PREVIEW: BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2024
This weekend, the North of England is buzzing with excitement for BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2024. Known for its dedication to heavy music, BLOODSTOCK brings together a powerful lineup of metal bands, from rising stars to legendary acts. This year's festival promises an unforgettable experience for all who attend, featuring performances from iconic bands like Opeth, Clutch, and Amon Amarth, alongside exciting newcomers such as Tailgunner and Hellripper. Set to be a monumental event, BLOODSTOCK offers a diverse range of metal genres, ensuring there's something for every fan.
In addition to the stellar music lineup, BLOODSTOCK 2024 promises a host of engaging activities and attractions. MOTÖRHEAD fans can visit the re-creation of Lemmy’s dressing room, complete with personal memorabilia and a special bust containing his ashes. The Rock & Metal Gallery will feature exclusive exhibits from renowned artists and photographers. Attendees can also enjoy Viking rowing during Amon Amarth’s set, a variety of fairground rides, and a wide selection of beverages and food. BLOODSTOCK is partnering with charities like The Sophie Lancaster Foundation and Derbyshire Blood Bikes and will host a T-shirt/CD Amnesty to support these causes.
BLOODSTOCK is set to be an unforgettable weekend filled with blistering performances and a strong sense of community. Fans won't want to miss this incredible celebration of metal in all its forms. Here's who we have our eyes on ahead of the festival.
Thursday
South of Salem by Scott Chalmers
The festival kicks off on the Sophie stage as with every year. Hellripper kicks our areas of interest off, followed by South of Salem's unique blend of horror-themed rock. Rounding out the day, Tailgunner will play 2nd from the headlining slot in a huge accolade, and we look forward to seeing what they have in store.
Friday
Green Lung
Friday's lineup is a metalhead's dream. The New Blood Stage opens with Disposable, showcasing fresh talent, while Burner ignites the Sophie stage. The Main Stage hosts a series of powerful acts, which for us starts with Green Lung's occult rock. Rotting Christ's blackened tones will certainly beef up the sound for the afternoon and Hatebreed's hardcore sound has always been a recipe for napalm at BLOODSTOCK. Clutch should wow the crowd in a major get for the festival this year after they had the grooviest showing of the weekend at Download 2023. We have to give some more love to our DIY bands, as She Burns Red headlines the New Blood Stage at the same time as Clutch's set, just to make people’s choices for the date a little harder. Opeth ends the night with their progressive metal on the Main Stage providing a set made up of fan-requested songs just like Leprous did at RADAR. Finally, the eclectic icon Igorrr brings a unique mix of genres to the Sophie stage that will be half-crushing riffs, and half-chicken rave. Genuinely can't wait.
Saturday
unpeople by Nic Howells
Saturday's lineup is equally as packed start of the day at the Sophie stage. We expect some big things out of the first two bands of the day Cauldron and unpeople, where we caught the latter as part of our Radar coverage. Meanwhile, the Main Stage boasts Forbidden in an amazing feat of their first UK show in over a decade, followed by Hellbearer, winners of the Manchester M2TM, who play the New Blood Stage. A lot of our interest for the rest of the day is on the main stage, starting with Unleash the Archers in the afternoon. This carries us right through to the evening with Deicide, and Malevolence, though Combishrist is nestled in between on the Sophie Stage for those who weren't sufficiently strobed out by Igorrr. Our final major pick for Saturday is in southern metallers and BLOODSTOCK returnees, Sylosis. The last time these played BLOODSTOCK was a set of absolute shred, and this subheadline slot on the Sophie stage should be more of the same on a grander scale.
Sunday
Satyricon
Sunday wraps up the festival with a bang. Black Lakes kick off the day on the Sophie stage with their powerful melodies, followed by Moon Reaper for a more intense mood in the afternoon. Grove Street will be bringing some much-needed adrenaline via hardcore punk to Sophie as the day ticks on, while over on the Main Stage, the day offers a rich mix of styles. Septicflesh are back at Catton Hall again to blow what’s left of the festival away with some symphonic death metal. Then in a huge contrast, Flogging Molly shifts gears with their infectious blend of folk-punk, where longstanding fans will be praying for a banger set the likes of The Wildhearts and Therapy? have pulled off in the past. If folk-punk doesn't do the job, Night Flight Orchestra should do the trick with some classic rock. One of the personal favourites for the entire weekend has to take shape in Carcass, 10 years on from their last appearance at BOA. These have only ever played in the headline/sub-headline slot, and promise to be heavier than hell, as per. The day culminates with Amon Amarth on the Main Stage. Their metal anthems, complete with epic riffs and ever-popular Viking pageantry will make for their 5th entry at the festival. Finally, Satyricon closes out the Sophie stage with a dark, atmospheric set that should provide a perfect ending to the festival.
