Music Festivals

The tent is packed, the cans are chilling, the waterproofs have been reluctantly shoved into the bottom of the bag, and somebody in your group has already forgotten their ticket. Yes, mun — festival time is nearly upon us. 🎪🍻 Before thousands of rock and metal fans descend on the site armed with camping chairs, questionable fashion choices and enough...

Wacken Open Air has issued a firm public statement after several festival-goers reported being denied entry to parts of the festival grounds while wearing anti-fascist clothing, flags, patches and symbols representing diversity. The legendary German metal festival has made its position clear: the reported actions did not reflect the event’s values, and new measures have already been introduced to prevent...

There are festival-goers… There are headbangers… And then there are the absolute legends who help make the whole thing happen. With just three weeks to go until the first volunteers arrive on-site to begin building Stonedead Festival 2026, organisers have issued a fresh rallying cry for rock and metal fans to join the famous Stonedead Barmy Army. A number of...

If seeing your favourite bands tear up the stage wasn’t enough, Bloodstock Open Air 2026 has just dropped another reason to keep your schedule packed – 29 official signing sessions across the festival weekend! 🤘 Whether you’re hunting down a signed album, grabbing a selfie with your metal heroes, or simply wanting to tell your favourite band how much their...

🤘 Introduction Some festivals are about surviving muddy fields. Others are about spending a long weekend surrounded by great music, great friends and an incredible community. Planet Rock Presents Rockstock proudly belongs to the second category. Since its launch in 2012, Rockstock has grown into one of Britain’s favourite indoor rock festivals, bringing together legendary artists, rising stars and one...

🤘 Introduction Some festivals are built on massive budgets. Others are built on passion. SOS Festival proudly belongs to the second category. Since its launch in 2008, SOS Festival has become one of Britain’s most respected independent rock and metal festivals. Entirely volunteer-run and fiercely independent, the festival has earned a reputation for championing underground and emerging bands while welcoming...

🤘 Introduction Some festivals are built around huge crowds. Others are built around unforgettable experiences. Call of the Wild Festival proudly belongs to the second category. Since bursting onto the UK rock scene in 2022, Call of the Wild has quickly established itself as one of Britain’s friendliest and most exciting boutique rock festivals. Combining melodic rock, hard rock, AOR,...

🤘 Introduction Some festivals celebrate tradition. Others exist to push music into the future. RADAR Festival proudly belongs to the second category. Since launching in 2021, RADAR Festival has become one of Britain’s most exciting and forward-thinking rock and metal events. Built around progressive metal, djent, math rock, post-rock, alternative metal, metalcore and cutting-edge heavy music, it has carved out...

🤘 Introduction Some festivals celebrate rock. Others celebrate metal. Then there’s Damnation Festival—a festival built for those who like their riffs heavier, their blast beats faster and their breakdowns capable of shaking the foundations of an arena. Since its launch in 2005, Damnation Festival has become one of the UK’s most respected heavy metal events. From death metal and black...

🤘 Introduction Some festivals have been around for decades. Others arrive quietly and quickly become one of the most talked-about weekends on the British rock calendar. Maid of Stone Festival belongs firmly in the second category. Held in the stunning surroundings of Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent, Maid of Stone has rapidly built a reputation as one of Britain’s friendliest rock...

Something big is brewing in the ATG camp, and they’ve turned the reveal of their mysterious new home into one massive festival treasure hunt. Before the organisers officially announce their new location next week, fans are being challenged to work out exactly where the festival is heading — right down to the spot where the main stage pit will eventually...

No completed stage, cancelled acts, bands allegedly left unpaid and thousands of complaints reportedly disappearing online — Hayrock Festival promised a weekend of tribute-fuelled rock chaos, but delivered a very different kind of chaos. Every year, new festivals arrive promising massive singalongs, overflowing bars and unforgettable weekends with the rock community. Some grow into beloved annual traditions. Others become legendary...

🤘 Introduction When most festivals are still months away and winter refuses to loosen its grip, Planet Rock Presents Winter’s End brings the rock community together for one unforgettable weekend. Held every January, Winter’s End has become one of Britain’s most loved indoor rock festivals, offering fans the chance to shake off the winter blues with four days of live...

For a few glorious summers, one festival appeared ready to change the entire European rock and metal landscape. Its name was hemisphere. Rather than existing as one fixed event in one country, hemisphere was designed as a travelling festival series. Major bands would move between different European locations, joined by local artists and specially selected support acts at each stop....

There are festivals that include heavy metal. Then there is Bloodstock Open Air. Held every August at Catton Park in Derbyshire, Bloodstock has developed into one of the most important independent metal festivals in Europe. It is a gathering where thrash, death metal, black metal, doom, power metal, folk metal, metalcore and almost every other gloriously noisy corner of the...