IT'S nearly time for metal fans to make their annual pilgrimage to Derbyshire for what promises to be the best-ever Bloodstock Festival.

With just four weeks to go, festival founder and director Paul Gregory is getting excited about the bumper line-up.

It includes Europe, Carcass, Arch Enemy, Blind Guardian, Cradle of Filth, Saxon, Amon Amarth, Satyricon and Apocalyptica.

Dozens of bands will appear on the three stages, including a number of unsigned groups getting their first chance to play the festival.

"Bloodstock is shaping up very nicely and we've added a few new elements to the festival infrastructure this year," said Paul.

"The main one is the establishment of our new bar – the Bloodstock Arms. It's long overdue in my opinion."

Artist Paul, who designs a new piece of artwork for each Bloodstock Festival, has produced a pub sign that will hang proudly outside the main bar.

The first Bloodstock image painted by Paul was centred on the Derby Ram.

He decided to give the beast a name, so a competition was held and the name was given by a fan, and so S'tan was born.

But it is this year's line-up over three days of which Paul is most proud and which he hopes will satisfy up to an expected 10,000 hungry metal fans.

Paul's family is heavily involved with the festival and, between them, they book and run most of the event.

"It's not without trials and tribulation that we arrive at the line-up," said daughter Vicky, who is in charge of the band line-up.

"You have to be a good negotiator and thick-skinned to enter this world."

Other bands in the metal mayhem include: Enslaved; Candlemass; Municipal Waste; The Haunted; Katatonia; Girlschool; Internal Conflict; Nefarious and Graven Image.

Bloodstock started life as an indoor festival at Derby's Assembly Rooms and regularly attracted up to 5,000 people over a weekend.

A move to the current outdoor venue at Catton Park, near Walton-on-Trent, could have been a risky move considering the British weather and asking people to camp.

But, despite smaller crowds in the first couple of years, the event has gathered momentum and eventually over the next few years Paul expects the growth to continue to as much as 20,000-30,000.

It's appropriate that one of the first bands to appear at the indoor Bloodstock in 2001 is booked to play again this year.

Saxon, and singer Biff Byford, first linked up with Paul in 1984, when he was commissioned to do the artwork for the album Crusader and the stage designs.

Paul has painted 10 albums to date for the band and has developed a great friendship with Biff and the boys.

Saxon were very supportive of Bloodstock and were happy to headline the very first one-day show, alongside Primal Fear, Glenn Hughes, Blaze, Skyclad and Return To The Sabbat.

"Saxon's return will be popular with many fans," said Paul.

The Bloodstock team is also delighted that German thrash veterans Sodom have been added to the bill for Bloodstock Open Air 2009. This will be their only UK performance in 2009 and marks their first UK show in 20 years.

Line-up changes dogged the band from its origins in 1982 until the release of 'Til Death Do Us Unite in 1997.

Since 1999, the band has released three strong studio albums including 2007's The Final Sign Of Evil, a re-recording of their popular debut EP alongside a host of long-lost early numbers, many of which they are likely to perform at the festival.

Paul said: "It will be three brutal days of metal at Bloodstock Open Air. Our ethos has always been for fans by fans."

BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR

WHERE: Catton Hall, Walton-On-Trent.

WHEN: August 14-16.

TICKETS: Weekend tickets including camping are £99.95.

TO BOOK: Go to www.bloodstock.uk.com.