The future of UK metal to play live at BBC celebration of Black Sabbath
Three live acts representing the future of heavy music in the UK are to perform at a special BBC celebration of the influence of “Black Sabbath” in Birmingham this summer.
Image credit: B:Music, BBC Radio WM, Home of Metal
Rising stars CHERRYDEAD, GANS, and Meatdripper, all hailing from across the West Midlands, will light up the stage at historic city landmark Town Hall for BBC Radio WM celebrates Metal in the Midlands on Wednesday 2 July 2025.
Spanning sludge, stoner, doom, folk, psych, alt and nu metal, and drawing on hardcore, punk, hard rock and other ends of the heavy music spectrum, the three acts are currently flying high with support from industry, fans, and media across the country.
Presented by BBC Radio in the West Midlands with cultural organisations B: Music and Home of Metal, the one-off event places a new generation of metalheads at the heart of a sonic exploration of the Sabbath effect over the years.
Brummie musical pioneers Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward, born in the Aston area of the city, established heavy metal through their musical style in the late 1960s.
The four-piece went on to inspire the broad church of metal music - now a multi-billion dollar industry across the globe - and still playing a hugely important role in fan bases, musical communities, and popular culture the world over.
Photo credit: CHERRYDEAD, Jordan Rhys
BBC Radio WM celebrates Metal in the Midlands is planned to coincide with Sabbath’s much-anticipated ‘Back to the Beginning’ final show at Villa Park in Birmingham on Saturday 5 July 2025.
Featuring a Home of Metal film screening, an industry panel discussion and DJ sets - with further details to be revealed soon - the evening marks a remarkable homecoming for the four sons of Birmingham - to be awarded ‘Freedom of the City’ in recognition of their efforts and exceptional service to the Midlands city.
Chris Pegg, Editor of BBC Radio WM, said: “Birmingham is the birthplace of Heavy Metal. We wanted to celebrate our rich heritage by presenting this special event as the world's biggest heavy metal bands descend on Birmingham.
“To be presenting a new generation of metal acts in such an important venue for music in the region today demonstrates our commitment to supporting the major music stars of tomorrow.”
Black Sabbath played multiple shows at the Grade I listed Town Hall Birmingham, on Friday 8 January 1971 and Monday 24 January 1972.
These monumental moments in music history, plus frontman Ozzy Osbourne choosing the venue for an intimate show for fans on Saturday 26 June 2010, will offer the perfect backdrop for the celebration.
Photo credit: Paul Dixon Photography
Chris Proctor, Head of Programming at B: Music - the charity which manages Town Hall Birmingham, said: “We’re delighted to not only be working with BBC in Birmingham and Home of Metal again, and also the future stars of UK metal - this is shaping up to be a phenomenal night marking the return of four Birmingham musicians.
“It is particularly timely that we host this event celebrating new music, given the recent launch of our She:Music programme, which aims to promote bold cross-genre collaborations and break down the barriers that women, especially those from the global majority, and B:Music’s ongoing support for local and emerging talent from across the West Midlands and UK.”
Programmed and organised by BBC Radio WM senior content producer Nina Lammiman and city music consultant Lyle Bignon, with support from Capsule, Supersonic Festival and Home of Metal director Lisa Meyer, and Head of Programming at B: Music Chris Proctor, BBC WM celebrates Metal in the Midlands is an important acknowledgement of the role heavy music has played in the civic and cultural identity of Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Liv, bassist and vocalist with Meatdripper, said: “I am so honoured to be playing this gig and celebrating the Midlands metal scene. I am even prouder to be repping women and non-binary people in music.
“When I think of Sabbath, I think of the best of Brum. I think of heavy riffs and iconic vocals. It makes me proud to be living in a city with such a legendary music scene.”
Photo credit: Meatdripper, Sam Wood
Tickets for BBC Radio WM celebrates Metal in the Midlands at Town Hall Birmingham on Wednesday 2 July 2025, priced £5 with no booking fee, go on general sale from 10:00 on Friday 16 May 2025 via bmusic.co.uk
