Robert Carlyle at the Edinburgh International Film Festival

A day of mist and rain cleared and the sun blasted down on Robert Carlyle and Dirctor Marshall Lewy attending  the Edinburgh International Film Festival for the showing of their film CALIFORNIA SOLO.

BLOODSTOCK TICKETS GO ON SALE

BLOODSTOCK DAY TICKETS ON SALE 1^st JULY

DAY SPLITS REVEALED

With 41 days to go before the gates open for BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012, organisers can now reveal the day splits, ahead of day tickets going on sale.

As always, the Thursday night kicks off the BLOODSTOCK party on the SOPHIE stage. Symphonic extreme metallers SATURNIAN open proceedings with BLOODSHOT DAWN and MARIONETTEwarming the crowd up for headliners VIKING SKULL, before metal funnyman Steve Hughes takes to the stage to split sides. Of course, it wouldn’t be BLOODSTOCK without the infamous metal Karaoke, and once you’ve sung your tonsils raw the 4 DJS Of The Apocalypse take over til the early hours of Friday morning.

The gates to the main arena open on the Friday as the festival proper swings into action with over one hundred bands spread across four stages with all manner of mighty metal majesty on offer. Dozens of exclusive appearances from some of metals heaviest hitters, hilarious comedic offerings from top alternative comedians and white knuckle rides are all on offer across the weekend. If that’s not enough, the metal market offers stalls from across the world bringing their wares to the UK for one weekend, and there is an acoustic stage still to be announced with performances from bands on the line up courtesy of Jagermeister.

The day splits for what is set to be BLOODSTOCK’s biggest year is as follows:

Thursday 9th August

Sophie Stage

Saturnian

Bloodshot Dawn

Marionette

Viking Skull

Steve Hughes

Metal Karaoke

4 Dj's

Friday 10^th August

Ronnie James Dio Stage

Freedom Call

Grand Magus

Moonsorrow

Iced Earth

Sepultura

Watain

Dio Disciples

Behemoth

Sophie Stage

Commander In Chief

Gonoreas

Primitai

Sweet Savage

Derision

Death Valley Knights

Pythia

Eastern Front

Alcest

Dirty Sanchez

Newblood Stage

Warhorse

Cambion

Infernal Creation 

Fallen Fate

Saturday 11^th August

Ronnie James Dio Stage

Benediction

I Am I

Cthonic

Crowbar

Mayhem

Sanctuary

Hatebreed

Testament

Machine Head

Sophie Stage

Savage Messiah

Dripback

Infernal Tenebra

Rising Dream

Furyon

Winterfylleth

Witchsorrow

Sight Of Emptiness

Orange Goblin

Newblood

Merciless Fail

Stormborn

Wretched Soul

Tempus Fusion

Reflections In Exile

Doomed (Slov)

Gone Til Winter

Sunday 12^th August

Ronnie James Dio Stage

Kobra And The Lotus

Corrosion Of Conformity

Nile

Black Dahlia Murder

Evile

Paradise Lost

Dimmu Borgir

Alice Cooper

Sun - Sophie Stage

Re Armed

Flayed Disciple

Battalion

Crimes Of Passion

Ancient Ascendent

Noctiferia

Demonic Ressurection

Headcharger

Anaal Nathrakh

Newblood - Sunday

Dream Catcher

Reign Of Fury

Huron

A Thousand Enemies

Shattered Skies

In other news, DEICIDE have been forced to cancel their scheduled appearance, and after heeding the call of the fans, EVILE will be bumped up to the main stage, with a new act to be revealed for theSOPHIE stage shortly.

With more exclusive appearances than you can shake a sword at and a host of comedy, rides and all manner of entertainment on offer, the £115 ticket price provides the best value out there. What’s more, recently announced Saturday headliners MACHINE HEAD are letting fans pick five songs from Burn My Eyes – head to http://www.facebook.com/Bloodstock now to cast your vote.

BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012 takes place at Catton Hall August 9th – 12th. Tickets are available from www.bloodstock.uk.com

Line Up So Far:

RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

ALICE COOPER

MACHINE HEAD

BEHEMOTH

ANVIL – WATAIN - PARADISE LOST - DIMMU BORGIR - HATEBREED - CORROSION OF CONFORMITY - SANCTUARY - GRAND MAGUS - THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER – EVILE - NILE – MAYHEM – LOCK UP – SEPULTURA – ICED EARTH - TESTAMENT - CHTHONIC - DIO DISCIPLES – CROWBAR – BENEDICTION – I AM I – MOONSORROW – FREEDOM CALLKOBRA & THE LOTUS

SOPHIE LANCASTER STAGE in association with Last.FM

ALCEST - ORANGE GOBLIN - ANAAL NATHRAKH

ALCEST - ORANGE GOBLIN - ANAAL NATHRAKH - HEADCHARGER - WINTERFYLLETH DEMONIC RESURRECTION - EASTERN FRONT - ANCIENT ASCENDANT - SIGHT OF EMPTINESS - PRIMITAI - PYTHIA - CRIMES OF PASSION - SATURNIAN BLOODSHOT DAWN - RE-ARMED - GONOREAS - COMMANDER IN CHIEF - RISING DREAM - INFERNAL TENEBRA - NOCTEFERIA - MARIONETTE- FURYON - DERISION - BATALLION - WITCHSORROW - DRIPBACK - SAVAGE MESSIAH - FLAYED DISCIPLE – VIKING SKULL – DEATH VALLEY KNIGHTS - SWEET SAVAGE –

PRITCHARD Vs DAINTON - STEVE HUGHES

NEW BLOOD STAGE

DOOMED - GONE TIL WINTER – HURON - FALLEN FATE - REIGN OF FURY –DREAMCATCHER - REFLECTIONS IN EXILE - INFERNAL CREATION – CAMBION – WARHORSE – MERCILESS FAIL – STORMBORN – TEMPUS FUSION – WRETCHED SOUL – A THOUSAND ENEMIES – SHATTERED SKIES

www.bloodstock.uk.com

Hey Belladrum fans picture this...

Follow Bella on  Facebook and  Twitter to get our latest news updates.  RODDY IN THE FRAME FOR BELLADRUM FESTIVAL Aztec Camera founder Roddy Frame has been confirmed as Saturday headliner of the Black Isle Brewery Grassroots Stage at Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival (3rd & 4th August 2012, Beauly, Inverness-shire). From East Kilbride, Roddy Frame was inspired by David Bowie and at the age of 16 his band Aztec Camera drew attention from BBC Radio 1 DJ, John Peel. In 1983, they released ‘High Land, Hard Rain,’ their first album on Rough Trade Records; their second album, ‘Knife,’ released in 1984, was produced by Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler. The album was highlighted by the hit single "All I Need is Everything". A third album in 1987, ‘Love,’ spawned "Somewhere In My Heart", which reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart and is still a staple of FM radio in the UK. Frame performed a duet with one of his musical heroes, Mick Jones of The Clash, on his 1990 single "Good Morning Britain", which showcased an overtly political streak that sometimes featured in his work. His solo work has also received high critical acclaim.“We have been trying to book Roddy to the Bella bill for quite a few years now, so we are especially thrilled to be able to announce him,” said festival promoter. “It is a neat follow-on from his great friend Edwyn Collins of Orange Juice who has also headlined the Black Isle Brewery Grassroots Stage at Bella.” TICKETS – SELL OUT LIKELY Tickets are starting to run low across the board, Bella promoter Joe Gibbs has warned, and regular Bella patrons are urged to buy now to avoid disappointment as another sell-out looks possible. “Traditionally, we issue a warning when our capacity hoves over the horizon into view, just so that our regular supporters aren’t disappointed. The time has come to issue that,” Joe said. FEDERATION OF THE DISCO PIMP AND BOBOK JOIN BELLA LINE-UP Also added to the Belladrum bill are: Glasgow extreme funk aficionados Federation Of The Disco Pimp who are, in their own words, seven ‘clinically insane professional musicians who feed off each other’s madness in an effort to create the most energetic music ever witnessed’. Combining elements of old school funk, disco, psychedelic and jazz, FOTDP are legendary for their endless energy and blistering live sets; joining them are multilingual Edinburgh gypsy punksters Bobok who were founded by the ex-pat Russian Doumnov brothers whose music takes elements of Balkan brass bands, Russian ska, tango and punk and glues it all together with cartoon absurdism; their sons are romps about displacement, travel, love, loss, the absence of bananas in Siberian concentration camps and of course, about eating your head. BELLA JOINS TREES FOR LIFE CAMPAIGN AT DUNDREGGAN Bella has joined up to support A Greener Festival ‘s ‘Festival Woods’ project which involves planting trees @ £5 a head on Dundreggan Estate, Glen Moriston, in partnership with the estate’s owners, Trees For Life.  The festival has made an initial commitment to 20 trees and hopes to add to that later this year. The project’s organisers are inviting festivals, festival-goers, artists, suppliers and the whole festival community to get involved with this lasting restoration project. They hope one day to see the woods flourish to become a diverse festival forest, rich with biodiversity and protected wilderness. To help, you can go either direct to Trees For Lifewww.treesforlife.org.uk or via the Association of Independent Festivals atwww.agreenerfestival.com. Supporters are also encouraged to come along and plant the trees. Follow Bella on  Facebook and  Twitter to get our latest news updates.

