Damnation Festival is a yearly heavy metal music festival held each November at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre (BEC) in Manchester, England. It is described as the biggest indoor extreme metal festival in Europe, with more than 40 bands playing on three stages and a capacity of about 6,000 attendees.
Damnation was first held at Jilly's Rockworld in Manchester from 2005 to 2006 and then at the University of Leeds from 2007 until 2021, before moving to the larger BEC arena and becoming a two-day event. It is organized by Gavin McInally and Paul Farrington.
Damnation 2005
The first Damnation Festival was held on 16 October 2005 at Jilly's Rockworld, Manchester, England. Fifteen bands performed on two stages, headlined by Raging Speedhorn and Entombed.
Main StageTerrorizer StageRaging Speedhorn Sikth Charger Fourway Kill The Inbreds Forever Never Allerjen Amends to the DeadEntombed Gorerotted Gutworm Conquest of Steel Mercury Rain Nailed Dawn of Chaos
Damnation 2006
The second annual Damnation Festival was held on 15 October 2006 at Jilly's Rockworld, Manchester, England. Fourteen bands performed on two stages, headlined by The Haunted and Akercocke.
Jägermeister StageTerrorizer StageThe Haunted Skindred Biomechanical Murder One Head-On Kingsize Blues EvileAkercocke Stampin' Ground Ephel Duath Send More Paramedics Mistress Madman Is Absolute Speed Theory
Damnation 2007
The third annual Damnation Festival was held on 20 October 2007 at Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, England. There were eighteen bands performing on two stages, headlined by Kreator and Anaal Nathrakh.
Jägermeister StageTerrorizer StageKreator Amen Orange Goblin Raging Speedhorn Panic Cell The Inbreds Romeo Must Die MaleficeAnaal Nathrakh Kataklysm Aborted 1349 Narcosis Ted Maul Man Must Die Lazarus Blackstar Soulfracture Dead Beyond Buried
Damnation 2008
The fourth annual Damnation Festival was held on 22 November 2008 and saw the festival move to another new venue at University of Leeds, Leeds, England. The change of venues allowed the festival to expand to three stages incorporating seventeen bands headlined by Carcass, Cathedral and Pitchshifter.
British band Raging Speedhorn were initially booked to play their last show at the festival, but cancelled in favour of a last tour in Japan. Carcass would make this show their only UK show on their comeback tour.
Jägermeister StageTerrorizer StageRock Sound StageCarcass My Dying Bride Sigh Onslaught TaintPitchshifter Napalm Death Benediction The Berzerker Desecration Red MistCathedral Devil Sold His Soul Ramesses *shels Latitudes Mountains Became Machines
Damnation 2009 The fifth annual Damnation Festival was held on 24 October 2009 at University of Leeds, Leeds, England. The organizers announced the festival would again cover three stages but open doors earlier to prevent clashes between bands. The headline acts for 2009 were Life of Agony, Lock Up and Jesu.
Jägermeister StageTerrorizer StageRock Sound StageLife of Agony Therapy? Destruction Anathema Electric Wizard The Gates of Slumber FirebirdLock Up Rotting Christ Akercocke Mistress Negura Bunget Mithras Charger NazxulJesu This Will Destroy You A Storm of Light Minsk Manatees And So I Watch You from Afar Stand-Up Guy Rinoa
Life of Agony's headline slot was their only UK appearance in 2009.
This appearance was Mistress's last show and Rotting Christ's only English show for 2009.
Negura Bunget and Extreme Noise Terror were originally booked to play the Terrorizer stage but both pulled out. Negura Bunget played a make up set in May 2010 at sister festival Deathfest.
On 3 June Entombed were announced on the festival line up. On 23 June the bands management issued a statement announcing that the band would not appear at the festival.
Damnation 2010 The sixth annual Damnation Festival was held on 6 November 2010 at University of Leeds, Leeds, England. The Dillinger Escape Plan and Paradise Lost co-headlined the Jägermeister Stage, whilst Discharge headlined the Terrorizer stage and Alcest the Rock Sound Stage.
