Joining Judas Priest, Saxon, and a growing army of metal mayhem
Hold onto your leather jackets, metalheads — Bloodstock Open Air 2026 just dropped another monster announcement, and it’s heavier than a dragon’s breakfast. 🐉🎸
Leading the charge? None other than Zakk Wylde’s riff-lord army, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, who are set to storm Catton Park next August! Expect thunderous grooves, whiskey-soaked solos, and the kind of guitar tone that could strip paint off your campervan. 🥃⚡
🎤 THE NEW BLOOD ADDED TO THE BILL
In true Bloodstock fashion, it’s not just one big name — it’s a whole barrage of brutality. Joining the already stacked line-up (which includes Judas Priest, Saxon, and Body Count) are these absolute beasts:
🔥 Black Label Society – Zakk Wylde and crew bringing the southern sludge and biker grit.
⚔️ Enslaved – Norway’s progressive black metal icons, ready to summon the fjords.
🐺 Powerwolf – Expect gothic choirs, church organs, and capes flapping in full power metal glory.
💀 Malevolence – Sheffield’s finest bringing the hardcore-meets-metalcore chaos.
🧙♂️ Uada – The hooded black metal mystics from Portland, ready to unleash darkness.
⚡ Orbit Culture – Sweden’s melodic death metal juggernaut — think Gojira meets In Flames.
🍺 Red Fang – Fuzzy stoner grooves and riffs you could surf on.
🐍 Venom Inc. – The OG black metal pioneers, bringing hellfire to the Dio Stage.
🔥 Unto Others – Post-punk meets doom in glorious gloomy fashion.
💀 Skynd – True crime meets industrial nightmares — eerie, theatrical, and unforgettable.
🤘 BLOODSTOCK IS STACKED… AND WE’RE STILL MONTHS AWAY
This is shaping up to be one of the heaviest and most varied Bloodstock line-ups in years. Whether you’re into corpse paint, battle vests, or beer bongs, there’s something for every flavour of metal fan here. 🍻
With Judas Priest celebrating over 50 years of screaming for vengeance, Saxon bringing British steel, and now Zakk Wylde leading the Brotherhood of Doom into Derbyshire, 2026 is looking proper lush, mun! 🏴🔥
🗓️ BLOODSTOCK 2026 DETAILS
📍 Catton Park, Walton-on-Trent, Derbyshire
📅 7th–10th August 2026
🎟️ Tickets: On sale now via bloodstock.uk.com
🎪 Headliners so far: Judas Priest, Saxon, Black Label Society (and more TBA!)
Camping? Of course. Mosh pits? Guaranteed. Sunburn and cider hangovers? You bet your arse. ☀️🍺
🤘 SEE YOU IN THE PIT
Every year, Bloodstock proves why it’s the beating heart of UK metal. The vibes are family, the riffs are massive, and the toilets… well, they’re still terrifying. 😅
So, pack your tent, load up the beer, and prepare to scream along with 20,000 fellow maniacs as the UK’s loudest festival roars once again.
C’mon butt — it’s gonna be tidy! 🏕️🔥🤘
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. 🤘
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