For the Magic of Metal
I never had “Backing Dancer for Arthur Brown” on my 2025 Bingo card…
Metal Magic has always been one of my favourite festivals, having only missed out on a single accessible year since 2014. I’ve always found the chilled out ‘Garden Party’ atmosphere to be appealing, a reflection on the friendliness I’ve experienced in all my visits to Denmark. Many friends and more have been made on these grounds, each sharing sincere love for the music and the collective camaraderie of the moment.
Given I would be over here for most of July with my fellow students from the Academy of Live Technology, it only took a polite request to reschedule my flight to an earlier day so I could get to Fredericia first. And then from there volunteering to crew Metal Magic for more experience, with the expectation that I’ll just be a stage hand or similar.
I did not expect an invite to manage main stage backline for the final night.
Although intimidated at the start, not least by the stage size increase this year to over 150 square metres, (needed for plenty of pyros), I managed my festival time cautiously. Reserving Thursday for a no-holds-barred “Party” day, reconnecting with dear, missed friends over many beers while indulging an incendiary set by Venom. Friday would be for “Paying Attention”, sneaking backstage to shadow the crew and see how things are done even if it meant missing a couple of bands – but not German titans Destruction reprising their ‘Infernal Overkill’ opus.
Then, from 10am sharp on Saturday, I was locked on the clock to do it myself.
With the industry-level training already given in my first year at the Academy, I soon got to work at keeping things organised. With the right amp heads finding their way to the right musicians; stage schedules kept on time and ticked off on the clipboard; and of course, a hearty bellow of “Truss Moving” whenever raising or lowering the backdrop. No longer overwhelmed by the unknown, everything was possible in an equally calm cadence. Even if the weather occasionally took a nasty turn, requiring timely safety measures to keep the straps tight and stage dry.
The first band, Sweden’s Dun Rignill, offered many kind acts of support as I got up to speed. Their folk-fuelled Doom Metal an ideal thematic start to my tenure. With subsequent sets by Switzerland’s Amethyst and Sweden’s Portrait, everything moved to a swift pace – even if the latter’s additional stage props proved an entertaining packdown challenge.
And then the highlight of my day, and a dream come true, the opportunity to work with living legend Arthur Brown. With his shows moreso a Live Multimedia Experience than just another gig, there were extra complications required of my role. Not least the creation of an impromptu backstage dressing area to allow Arthur to change his outfit between songs. With a video wall integrated into the staging, some cunning curtain swaps were required, as well as an entertaining debate with their visuals tech on the relative benefits of SDI and HDMI.
Arthur’s set was a joy from start to finish, and looking out into the sea of happy faces was a thoroughly heartwarming experience. Much love and smiles were shared in the wings, culminating in the Creative Director dragging the crew out onto the stage proper to dance along with ‘Time Captives’.
Alas, I missed out on closing veterans Pentagram due to a necessary backstage audit to account for every errant drum and amplifier. Barely having enough time to pilfer a celebratory sneak photo with the stars before getting back on with it.
Finally finishing fourteen hours later, any fatigue was soon swept away in gratitude for the entire experience. With thanks to Martin and Clark for their trust in me to keep things moving behind the curtain; and to Rowan and Rasmus for their able expertise and assistance. Thanks also to Jacob at Grøn for agreeing to fly me out early, and to all at the Academy for the training and support required to take such opportunities in my stride.
Rumours claim this will be the last year that Metal Magic will be run at the current site, but there are plenty of other locations to be had. I am proud to have done my part in service to everyone in attendance.
Now onwards to Grøn Koncert…
Photo taken by Amelia Whitehttps://heathenstorm.com/2025/07/14/for-the-magic-of-metal/
#academyoflivetechnology #amethyst #arthurbrown #backline #crew #destruction #dunringill #heathenstormproductions #livemusic #management #metal #metalmagic #multimedia #music #pentagram #portrait #venom
Magna cum Loudly
As I take pause to commemorate another year round the sun, it is the right time to reveal just what I’ve been up to these past months.
A secret to most, although obvious to many, l have returned to the hallowed halls of academia with a suitably Rock and Roll twist. Last year I began studying a full-time Foundation degree in Live Event Production at the Academy of Live Technology in Yorkshire. Literally a ten minute drive from my front door.
The campus is part of Production Park, a world-class staging facility where the big tours plan and rehearse their productions. Making non-music headlines for supplying studio space to Netflix’s Adolescence production; but also paying pre-tour host in recent weeks to the likes of Ghost, Sleep Token and The Hu.
Adolescence of a later ilk was not as challenging as expected. As a “mature” student (on paper at least), I came to campus with the trepidation of an outlier and rigid in my expectations. Thankfully, my “fellow kids” swiftly embraced me as one of their own, appreciating the worldy wisdom and post-corporate planning I could bring to group assessments.
Specialising in Visual Production and Audio Mixing, the first year has been an enlightening experience – although it took some effort to coax an academic rigour out of my usual florid prose. It has been refreshing to see the practical aspects of the craft taught properly, and I can honestly say I learned more in the first three months of applied study than I did in three decades of ‘making do’.
My joyful gratitude abounds every day. I am energised at the epicentre of opportunity, and rub shoulders with some of the greatest professionals in the industry. Learning, unlearning, experiencing, and especially giving back.
I can make a difference here.
And make a difference I do! My profound appreciation for this second chance carries forward in all my acts. Having squandered an initial scholastic foray a lifetime ago, my retirement funds could only stretch to a two-year course instead of a full degree. As much as I nourish this hunger to learn and excel, and yearn to study further, I must use the limited time of my position to guide others.
Ruminating on Crowley’s notion of “True Will”, I consider how mine has refined and unveiled itself over the years. Where once I thought my soul’s calling was in the written word, that later expanded to communication as a whole, and now it is more a will to empower others to communicate. Individual purpose stepping forward to selflessly enrich the collective.
I find myself donning the aspect of facilitator in all forms. Rejecting a dependence on top-down authority for more collaborative growth. The Emperor turned becomes the Hierophant.
This manifests in how I give my all on campus. Volunteering as Student Ambassador and Mentor, I share my sincere enthusiasm with newcomers to the Academy. Offering campus tours and support to individuals, and interactive demonstrations for visiting groups. Showing how arena-grade equipment is operated through the encouragement of play and hands-on experience.
Ascending to the student body politic, (at the whim of the ballot), I will become the Academy’s Wellbeing Executive Officer in my second year. Understanding how harmful unchecked coping mechanisms can be to those in the industry, I aim to help students develop a robust mental toolset to pack alongside their podgers and gaff tape.
I see a lot of myself in my fledgling peers. An energy, an enthusiasm, a determination to achieve and succeed. Often unfocused in anger, doubt and frustration, but made of solid stock. Through what guidance I may, I help secure both my stake in the future and theirs.
The kids are, most definitely, all right!
Summer will shine, and with it an extended tour around Denmark, crewing both Metal Magic and Grøn Festival next month. Upon return, I will assist a summer school at the Academy for younger students. A course of creative design and confidence building, where the lessons I’ve learned over the years may be repurposed to the benefit of others.
I’ve drifted a lot through life, flitting from whim to whim and country to country. With the typical whimsy of the universe, it is on my doorstep that it all comes together. My strengths are repeatedly acknowledged and rewarded, and everything is locking into place.
I am exactly where I need to be.
https://heathenstorm.com/2025/06/14/magna-cum-loudly/
#Blog #academia #academyoflivetechnology #adolescence #birthday #crowley #gronfestival #hierophant #metalmagic #music #productionpark #student #truewill #videoproduction #wellbeing
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