Jägermeister StageTerrorizer StageRock Sound StageThe Dillinger Escape Plan Paradise Lost earthtone9 Sabbat Lawnmower Deth Rolo Tomassi Panic Cell MutantDischarge Anaal Nathrakh Hecate Enthroned Fukpig Short Sharp Shock The Antichrist Imperium Bonesaw Colonel Blast DiascoriumAlcest The Ocean Esoteric October File Maybeshewill Fen The Mire The Construct
Damnation 2011 The seventh annual Damnation Festival was held on 5 November 2011 at University of Leeds, Leeds, England. The festival covered three stages, headlined by Devin Townsend Project, Ulver and God is an Astronaut.
Decapitated were forced to pull out after surviving a plane crash. Returning from their US tour, the plane was forced to make a landing with no landing gear in their native Poland.
Jägermeister StageTerrorizer StageZero Tolerance StageDevin Townsend Project Godflesh Grand Magus Evile Turisas Illuminatus XerathUlver Decapitated (withdrew from festival) Doom Chthonic Dragged into Sunlight Shining A Man Called Catten Cerebral BoreGod Is an Astronaut Amplifier Altar of Plagues Talons Astrohenge Conan A Forest of Stars Humanfly
Damnation 2012 The eighth annual Damnation Festival was held across three stages at the University of Leeds student union, Leeds, England, on Saturday 3 November.
Jägermeister StageTerrorizer StageEyesore Merch StageElectric Wizard My Dying Bride Primordial Gama Bomb Textures Devil Sold His Soul Hawk EyesPig Destroyer Belphegor Aura Noir Vreid Extreme Noise Terror Winterfylleth Hang the Bastard The Atrocity ExhibitAmenra Maybeshewill 40 Watt Sun Bossk BlackListers Wodensthrone Ravens Creed
Damnation 2013 The ninth annual Damnation Festival was held across four stages at the University of Leeds student union, Leeds, England, on Saturday 2 November. The event was headlined by Carcass in their only UK headlining show of 2013 following the release of their new album.
Jägermeister StageTerrorizer StageEyesore Merch StageElectric Amphetamine StageCarcass Katatonia God Seed SSS Shining (NOR) Twilight of the GodsRotting Christ Vallenfyre Negură Bunget Dyscarnate Voices The Afternoon Gentlemen DiamanthianCult of Luna Crippled Black Phoenix The Ocean Rosetta Year of No Light Tides from Nebula DirgeConan Moss Serpent Venom Palehorse Slabdragger Black Magician Iron Witch
Damnation 2014 The 10th Damnation Festival was held at Leeds University Union on Saturday 1 November and featured a total of 26 bands across four stages. The sold out event saw a crowd of approximately 4000 in attendance.
Headliners for the event were UK death-metal act Bolt Thrower who played their only UK performance for 2014 at the festival. October File were booked to play the festival but were forced to withdraw prior to the event, they were replaced by Dyscarnate.
Jägermeister StageTerrorizer StageEyesore Merch StagePHD StageBolt Thrower Saint Vitus Orange Goblin Raging Speedhorn Stampin' Ground DyscarnateCannibal Corpse Anaal Nathrakh Revocation Winterfylleth Aeon Xerath AmputatedFen Wodensthrone A Forest of Stars CODE Falloch Obsidian Kingdom BastAhab Monarch! Sólstafir Hark Black Moth Atlantis Corrupt Moral Altar
Damnation 2015 The 11th Damnation Festival was held at Leeds University Union on Saturday 7 November and featured a total of 27 bands across four stages. The event was headlined by At the Gates.
