Whilst they may have held the crown during the New Romantic era, it's doubtless that Duran Duran have surfed that wave in the decades intervening and remain one of the biggest bands on the planet.
Approaching any Stadium always makes me think about the wonder of music. Just think, tonight, in a sold-out stadium in London, for a second time after Friday’s sell out show, are ‘just’ 4 guys from San Fransico.
The last day of Download Festival on a glorious Sunday morning. Waking up to the smell of breakfasts and people still snoozing off Saturday's after party shenanigans - but it was time to get down to the Dogtooth Stage, I wasn't about to miss what was about to wake up Download's Sunday morning.
It was a perfect day in central London. The sun beat down but the slight breeze in the air brought a little, very welcome relief from the heat as the largest crowd that the series had ever seen gathered to see one of the biggest artists in the world.
So, it’s Belsonic time of year again, but before I get properly stuck into this review, I feel a history lesson coming on… so buckle up.
Grammy Award-winning rock star Yungblud headlined for a crowd of 20,000 at Bludfest Year 3 in Hradec Králové, Czechia yesterday.
Now that's a line up, bit like the last time I saw Def Leppard at Marley Park, stacked triple bill, local lads, Sweet Savage and Viv's first band, the Boston's Extreme who I am very excited to see, as this is my first time and then the mighty Def Leppard! Also, there are three sixes on today’s date, so surely a good day for metal!
It's been a long-time, 2017 when these guys came and played the Ulster Hall twice in six months and sold it out, then we never seen them again for 9 long years, well, here we are, different venue tonight but packed out, on support of the self-titled album, I'm looking forward to seeing them again having seen Tremonti solo more often, let's go!
The Summer Solstice dawns and we board our noble metal steed to head back to Dublin for the 2nd night of 2 stadium filling dates on Metallica’s M72 “No Repeat Weekend” Tour 2026.
After Friday's first day of Download Festival, it was another pretty glorious day and it was time to head back to the Opus Stage.
The biggest weekend of 2026 for Metal gigs in Dublin is finally here. The socials are awash with excitable fans elated about the upcoming no repeat weekend, some desperately seeking tickets and others chatting about the potential wares the POP-UP Shop in the Convention Centre will have.
It’s a weekend where it feels like half of Northern Ireland has migrated south to Dublin for the hugely anticipated Metallica concerts.
Whilst Gary Barlow and a couple of mates masquerading as Take That bring cheesy glitter and glam to the eastern banks of the River Taff so an infinitely more appealing triplet of US nu-metallers shake the western side with s gargantuan heavyweight thunder and lightning pugilistic bout.
Its another fantastic year for Download Festival fans as the 2026 Edition sported not just a killer line up - but also way more to do and see.
As we make our way to Belfast, it is a lovely warm evening and everyone is very excited especially as the American and Canadian bands are touring Europe for the Festival season.
The rock spectrum has never been wider. From, 24 hours previously, at the opening day of Download – where the powered kinetics of Halestorm more than ably demonstrated that they were the day’s true headliners – through to this evening and the evergreen aura of the original space warriors Hawkwind the altar is broader than ever.