2 Promoters, 1 Pod

Maybeshewill’s John Helps discusses playing in (one of) the world’s best post-rock band, inadvertently calling it a day at their biggest ever show, returning in the middle of a pandemic and why he’s the reluctant “thank you” guy.

He also talks about the promoters’ life with his role in Handmade Festival, pinching a blueprint from Damnation and using his tour managing experience to keep visiting bands happy - even at breakfast.

Oh, and the worst tour of his life looking after a very difficult black metal act in Mexico. 

For further info on Damnation Versus, or Damnation Festival visit:

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We go again, every Thursday morning.

Orange Goblin frontman and booking agent Ben Ward explains how losing his day job during the pandemic led to the birth of his own agency, Route One Booking, with a roster boasting the likes of Voivod, Discharge, Mutoid Man and Fu Manchu. 

The importance of strong relationships between booking agents and promoters, finding festivals for his emerging acts and the chances of seeing High Command back on the poster for Damnation 2021.

He also looks back on 25 years with Orange Goblin; the highlights and nightmares of life on the road, their next record and forthcoming live streams to mark the milestone as a band.

For further info on Damnation Vs, or Damnation Festival visit:

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#damnationvs #orangegoblin

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We did it! We landed a booking agent, and not just any old agent, the man responsible for putting more bands on Damnation's incredible line-ups than anyone... Haydn Britland of NMC Live.

Alcest, Mono, Sólstafir, The Ocean, Cult of Luna, Enslaved, Nordic Giants, Maybeshewill, Leprous, Ihsahn, Amenra, Talons, Ne Obliviscaris, Arabrot, Agent Fresco, Obsidian Kingdom, Sinistro, Chthonic, pg.lost,... he's the man deals.

We discuss the birth of that unforgettable Mariner tour, promoter vs agent challenges, the perfect slots at perfect events and how the sublime - and classical - Jo Quail fits into it all.

There's also bubbly and a discount merch deal with our friends at Eyesore Merch to round off the first season of Damnation Vs.

For further info on Damnation Vs, or Damnation Festival visit:

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ArcTanGent and 2,000 Trees talent buyer, James Scarlett, opens up about the pressures of booking almost 300 bands each year for his festivals. 

Why won't Mogwai just say 'yes'? How realistic is it that we'll see The Mars Volta finally take the stage in Bristol? The challenges of booking a line-up for fans two decades younger than him...

Puscifer's wrestling ring production being too big to consider at ATG, the stars aligning for a possible Pixies performance at 2,000 Trees and Dragged Into Sunlight "bustin' balls".

Why weren't Maybeshewill as big as Explosions in the Sky, can Nordic Giants make that leap and would Electric Wizard go down well at Fernhill Farm? We get in about it all.

Oh, and remember when Refused called James out for not doing enough to promote women in rock? 

We go again, every Thursday morning.

Beating Covid-19, tour managing Machine Head, playing with Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax in Czech Republic, Wes Scantlin's bus antics, silver service at Graspop vs dodgy meal tokens at Download, handling huge production for Red Hot Chilli Peppers, losing £20,000 on Drowning Pool and cops interrupting his "rock star moment" threesome.

Testament, A Pale Horse Named Death, Disturbed, God Forbid, Life of Agony, Skindred, Hell Yeah, American Head Charge, Soil, Ill Nino, Breed 77, Devildriver, The Pretty Reckless, Puddle of Mudd, Heaven's Basement and Florence and the Machine also feature as Luke recounts two decades of being baw deep in the business.

And what's the chances of Panic Cell reuniting for a one-off 20th anniversary set of Bitter Part of Me at Damnation 2023?

For further info on Damnation Vs, or Damnation Festival visit:

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#damnationvs #lukebell 

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We go again, every Thursday morning.

Suicidal black metal shoegaze enigmas Ghostbath, of North Dakota, China, screech and howl about life on the road in the States vs Europe, making their UK debut on Bloodstock's main stage at 11am, headlining Damnation against Napalm Death, signing with a major label and not-so-major booking agency and having lyrics on the next 'nameless' record.

Frontman Dennis Mikula also talks about his hopes for a post-pandemic tour on a black metal bill after putting in the miles with some of death metal biggest names, including Dying Fetus and Decapitated.

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For further info on Damnation Vs, or Damnation Festival visit:

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Serena discusses the band's sudden departure from Holy Roar Records following allegations of serious sexual assault made against the label's owner.

What's next for the album that is due to drop in just a couple of weeks, the uncertain immediate future for the band and how they digested the news along with the public in a stressful 24 hours.

She also talks about the challenges of life on the road as a woman artist, dealing with sexism and creeps and how the scene has changed - for the better! - in the eight years since Svalbard appeared.

And hopes for 2021 from a "bucket list" show on Bloodstock's main stage to back up plans should their tour with The Ocean fall through.

We go again, every Thursday morning.

Damnation is cancelled. I talk to the 'other' organiser, Paul Farrington about what that means for us as an event, the fans in terms of their tickets and what the future hold for the festival.

We also take the chance to look back over the years and laugh about the highlights and cringe over the nightmares we've experienced, from Julie Christmas and Cult of Luna's stunning Marnier set to Turisas' tour manager describing the show as the "worst event the band ever played".

Who we'd like to book in future, who we regret not booking and that bloody fire alarm!

One for the Damnation diehards.

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For further info on Damnation Vs, or Damnation Festival visit:

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damnationfestival.co.uk
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#damnationvs #damnation

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From sharing an Ozzfest stage with Tool, Slipknot and Black Sabbath, through being arrested with Amen in Spain to getting kicked off Rammstein’s arena tour “every day”, Corby’s finest Raging Speedhorn crammed a lifetime of rock ‘n’ roll into a few eventful years.

Founding member - and the only ever present face over two decades of chaos - Gordon Morison recounts the explosion and then implosion of Speedhorn, the successful reunion and the night they carved themselves into Download folklore playing before Napalm Death.

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For further info on Damnation Vs, or Damnation Festival visit:

damnationversus.buzzsprout.com
damnationfestival.co.uk
facebook.com/damnationfestival
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twitter.com/damnationfest

#damnationvs #ragingspeedhorn

We go again, every Thursday morning.

Converge, Whitechapel, Deafheaven, The Dandy Warhols and Busted have one man in common... Bossk's Tom Begley.

The bassist-turned-tour manager chats about life on the road pre-pandemic, learning from £7,000 mistakes and weighs up the pros and cons of arena vs club tours.

He also talks Bossk, taking advantage of ArcTanGent's fancy ass screen and confirms their first date of 2021!

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For further info on Damnation Vs, or Damnation Festival visit:

damnationversus.buzzsprout.com
damnationfestival.co.uk
facebook.com/damnationfestival
instagram.com/damnationfestival
twitter.com/damnationfest

#damnationvs #bossk

We go again, every Thursday morning.