With just seven weeks to go until thousands of metalheads descend upon Catton Park for another glorious weekend of riffs, beers and beautiful chaos, The Riff Report feels it’s time to address the giant elephant in the festival field.
Or more specifically…
The giant Ferris wheel that isn’t there.
Every year festival-goers arrive at Bloodstock Open Air expecting the usual festival sights:
🎸 Crushing riffs
🍻 Questionable breakfast choices involving warm lager
🤘 Battle jackets heavier than medieval armour
🔥 Enough black clothing to absorb every ray of sunshine in Derbyshire
But one thing they definitely won’t find is a Ferris wheel.
Sorry, Bloodstockers.
No romantic sunset rides.
No awkward first-date conversations suspended 100 feet in the air.
No overpriced photos where everyone pretends they’re having the time of their lives.
No viral videos of people doing things they definitely shouldn’t be doing on a ride.
Just metal.
Glorious, beautiful metal.
🤘 BLOODSTOCK DOESN’T NEED ONE
Let’s be honest.
If somebody walked into a Bloodstock planning meeting and suggested a Ferris wheel, the response would probably be:
“That’s nice. Anyway, who’s booking the death metal bands?”
And rightly so.
Bloodstock isn’t about gazing across the horizon while eating candy floss.
It’s about discovering your new favourite band before everyone else does.
It’s about watching somebody crowd surf dressed as a Viking at 11am.
It’s about hearing blast beats from three campsites away while trying and failing to get some sleep.
It’s about waking up to the sound of someone opening a can before breakfast and thinking:
“Fair play, butt.”
🍻 THE REAL BLOODSTOCK ATTRACTIONS
Who needs a Ferris wheel when you’ve got:
🔥 Walls of death
🔥 Circle pits
🔥 Air guitar championships in campsites
🔥 Metal karaoke disasters
🔥 People carrying inflatable dinosaurs for absolutely no reason
🔥 That one mate who disappeared on Friday and somehow reappears on Sunday with three new friends and a traffic cone
These are the attractions Bloodstock was built on.
Tradition matters, mun.
⏳ THE COUNTDOWN IS ON
With only seven weeks left, excitement levels are rising faster than the price of festival burgers.
Tents are being dug out of garages.
Battle jackets are being patched.
Holiday requests are being approved.
And somewhere in Britain right now, a Bloodstocker is already arguing that this year they’ll definitely pack less beer.
They won’t.
Nobody ever does.
🤘 SEE YOU IN THE PIT
So while other festivals may offer giant wheels, scenic views and gentle rides through the sky…
Bloodstock offers something much better.
A weekend surrounded by fellow metalheads, incredible bands and enough noise to wake the ancestors.
No Ferris wheel.
No problem.
See you in seven weeks, Bloodstockers.
We’ll be the ones looking for the nearest riff instead. 🤘🔥🍻
What could possibly go wrong?
🤘🔥 The Riff Report Verdict: If Bloodstock ever gets a Ferris wheel, we’ll personally ride it wearing a battle jacket and a corpse-paint moustache. Until then, see you in the pit, butt! 🍻😈
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