The A to Z of Bloodstock: A Newbie’s Guide

Is this your first time attending Bloodstock? You’re in for a bloody great time. There’s nothing quite like the Bloodstock festival experience. From the immense line-up that features legends of the scene and the future of the scene, to the family feel that exists in every aspect, to excellent food options, the fun non-music things to do, drinking, and partying until the early hours of the morning, Bloodstock has it all.

…but we know that. You might not be convinced having never been there before. So, here’s our A to Z rundown of what is so great about Bloodstock, what you can expect from the 2023 edition, and what you can do to make sure you have the best time possible.

If you’re thinking of going and having bought your tickets yet, what are you waiting for!? Pick them up here.

A is for… All the bloody bands appearing over the weekend. Killswitch Engage, Meshuggah, Megadeth, Zeal & Ardor, Candlemass, Biohazard, In Flames, Abbath, Helloween, Sepultura, Knocked Loose, Crowbar, Ugly Kid Joe, Bossk, Urne, Tribe of Ghosts, Ofnus, Street Solider, Lokust, Decapitated, Employed to Serve, and so many more. You won’t have to look far to find someone you want to see.

B is for… Bungee Run. Oh this is going to fun. You’ve done it, you know you have, and you’re going to do it at Bloodstock again.

C is for… Carnage. The carnage that can come from a Bloodstock pit depending on the band that is playing. Be warned, f you’re brave enough to get down the front for some of the bands on the bill, the Bloodstock pits are intense. Safe, but intense none the less.

D is for… Disco! What goes on once the band’s have finished playing? It’s time to boogie. Get over to the Sophie Lancaster stage and be ready to party until the early hours of the morning. Likewise, if you’ve got yourself a VIP ticket, the Serpent’s Lair will be rocking all night too!

E is for… Eats. Bloodstock’s choice of food vendors continues to improve year on year with tons of variety, vegetarian, and vegan options. Gone are the days of a burger being called ‘gourmet’ because it had some brown lettuce in it or cheesy chips having melted plastic cheese poured over them (we don’t forget Easy Cheesy). You can dine like a king or queen at Bloodstock.

F is for… Funfair. Love it or loathe it, Bloodstock always has a few funfair rides every year and the expectations are that they will be back again. Just don’t go on the bumper cars if you’re feeling a bit queasy.

G is for… Green. Bloodstock, like many other festivals, has a long way to go when it comes to improving their green footprint but over the years, both the festival and its attendees have worked hard to make it a clean and tidy place to be. The idea being to leave it as you found it. We can all do our small part.

H is for… Hydration. Cracking open that first beer at 8am because you’re at a festival? Good for you. Just don’t forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day too. Every couple of drinks, have a pint of water, you’ll feel so much better for it.

I is for… Ice-cream. In particular, the black kind. Yes, Bloodstock has black ice-cream. Metal, init? Suitable for all ages and a refreshing ginger and lemon flavour.

J is for… Jägermeister. Not the horrible drink (sorry – it’s nasty) but the stage. It might be the smallest at the festival but you will find some giants playing this stage. This year’s Jager stage line-up is one of Bloodstock’s strongest to date and it’s impossible to miss as you have to pass it to get to the main stage, Lemmy’s bar, and New Blood stage!

K is for… Kindness. As in ‘be kind’. Treat others at Bloodstock like you would want to be treated. Treat everyone with respect, treat everyone with kindness, and everyone will treat you the same way.

L is for… Lemmy’s Bar. Aside from your own tent, this is likely where you will be picking up most of your drinks. Named after the legendary Motorhead vocalist/bassist, it’s more than just a tent to get a drink. It has benches outside so you can sit, chill and chat away to your heart’s content.

M is for… Metal 2 the Masses. Although finished by time Bloodstock comes around, the annual ‘battle of the bands’ is one of the most important aspects of Bloodstock. Not only helping the local scenes around the country but giving small and unsigned bands a chance to play the festival itself. Find out where your local Metal 2 the Masses is and start attending the shows in 2024!

N is for… New Blood. The stage, as this is where you will find the future of the scene. Made up of Metal 2 the Masses winners and submissions, you could spend your entire festival weekend at the New Blood stage and have the best festival ever. Got nothing to see elsewhere but don’t know the bands on the New Blood stage? Poke your head in and check them out, you might find your new favourite band.

O is for… Oddities. As in the ‘oh so wonderful’ oddities you will see and meet as you wander around the site. It’s a chance for people to step away from their real life, so to speak, and just let lose. To forget all about their worries and responsibilities back home, and just be themselves amongst others just being themselves. Want to wear a mankini? We’ve all seen plenty of them. Want to become a furry for the weekend? More power to you! Be yourself, as odd as that might seem!

P is for… Portable Loos. It’s a festival. You should know that there’s no such thing as a good time in a toilet. Regardless of what some people will claim. Get in, do your business, get out. Remember to bring some toilet paper and sanitizer too, just in case.

Q is for… Quiet Camping. If you’re worried about noise all night long in the campsites, get yourself over to Ragnarok as it’s considered the ‘quiet campsite’. We can’t promise you’ll get a full night’s sleep, but it’s going to be a damn sight less chaotic than Midgard.

R is for… Responsible. Be responsible, as boring as that sounds. Sure, we all want to let our hair down, and go a bit wild but that can have unintended consequences and you’re not at home. Bloodstock is a safe place but that doesn’t mean you should drink yourself in to oblivion and end up in the welfare tent all day.

S is for… Sophie Lancaster. In particular the foundation set up in the name of the teenager who was cruelly murdered for the way she looked. They always have a stall, so pop along and learn about the work they do and support them in any way you can. Also, don’t forget to bring along something pink to wear!

T is for… Time. As in, take time for yourself. Bloodstock is a small festival so getting around it, is quick. Which means you’ll be able to see more bands than you would at say Download or Glastonbury. That being said, take time to relax away from the music. After hours and hours of being on your feet and moving from stage to stage, exhaustion will set in, so don’t burn out. Take a little break here and there.

U is for… Unafraid. Be brave. Say hello to people. Talk to them about their t-shirt, patch jacket, or My Little Pony outfit. Smile at people. As hard as some of this can be, do what you feel capable of, and you’ll be rewarded for the effort.

V is for… Viking Warriors. Want to watch some bearded people smash the s**t out of each other? Bloodstock is bringing the entertainment of old to the festival this year. Find your favourite Viking and cheer them on to victory!

W is for… Welfare. If you are feeling a bit ill or a bit overwhelmed, Bloodstock has a welfare tent that can help you out.

X is for… X-rated. Simple. Be safe. Seriously. There are plenty of singletons at Bloodstock and if you do get lucky, don’t make it a night, day, or portaloo bunk up to regret.

Y is for… Your ass. Ok, we struggled to come up with a Y so have settled for demanding that you get your ass in a partying mood. Bloodstock 2023 is right around the corner!

Z is for… Zzzzzz. Sleep! How obvious. Yet, it’s easy to forego your traditional patterns because you’re at a festival. Now, we’re not saying you should try to get a solid 8-hours, that’s highly unlikely, but you should make sure you’re well rested across the weekend otherwise you’re not going to have the energy to make it through to Sunday. Take a nap, shut your eyes for an hour, listen to what your body needs.

We’ll see you down the front!