FESTIVAL OVERVIEW
Now in its third year, Bloodstock Open Air returns in 2007 as a bigger, better and generally more ambitious festival. Broadening its horizons in terms of both the calibre and quantity of bands, 2007 also sees BOA expand to a 3 day event. Originally scheduled to take place in July as per last year, the festival was moved to August to accommodate the organisational changes and increased ambition, though seemingly at the expense of the ever popular indoor festival being cancelled (indefinitely at the time of writing). With performances from 26 main stage bands, it's also reassuring to see that the Bloodstock ethos of supporting the smaller unsigned band has been preserved in 2007 with 25 sets from upcoming talent on the unsigned stage. This is positioned sensibly in terms of its proximity to the main stage so noise pollution between the 2 is barely noticeable. There's also the Lava Stage in the main beer tent which, throughout the weekend, hosts the '4 DJs of The Apocalypse', 4 more bands, and the now infamous Metal Karaoke.
This year, the main stage and PA are discernibly larger with significantly improved lighting including around 3 times the number of moving heads than in 2006. Apart from sporadically bad mixes during a few bands' sets (which would almost certainly be misjudgements of their individual sound engineers), the PA generally sounds refreshingly clear and intensely resonant. A few technical glitches and general problems aside (including the PA rigging having to be rebuilt after it was officially condemned by John Tickle's brother (!!) and the organisers being served with a noise abatement order during Friday), BOA 2007 runs smoothly over the weekend, with few changes to the pre-published band times (albeit there's a delayed start on the first day, and an unnecessarily overlong Testament soundcheck resulting in a late finish on Thursday).
BOA 2007's lineup is refreshingly diverse and well balanced, encompassing a variety of metal styles. Incorporating bigger acts on the bill such as headliners In Flames and Lacuna Coil was always going to ensure a larger attendance than the previous 2 years, which I would estimate at just over 4000. There's the usual signing tent offset just to the right of the main stage which attracts long queues during the 3 days, offering fans the chance to meet their idols, get CDs signed, take photos etc. There are also the expected array of stalls located around the perimeter of the festival site selling clothing; merchandise; CDs etc, and several food vans offering hot meals and drinks ranging from burgers and jacket spuds to noodles and chilli. Special mention must go to Deli Kate for their reasonably priced healthier food options and their popularity is evidenced by the long queues they sustain throughout most of the weekend.
And then there's the weather - the most unpredictable factor of any outdoor event, and an important concern for all, particularly with the severe flooding in the UK during recent weeks. Perhaps as diverse as the main stage bands, the weather is mixed to say the least with Thursday mainly dry, cool and breezy, Friday warm and sunny, and around 5 hours of heavy rain on Saturday when Bloodstock temporarily turns into 'Mudstock'! However, this doesn't seem to mar anyone's enjoyment, rather the contrary, as mosh pits become mud pits, and plastic swords and shields are replaced with a wide display of umbrellas. Forget 'Battle Metal', this is 'Brolly Metal'!
Also worthy of note, all aspects of the festival were being filmed for a forthcoming documentary, presumably for a future DVD release. At one point, I even saw members of the film crew interviewing punters as they queued to use the portaloos! There was also the video shoot on Thursday after Testament's set for metal veteran Martin Walkyier's latest (and revived) project The Clan Destined on the unsigned stage by Lincoln based production company Blue Dog Films (which was apparently due to take place in the beer tent on the Lava stage, although they were unhappy with the small stage size so switched locations).
Overall, Bloodstock Open Air is a professionally organised event by a small team of hard working, dedicated individuals committed to providing UK metal fans with a quality, value for money, European style non-corporate festival on home turf. It is an aim they have indubitably achieved, and perhaps even surpassed. With Bloodstock's strongest lineup to date, how were the bands? Read on...
This year, the main stage and PA are discernibly larger with significantly improved lighting including around 3 times the number of moving heads than in 2006. Apart from sporadically bad mixes during a few bands' sets (which would almost certainly be misjudgements of their individual sound engineers), the PA generally sounds refreshingly clear and intensely resonant. A few technical glitches and general problems aside (including the PA rigging having to be rebuilt after it was officially condemned by John Tickle's brother (!!) and the organisers being served with a noise abatement order during Friday), BOA 2007 runs smoothly over the weekend, with few changes to the pre-published band times (albeit there's a delayed start on the first day, and an unnecessarily overlong Testament soundcheck resulting in a late finish on Thursday).
BOA 2007's lineup is refreshingly diverse and well balanced, encompassing a variety of metal styles. Incorporating bigger acts on the bill such as headliners In Flames and Lacuna Coil was always going to ensure a larger attendance than the previous 2 years, which I would estimate at just over 4000. There's the usual signing tent offset just to the right of the main stage which attracts long queues during the 3 days, offering fans the chance to meet their idols, get CDs signed, take photos etc. There are also the expected array of stalls located around the perimeter of the festival site selling clothing; merchandise; CDs etc, and several food vans offering hot meals and drinks ranging from burgers and jacket spuds to noodles and chilli. Special mention must go to Deli Kate for their reasonably priced healthier food options and their popularity is evidenced by the long queues they sustain throughout most of the weekend.
