In photos: Bin jousting, happiness and wholesome humour at Bloodstock 2025
- Text by Isaac Muk
- Photography by Chris Bethell
Derbyshire doom — At first glance, the UK’s heaviest metal festival may not seem like a particularly warm affair. But metalheads are some of the nicest music fans in the country, and Chris Bethell was there to capture the fun and funnies of the weekend.
With its ever-present references to Satanism and the occult, spiky fashion and violent mosh pits, heavy metal fans aren’t typically imagined as a light-hearted bunch. Yet enter into any gig or festival where the music is characterised by double kicks and breakneck distortion, and you’ll find wholesome interactions, warm embraces, and metalheads unafraid to let out a belly laugh.
Imagine then, that energy ramped up to 11 at Bloodstock – the UK’s biggest independent metal festival, and generally considered to be its heaviest. Set in Derbyshire’s Catton Park, the festival welcomes 20,000 diehard fans each year for a celebration that feels as close to the authentic spirit of the genre as any get together in the country each year.
The most recent edition, which took place between August 7 – 10, was Bloodstock’s 25th anniversary, and it was a blue-skied affair – headlined by Machine Head, Gojira and Trivium. The undercard included bands named Dead Flesh, Bad Smell, Nailbomb and Mantis Defeats Jaguar.
But among the raging guitars and aggressive boot stomping, was a warm, collective energy that defied stereotypes, as well as a heartfelt tribute to Ozzy Osbourne and his impact on the genre. Photographer Chris Bethell was there to capture all of the smiles, slogans and spirit of the weekend.
2025 also saw the return of a long-standing Bloodstock tradition – bin jousting. The sporting spectacle, which began several years ago as an impromptu game in the campsite, sees two competitors mount wheelie bins, which are then rushed towards each other, as each player attempts to knock their opponent off. Whoever remains on top the bin at the end, is the winner.
Of course, the violent impact makes for a dangerous game, and each year rumours fly around the site of snapped legs, wrists and even concussion. Bloodstock have previously attempted to ban the sport, but with the diehards refusing to be swayed, the festival now hosts bin jousting as an official activity in the Midgard area, with crash mats, helmets, safety marshals and of course, waivers. Still raucous, but safer, Chris caught the action up close.
The next edition of Bloodstock Festival takes place at Catton Park, Derbyshire between August 6 – 9, 2026.
Chris Bethell is a freelance photographer and journalist. Follow him on Instagram.
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