Quest Fest 2026 Review: Seven Bands, Gaming and a Whole Lot of Metal
A year after our first visit, Team Femetalism headed back to KK’s Steel Mill for Quest Fest 2026: seven bands, a Dungeon full of games, a fantasy-loving crowd and a day that once again felt like much more than a standard gig. With power metal on the main stage and gaming adventures waiting between sets, Quest Fest brings two worlds together in a way that gives it a character all of its own.
Quest Fest 2026 Preview: Seven Bands, One Stage and a Whole Lot of Metal
Quest Fest 2026 is almost here, and Team Femetalism is heading back to KK's Steel Mill in Wolverhampton this Saturday, 10th October.
Quest Fest 2026 is almost here, and Team Femetalism is heading back to KK's Steel Mill in Wolverhampton this Saturday, 10th October.
After making our Quest Fest debut in 2025, this year brings something new for us: press access. We'll be bringing you live updates and photos throughout the day and putting together full coverage once we've recovered.
With the official timetable now released, we've got everything you need to know ahead of the festival – from the seven bands taking over the main stage to what's happening in The Dungeon alongside them.
Spectral Make Their Live Debut at Yellow Arch Studios, Sheffield
On Sunday 13th September, Spectral took to the stage at Sheffield's Yellow Arch Studios for their debut performance. Joining them for the night were Manchester alternative rock artist Kora Olivia, Sheffield metalcore band Waiting for Breath and South Wales progressive gothic metal band Root Zero.
Mangata Festival 2026
What’s better than spending a day bouncing between stages, discovering new bands and catching some familiar faces along the way? Not much, and Mangata Festival 2026 delivered exactly that.
Held across Nottingham city centre on Saturday 5 September, Mangata Festival brought together a packed line-up of alternative and heavy music across a number of venues; Rescue Rooms, Stealth, Red Room, Tap & Tumbler and Rock City Beta.
Breakfest: Forged in Fire 2026
On Sunday, Corporation played host to Breakdowns'n'Boas' very first Breakfest, and what a way to launch it! A day built around the brilliant pairing of heavy music and burlesque, four bands and a whole cast of burlesque, drag and fire performers, all in the blaze together. Genuinely, there was not a single dull moment from start to finish.
Powerlines Festival 2026
Saturday saw us descend on Crookes Social Club for the second edition of Powerlines Festival, Sheffield's brilliant homegrown metal festival and what an absolute belter of a day it was!
NINE acts across the day, and every single one brought it:
International Women’s Day 2026 at Corporation, Sheffield
There is no better way to mark International Women’s Day than with an eight-band marathon at Corporation. On a day dedicated to representation and talent, the Steel City’s music scene turned up in force, proving that the future of rock and metal is in good hands.Everything ran perfectly, and the sound and production quality was excellent for every act. It was a fantastic night.
Zephyra Returns with New Music: 'Vortex Inside' and 'The Hardest Projection'
After nearly five years of silence, Swedish metal band Zephyra has burst back onto the scene with not just one, but two exciting new singles.
Formed in 2011, Zephyra has made a name for themselves in the metal genre with their unique blend of thrash and melodic death metal. With Åsa's powerful vocals and a wide-ranging sound, the band has captured the hearts of fans across Sweden and beyond. Since their last full-length album, FALL. RISE. CONQUER., released in 2019, the band took some time off for personal reasons. Now, they’re back, and their return is marked by a renewed energy and passion for their music. Having featured the band a number of times in the past - we are really excited to see their return.