BLOODSTOCK ANNOUNCE 'METAL 2 THE MASSES' TOUR

Bloodstock has yet again reached out to find some of the hottest breaking bands in the UK to grace the NewbloodStage.  So we’re delighted to announce the following acts ready to rip it up and showcase what the underground scene has to offer.  Metal 2 The Masses entrants include CAMBION, MERCILESS FAIL, STORMBORN & WRETCHED SOUL, while CD applications and live show scouts have unearthed A THOUSAND ENEMIES, SHATTERED SKIES, TEMPUS FUSION & WARHORSE.

Bloodstock will be bringing more Newblood acts over the coming weeks as the Metal 2 The Masses tour continues to hot foot it across the UK and Europe bringing you the best of the best!

JUNE

 14TH RUNES - PRESTON

16TH GREEN ROOMS - TREFOREST WALES

21ST GRAND CENTRAL - MANCHESTER

22ND IVORY BLACKS - GLASGOW

23RD THE RIVERSIDE - SELBY

24TH THE WATERFRONT - NORWICH

29TH THE LOMAX - LIVERPOOL

30TH ROCK CITY (BASEMENT) – NOTTINGHAM

JULY
1ST ROADHOUSE – BIRMINGHAM
6TH THE TRIBUTE - NORWAY
12TH THE FLEECE - BRISTOL
13TH SOUND CIRCUS - BOURNEMOUTH
14TH FACEBAR - READING
15TH “PERFECT STORM” UNDERWORLD - LONDON
19TH RIFFS BAR - SWINDON

The Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses
in association with 
VOCALZONE, DEAN GUITARS, D DRUM, BLACKSTAR AMPLIFICATION and STUDIO 54

Line Up So Far:

RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

BEHEMOTH - ALICE COOPER - MACHINE HEAD

TESTAMENT - DIMMU BORGIR - DIO DISCIPLES - ANVIL – WATAIN - PARADISE LOST - HATEBREED - SANCTUARY - ICED EARTH - SEPULTURA CORROSION OF CONFORMITY - DEICIDE - MAYHEM - NILE - MOONSORROW - GRAND MAGUS - FREEDOM CALL - BLACK DAHLIA MURDER – CHTHONIC CROWBAR - BENEDICTION - I AM I

LastFM

SOPHIE LANCASTER STAGE

ALCEST - ORANGE GOBLIN - ANAAL NATHRAKH - HEADCHARGER - WINTERFYLLETH DEMONIC RESURRECTION - EASTERN FRONT - ANCIENT ASCENDANT - SIGHT OF EMPTINESS - PRIMITAI - PYTHIA - CRIMES OF PASSION - SATURNIAN BLOODSHOT DAWN - RE-ARMED - GONOREAS - COMMANDER IN CHIEF - RISING DREAM - INFERNAL TENEBRA - NOCTEFERIA - EVILE -

