As previously announced, in 2018 the festival has also chosen to honour Friday night’s headliners, JUDAS PRIEST with a dedicated wall in the gallery, featuring some of the band’s album artwork and two incredible new creations by RAM Gallery luthier-in-residence, Cynosure, the ‘British Steel’ guitar and the ‘Angel V’ guitar.
Cynosure has also crafted a NIGHTWISH-inspired creation and a fourth, in honour of French metal icons, GOJIRA, who headline the festival on Sunday and Saturday respectively, plus two Molly Hatchet-inspired guitars to celebrate the band’s 40th Anniversary. Paul Gregory has a longtime relationship with Molly Hatchet, having painted numerous album sleeves over the years for the Florida rock icons. You’ll be able to see all twelve of Cynosure’s RAM Gallery-commissioned guitars on site this year. Don’t miss this incredible collection!
Gojira drummer and artist, Mario Duplantier will be exhibiting some new art prints alongside the Gojira Cynosure creation. Also showing work are two world-renowned photographers, Paul Harries and Ester Segarra. Paul will be showing and selling copies of 9 prints, including shots of Judas Priest’s Rob Halford, Metallica’s James Hetfield and Robb Flynn of Machine Head. Ester will be there presenting her hot-off-the-press new photographic book, ‘Ars Umbra’.
Other artists exhibiting album sleeve work are Mark Wilkinson, who also curated the Judas Priest wall in the gallery, as well as Steve ‘Krusher’ Joule, who will have two original prints on sale, plus four pieces of original artwork created for Ozzy Osbourne. Christian Sloan Hall will be returning to show a new piece created especially for this year’s gallery, titled ‘The Return of the Old Gods’. The piece will have a limited edition run of just 40 prints available for purchase. Christian will also have prints of his ‘Motor Maiden’ artwork available.
Heathen Waxworks will also be there showcasing their exclusive ‘By The Fans, For The Fans’ Bloodstock candle. Drop into the gallery first thing on Sunday morning as they’ll be selling their display of candles for you to take home. Walk away with a more compact souvenir from the RAM Gallery, if a photographic or art print is out of your price range.
Lastly, but most definitely not least, Paul Raymond Gregory will be exhibiting original artwork from Molly Hatchet’s discography to celebrate their 40th Anniversary as a band and his 40th anniversary as an artist. The Hatchet artwork will sit betwixt Cynosure’s two bespoke Hatchet-themed guitars. Paul will also have other prints available from album artwork throughout his career, including Saxon’s ‘Heavy Metal Thunder’ and Molly Hatchet’s ‘Devil’s Canyon’. The art prints are also signed by Paul and Saxon frontman, Biff Byford and Paul and Molly Hatchet guitarist, Bobby Ingram respectively.
BLOODSTOCK weekend tickets with camping are still available at £145 (+ bkg fee), with children’s weekend tickets only £35 (+ bkg fee). Kids under 4 years go free! Weekend tickets are selling faster than ever and like last year, are likely to sell out before the event, so don’t delay if you want to guarantee entry to the UK’s best metal weekender! Adult one-day tickets remain available priced £65 (+bkg fee) and child day tickets at £20 (+ bkg fee) over at this link.
With Friday night headliners JUDAS PRIEST, Saturday headliners GOJIRA and Sunday’s bill toppers NIGHTWISH, as well as EMPEROR, AT THE GATES, CANNIBAL CORPSE, DEVILDRIVER, WATAIN, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, WEDNESDAY 13, JASTA & FRIENDS, FEED THE RHINO, FOZZY, COMBICHRIST, BLOODBATH, ALESTORM, VENOM INC., MR BIG, ORPHANED LAND, KAMELOT, POWER TRIP, CONJURER, DORO, ORDEN OGAN, SEPTICFLESH, EXHORDER, PALLBEARER, MEMORIAM and many more, we’re counting down the final days ‘til BLOODSTOCK 2018!
BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 9th-12th August 2018. Get additional information over at this link.
For more info on the RAM Gallery, check out this link.
Oran O’Beirne
www.overdrive.ie 2018