STRICTLY GLOBAL

Leeds University, located in West Yorkshire England, is one of the most prestigious higher learning schools in the world, having been established back in 1831 for their School of Medicine, and backed by the motto "et augebitur scientia", or "and knowledge will be increased." This weekend, the literal volume will be increased, as this Russell Group affiliate (Ivy League equivalent in the UK) will be home to Ghostfest 2010! 

Originating in 2005, Ghostfest is a metal and hardcore festival pulling together undergound metal and hardcore acts from Europe and America.  For festival standards, tickets to this ear explosion have been ridonkulously cheap, as in £15-£30 for the entire weekend.  Insanity!  The first festival featured 18 bands, including Sikth, Azriel, Bring Me The Horizon, and Architects.  It was filmed and made into a rare/hard to find DVD. Party.

This year, the line-up has 32 bands ready to perform one after the other on two stages over two days.  An awesome idea, so that audience members don't have to sacrifice seeing one band over another.  One band that shouldn't be missed are the Gallows, a punk band from Watford, Hertforshire.  They will be headlining the second night, before continuing on their Euro fest trek throughout the summer.  Hey,  and they just supported a Cypress Hill show at Brixton Academy.  Mega.

And headlining the first night is the London-based hardcore band Knuckledust, who've been around (and maintained the same line-up!) since 1996.  When they formed, hardcore was a near-dead scene in London, but with the help of other local groups, the scene once again grew in the underground, and eventually led to Knuckledust opening for acts like Agnostic Front, Madball, and the Misfits. 

For more info and the rest of the line-up, check out Ghostfest's site.

Written by Dawn Reed