Tag Archives: new blood stage

BLOODSTOCK announce New Blood bands & M2TM finals kick off


The Metal 2 The Masses tour returns in 2024! BLOODSTOCK’s initiative to give emerging bands a step up and also support grassroots venues, kicks off on 10th May, with 30 regions and 6 countries participating. The fun begins in Belfast and rolls down through Dublin and back to England, Scotland, and Wales, taking in Norway and Poland along the way. The tour wraps up in Coventry on 15th July, with all the regional winners from the finals being revealed in due course. Check out the local events below and get along to your nearest event to support the headliners of tomorrow!

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BLOODSTOCK REVEALS FIRST ‘METAL 2 THE MASSES’ FINALS WINNERS FOR THE NEW BLOOD STAGE


With just 73 days left between now and festival weekend, things are hotting up at BLOODSTOCK HQ, especially on the New Blood front! With the Metal 2 The Masses finals well underway around the country, the winning band in each region is locking in and BLOODSTOCK is excited to share nine more lucky developing bands who’ll be performing on the New Blood stage at Catton Park this August.

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BLOODSTOCK REVEAL ‘METAL 2 THE MASSES’ FINALS DATES & FIRST BANDS FOR 2023’s NEW BLOOD STAGE


As Spring settles in, BLOODSTOCK HQ is a hive of activity.  This week’s announcement sees the first bands announced for the New Blood stage, and the dates are set for the Finals of 2023’s METAL 2 THE MASSES programme, BLOODSTOCK’s celebrated initiative to help developing bands score a landmark opportunity, playing a slot on the New Blood stage at the festival in August.  Some winners are chosen from online submissions, whereas others battle it out among their peers at local events across the country. This year, 29 different regions have stepped up and we also welcome initiatives from Croatia and Poland to the programme. 

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INTERVIEW – I FIGHT BEARS: “Brutal breakdowns, lead-like heaviness, addictive melodies, bags of energy and a whole load of neck pain to go home with… Bears will be fought!”


Interview with Scott Preece by Carina Lawrence / Dark Art Conspiracy

Welsh modern metalcore act I Fight Bears unleashed their self-titled debut in 2018, which went down a storm. Now in 2022, armed with their new EP, ‘Liberosis’, they continue to make waves. They have just won the South Wales Grand Final of the Metal 2 The Masses competition, earning a prestigious slot on Friday 12th August on the New Blood stage at Bloodstock Open Air festival. We caught up with drummer Scott Preece ahead of their Bloodstock set to talk about the festival, the new EP, Spandau Ballet and more!

Continue reading INTERVIEW – I FIGHT BEARS: “Brutal breakdowns, lead-like heaviness, addictive melodies, bags of energy and a whole load of neck pain to go home with… Bears will be fought!”

Welsh band I FIGHT BEARS win prestigious festival slot


I FIGHT BEARS are excited to share they are the winners of the South Wales Grand Final of the Metal 2 The Masses competition, earning a prestigious slot on Friday 12th August on the New Blood stage at Bloodstock Open Air festival. 

Metal 2 The Masses is the well-established, grass roots initiative from the 20,000 capacity heavy metal festival, hunting out and championing the best new talent from all over the country. Bands apply to compete in multiple regional heats all around the UK, with the victors of each concluding final offered a slot at the festival, which is held in Catton Park, Derbyshire from 11th-14th August, 2022. 

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