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Patti Smith, David Byrne, Youssou N’Dour and other artists remember the performances, chance meetings and rainouts of the concert series that has defined New York City summers.

There’s still a tendency for people to raise an eyebrow when Kiefer Sutherland’s name appears on a gig poster. Nowadays, it’s more in a sense of “Oh, yeah, he does music, too,” rather than a “This should be interesting…” It’s great to be back in KK’s, somehow, for the first time this year.  With a … Continue reading Gig Review: Kiefer Sutherland / Colin Andrew – KK’s Steel Mill (14th May 2026)

Today, TO THE GRAVE, the world’s preeminent vegan deathcore band, officially announces their signing to BLKIIBLK. To mark the new chapter, the band unleash Eyestalk Ablations, their first new music since mid-2025, alongside a shocking music video. The track marks their first release for BLKIIBLK, while their recently announced North American tour sees the band […]

Guitar Hero was a worldwide smash hit – and it introduced Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash to a whole new audience

Black Stone Cherry have rescheduled their upcoming An Evening With UK tour dates to January and February 2027, while also expanding the run with five additional shows, bringing the total tour itinerary to 21 dates. All previously purchased tickets remain valid for the new dates.

The special performances will feature two separate sets from the Kentucky band. Fans will hear the group’s self-titled 2006 debut album performed in full to celebrate its 20th anniversary, followed by a second set featuring long-time favourites and material from the new EP, Celebrate.

Drummer John-Fred Young explained that the rescheduling was necessary due to important family commitments in October. “Cherry Heads, We know that so many of you are ready to rock with us on our October- November 20th Anniversary UK Tour,” Young said. “We have a slight change in our schedule as I need to be home for some very important family events happening in the middle of October that I can’t be away from.

“We tried to keep these shows in the same calendar year (moving them up to Nov- Dec), but we were unable to keep all the shows due to room availability.

“However, we are excited to say that we are rescheduling the tour to Jan Feb of 2027 with additional dates and nights in certain cities added. All tickets purchased will remain valid for the rescheduled shows. We can’t wait to see everyone and appreciate your understanding! Thank you, and we love you all.”

The rescheduled tour now includes new performances in Bournemouth, Frome, Torquay, Wolverhampton and Sheffield, alongside previously announced dates across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Black Stone Cherry recently released their seven-track EP Celebrate via Mascot Records. The release includes the singles Neon Eyes and Celebrate, along with a cover of Simple Minds’ Don’t You (Forget About Me) featuring Tyler Connolly of Theory Of A Deadman. The EP also features the track Deep, created in partnership with the UK charity Sands.

Over the past two decades, Black Stone Cherry have established themselves as one of the most popular live rock bands on the circuit, building a loyal following through headline tours, festival appearances and acclaimed live performances.

Tickets for the rescheduled dates are on sale now from blackstonecherry.com

The post Black Stone Cherry Reschedule An Evening With UK Tour With New Dates Added first appeared on MetalTalk – Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.

He enthused emphatically about the late Tim Smith’s work a decade before recording vocals for the undefinable band’s long-unfinished album LSD

Ceremony Festival Bedford Esquires, Bedford 6th June 2026 We’re back in Bedford at Esquires for another day of non stop music. Keith Goldhanger reports, Robyn Skinner takes the photos and the music is provided by a selection of bands that are currently gaining momentum and will no doubt be appearing inside many of the other venues […]

The post Ceremony 6 (Bedford) – Festival Review appeared first on Louder Than War.

Let’s be honest for a second. When you hear that Karnivool is touring, your ears instantly prick up. They are the undisputed kings of Australian progressive rock, a band that makes complexity sound like second nature. But when the tour announcement dropped, the words Car Bomb and TesseracT were slapped on the bill alongside them, […]

Bloodstock Open Air has unveiled a fresh wave of updates for its 25th anniversary event in 2026. The festival has confirmed the first winners of the Metal 2 The Masses finals, adding twelve emerging acts to the New Blood Stage line-up. Sanguisugabogg will replace Of Mice & Men, while additional attractions include a Sophie Lancaster Foundation treasure hunt, a screening of Devin Townsend’s The Moth and expanded festival activities.

“Due to circumstances beyond our control, we sadly won’t be able to make it out to Europe this summer as planned,” Of Mice And Men said. “Thanks to all the fans, festivals and promoters we were looking forward to playing for.” 

