Bloodstock Festival Gives Back…

Festival HQ can also announce that this year’s charity beneficiaries will be The Sophie Lancaster Foundation and Metal For Good.

The ever important work of THE SOPHIE LANCASTER FOUNDATION to stamp out prejudice, hatred, and intolerance everywhere is something BLOODSTOCK have been glad to support ever since 2009 when the second stage was renamed the Sophie Lancaster Stage. Their educational work in primary and secondary schools is second to none, but they also work with university/college students and adult learners, as well as offering outreach activities, training, workshops, and presentations. Learn more at: https://www.sophielancasterfoundation.com/.

METAL FOR GOOD is a registered charity that uses the positive values of rock, metal and other alternative subcultures to make a positive difference in communities. They provide grants to incredible community groups and organisations who use the transformative power of music to change lives, helping to fund ideas to end inequality, improve wellbeing, and provide life-changing opportunities. Their core values include togetherness, individuality, passion, integrity, and belonging - something we can all get behind. Learn more at:https://metalforgood.org/.

Both charities will have stands at BLOODSTOCK for information as well as selling merch to fundraise, so be sure to stop by and show them some support.

Katy Baker, Metal For Good, states,

“Metal For Good are absolutely delighted to become one of Bloodstock's charity partners for 2025. Bloodstock has become such an important annual event for the metal community, and this year's festival is set to be one to remember. We already know that the Bloodstock community cares greatly about the transformative power of music, and we are excited to get the chance to share our story, and raise funds for incredible community projects using music for good!”

The Sophie Lancaster Foundation add,

“BOA is a very special festival that feels like home for us, the work behind the scenes to give the fans a better experience year on year is mind-blowing! We cannot thank Bloodstock, their brilliant team and all who attend and support us enough.”

The Sophie Lancaster Foundation will also have a very special, ultra rare item to raffle off at this year’s event, donated by owner Adam Carruthers - an artist-signed BLOODSTOCK backdrop from 2005!

Adam shares the history of this astonishing raffle prize, remembering,

“I first went to Bloodstock back in 2004 when it was held in the Derby Assembly Rooms. I remember my friend and I were desperate to see Children of Bodom for the first time, and when we saw that they were headlining this festival we thought it was a no brainer, we needed to go! It was a great festival with lots of bands to see over the two days, it was such a friendly atmosphere, and we got to meet some amazing like-minded metal fans. So the following year when they announced an outdoor festival as well as an indoor festival, I knew it was something I needed to go to. I'd been a fan of metal for a number of years before hearing about Bloodstock, and I think another reason for picking this festival over many other metal festivals was that it has such a friendly atmosphere and Bloodstock has bands playing that no other festival in the UK would put on their bill.

The performances over that weekend were great, from what I can remember as it was almost 20 years ago! Haha! There were a lot of bands there that I had not heard of before, so it was great to check them out and see what they were like. Evergrey was a highlight for me, so much so that I bought their entire back catalogue at one of the stalls in the festival grounds! I can still remember Edguy’s singer climbing up the stage scaffolding to the top and still performing brilliantly! Friday night headliner Sebastian Bach was also great to watch, as he is such a great front man! Again it was Children of Bodom that stole the weekend for me! Alexi Lahio is one of my biggest influences as a player and it was just amazing to see him play, and to see the entire band play an amazing set!

That weekend my friend and I entered a raffle to have the chance of winning the BOA festival backdrop which was to be signed by every band playing the festival. The ticket cost £1. They asked us to put our phone number on the back of the raffle ticket so they could contact us if needed, but the winner would be announced on the Main Stage once it had been drawn. My friend and I watched a few more bands and then headed back to the tent to get some food and have a rest. While at the tent I heard my phone ringing, I didn't recognise the number and usually I wouldn’t pick it up, but this time I did. When I answered I was told that my ticket had been drawn and I'd won the banner! When I got backstage I saw the banner and had a photo taken, and met Edguy too, before going to watch more bands. I couldn't believe how lucky I was, it didn't feel real at the time! The banner was displayed on a wall at my house for a number of years!

I've always been to festivals with friends, and we've always met up with other people while there. I always feel with Bloodstock that you could go to the festival on your own, but you would never feel on your own. It has always had that amazing friendly atmosphere that had attracted me to this festival. I also think that the range of different bands that are on the bill makes me want to come back to Bloodstock rather than any other festival.

I thought now was the perfect time, 20 years since then, to donate such a great piece of Bloodstock history for a great cause. The Sophie Lancaster Foundation is such an important charity in trying to stamp out prejudice, hatred, and intolerance, and I feel honoured to be able to donate this piece of Bloodstock history to be raffled off to hopefully raise a sizeable amount so the charity can keep on with this work.

Bloodstock has been such an important festival to me. I've got a lot of great memories from going there with friends and seeing some amazing music.”

Visit their stand in the main arena this year to see if you can win it!