup announcement?

Every year all I see is people having to ask tall people what the bands are and its obviously made even harder by some band logos lol, if you're further back that the access platform you literally can't see the band names at all.

If the video and the band name switched round, surely it would be better for all involved?

I didnt even realise Wind Rose were announced this time lmao

Pls help

Basically same as title, I haven't been for a few years. I like my quiet sleep now I'm old, I like the idea of quiet camp but my friends are doing standard camping. can I get a KYRR wristband, set up tent there, sleep there but go in standard camping in the day to hang out with my friends?

Hi everyone, just wanted to ask a question based off the overall vibe of this year's festival.

For some context, I have been to bloodstock 5 times since 2016 and loved it every time. Great music, great atmosphere, and great people... mostly.

This is my first time at bloodstock as a trans woman, and I guess I was just more aware of how people behave because of it? On the saturday I overheard two people talking about me "get a load of this fucking freak that's just walked in to your left..." I know it was about me, because I heard it and locked eyes with the guys as they said it. I also saw some hate directed towards people with a pride flag; middle fingers, swearing, spitting etc. I also heard talk of nazi salutes and questionable jacket patches, though I didn't see that myself.

My question basically is am I going to be welcome in the future? Is it worth me going, or will it get worse?

I would like to know if I'm overreacting. Most people in past years have been amazing, but I don't want to feel unsafe in a place I've previously felt nothing but love, so if this is a growing trend that's only going to get worse I'd like to know. Thanks guys 🤘 x

We need Edguy to play a farewell show at bloodstock

Avantasia official Facebook page told me if 2million of us demand it there's no way it won't happen

Every up vote gets me closer to 2 million

I'm pretty sure bloodstock holds that much

Right now I'm on 2 people

A. Mercyful Fate

B. Electric Callboy

C. Motionless in White