*Photo of Vocalzone Director Maria Primmer and Moshville Times Founder Iain ‘Mosh’ Purdie in the Press Tent at Bloodstock Open Air 2024.
Every year, Team Vocalzone makes the pilgrimage to Bloodstock Open Air Festival to support the thriving metal scene at one of the world’s biggest and best metal events. While we’re there, we don’t just soak up the music – we head backstage to find out exactly where Vocalzone can help artists keep their voices in top shape.
Last year, one of our most exciting discoveries was meeting Iain “Mosh” Purdie, the founder of The Moshville Times. If you’ve ever ventured into the press area at Bloodstock, chances are you’ve seen Iain and his team hard at work. They interview hundreds of bands during the festival, bringing you exclusive insights, fresh interviews, and all the behind-the-scenes action you crave.
Whether you’re an up-and-coming band looking to get your name out there or a die-hard fan wanting to know everything about your favourite artists, Iain and The Moshville Times are your go-to crew for all things metal at Bloodstock.
We’re thrilled to announce that The Moshville Times crew will be back at Bloodstock 2025, and we wanted to give you a heads-up on what to expect with a Q&A from Iain himself:
Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about what you do?
“I’m Iain / Mosh, and I run The Moshville Times – I have done for about 15 years now. We publish news and features on rock and metal acts (though we’re expanding – keep an eye out!), and we’ve been regulars at Bloodstock since 2016. In my spare time I’m a full time school teacher.”
Where can artists find you at Bloodstock Open Air?
“Although we’re based in the Press Tent in the VIP area, keep an eye open for out t-shirts, caps and lanyards around the main arena! You’ll spot our photographers in the photo pits, and our roving reporters all over the place! If you’re looking for me personally during Machine Head… middle of the pit!”
How can artists arrange an interview with you during the festival?
“Anyone playing the EMP or New Blood stages can expect an email from us in the runup as part of our “Road to Bloodstock” feature. If bands have a PR then they tend to start sorting on-site interviews a few weeks before the festival, and independent bands are very welcome to do so as well by heading to the “Contact Us” page our website. Or rock up over the weekend and say “hello!”. I’m sure we can squeeze you in!”
How do you decide which artists or bands to feature or interview at Bloodstock?
“Are they playing Bloodstock? Then we’ll feature them. Are they just there for the weekend as fans? Then we’ll feature them. Did they play last year and we missed them, but they’re kicking about anyway? Come have a chat!”
What makes an interview successful in your eyes?
“Having a laugh. And getting a huge hug from an excited young band who are still buzzing from playing their biggest show to date. For bigger artists it’s when you pull something out of them that they’ve not mentioned before or they really enjoy the interview as much as you do. One of my all-time highlights was interviewing Lexxi of Steel Panther and being told, “You have the best questions! I mean, we’re doing press like crazy this week obviously, but so far you have the best questions!”. Or making Jared of Bowling For Soup cry when I told him how much his music had helped me get through a particularly hard time. Love that guy.”
Can festival-goers contribute to your coverage, for example by submitting photos or reviews?
“Yes. We’ve done it in the past where we had a friend tell us that his young son was going and that he’d like to do a review. It was great! We’ve had a few pics sent in that people have been proud of before, too, and we’re happy to share them. And obviously we’re always roaming around taking photos and talking to people!”
How do you manage covering such a large festival with so many performances happening at the same time?
“With a huge amount of work, planning, structure, stress, panic and energy drinks. We can never expect to cover every band (we try), but one of our photographers, Sean Larkin, did manage to photograph every single band except two (if I recall correctly) one year. That’s why he’s so short. She used to be 6’ tall. Wore his legs down to little stumps that year. It’s all about teamwork, sharing the jobs and making sure that we all get to see the stuff we really want to while ensuring that there’s a bit of downtime as well. None of us are getting any younger! Plus the other press teams help out as well. There is zero rivalry in there. None. We’ve all helped each other out at some time or another.”
Do you have any tips for people attending Bloodstock for the first time?
“Bring something waterproof and sun cream. You never know what it’s going to be like. If you’re someone who sings along to everything then you’ll want some Vocalzone pastilles as well! Have fun, make friends and realise that everyone is happy to help you find your way around or keep you company. It’s a wonderful atmosphere.”
How can fans stay updated on Moshville Times’ coverage throughout the festival?
“Click those social links. We try and get a bunch of quick photos up on Instagram in particular over the course of the festival with all the other coverage following as quickly as we can manage afterwards.”
How does Vocalzone help you keep your voice in good condition during interviews, and do you have any other go-to products for vocal care?
“I wish I could remember the band who gave me a box of Vocalzone at a previous Bloodstock so I could thank them. There were stashes of them behind the New Blood stage for bands to use and this particular singer swore by them. That year my voice was really struggling – doing 4-5 hours of interviews a day is harder work than you may think – and the pastilles made a genuine difference. I am not the kind of person who can recommend a product they’ve not used or believe in. I use them when I’m teaching as well! The teas are great in the evening after each day at Bloodstock, especially as they’re caffeine-free.”
Have you tried the new Vocalzone Spray yet, and what do you think of it?
“No yet but I’m planning on it!”
What advice would you give up-and-coming metal artists on promoting their music and building a fanbase?
“Work. Your. Arse. Off. Never give up. And make music for you, not for other people. If you don’t like it then you’ll never enjoy playing it, and that comes over on stage. Be nice to people, you never know when you’ll need a favour. If you get to the stage where the admin and promotion gets too much, think about passing the work off to a PR agency. There are some brilliant ones out there (we deal with them), many of whom specialise in bands at different stages.”
Find out more about The Moshville Times
Find out more about BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR FESTIVAL
Find out more about Vocalzone
