The fourth instalment of prog-metal band Aonia’s eponymous festival is ready to (rock and) roll! The stage is set for the festival’s return on the 25th of June, 2022 at the legendary Corporation, Sheffield.
AoniaFest is known for hosting a wide variety of talented metal bands, appealing to metalheads with a range of tastes and preferences. In addition to the musical prowess of the bands on the bill, fans of the festival praise the fantastic, friendly atmosphere.
Aonia guitarist and organiser Stuart Gibson says, ‘After more than 2 years Aoniafest is back! We already have what’s is shaping up to be a fantastic lineup joining us, and we hope to see both old and new faces on the 25th of June! We can’t wait to bring the show back to Corp!‘
If you like what we do, consider joining us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
Line-Up Details in no particular order!
Luke Appleton (Classic Rock / Metal)
Luke Appleton, guitarist of Absolva & Blaze Bayley has been performing acoustically since 2018. With his two CD releases ‘How Does It Feel To Be Alive’? & ‘Snake Eyes’ Luke has toured all over the UK and Europe performing acoustic versions of his solo material, Absolva songs and rock & metal classics! Luke has now for the first time formed his own band featuring Rishi Mehta (Babylon Fire) on guitars, Adam Harris (Dakesis) on drums and Luke will be reverting back to his main instrument ’the bass’ to deliver a powerful, melodic and hard rock sound!
For fans of: Myles Kennedy, Smith/Kotzen, Absolva, Blaze Bayley
Cadence Noir (Goth Folk & Roll)
Cadence Noir’s unique sound have made them favourites across the UK and beyond. Formed in 2011, the band graduated from the Midlands open mic scene to UK and EU-wide gigs, major tour supports, and a slew of festival appearances including HRH and Bloodstock.
For fans of: The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, The Dropkick Murphys
Serpentyne (Symphonic / Folk Metal)
Serpentyne combine a unique mix of operatic and orchestral styles with powerful riffs and dramatic themes about historical figures and legends. Serpentyne have been playing extensively around the UK and the rest of Europe. Recent major tours include “A Nordic Symphony” supporting Tarja Turunen and Stratovarius with 22 dates throughout 11 European countries, a hugely successful and well received tour, again with Tarja throughout Ukraine and Belarus, and touring throughout Europe supporting legendary metal band Soulfly. The band’s album “The Serpent’s Kiss” featured mythic & medieval themes, combined with a hard rock metal sound. This fusion won the band its place as finalists in the Metal To The Masses, London, in 2018.
For fans of: Eluveitie, Within Temptation, Nightwish
Izengard (Power/Symphonic Metal)
Izengard originally formed in 2011 and have graduated through the years from social media and rough demos to local music venues to festival appearance slots (including “Oktoberfest”) to supporting Demon at Eleven on the eve of their first single release. This year, Izengard performed at Hammerfest 13 at the O2 Academy Birmingham.
For fans of: Magnum, Nightwish, Rush
Walk in Coma (Alternative Metal)
An Essex-based band making their Sheffield debut, Walk in Coma bring metal with a huge, layered sound and an energetic live show. The band have been making music for more than a decade and have a notable history of stage success, including landing support slots with the Cancer Bats and Heart of a Coward.
For fans of Slipknot, Lamb of God, Architects
Final Coil (Alternative/Progressive Rock)
Veterans of HRH Festival with a wealth of live experience, Final Coil began their musical life in howls of feedback and chaos, a raging entity that tore up the stages of endless small clubs as they slowly found their direction. Gradually, that energy and electricity was channelled into smoother paths as the band looked deeper into themselves and their music, discovering how much more their individual abilities could create; realising they had so much more to say, that a fleeting impact wasn’t all they wished to achieve – they wanted to carve musical monuments that would stand the test of time and stand for something as well.
For fans of: Tool, Alice in Chains, Pink Floyd, Katatonia
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
Ashes of Ire (Modern Metalcore)
Ashes of Ire are a recent and welcome addition to the Sheffield Metal Scene, having made their debut at the 2022 Metal 2 the Masses competition at the Corporation in Sheffield. The band is currently working on their debut EP. Ashes of Ire say that they ‘do what we do for our fans and family, and for a genuine love of our craft, and we aim to push ourselves harder than we have ever done’.
For fans of: Amon Amarth, Trivium, Sylosis, Gojira
Listen now: YouTube
Aonia (Progressive/Operatic Metal)
Hosts of the festival, Aonia create stories set to bold, fearless melody without limitation. They make no apology for being grandiose, powerfully theatrical, balls-out heavy metal. We unite in fearless creativity. Having supported artists such as Leaves’ Eyes, Kobra and the Lotus, Xandria, Warrior Soul, and Blaze Bayley, the band are also veterans of Bloodstock Festival.
For fans of: Nightwish, Therion, Dream Theater.
We can’t wait to see old friends and new at AoniaFest IV on the 25th of June at Corporation, Sheffield!
AoniaFest would like to thank their sponsors, Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life, and their endorsers, Vocalzone and AH Music for their support.
