The faces behind Bro (UK) Promotions, ‘kin Hell Fest and Omega Warfare Records are organising Byker Grave Festival for Sunday December 8 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Byker Grave is a ‘replacement’ for all those left disappointed by the cancellation of the Northern Darkness Festival.
So far the lineup includes Primitive Graven Man and Repulsive Vision, both of whom were set to feature at the Northern Darkness Festival, as well as Live Burial and a debut from new death metal terrorisers Horrified.
Announcing it via Facebook the organisers said: “A metal all-dayer is being planned since a load of people have hotels and transport booked for being in Newcastle on this day for the now cancelled Northern Darkness Festival. Thought we’d see what sort of interest there would be in making sure a party of sorts still happens. This is a replacement gig for the fans, by the fans.”
The Northern Darkness Festival was to be the first of its kind in Newcastle, with what looked like a strong lineup headlined by Gothenburg death metal pioneers At The Gates, also featuring Decapitated, Napalm Death and many more. Due to poor ticket sales it was revealed on Thursday October 10 that the event had been cancelled. All tickets bought in advance will be refunded.
The venue for Byker Grave Festival (possibly the greatest named metal festival ever for those familiar with Children’s TV circa 1989 – 2006) is still to be revealed but it will be somewhere in Newcastle. Tickets cost £10 and are available now, with around eight to ten bands set to play the event. As it’s on a Sunday everything will finish by 10pm too so fans can travel home in the evening.
Bro (UK) Promotions have plenty of experience organising extreme metal gigs in the North East, having put together the first Bro Fest, headlined by Holocaust, at Northumbria University in March this year and bringing the likes of Vomitor, Deströyer 666 and Aura Noir to the region as part of tours and independent shows. ‘kin Hell Fest put together an annual diverse heavy music festival in Leeds every year, with 2014’s edition set to include Anaal Nathrakh, Wodensthrone and many more, so fans are in good hands.
For further lineup and venue announcements head over to the Facebook event here.