MARIONETTE- FURYON - DERISION - BATALLION - WITCHSORROW - DRIPBACK - SAVAGE MESSIAH - FLAYED DISCIPLE- PRITCHARD Vs DAINTON - STEVE HUGHES

NEW BLOOD STAGE

DOOMED - GONE TIL WINTER – HURON - FALLEN FATE - REIGN OF FURY –DREAMCATCHER - REFLECTIONS IN EXILE - INFERNAL CREATION – CAMBION – WARHORSE – MERCILESS FAIL – STORMBORN – TEMPUS FUSION – WRETCHED SOUL – A THOUSAND ENEMIES – SHATTERED SKIES

TO BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW www.bloodstock.uk.com

9th - 12th Aug 2012

Catton Hall, Walton on Trent, Derbyshire, DE12 8LN

 Sponsored by Metal Hammer www.metalhammer.co.uk and Scuzz TV www.scuzz.tv

It's not big but now it's definitely funny

Follow Bella on  Facebook and  Twitter to get our latest news updates.

BELLA LAUGHS This year Bella welcomes a new comedy session brought to you by Scotland’s celebrated ‘The Stand Comedy Club’ which runs comedy nights in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle. Started by enthusiasts as a hobby, the Stand has become a runaway success, and its three comedy venues are regarded as being among the best  in the world. We are delighted that The Stand is to curate comedy at Bella. Hold your breath and count to ten for the line-up. NEW ACTS ADDED Further music artists have been announced to play the festival. These include English experimental art rock band Sweet Billy Pilgrimwhose album ‘ Two Born Men’ was Mercury Prize nominated in 2009;exciting Scots indie bands The Draymin and Bwani Junction and Celtic Highland heroes Torridon. And the craic-it-open ceilidh session on the Thursday night will feature Rhythm & Reel and The Rogues – the only Pogues tribute band in Achiltibuie – plus Davy Cowan. BICYCLE TO BELLA WITH THE VELOCITY CYCLING BUS Most of a festival’s carbon footprint comes from travel to and from the event, so bicycling to Bella is the most eco-friendly way of getting there by far. Velocity, the exciting new social enterprise in Inverness dedicated to all things bicycling, will be running a ‘cycling bus’ out to Bella from Inverness. Times and dates will be published on the Bella and Velocity web sites. A cycling bus is a group ride. Led by experienced cyclists, bus participants will meet at a pre-arranged time and venue, put their bags on the bike trailers provided, do a quick bike safety check and ride out together, staying safe in traffic. There will be healthy snacks and drinks available en route. The same goes for the return. Bike storage and maintenance will be available at the Velocity marquee at the festival, with racks for locking up bikes. Anyone can take part but under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. To join the bus, go to www.velocitylove.co.uk. UNDER 50 CAMPER/CARAVAN TICKETS LEFT For those who prefer to sleep under a solid roof, there are less than 50 camper/caravan tickets left. The picture shows the new access track built to the camper/caravan field. One piece of advice – make sure the tow hitch for the front of your vehicle is at the top of your camping kit before you leave. In some vehicles, the hitch is stored at the bottom of the boot and can be tricky to get at if you’ve packed the car up! GOOD GRASS, BY GEORGE Here’s George McGinnes taking advantage of recent fine weather to manicure the lawns at Bella. A lot of ground works took place last autumn to repair the festival areas after last year’s wet finale (which isn’t going to happen again, naturally); they have recovered well and work has been underway on putting in new drains and maintaining the fabric so that revellers at the Highlands’ best party can kick off in style. SONICBIDS OPPORTUNITY FOR TWO ARTISTES Two last minute slots at Belladrum Festival on the Jock The Reaper stage have opened up for acts influenced by the following genres: electro, celtic crossover, Scottish traditional music, upbeat folk and techno. Apply for FREE via sonicbids atwww.sonicbids.com/Belladrum ARCHIE – A TRULY WONDERFUL CHARITY Bella has adopted Archie as its lead charity for a second year in 2012. Archie aims to raise £1 million to make the children’s ward in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, into a world class ward with state-of-the-art medical equipment, much improved facilities and greater support for families. As Belladrum is such a family event, Archie is the perfect fit for us as a charity. YOU CAN HELP BY MAKING YOUR DONATION HERE  -  IT ONLY TAKES A FEW SECONDS AND EVERY £ COUNTS!

