Event Details

FORMED IN 2018, BLACK LAKES CREATE A SOUND THAT DELIBERATELY BLURS THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN HARD ROCK AND ALTERNATIVE METAL, DRAWING ON A WIDE RANGE OF INFLUENCES FROM ACROSS BOTH SCENES. BASED ON THE STRENGTH OF A WELL RECEIVED DEBUT EP, THE BAND SUCCESSFULLY CROWDFUNDED THE PRODUCTION THEIR DEBUT ALBUM 'FOR ALL WE'VE LEFT BEHIND' WHICH WAS RELEASED IN FEBRUARY OF 2022 TO CRITICAL ACCLAIM. PRODUCED BY PREMIER ROCK AND METAL PRODUCER ROMESH DODANGODA, THE ALBUM ACHIEVED SEVERAL NOTABLE ACCOLADES, INCLUDING BEING NAMED ALBUM OF THE YEAR BY FOUR MEDIA OUTLETS INCLUDING ERB MAGAZINE AND EAST LONDON RADIO. THE SINGLES FROM F.A.W.L.B ENJOYED EXTENSIVE AIRPLAY ACROSS NATIONAL RADIO INCLUDING KERRANG, ERB, PLANET ROCK AND THE BBC. THE ALBUM WAS FURTHER BOLSTERED BY FEATURES IN PRINTED PRESS, INCLUDING ARTICLES IN FIREWORKS, POWER PLAY & EMERGING ROCK BANDS MAGAZINE. THE BAND HAVE WORKED HARD TO BUILD A REPUTATION AS A CAPTIVATING LIVE ACT, PICKING UP NEW FANS FROM ACROSS THE UK AND ARE ALWAYS STRIVING TO BUILD ON THEIR PREVIOUS SHOWS TO CREATE SOMETHING BIGGER AND BETTER FOR THEIR GROWING FANBASE TO ENJOY. DEAD GODS | THE FUTURE FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THEIR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN, AND AS A REACTION TO FAN DEMAND FOR MORE NEW MUSIC, THE BAND RAN A PRE-ORDER CAMPAIGN VIA THEIR OWN WEBSTORE TO FUND THE PRODUCTION OF THEIR SOPHOMORE ALBUM. THE RESPOSE WAS OVERWHELMING, RAISING OVER £8,000 THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE APPEAL. ONCE AGAIN WORKING WITH ROMESH DODANGODA, THE BAND RECORDED THE NEW ALBUM, ‘DEAD GODS’ IN LATE 2023 AND HAVE NOW SET A RELEASE DATE AS 06.09.2024. THE SINGLES ‘WHITE CLIFFS’ & ‘HURRICANE’ HAVE ONCE AGAIN SEEN THE BAND FEATURED ON NATIONAL RADIO ACROSS THE UK AS WELL AS INTERNATIONALLY. ​ AS THE RELEASE OF THEIR SOPHOMORE ALBUM LOOMS EVER CLOSER, BLACK LAKES SHOW NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN, AND REMAIN DEDICATED TO THE CROWDS THEY SEE GROW LARGER AT EVERY SHOW. IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, THEY WERE THE RECIPIENTS OF THE BEST PUNK/METAL BAND AWARD AT THE 2024 NEWPORT RADIO AWARDS. ​

Skies Turn Black are a Metal band from the North of England whose brand of metal incorporates the elements of power metal and NWOBHM with an added electronic twist. Always prioritizing a big riff, a blistering solo, and an epic chorus, Skies Turn Black use heavy metal at their core to explore other avenues of the genre that make for a massive live sound. Having included choirs, orchestras, synthesisers, and keytars in their music, Skies Turn Black are ambitious. Taking the stage at Bloodstock 2023, they showed why they had the right to be there, performing to a rammed Jager tent. A band suited for those larger rooms, this was a major step in the right direction, as the band's momentum continues to build. Skies Turn Black have always taken pride in having a diverse repertoire of music. The debut album; ‘No Place Like Home’ showcases a magnitude of the band’s musicianship. The album has had glowing reviews all-around the world; praised for being “Some of 2018’s best guitar work,” by Metal Hammer Magazine. From the soaring power metal highs of the title track, ‘No Place Like Home’, to the crushingly heavy, ‘Pearly Gates’, the thirteen- track debut truly has something for everyone. The band have managed to stand out in the metal scene with the addition of long-term friend, Xander Isles as a vocalist and keytar extraordinaire. Xander’s additional support vocally has given the band the ability to deliver powerful harmonies live, as well as a whole new outlook on writing vocal parts in newer material. ‘The Skies Are Falling Down’ is the first track to feature Isles and his influence is evident. The power of the vocal delivery is extraordinary, with features of choral harmonies and infectious melodies; the chorus is just huge. Not to mention a mesmerizing keytar solo, having Xander has given Skies Turn Black an extra arrow in their quiver. Right now, Skies Turn Black have a selection of new material ready to go, and are incredibly excited to see where it will take them. After a successful string of single releases in the build up to the set at Bloodstock 2023, the band are ambitious and set their sights on the likes of Download Festival and further afield. The band are putting finishing touches on their own studio built in Huddersfield, and look to keep producing their own passionate brand of metal.