As Spring settles in, BLOODSTOCK HQ is a hive of activity. This week’s announcement sees the first bands announced for the New Blood stage, and the dates are set for the Finals of 2023’s METAL 2 THE MASSES programme, BLOODSTOCK’s celebrated initiative to help developing bands score a landmark opportunity, playing a slot on the New Blood stage at the festival in August. Some winners are chosen from online submissions, whereas others battle it out among their peers at local events across the country. This year, 29 different regions have stepped up and we also welcome initiatives from Croatia and Poland to the programme. The finals kick off this Saturday 29th April at Leicester’s O2 Academy and roll through to Saturday 8th July at Oxford’s Jericho Tavern. Full dates are detailed below, so be sure to get out and support both bands and venues near you. Sat 29th Apr – LEICESTER O2 Academy Sat 6th May – EDINBURGH La Belle Angele Fri 12th May – BELFAST Voodoo Sat 13th May – DUBLIN Fibber Magees Sat 20th May – SHEFFIELD Corporation Sat 20th May – MANCHESTER Rebellion Thu 25th May – NORWICH Brickmakers Sat 27th May – MILTON KEYNES Craufurd Arms Sat 27th May – LEEDS The Library Sat 3rd Jun – LONDON The Dome Sat 3rd Jun – NEWCASTLE Trillians Sat 3rd Jun – OSIJEK (Croatia) Ex-Epic Sat 10th Jun – CHORZOW (Poland) Lesniczowka Rock n’ Roll Cafe Fri 16th Jun – COLCHESTER Coda Sat 17th Jun – GRAVESEND Leo’s, Red Lion Fri 23rd Jun – BIRMINGHAM Devils Dog Sat 24th Jun – HITCHIN Club 85 Sat 24th Jun – WREXHAM XS @ The Penny Black Sat 24th Jun – BRISTOL The Exchange Fri 30th Jun – BOURNEMOUTH Bear Cave Fri 30th Jun – CHELTENHAM Frog & Fiddle Sat 1st Jul – BURNLEY Sanctuary Sat 1st Jul – STOKE The Underground Sat 1st Jul – NORTHAMPTON The Black Prince Sat 1st Jul – LIVERPOOL Zanzibar Sat 1st Jul – CARDIFF Fuel Sat 8th Jul – NOTTINGHAM The Old Cold Store Sat 8th Jul – SALTASH Livewire Sat 8th Jul – OXFORD Jericho Tavern | 
