Listmania: 5x Bloodstock 2020 Possibilities! Part #2: Underground Acts!

Following our two part gambling man’s punt on potential headliners and underground acts at this year’s incarnation of Tech-Fest, it’s time to turn our attention to Bloodstock for the second time. The annual Catton Park, Walton on Trent Derbyshire Metal Festival will be taking place over the weekend of the 6th August and be celebrating its 20th Anniversary this summer! 33 acts have been announced already, with the annual Metal 2 the Masses events kicking off to offer a yellow brick road for the unsigned to compete to win a slot. For those not familiar with the opportunity, the Unsigned bands compete in regional heats and then a final for the chance to win;

• A 30 minute performance slot on the ‘Hobgoblin Newblood Stage’.
• Full access passes for all bands for the entire weekend.
• Full media opportunity with bands having access to all festival media correspondence – interviews, reviews and photos a plenty plus the chance to network with industry representatives.
• The chance to open the ‘Sophie Lancaster Stage’ the following year – playing on the opening night to a captive audience of thousands. This stage is the only stage open on the opening night!!!
• The chance to play at Slovenia’s major metal fest Metaldays – quite possibly one of the most picturesque festivals on the circuit

So with 180 days to go, here’s our top #5 possibilities for this one…

London’s Confessions of a Traitor smashed down the barriers with their debut full length album “Guided“, which is an absolute pleasure you can’t measure. We also know they can hold their own live having witnessed their performance at the final Carcer City show last year and also seen video footage of them playing a breakfast time show in a café.

It should go without saying that we would love to see TheCityIsOurs performing “Low” on the New Blood Stage at Catton Park. The London Metalcore act might perceive themselves to be ahead of the pack with their debut album out but they’re a quality live outfit and perfect for the festival.

Cork City Ireland residents Dirty Casuals would be a fine addition to the line-up with their Sludgey riffs and eclectic storytelling and with their new EP “Simulation“, it’s time for the invitation to take place. You bring the beers, they’ll get their kit off. Literally.

If the likes of Ingested can become a full time band with their brand of Brutal Slamming Deathcore then why can’t Twitch Of The Death Nerve open Bloodstock? They’ll easily be the heaviest band on the bill and with new album “A Resting Place For The Wrathful” appearing at the end of March via Comatose Music, timing couldn’t be more perfect.

Obviously we’d love our friends in Weaponry on the bill but if they couldn’t make it then it would have to be Road Mutant. We’ve had the pleasure of an interview with guitarist Tom Cronin, a pair of EPs and a pair of performances at Upsurge Festival so we know the Thrash act can step up! They’ve already played support slots with the likes of Exorder and Jungle Rot, so they can handle the masses!

As with Tech-Fest, we have no insider knowledge of further acts to be announced at Bloodstock. This is pure speculative fiction and a piece of fun for reading over a beer. Tickets for Bloodstock Festival are available here.