sligoman
25/06/2005, 12:12 AM
The Bank Holiday weekend, July 29th – July 31st will see Sligo’s first ever Weekend Festival of Rock/Heavy Metal. ‘Whiplash’ sees the cream of Irish Heavy Rock and Metal bands take to the stage in Sligo for a weekend of top-class entertainment never before seen here. A series of gigs will take place each night over the weekend. Saturday will also see an early evening gig, while Sunday will see the holding of a ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition for any budding U-18 bands interested in showing off their talent.
Among the many first class bands to play at ‘Whiplash’ are Metallitia and Erin Maiden (Drogheda), Eyesclosed and Chosen (Dublin) Steel Tormentor (Ballina), Dawn (Ballymoney), The Nexus (Belfast), Ground of Ruin (Kildare) and Speedking (Castleblayney). As well as providing a weekend of first class entertainment for rock/metal fans in Sligo and surrounding areas, the festival is destined to attract many metal fans from around the country. Buses are already being organised to travel from Dublin, Drogheda and Belfast for the weekend.
Headlining the opening night are Dublin band Eyesclosed who in the recent past have played support to such metal giants as WASP, Machine Head and Paradise Lost to name just a few. Providing support for them on the night are Ballina Metalheads Steel Tormentor. Following up the success of their debut self-released CD ‘Unleashed’, an album of pure power metal in the vein of Priest and Maiden, Steel Tormentor are now preparing to release their much anticipated follow-up. Opening on the night will be by Kildare’s Ground of Ruin, a hybrid of Thrash/Hardcore Metal for those who like their metal heavy and loud.
Saturday will begin at around 5pm with an early evening free gig with Sligo’s own legend Seamie O Dowd and friends. The main event that night sees Belfast band The Nexus and Ballymoney Rockers Dawn, who will be releasing their new album to coincide with the festival, open up for an Iron Maiden tribute band that have to be seen to be believed called Erin Maiden. Their live show covers all the Maiden classics from the early days of Paul Dianno through the Bruce Dickinson years up to the present and will be the perfect warm up for Iron Maiden fans preparing to see their idols in Dublin at the end of August.
Sunday sees the U-18 Battle of the Bands competition take place between 2 - 4pm. Following on from that will be a gig by Dublin metallers Chosen. Entry to all of this is FREE. The finale of the weekend will open that night with Speedking from Castleblayney, one of the most consistent and popular bands on the Irish Metal Circuit. The main event, however, will need no introduction to Metalheads in the North West. The Master of Tributes, Metallitia, one of Irelands most sought after Live Metal acts will bring the weekend to a rousing close. Their live shows are legendary and those who have witnessed them as recently as last month in Boyle, Co Roscommon will testify that their gigs are increasing in ferocity and intensity. Miss them at your peril.
Any young bands interested in competing in the ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition can contact any of the Committee at the numbers given or by e-mailing sligowhiplash05@yahoo.com to make arrangements for the Committee to hear their demos etc. Other events and gigs will take place and will be announced when they all details are confirmed. The Official Festival web-site address is www.sligowhiplash.com
Among the many first class bands to play at ‘Whiplash’ are Metallitia and Erin Maiden (Drogheda), Eyesclosed and Chosen (Dublin) Steel Tormentor (Ballina), Dawn (Ballymoney), The Nexus (Belfast), Ground of Ruin (Kildare) and Speedking (Castleblayney). As well as providing a weekend of first class entertainment for rock/metal fans in Sligo and surrounding areas, the festival is destined to attract many metal fans from around the country. Buses are already being organised to travel from Dublin, Drogheda and Belfast for the weekend.
Headlining the opening night are Dublin band Eyesclosed who in the recent past have played support to such metal giants as WASP, Machine Head and Paradise Lost to name just a few. Providing support for them on the night are Ballina Metalheads Steel Tormentor. Following up the success of their debut self-released CD ‘Unleashed’, an album of pure power metal in the vein of Priest and Maiden, Steel Tormentor are now preparing to release their much anticipated follow-up. Opening on the night will be by Kildare’s Ground of Ruin, a hybrid of Thrash/Hardcore Metal for those who like their metal heavy and loud.
Saturday will begin at around 5pm with an early evening free gig with Sligo’s own legend Seamie O Dowd and friends. The main event that night sees Belfast band The Nexus and Ballymoney Rockers Dawn, who will be releasing their new album to coincide with the festival, open up for an Iron Maiden tribute band that have to be seen to be believed called Erin Maiden. Their live show covers all the Maiden classics from the early days of Paul Dianno through the Bruce Dickinson years up to the present and will be the perfect warm up for Iron Maiden fans preparing to see their idols in Dublin at the end of August.
Sunday sees the U-18 Battle of the Bands competition take place between 2 - 4pm. Following on from that will be a gig by Dublin metallers Chosen. Entry to all of this is FREE. The finale of the weekend will open that night with Speedking from Castleblayney, one of the most consistent and popular bands on the Irish Metal Circuit. The main event, however, will need no introduction to Metalheads in the North West. The Master of Tributes, Metallitia, one of Irelands most sought after Live Metal acts will bring the weekend to a rousing close. Their live shows are legendary and those who have witnessed them as recently as last month in Boyle, Co Roscommon will testify that their gigs are increasing in ferocity and intensity. Miss them at your peril.
Any young bands interested in competing in the ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition can contact any of the Committee at the numbers given or by e-mailing sligowhiplash05@yahoo.com to make arrangements for the Committee to hear their demos etc. Other events and gigs will take place and will be announced when they all details are confirmed. The Official Festival web-site address is www.sligowhiplash.com