Event Details

Two years since the release of debut album ‘MCLXXX’, it’s time for the Kraken to rise once again. Not that the band, comprising vocalist Mark Donoghue, drummer Richard Lee Mears, bassist Karl Meyer, rhythm guitarist Pete Rose and lead guitarist Adam Healey have been resting on their laurels for one minute. Oh no. ​ 2023 saw the band gig hard across the UK, with a series of well attended club shows as well as invitations to play high profile festivals such as Call of the Wild, SOS Festival, Wildfire and Station 18. From Exeter to Edinburgh, Leicester to Carlisle, King Kraken has delivered their high octane show to the ever-increasing army of fans. ​ Over the past two years the band has also supported a range of high-profile artists including Monster Truck, South of Salem, Fury, and legends Geoff Tate and Crowbar. In May 2024 the band pulled in the biggest crowd of the Station 18 Festival, where a stunning headline set saw the band win more new admirers. And in the summer, King Kraken were invited to play at the prestigious Bloodstock Open Air Festival in Derbyshire. Going head-to-head with the mighty Clutch, the band deliver a phenomenal 30-minute set to a huge crowd. Two weeks later they were personally invited to the Stonedead Festival for a special meet and greet session. ​ Mere days after Bloodstock, the band were back in the studio, demonstrating their ferocious work ethic and never say die attitude. With returning producer Romesh Dodangoda keeping them in shape, their second album March of the Gods is planned for release in early 2025. With new songs already going down a storm, a new album and tour booked, 2025 is looking to be the best year yet. In fact, it might just be the Year of the Kraken.

Beth Blade and The Beautiful Disasters are a Hard Rock band based out of Cardiff, South Wales. The four-piece provide monster riffs, huge choruses and a dose of old school rock and roll attitude. With aggressive muscle and melodic sensitivity, this band is reigniting the flame of British Hard Rock. They have an unmistakable modern presence whilst keeping the spirit of old school rock and roll alive. The band have been a non-stop force to be reckoned with, building a strong pedigree touring with Marco Mendoza (ex-Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy) and The Electric Boys, and have supported old and new legends such as Kee Marcello, Y and T, Doro Pesch, Dan Reed and Danny Vaughan (Tyketto), Ricky Warwick and Damon Johnson (Thin Lizzy), Massive Wagons, Those Damn Crows, The Dead Daisies, Graham Bonnet (Rainbow), and Thundermother. They are no strangers to festivals either having performed at Hard Rock Hell, Planet Rockstock, Planet Rock's Winter's End Monsterfest and most notably with KISS on the globally renowned KISS Kruise in the USA. The band's first two albums received glowing reviews across the rock press (each album crowdfunded by their fans in judging their upcoming release) and resulted in international radio airplay including rotation on major networks in the UK. Beth herself, who is often likened to a mix between Lzzy Hale and Suzi Quatro, has sung backing vocals on 2 albums with British Rock legends Thunder, one which reached number 8 in the UK Top 40 Album Chart and the most recent hit number 1 in the UK Rock Chart in March 2021. Their latest album 'Mythos, Confession, Tragedies and Love' was released on July 8th 2022, receiving rave reviews from all corners of the Rock scene's media. The album itself leads the band down a musically intense path, going darker and deeper than ever before. The lead single ‘Sin Eater’ has been received well by radio. It was included in Classic Rock Magazines ‘Tracks of the Week’ where it was voted #2 overall in the poll, which included songs by legends such as Thunder and Joe Satriani. Second single ‘Tonight I’m With You’ was released on May 26th and received much acclaim, being played multiple times on Planet Rock Radio, while their third single, 'Persephone', was released 24th June, was played on BBC Radio, Planet Rock Radio and more, and continues that strong momentum. The band is fiercely determined and has the grit to surpass their previous accomplishments through intense live performances and a passion for rock and roll that is unrivalled

Steal The City are a Sheffield-based 4 piece band comprised of 4 friends who share a love for heavy riffs, catchy songs, and energetic live shows. Put all that together and that’s what STC is all about. On lead vocals and rhythm guitar, we have our resident loud-mouth Joe ‘Chuggy’. Named after his passion for chugs on the rhythm guitar, Joe has no interest in shredding on the guitar, just getting the crowd bouncing and bobbing along to his riffs and singing along to the choruses. It’s rare anyone will see Joe before they hear him, and that’s the way we like it! On lead guitar and backing vocals, we have James. James has a wealth of experience playing and recording live music with a history of working in soundscape production, recording local bands, as well as touring in country and rock bands for the past 10 years. By far the most musically gifted member of the band, James can arrange string symphonies, play the accordion, you name it. We hate it of course, but you can’t help but love it at the same time - definitely one for the guitar fanatics to keep tabs on! Next up we have Smit on Bass and backing vocals. Smit is the guy every band needs. He has played drums in the band before, lead guitar, and now bass. Smit contributes significantly to the arrangement of songs as his ear for high-energy music and being into pop as well as rock and metal helps keep STC unique in a well-populated sea of bands. Smit has an ongoing competition to try to upstage Chuggy with energy at live shows, so keep your eyes peeled for that! Last but not least, Ellis keeps STC in order. Possibly the most OCD drummer you’ve ever seen, he looks after the drums as well as bringing new technology into the band; including samples and in-ear monitoring. Ellis is a huge fan of 80’s drummers with the amount of tricks and such, so keeps things interesting in a live setting. The lads got together a few years ago from the ashes of previous bands and contacts, and after finding their sound have now released their true potential in their current form. All 4 members hail from Sheffield, hence the Steel City band name reference, and are proud to be from one of the cities which has created some of the most exciting rock and metal bands in recent years; Malevolence, While She Sleeps, and Bring Me The Horizon just to name a few. STC have supported some great bands over their years, a particular highlight was being the opening band for Skindred in front of 2,000 people - not to mention appearances at Wharton Music Festival and Call Of The Wild. STC has one main goal, which is to play Download Festival. Everything that the band does is simply to get them one step closer to realising their dream from day one. Call us what you like, but to us Download Festival is quite simply the promised land for any rock or metal band! Speaking of live shows, STC pride themselves on a memorable performance. MMH Radio wrote '‘This is the best I have ever seen STC perform’ ’they are full of life and bursting with energy’ ’They are entertaining and charismatic and put on a great show!‘ MetalPlanetMusic also wrote that STC's 'melodic sound soon breaks down into a riot of angst and rage as they blast out a subtle, ballsy set’ It’s clear to see that the 4 lads get on really well, and have no intentions of slowing down. Whatever the next challenge is for STC - BRING IT ON!