It may be only just be February, and the snow may be falling, but my favourite time of the year is already creeping up on us. The first festival on my calendar for 2015 is the mighty Takedown Festival, which takes place at Southampton University on Saturday the 7th of March 2015. Launched in 2012 and now in its forth year, Takedown may be one of the smaller festivals, but it truly is one of the best. We went last year and we can’t bloody wait to do it all again this year.… and it’s bigger and better than ever.
So what’s it all about then? Well, Takedown has 5 (yes that’s right, 5) stages on site. The festival features a mix of some of the UK’s best loved young metal bands along with a couple of old school heroes thrown in to the mix. All of the stages are indoors, so you can feel smug and enjoy the party as it pisses down outside. Although its worth remembering that each stage has a limited capacity, so we would advise arriving early to guarantee you get to see your favourite band. Headlining this years’ event we have Mallory Knox, Charlie Simpson, The Blackout doing their final South Coast show (insert sad face) and InMe playing ‘Overgrown Eden’ in full.
Takedown has secured some fantastic acts to play, read about our top picks below!
After their biggest UK headline tour and a top 20 UK album with Asymmetry, Brit Rockers Mallory Knox return to bring Takedown Festival to it’s knees as this years headliners. They’re currently stateside spreading some British rock, but expect them to hit the south coast with even more fury and plenty of singalongs. They come into 2015 with their eyes set on the big time, and they don’t look to be stopping anytime soon.
What do you do after you quit a chart topping boyband? Fall in to a pit of drunken depression? Appear on reality TV? Appear in the West End? Well in the case of Charlie Simpson you carve out a new musical career, head in a different direction and achieve critical acclaim. Multi talented Simpson will no doubt be playing some of his back catalogue, as well as songs from new album Long Road Home.
The boys from Merthyr have always been renowned for the explosive atmosphere at their gigs, but this show will be even more special. Takedown heralds the final South Coast show from The Blackout, and wowzer, you can expect them to go out with a bang. Whether you’re a fan or not, this is gonna be a party not to be missed.
InMe‘s debut performance at Takedown Festival is one to mark in the diary, as they play Overgrown Eden in full. Errr merrrrhh gerrrrhhd, yes, you heard that right. If you missed it five years ago then prepare to be hit right in the feels as they blast out their classics such as ‘Neptune’ and ‘Underdose’.
Following on from last year, Heart Of A Coward are now headlining the Total Uprawr stage, in place to rip your head off of it’s hinges. Their sheer brutality in the thick of merciless riffs and vocals are set to give you the heaviest curtain call of the evening.
Baby Godzilla‘s insane on stage antics never fail to impress. This is a band known for hanging from rafters, performing from the floor, dragging down amps and pulling drums in to the crowd to play there. Even for a seasoned reviewer its hard to put a Baby Godzilla show in to words. All we can say is “They are fucking fantastic”. We can’t wait to see what the lads from Nottingham have in store for us this year.
Fearless Vampire Killers have the ability to write catchy songs, full of heavy riffs and bounce along choruses. Having packed out the main stage last year, before heading out on tour with Black Veil Brides and releasing second album Unbreakable Hearts, 2014 was an amazing year for the boys in black. We can’t wait to see these guys again.
Despite accusations of simply being a gimmick band, The Hell clearly don’t give a f**k. Their music is amazing, and their on stage antics mental. The Hell know how to put on a great live show, and we are more than a little excited to see it. Get your groove(hammer) on, we’ll see you in the pit!
Zoax have unleashed mayhem across the country, displaying their recklessness at every opportunity. They’ll be sure to have you head banging whilst simultaneously chuckling at Adam Carroll’s crazy eyes and untamed antics. Be prepared to have your personal space invaded as they clamber across all things in their path, including you.
All of these bands are just some of the reasons you should head to Takedown Festival 2015, live at Southampton University on the 7th of March 2015. Tickets are available via the official Takedown Festival website www.takedownfestival.co.uk priced at just £40 plus fees. You can also get tickets to the official Takedown Festival Uprawr afterparty bundled with your festival ticket for just £44 plus fees. So what are you waiting for? Book your tickets to the South Coast’s finest alternative festival and await the good times in just a few weeks! We will see you there!
