Oh yes, that’s right. Those marvellous NWOBHM legends Vardis is to reform and do their thing once again after a “brief” hiatus on just-twenty seven years. It’s all going on at Brofest 2014 which takes place at Northumbria University Students Union from Friday February 28th to Sunday March 2nd 2014.
It’s a weekend rich with names from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal days including Soldier and Spartan Warrior to mention but two of the others on the bill. Sure to be a fine weekend not just for the music as Newcastle’s not exactly too shabby for things going on either.
Tickets are a snap – very affordable – so get there if you can for a weekend of great music and not a little nostalgia if you’re an old git like me. See the poster to the left to see who is on the bill. There’s also a full press release blow courtesy of the promoters.
Here’s the press release:
Back by popular demand! Once again the Classic Rock and Heavy Metal festival BROFEST will be returning to Newcastle upon Tyne in 2014 for more hip shaking and headbanging mayhem! This time the festival has expanded into a three day event and is set to be the biggest celebration of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal EVER!
And so once more, fans from all over the world will descend on the fantastic Northumbria University Students Union, a fitting location for a pilgrimage to the Mecca of NWOBHM!
The headliners on the closing night of BROFEST 2014 will be the mighty VARDIS, returning to the stage for the first time after a 27 year absence! These highly influential NWOBHM greats are back with the line-up of Steve Zodiac, Gary Pearson and Terry Horbury. VARDIS were well-known for their powerful live shows and are set to let loose on the BROFEST stage at 100MPH!
Of course with the wealth of Heavy Metal Heritage in the North East it’s no surprise that there are plenty of other treats in store with 2014’s line-up. Headlining the opening night will be Newcastle’s very own FIST! These Neat Records legends are performing a reunion show and promise to be “Back with a Vengeance”! Similarly, label mates WARRIOR, also from Newcastle will be playing on stage together for the first time in decades at BROFEST #2. Local heroes HOLLOW GROUND are back on the road and will be performing a special hometown show whilst Sunderland’s SPARTAN WARRIOR make a welcome return to the BROFEST bill, having brought down the house at the first edition in 2013! After a storming opening to BROFEST #1 with BLACK ROSE, guitarist Kenny Nicholson is back with neck-breaking NWOBHM outfit FAST KUTZ! These guys will also be tearing through tracks from Kenny’s other past projects including Teesside greats HAMMER and HOLLAND! Cult legends DARK HEART also from the North East will be playing a rare one-off appearance – their occult Heavy Metal has influenced all sorts of modern artists, and they even appeared on one of Fenriz of Black Metal band DARKTHRONE’s “Trapped under Vice” compilations!
Continuing with occult themes… RITUAL will headline Saturday night at BROFEST #2. A band steeped in history that never really got their shot at the big time, RITUAL have cultivated a huge cult following since their inception in the 70s and their comeback show at BROFEST #2 is going to be a very memorable occasion! PAGAN ALTAR also bring their unique brand of mystical Doom Metal to BROFEST, making their first trip to the North of England since their formation nearly 35 years ago. Equally no strangers to the European festival stage, JAGUAR are set to explode on the BROFEST stage with catchy riffs and high energy antics! Only Northampton’s finest SOLDIER will give them a run for their money in terms of raw power! Those familiar with London’s British Steel festival will also remember GASKIN, who will be performing a special comeback show after a short hiatus. Once titans of the East Anglian airforce base circuit, Portsmouth’s very own TRUFFLE make their first trek to the North East, in their 35 year history! A very special moment at the first edition of BROFEST was the reunion show of BASHFUL ALLEY. These guys will be returning once more at BROFEST #2 to give everyone who missed them a chance to catch this very special band, whilst those who were there can relive the experience all over again!
And there are even more reunion shows in store for edition #2 – fast rockers SPARTA from Macclesfield are getting back together for this event, and emotions will be high during the set of Liverpool’s DAMASCUS. One of the most highly anticipated shows comes from London’s BERLYN, whose guitarist and bassist famously played alongside IRON MAIDEN’s Adrian Smith in the highly-acclaimed Hard Rock outfit URCHIN. Following an explosive set with SCARAB in 2013, Paul Britton returns with TRAPAZZAT for a once in a lifetime show! Another addition, and providing a change of pace with some Speed Metal madness will be EVIL BLOOD! These Croatian Thrash Metallers relocated to the UK in the late 80s and even boasted legendary VENOM drummer Abaddon in their ranks at one point! Many will also remember former VENOM frontman Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan – Tony has a very special treat in store for the fans at BROFEST #2 and will be ripping through the entire “Future Warriors” album with classic Speed Metal outfit ATOMKRAFT!
BROFEST #2 will not only be a celebration of the rejuvenation that the bands of the NWOBHM movement are enjoying at the moment, but will also be a showcase for the wealth of young talent that is continuing to keep the Heavy Metal spirit alive. All eyes will be on the likes of DARK FOREST, ELIMINATOR, TOLEDO STEEL and ASCALON over the weekend. The special guests for 2014 are WITCHTOWER from Spain and Italy’s RULER! These guys take the rocking power of early IRON MAIDEN and give it a fresh twist – if you like your Heavy Metal in the Traditional vein, these are the ones to watch!
BROFEST #2 takes place at Northumbria University Students Union from Friday February 28th to Sunday March 2nd 2014
Tickets for the event are a mere £25 each for the full weekend (that’s less than £1 per band!) and are on sale now – available at www.brofest.co.uk/tickets. Reviewers, photographers, sponsors get in touch at www.brofest.co.uk/contact-us