Jägermeister StageTerrorizer StageEyesore Merch StageElectric Amphetamine StageAt the Gates High on Fire Sólstafir The Ocean Oathbreaker Savage MessiahPrimordial Asphyx Keep of Kalessin Vreid Voices Wiegedood The King Is BlindMono Amenra Altar of Plagues Maybeshewill Crown Talons Tacoma Narrows Bridge Disaster40 Watt Sun The Wounded Kings Witchsowrrow Ghold Sea Bastard Ohhms Undersmile
Damnation 2016 The 12th Damnation Festival was held at Leeds University Union on Saturday 5 November. Jägermeister StageTerrorizer StageEyesore Merch StageStagey McStageFace: 4th StageElectric Wizard Abbath
Oceans of Slumber Hang the Bastard HarkEnslaved Akercocke Ne Obliviscaris Venom Prison Mithras Svalbard AttanUfomammut Black Tusk Bossk Sinistro Erlen Meyer Conjurer DialectsIngested Dread Sovereign The Infernal Sea Employed to Serve Darkher Gets Worse Kroh
Damnation 2017 The 13th Damnation Festival was held at Leeds University Union on Saturday 4 November. Jägermeister StageTerrorizer StageEyesore Merch StageTone MGMT StageBloodbath Sodom Paradise Lost Warning Myrkur PallbearerAgoraphobic Nosebleed Dying Fetus Nails Dragged into Sunlight Vallenfyre Wiegedood DisentombNordic Giants Leprous Agent Fresco Big Business Psychedelic Witchcraft PG Lost Body HoundGrave Pleasures Psycroptic The Great Discord Mutation Beyond Creation Leng Tch'e Wren
Damnation 2018 The 14th Damnation Festival was held at Leeds University Union on Saturday 3 November. Jägermeister StageTone MGMT StageCult Never Dies StageEyesore Merch StageNapalm Death Ihsahn Entombed A.D. Anaal Nathrakh Ne Obliviscaris CancerVader Batushka Celeste Saor Lik Fukpig LeechedGhost Bath Mourning Beloveth A Forest of Stars Bong Insanity Alert Møl Hundred Year Old ManThe Ocean Monuments Årabrot Rosetta Ohhms Caligula's Horse Vola
Damnation 2019 The 15th Damnation Festival was held at Leeds University Union on Saturday 2 November. Jägermeister StageTone MGMT StageCult Never Dies StageEyesore Merch StageOpeth Mayhem Alcest Primordial Mgła Raging SpeedhornVenom Prison Gaahls Wyrd Birds in Row Inter Arma Blood Red Throne Carnation GodeaterImperial Triumphant Crowhurst Mork Voices Earth Ship Dawn Ray'd The Infernal SeaBig Business The Vintage Caravan A Pale Horse Named Death Jo Quail Lord Dying Wheel Alunah
Damnation 2020 Damnation festival was cancelled in 2020 due to ongoing regulations around music venues during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Damnation 2021 The 16th Damnation Festival was held on 6 November 2021. Green Lung were originally booked to play the Eyesore Merch Stage but had to pull out due to a member of the band testing positive for COVID-19. They were replaced by Svalbard. It was also the last time it would take place at Leeds University. Jägermeister StageTone MGMT StageCult Never Dies StageEyesore Merch StageCarcass Paradise Lost Godflesh Onslaught Bossk EvileMemoriam Conan Conjurer Gama Bomb Man Must Die Party Cannon Cryptic ShiftEsoteric Hellripper Winterfylleth Wode Video Nasties Urne AbductionYear Of No Light Regarde Les Hommes Tomber, Sylvaine Svalbard Dvne Boss Keloid Mountain Caller
There were three exclusive full-album performances:
Svalbard - When I Die, Will I Get Better? Akercocke - The Goat of Mendes Raging Speedhorn - Raging Speedhorn
Damnation 2022
The 17th Damnation Festival was held on 5 November 2022, for the first time at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Manchester. Ministry were originally booked to headline the festival but pulled out due to the cancellation of their European tour. Godflesh were announced as the replacement. There were four exclusive full album performances:
Converge - Jane Doe At The Gates - Slaughter of the Soul Godflesh - Streetcleaner Pig Destroyer - Prowler in the Yard
Pins & Knuckles StageHoly Goat Brewing StageEyesore Merch StageConverge At the Gates Godflesh My Dying Bride Pig Destroyer Full of Hell Insanity Alert IristDecapitated Despised Icon Misery Index Wolves In The Throne Room Incantation Bell Witch & Aeriel Ruin: Stygian Bow Oceano DistantElder Pallbearer 40 Watt Sun Green Lung We Lost the Sea So Hideous BRUIT ≤ Frayle
Damnation 2023 The 18th Damnation Festival was held over two days, 3–4 November 2023, at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Manchester. A smaller event called "A Night of Salvation" was held on 3 November. It included bands billed for the main festival performing exclusive sets.
A Night of Salvation Pins & Knuckles StageChurch Road Records StageEyesore Merch StageKatatonia Leprous Enslaved Bossk Viking SkullDeadguy Heriot Din of Celestial Birds