Bloodstock have announced Sanguisugabogg will step into their shoes. “Seems like your favourite death-dealing degenerates just hocked up their hairball of a logo all over your Bloodstock flyer,” the band said. “We can’t wait to be in England to melt faces and rock out at Bloodstock. So pack up your broomsticks and your toast and beans and let’s party together. We couldn’t be any more psyched!” 

You can catch them as direct support to Leprous on Saturday on the Sophie Lancaster stage. Rumours that you can win a prize for correctly spelling their name in a Bloodstock Spelling Bee are unfounded.

The first batch of Metal 2 The Masses winners to play the Stowford Press New Blood Stage have been revealed. On Friday, East Anglian aggressors Regicide, Belfast Death/Thrash champions Microtonal, modern melo-death crew Atarka, who won the Birmingham round, and explosive hardcore five-piece Bailed Out from Leeds, have been announced.

Saturday welcomes Sheffield metalcore victors Descendancy and cathartic Northants noiseniks Dead Bait.

Sunday adds diverse Scottish top dogs Chekhov’s Gun, whose striking sound is matched by a visceral live show, fronted by a flamboyant Lithuanian ballroom dancer, Manchester’s Prog Metal quintet Technologist, doom-inspired Sunk, who came first for the South Coast region, collaborative Cyprus conquerors Joakem, and formidable death metal unifiers Ka’aper, comprised of both Russian and Ukrainian musicians.

Lots more bands are to be confirmed still, as the Metal 2 The Masses finals around the country continue – See poster blow for further dates.

At the Sophie Lancaster Foundation charity stand, next to the main stage, you will be able to get an entry form and then hunt for 10 special S.O.P.H.I.E. signs around Bloodstock. A recommended donation to the charity is £2. One winner will get a pair of Bloodstock 2027 weekend tickets. Competition closes at 4 pm on Sunday.

For early birds, Wednesday night is movie night in the Midgard campsite. Kicking off at 7:30 pm, the first showing at Midgard Movies will be Devin Townsend’s The Moth. Two more movies will follow, and you can have your say on which ones! Head to the Bloodstock Facebook Page to cast your vote.

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Bloodstock 2026 will be held over the long weekend of 6-9 August 2026.

Take Part: Are you at Bloodstock this year? Who are you looking forward to seeing? Want to get in touch and tell us how it’s going? Email MetalTalk Editor Steve Ritchie to tell us how it’s going for you. Bloodstock@MetalTalk.net

#boa25. For more information, visit bloodstock.uk.com. You can view a map of Bloodstock at bloodstock.uk.com/bloodstock_map.jpg

You can read all our 2025 reports at https://www.metaltalk.net/bloodstock.

MetalTalk Bloodstock 2024 coverage is at https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/bloodstock-202

The post Bloodstock 2026 Adds Metal 2 The Masses Winners first appeared on MetalTalk – Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.

Rising UK alternative outfit unpeople have announced their debut album We Are Unpeople, due for release on October 9 via SharpTone Records. Accompanying the announcement is the new single Friends. Built on massive choruses, vocal harmonies and unabated heaviness, the album reflects the band’s belief in music as a force for unity.

Friends is essentially a love song from the perspective of someone who is wholly sceptical about the very concept of love and what it’s come to mean in a modern context,” vocalist Jake Crawford said.

“I am essentially saying I am going to kill the very concept of love before it’s even had a chance to get a hold of me. I am that afraid of being that vulnerable. I’d rather not bother than risk saying something I don’t mean, and then pay for it emotionally down the line.

“I’m fully aware that this is not necessarily healthy, but the mind takes you to some strange places when strong feelings are involved.”

Comprised of Jake Crawford, Luke Caley, Em Lodge and Richard Rayner, unpeople have quickly established themselves as one of the UK’s most exciting new alternative bands, earning themselves a reputation for creating music that feels equally at home on the biggest rock stages and the heaviest festival bills.

Originally used to describe those considered politically unimportant or without value, the term ‘unpeople’ has since become another way to dismiss those whose views differ from our own.

The band have reclaimed the phrase entirely, transforming it into a celebration of shared humanity, individuality and belonging.

Following appearances alongside major acts and a busy summer festival schedule including Download, Reading & Leeds and Copenhell, unpeople continue their rapid ascent. “We Are Unpeople is released into the world on 9 October 9,” the band said, “and we couldn’t be more proud of it. We collectively put our absolute everything into it, and we can’t wait to share it with you all.” For more details, visit bfan.link/unpeople-friends.

The post Unpeople Announce Debut Album We Are Unpeople And Release New Single Friends first appeared on MetalTalk – Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.