Feature: Top 5 Best Metal Music Festivals in Europe to Visit With Your LGBT Partner
4 min read
Europe hosts some of the world’s biggest and best metal music festivals. These multi-day events bring together tens of thousands of metalheads for an unforgettable experience of live music, headbanging, and community. For LGBT couples who love metal music, these festivals can be an excellent opportunity to escape reality, travel together, and enjoy some of their favorite bands. Here is a list of the top five best European metal fests to visit as an LGBT couple, from significant destinations like Germany to hidden gems in Spain.
Find You Music-Lover
As a metal music enthusiast, finding someone special who shares your passion for heavy riffs and circle pits can feel impossible on mainstream dating apps. Thanks to niche matchmaking platforms designed just for LGBT headbangers, connecting with like-minded people is easy peasy. Whether gay or lesbian meet-up platform, the right site allows you to instantly find other hardcore partners who live for metal as much as you do.
What better way to bond with your new flame than planning an epic summer European metal fest road trip together? Dating platforms often come with advanced matchmaking and chat features, making interactions easier and more streamlined. Once you find a partner, here are some festivals to explore:
1. Wacken Open Air Festival – Germany
For LGBTQ metalheads seeking a massive heavy metal pilgrimage, Wacken Open Air should top your list. Each summer, over 80,000 devoted fans from across the globe flock to this tiny northern German village of just over 2,000 residents. For four days, Wacken becomes a temporary mecca for all things metal. LGBTQ travelers can camp onsite and dive headfirst into the passionate Wacken community, where music is not just listened to – it’s worshipped. Multiple stages allow you to experience diverse metal genres, from death metal to folk metal, highlighting modern-day stars and legendary bands.
2. Hellfest – France
If you’re looking for metal music with a unique touch, check out Hellfest in Clisson, France. Spread out over six stages, Hellfest books major stars and up-and-coming bands. What makes this fest stand out are its surroundings. Hellfest’s grounds include a medieval castle and Gothic cathedrals, complementing the dark vibe. LGBTQ couples can take in the sights during the day and rock out at night. Additionally, with 4-day passes, it’s easy to settle in. Hellfest offers metalheads a one-of-a-kind backdrop for a long weekend.
3. Azkena Rock Festival – Spain
LGBTQ travelers seeking an intimate metal music experience, Azkena Festival in Spain’s Basque Country is ideal. Held right in the streets of Vitoria-Gasteiz, this 2-day fest feels like one big punk party. Crowds max out around 15,000, so LGBTQ couples have plenty of room to headbang and mosh together to legends like Iron Maiden and up-and-coming bands. The tight-knit atmosphere makes it easy to connect with other LGBTQ metalheads. Past headliners have included metal royalty Judas Priest and Motörhead.
4. Bloodstock Open Air – England
For LGBTQ partners looking to have fun in England, look no further than Bloodstock Open Air for a unique medieval metal getaway. At this adults-only 3-day camping fest, attendees are fully immersed in heavy metal magic. Headliners like Sabaton and Behemoth slay the main stage, while intimate tent sets feature underground British metal acts. When not rocking out, LGBTQ couples can enjoy theatrical jousting matches on horseback between sets.
At night, cozy up and keep warm around massive bonfires under the stars. With OzzFest vibes throughout, Bloodstock provides the perfect mix of main stage spectacle and niche new talent discovery. LGBTQ travelers seeking romantic castle intrigue with hard and heavy music can look no further for medieval mayhem.
5. Graspop Metal Meeting – Belgium
Rounding up our list of the top festivals for LGBTQ travelers is Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium. This 4-day heavy metal haven held annually in the tiny village of Dessel is a must-attend for music lovers. The lineup captivates with legends like Ozzy on the main stages, and lesser-known hardcore, punk, and rock acts on intimate side stages. Beyond the mental band performances, LGBTQ couples can enjoy metal-themed bars, lip-smacking BBQ cook-offs, and heart-pumping motocross demos.
Previous years have even featured surprise performances! With 50,000 excited metalheads from around the world camping onsite, Graspop exudes a spirit of unity and community. LGBTQ travelers can easily immerse themselves in the headbanging crowds and vibrant atmosphere. For an elevated experience that combines big-name artists, up-and-coming talent, and off-stage entertainment, Graspop Metal Meeting is a prime destination to round up your European festival travels.
Conclusion
From the massive crowds and pyrotechnics of Wacken to the medieval allure of Bloodstock, Europe hosts metal music festivals of all styles for LGBT travelers. If you’d like to have the time off your life, just plan your travels around these events and get to meet fellow metalheads from the LGBT community and beyond. Spending several days camped out or surrounded by metal music provides lifelong memories. If you don’t have a partner, join an ideal LGBTQ platform, match, and chat with like-minded individuals.
::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
Over the years he has been lucky enough to review thousands of music releases and concerts and interview artists ranging from top selling superstars like 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Loeb and iconic Eagles front man/songwriter, Glenn Frey through to more recent successes including Newton Faulkner, Janelle Monae and Caro Emerald.
Brendon manages and coordinates the amazing team of writers on RenownedForSound.com who are based in the UK, the U.S and Australia.