And then there's the weather - the most unpredictable factor of any outdoor event, and an important concern for all, particularly with the severe flooding in the UK during recent weeks. Perhaps as diverse as the main stage bands, the weather is mixed to say the least with Thursday mainly dry, cool and breezy, Friday warm and sunny, and around 5 hours of heavy rain on Saturday when Bloodstock temporarily turns into 'Mudstock'! However, this doesn't seem to mar anyone's enjoyment, rather the contrary, as mosh pits become mud pits, and plastic swords and shields are replaced with a wide display of umbrellas. Forget 'Battle Metal', this is 'Brolly Metal'!
Also worthy of note, all aspects of the festival were being filmed for a forthcoming documentary, presumably for a future DVD release. At one point, I even saw members of the film crew interviewing punters as they queued to use the portaloos! There was also the video shoot on Thursday after Testament's set for metal veteran Martin Walkyier's latest (and revived) project The Clan Destined on the unsigned stage by Lincoln based production company Blue Dog Films (which was apparently due to take place in the beer tent on the Lava stage, although they were unhappy with the small stage size so switched locations).
Overall, Bloodstock Open Air is a professionally organised event by a small team of hard working, dedicated individuals committed to providing UK metal fans with a quality, value for money, European style non-corporate festival on home turf. It is an aim they have indubitably achieved, and perhaps even surpassed. With Bloodstock's strongest lineup to date, how were the bands? Read on...
KIUAS
Finnish band Kiuas are up next. Their entrance is preceded by a short introduction by Sabbat/The Clan Destined/ex-Skyclad vocalist Martin Walkyier, who seems omnipresent at BOA throughout the weekend including main stage performances with Sabbat and a guest vocal slot with Finntroll on Saturday, a video shoot with The Clan Destined in the unsigned tent later this evening, and manning his own merchandise stall! Signed to Spinefarm, Kiuas' songwriting has a discernible bias towards Maiden-esque traditional metal with the Euro-cheese of power metal acts such as Hammerfall and Primal Fear, and occasional neo-classical passages which sound like a languid version of labelmates Children of Bodom. They receive a near pristine sound through the PA with every instrument clearly audible in a well balanced mix, and have a lively stage dynamic that rouses enthusiastic crowd reactions from the BOA audience. Also on the plus side, Vocalist Ilja Jalkanen has a strong voice and is a likeable frontman - at one point during their set he attempts to teach the crowd how to pronounce 'Kiuas', stating that people often find it hard to say, although this leaves many still looking blank faced. Playing songs with titles such as 'Warrior Soul', Kiuas seem unashamed at the cheesy image they convey, and though they're not for me, it's still a thoroughly enjoyable performance.
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THURSDAY 16th AUGUST - PART 1
CHRIS SLADE + EXPLODER
With an impressive CV spanning a long and varied career including session work for prestigious artists such as Pink Floyd's Dave Gilmour, Free's Paul Rodgers and Tom Jones (!), it seems Chris Slade will always be best remembered for, and perpetually tagged as, the 'ex-AC/DC drummer', although he only played in this band for a relatively short period of time (1989-1992). Together with members from Exploder, Slade opens the first day of BOA 2007 with what has been billed as an 'AC/DC tribute'. With a large crowd already gathered at the main stage, Slade appears to rapturous cheers and applause, plugs his son's band Kobrakai who are due to play the unsigned stage on Saturday, then asks the crowd "do you wanna hear some AC/DC?" before assuming position behind his kit as Exploder join him on stage. With a short set including the likes of 'Highway to Hell' and 'Whole Lotta Rosie', Slade also performs a lengthy drum solo together with an impressive display of drummer gurning as his face stretches into a variety of expressive contortions. Exploder look like they're having a lot of fun on stage, which I guess captures the essence and intentions of this buoyant opening to BOA 2007, although vocalist Dirty Von Donovan struggles to hit some of the higher notes. Never having been a fan of AC/DC, this 'tribute' is entirely lost on me, though serves as a good lead-in to the festival.
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SIGHT OF EMPTINESS
Winner of Bloodstock's unsigned competition, today marks Costa Rican band Sight of Emptiness' first live appearance outside their home country. Having been on the scene since 2005, their music is audibly influenced by pioneers of the Gothenburg melodic death subgenre At The Gates and early Dark Tranquillity, but also with the contemporary up-tempo death-groove of bands such as Caliban and the post-melodeath leanings of Epoch of Unlight. Fast guitar riffing and skilled leads are underpinned by thunderous drumming and pounding basslines, accompanied by frontman Eduardo's convincing death growls. Delivering a musically tight, professional performance, Sight of Emptiness work the crowd well with their energetic stage presence, although it is unfortunate that for the first half of their set, the left-side PA speakers are completely silent, which is only rectified mid-way through. Climaxing with a cover of Amon Amarth's 'Death In Fire', they exit the stage to huge cheers. I'm sure they won't remain unsigned for much longer. Not entirely original, but certainly impressive.
Click on thumbnails for larger images:
Click on thumbnails for larger images:
BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2007
DATE:
VENUE:
Thursday 16th August - Saturday 18th August 2007
Catton Hall in Derbyshire, UK
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
LACUNA COIL; DARK TRANQUILLITY; NEVERMORE; EPICA; KORPIKLAANI; MEMFIS; WOLF; SCAR SYMMETRY; VOODOO SIX; EXPLODER
SATURDAY
IN FLAMES; ARCH ENEMY; SABBAT; DREAM EVIL; FINNTROLL; LEGION OF THE DAMNED; BENEDICTION; FREEDOM CALL; RISE TO ADDICTION; BEYOND ALL REASON
TESTAMENT; FIREWIND; HEAD-ON; KIUAS; SIGHT OF EMPTINESS; CHRIS SLADE