A special concert featuring three of the UK’s most exciting metal acts comes to Birmingham this summer as the BBC celebrates the influence of Black Sabbath.

Rising stars CHERRYDEAD, GANS, and Meatdripper, all hailing from across the West Midlands, will take to the stage at historic city landmark Town Hall for BBC Radio WM celebrates Metal in the Midlands on Wed 2 Jul.

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 showcases a new generation of metalheads inspired by the eternal legacy of one of the city’s most iconic musical exports.

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.

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 Sat 5 Jul.

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 group, who are to be awarded ‘Freedom of the City’ in recognition of their efforts and exceptional service.

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 Fri 8 Jan 1971 and Mon 24 Jan 1972.  Frontman Ozzy Osbourne also chose the venue for an intimate show for fans on Sat 26 Jun 2010.

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.”

Tickets are priced at just £5 with no booking fee. Grab yours using the button below.

Featured image credit: Sam Wood