Preview: Butserfest 2013 (14/09/2013)

Butserfest is a small local budget festival with a difference, namely the fact that absolutely no alcohol or drugs are permitted anywhere on the festival site, even for the bands. However, the family friendly feel of the festival does not mean the quality of the acts is compromised at all. Headlining the main stage this year are Mallory Knox, an exciting new British rock act who have enjoyed a meteoric rise in 2013. Their anthemic, stadium-ready rock is gaining them a huge following and this could be one of the last chances you get to see them at an intimate festival such as this one. Another band that promises to be unmissable is the Fearless Vampire Killers. Their unique image and bombastic take on Goth rock always provides a fantastic live show that’s great fun to watch, so definitely don’t miss these boys!

For those with slightly heavier tastes, Glaswegian metalcore crew Bleed From Within will be headlining the alternative stage. This band have really captured the attention of audiences all over Britain with their crushingly heavy metalcore, and have recently toured with thrash heavyweights Megadeth, as well as scooping the prestigious ‘Best New Band’ award from Metal Hammer magazine. Also on the alternative stage are the genre- defying Hacktivist, who fuse rap, djent-style guitars and politically charged lyrics to create a thoroughly individual sound. Their energetic live show was one of the hidden gems of this year’s Download festival, and they promise to impress again here.

Butserfest takes place on 14^th September at Queen Elizabeth Country Park in the South Downs and tickets are £30 on the door, or £20 through the Butserfest website.