ANYONE FOR METALFEST?

12-11-2008

Now that those excellent folk at Capsule have started compiling a digital archive celebrating the West Midlands as “The Home of Metal”, is it time to enter the next phase and create our own full-on homegrown annual event celebrating this major music genre? Are you ready for Metalfest?

Capsule – promoters of a truly eclectic array of gigs – have started recording interviews with fans and filming their memorabila at a series of events around Birmingham and the Black Country. The idea is to create an online resource dedicated the sound of bone-crushing riffs and big hair.

They kicked off their fan sessions in Wolverhampton last month, took in Walsall last Thursday, and move onto Brum’s Museum and Art Gallery in February (capsule.org.uk/event/home-of-metal).

It’s a terrific initiative, inspired by the observation that Heavy Metal is second only to Hip Hop as a global pop phenomenon.

Given that 1970s pioneers like Black Sabbath, Led Zep vocalist Bob Plant and Judas Priest all hail from this region - and were then succeeded by waves of modernist noisemongers including Godflesh and Napalm death - its a long overdue recognition of our role in this major genre.

Great. So instead of just turning all that heritage into a museum piece, let’s celebrate the living art with an annual Metalfest at venues throughout the West Midlands.

Unlike Birmingham’s festivals of dance, film, or jazz, this really would be OURS; the music we made and sold to the world being celebrated on its own home turf.

Metalheads from around the world would gather to see top acts and emerging talent for week of squalling guitars, Marshall amps and patchouli oil.

Sod it, let’s have a REAL museum as well, to attract those year-round visitors.

Unlike most festivals, this would be a commercial proposition. The acts would sell themselves and it would need only marketing muscle and sharp organisation to make it work.

Blimey, if Whitby can make dosh out of Goth and the Butlins at Minehead can attract thousands to soul weekenders or All Tomorrows Parties, we can surely drum up a crowd for a week of great shows and metal-related happenings.

Quick! Turn the volume up to 11 and prepare for Metalfest.

ARE YOU READY FOR METALFEST? DISCUSS THIS ON THE STIRRER FORUM