The 18th edition of Hellfest drew more than a quarter of a million fans to indulge in a four-day extravaganza of heavy metal and rock packed onto a huge site in Clisson, France.
The 2025 event offered a strong line-up of superstars, legendary veterans and some of the best up and coming bands from the metal and hard rock genres across the six stages on the circa 50 acre site.
Thursday’s day one line-up included Korn headlining the main stage and Electric Callboy topping the bill on the second stage…
We were there on Friday, Saturday and Sunday – our third consecutive year of coverage – and the heat and humidity was more like being in the middle of a desert at above 40 degrees with 100% humidity. The medics were kept busy as were the water points, and of course the many bars.
Sadly one of our photographers, Claire, was taken ill on Friday at Hellfest with severe heat stroke and dehydration and that was the end of the festival for her.
So we relied upon our man David Bronstein to save the “day”, and to cover the rest of the festival on his own as best he could. Bravo DB. Claire is fine now. But….David has since picked up Covid and is now in bed in France, recovering. Get well soon DB.
The site of the annual rock pilgrimage to Hellfest is located in the small and pretty village of Clisson in West France – normal population 8,000, but for four days every summer that number is swelled by at least 60,000 people a day.
The Hellfest site sits on about 50 acres – the size of 50 football pitches – and has six stages. It usually hosts close to 200 bands and artists from all over the world.
Hellfest has been going since 2006, with two years off (2020 and 2021) due to the pandemic. This year being its 18th anniversary.
Headliners include Muse, Scorpions, Linkin Park, Within Temptation, Judas Priest, Frank Carter with The Sex Pistols, Jerry Cantrell and more. Thursday’s day one line-up included Korn headlining the main stage and Electric Callboy topping the bill on the second stage.
Mainstage # 1: Top international rock and metal acts. Mainstage # 2: Top international rock and metal acts (this part of the festival can hold 60,000). Altar: Death Metal. Temple: Thrash/Death Metal. Warzone: Punk/Rock. Valley: Traditional Rock, Indie and Stoner Rock.
Our first day of coverage, (Friday) we caught Spiritbox, The Cult, Epica, The Damned, and The Sex Pistols with Frank Carter.
* Saturday we caught Judas Priest, Joe Bonamassa and Glenn Hughes with their band Black Country Communion, and more…
* Some of Sunday’s lineup we caught in the act included Eagles Of Death Metal, and Jerry Cantrell.
Rock fans at Hellfest are a thirsty lot. The last few festivals reported that more than 400,000 litres of beer were necked.
With the ridiculous Saharan-style heat and humidity at this year’s event, our bet is that figure will be smashed for 2025!
- Check out the coverage of Friday and Sunday in our “Live Zone”…
Photos by David Bronstein
Guitar silhouette shot by Claire Kateri Edward [captioned CKE]
Words by Steve Best