Follow Bella on  Facebook and  Twitter to get our latest news updates.

MACHINE HEAD CONFIRMED FOR BLOODSTOCK 2012

FANS TO CHOOSE SET IN HISTORIC MOVE

It is with tremendous pride and excitement that BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR reveals its final headliner for 2012 to be Oakland metal titans MACHINE HEAD, who will make their first ever UK festival headlining appearance on Saturday, August 11^th on the RONNIE JAMES DIO main stage.

MACHINE HEAD first graced UK shores in the wake of their landmark debut album “Burn My Eyes” in 1994 as main support to Slayer.  Fan reaction to MACHINE HEAD’s signature brand of crushing metal was so intense that the band would return immediately afterward to headline their own sold-out shows at many of the same venues, launching a massive swell of passionate fan support that continues to this day.

Seven albums, a Grammy nomination and countless tours later, UK fans continue to champion and support MACHINE HEAD as feverishly as they did at those first shows, and this year, at BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012, they will be given the unprecedented opportunity to influence MACHINE HEAD’s set list!

Commemorating the 20^th anniversary of MACHINE HEAD’s first-ever live performance at their roadie Mike “Scum”’s getting-evicted-from-his-house party - for which they performed five songs – ticket holders will be given the opportunity to vote for the five “Burn My Eyes” songs they most want to hear MACHINE HEAD play during their headline set Saturday night, with the five that receive the most votes included in the set list (details to follow)!

Anyone that’s ever witnessed MACHINE HEAD live will attest to the fact that the raw, unbridled energy of their performance is unlike anything else you’ll ever see.  With countless legendary UK performances already on record, and a first-ever fan-influenced setlist, it goes without saying thatMACHINE HEAD’s headline set at BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012 is going to go down in metal history as one of those festival performances that you’ll forever be glad you got to see.

BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012 takes place at Catton Hall August 9th – 12th. Tickets are available from www.bloodstock.uk.com

Line Up So Far:

RONNIE JAMES DIO STAGE

ALICE COOPER

MACHINE HEAD

BEHEMOTH

ANVIL – WATAIN - PARADISE LOST - DIMMU BORGIR - HATEBREED - CORROSION OF CONFORMITY - SANCTUARY - GRAND MAGUS - THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER - DEICIDE - NILE – MAYHEM – LOCK UP – SEPULTURA – ICED EARTH - TESTAMENT - CHTHONIC - DIO DISCIPLES – CROWBAR – BENEDICTION – I AM I – MOONSORROW – FREEDOM CALL

SOPHIE LANCASTER STAGE in association with Last.FM

ALCEST - ORANGE GOBLIN - ANAAL NATHRAKH

EVILE - MARIONETTE - FURYON - DEMONIC RESURRECTION – HEADCHARGER – WINTERFYLLETH – ANCIENT ASCENDANT - EASTERN FRONT - PYTHIA - PRIMITAI - CRIMES OF PASSION - DERISION - BLOODSHOT DAWN - RE ARMED – SATURNIAN – WITCHSORROW – DRIPBACK – BATTALION

NEW BLOOD STAGE

GONE TIL WINTER – HURON - FALLEN FATE - REIGN OF FURY – DREAMCATCHER - REFLECTIONS IN EXILE - INFERNAL CREATION

www.bloodstock.uk.com

Sponsored by Metal Hammer www.metalhammer.co.uk  and Scuzz TV www.scuzz.tv