Candlemass, Employed To Serve and More Confirmed for Bloodstock 2023

With less than seven months to go, Bloodstock Open Air organisers have announced 14 new acts to appear across both the Ronnie James Dio Main Stage and Sophie Lancaster second stage.

Completing Friday’s Ronnie James Dio main stage line-up are noted doomsters Witchsorrow who get the day started, plus Lancaster rockers Wytch Hazel, and Polish blackened death metal beasts HATE.

Joining Saturday’s main stage are Swedish rock ruffians Royal Republic along with highly-rated Woking metalheads Employed to Serve.

ETS vocalist Justine Jones enthuses,

“We’re delighted to announce that we are playing Bloodstock for the very first time. We can’t wait to fly the flag for heavy metal along with the world’s finest talent on the main stage. See you in the pit!”

Finally, bringing their fusion of black, goth, and death metal to Sunday’s main stage, are Swedes Tribulation.

Away from the main stage even more acts have been added to the Sophie Lancaster stage.

First up, the Grammy-nominated, epic doom pioneers Candlemass, who step in to headline proceedings on the Friday in a UK exclusive performance, replacing Whitechapel who are unfortunately now unable to appear.

Opening the day will be Lancs death metal squad Bloodyard. Joining them are black/crust Mancunians Wolfbastard, nu-metalcore tribe Black Coast, “Russian Turbo Polka Metal” ska-punkers Russkaja from Austria, Portuguese extremists Gaerea, and Canadian heavy/power metal crew Striker.

The final slot on Saturday’s Sophie Lancaster bill goes to Bristol/Brighton thrash/hardcore gang Skin Failure, who include two ex-Black Peaks members in their ranks.

Away from the bands, Bloodstock has announced the return of the Vikings for the Battle of Bloodstock. Warriors from across the country will converge on the hallowed fields of Catton Hall to compete in full contact 1v1 and team battles to be crowned the champions of BLOODSTOCK.

If that isn’t enough to get you counting the days until August, watch Bloodstock’s new trailer here:

Bloodstock 2023 takes place at Catton Hall in Derbyshire from August 10th to 13th 2023 and you can get all the latest information and ticket details from the Official Bloodstock Open Air website.

Poster for Bloodstock 2023