‘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.

Rising stars CHERRYDEAD, GANS, and Meatdripper (pictured), 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.

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.

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.” 

Tickets for BBC Radio WM celebrates Metal in the Midlands at Town Hall Birmingham, priced £5 with no booking fee, go on general sale from 10am on Friday 16 May, 2025.