The history of Bloodstock

Bloodstock Open Air 2016

As Bloodstock Open Air entered its second decade we felt we'd earned a few laurels along the way but none at all to rest on. With this is mind, we took the best of what we'd done before and stacked up some new stuff to make it all just that little bit better. If we always stress the friendly, fun, and family aspects of the festival, then it's because it's crucial to what we do and helps us stay focussed on producing an event that's true to the original spirit of Bloodstock.

We keep track of some interesting statistics here at Bloodstock, one of the most telling being the 'Bodies Over The Barrier' – or B.O.T.B. as it shall hereafter be known – the number of fans who hurl themselves across the stage barrier when things get lively in the pit. Taking the top five slots in 2016 were: Slayer (413), Gojira (358), Anthrax (303), Fear Factory (199) and Behemoth (174). Given that these were all main stage acts, perhaps most amazing was the staggering 260 thrashers who crashed the barrier for the UK's own Acid Reign, an all-time record for the Sophie Stage.

To cap it all, you the fans voted with your feet, taking attendance to its highest so far, a near Bloodstock-busting 14,000, within a hair's breadth of a capacity sell-out.

Adding to the range of sideshows and other attractions, for the first time we had no less than two strongman competitions - including Bloodstock's Strongest Man – and a return visit from the Battle Of The Nations UK fighting team who battered hell out of each other in true medieval style, much to the delight of cheering fans.

As the weekend approached, the now well-established ritual that is Thursday night's pre-show could hardly have provided a better start, with ex-Motorhead axeman Phil Campbell's All Starr Band topping a fist-pumping five-band bill that got things going in fine style. You get the feeling that we could add a Wednesday night pre-pre-show and still be besieged by fans mad for the taste of ale and metal... 

As ever, three days of mayhem on the Ronnie James Dio stage crossed genres and generations to offer something for everyone from some of the best rock and metal talent retro, modern, and pretty much everything in between. Return visits from Behemoth, Gojira, Fear Factory, Anthrax and the ever-entertaining Evil Scarecrow were particularly notable, whilst first-timers such as Venom, Vallenfyre and Symphony X pulled out the stops to impress the Bloodstock faithful. And once again, the headliners lived up to their names with the mighty Slayer returning to outdo their previous performance, Mastodon stepping up to the plate for their Bloodstock debut and first-ever festival top spot, and the legendary Twisted Sister not only reprising their headline slot but playing their final UK show on the hallowed ground of Catton Hall.

The Sophie Stage, meanwhile, far from being merely a 'second stage' is always another mini-festival in its own right. 2016 saw headliners Diamond Head, Acid Reign and Goatwhore backed up by a brace of top-drawer bands including Beyond The Black, Beholder, Shining, Bull-Riff Stampede, Pythia and Memoriam, to name but a few. 

As a showcase for our Metal 2 The Masses competition winners, the Hobgoblin New Blood Stage boasted yet another bumper crop of emerging talent from the UK and abroad, another excellent opportunity to appreciate some of the best new bands aiming for the top.

2016 also marked the third year for the Rock and Metal (RA M) Gallery, a showcase for a varying selection of rock-related art and memorabilia. Expanding on the previous years' exhibitions, 2016 featured work by Bloodstock co-founder Paul Raymond Gregory including the 'Wall of Lemmy' tribute, commissioned work by celebrated artist Christian Sloan Hall (Amon Amarth, Metal Hammer), art by Mario Duplantier of Gojira, photography by Peter Nahum and Alison Richards, custom guitars by Oliver Andrew of Cynosure Guitars, and much more.

As always, it was a massive team effort with hundreds of dedicated, hard-working people pulling together to turn a few acres of pasture into a heavy metal playground for the most discerning fans on the planet. 2016 – you were great. 2017 – see you soon