GHOSTFEST + WIN 2 TICKETS!

From humble beginnings in Leeds' underground scene to becoming one of the UK's most beloved music festivals, Ghostfest is back to celebrate its 20th Anniversary this June. Presented by Kerosene Management, this year's festival boasts an incredible line-up of both local and international acts.

We caught up with Toyan & Danny to chat about the inspiration behind the fest and how it has evolved over the last two decades.

We're excited and honoured to be a part of the 2025 edition - we know it will be one for the books! P.S. Read 'til the end to find out how to enter and stand a chance to win 2 x tickets to Ghostfest '25.

First off, can you tell us a little about yourselves, Kerosene MGMT, and how you got into the field of artist management?

So after the success of Ghostfest, I was approached by Chelsea Grin and Attila's manager to join The Artery Foundation as UK artist manager. Artery at the time was absolutely the place to be and they had most of the big name metalcore bands. Eventually, I moved on and wanted my own brand which is where Kerosene started.

We’d love to hear more about the story and inspiration behind Ghostfest. We know it was founded by Toyan (St Hilaire), but could you share more about the circumstances that led to eventually starting up a whole new metal festival?

The inspiration came from the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival 2003 DVD. I was 15 at the time of seeing it - bands like Blood Has Been Shed, Shai Hulud, 18 Visions, Shadows Fall - and I was just blown away by the idea of it. Looking back as an adult, it was the allure of the community and sense of belonging I wanted, so I decided to recreate my own. There were a lot of hardcore all-day gigs up and down the country, but for this specific sub niche, there wasn't, to my knowledge.

Early bird tickets for this year’s Ghostfest sold out in 4 minutes! Were you surprised by this response, or did you kind of have a feeling people would be amped for the festival’s long-awaited return?

Honestly? I thought it was either going to sell out in 4 minutes, or not sell a single ticket at all. Despite the weekly messages from people asking for the return, the reality is that the fans in 2005 who were 30 years old at the time, are 50 years old now.

Obviously the ages range, but the world has also changed a lot since then. People’s attention spans, social media etc, buyer behaviors, how fast tickets sell, how Covid changed peoples' perception of shows cancelling, and so on... so I would be lying if I said I wasn't incredibly nervous.

Ghostfest has hosted some iconic names in the past, including Whitechapel, Despised Icon, The Black Dahlia Murder, Hatebreed and more - are there any performances that you consider the most defining in the fest’s history?

For me, THE most important performances at Ghostfest were Bring Me The Horizon and Architects. Little did everyone know just how big those bands would get.

It’s kind of crazy to think it’s been 20 years since the first Ghostfest. Time really does fly! When you look back at its earliest days in Leeds, what memories stand out the most?

For me, the best memories were the people and community I felt that I built, rather than the bands. I was very unpopular at school and extremely introverted, so I wanted to be liked, so the feeling of finally having found ‘my tribe’ are the fondest memories.

Ghostfest is obviously a very nostalgic festival – there are a couple of people in the Pins team who have fond personal memories of the earlier fests. How do you balance nostalgia with progression when booking bands for the 20th anniversary? Can you talk us through the lineup-building process for this year’s fest?

Very good question, and this is something I really battled with in my head. There are a few obstacles to consider. Firstly, any bands from even the last Ghostfest (that was ten years ago), those bands are either HUGE now (Turnstile, Slaughter To Prevail, Stray From The Path, Malevolence) or have maybe even broken up. Then there's the question of just HOW MANY bands from the olden days do I need to try to reform to make it worth it for the now-35-year-old with kids to come to a show.

Should I try to get bands from ten years ago? 20 years ago? Lots of ideas were thrown around. Three bands were booked to reform, had rehearsals, and then eventually had to pull out, due to adult/real life getting in the way. So as much as I'd like to say there was some smart strategy behind it, there is simply an element no one can control, which is who is even available on that date, what do we need to pay to get them, and how can we keep the ticket price as low as possible.

With Ghostfest returning in a time when the live music landscape has changed so much, how have your goals for the festival evolved? And how do you see it continuing to evolve beyond its 20th anniversary?

My goals for the festival definitely have evolved. I want the festival to stay as close to its roots as possible, straight up 2005-esque deathcore, metalcore and hardcore.

Ghostfest has always been more than just the music - it’s been a meeting point for a community. What kind of role do you think festivals like this play for the UK metal scene?

They provide a safe space for people to be themselves, to be seen, and to find their tribe.

If you could go back in time, with the knowledge you have now of the heavy music scene and organizing festivals, would you have done anything differently and why/why not?

I definitely would have NOT tried to bring other genres in, ‘selling out’ essentially. I would definitely have done it as one day, too. That way only ONE headliner needs to be found, older fans only need a hotel and baby sitter for one night, not two, etc.

What advice would you give to smaller, up-and-coming bands who are aiming to land on a festival bill like this?

Just be really fucking good at what you do and be consistent with your content. Content is so important now.

Finish this sentence:

• Bands we are loving right now include… Boundaries, Breakdown Of Sanity, Disembodied Tyrant

• A common misconception people have about working in the music industry is…That the people working in it are making loads of money. They aren't. They do it for the passion.

• Our best festival-going hack is… Actually planning your day and not just hoping for the best and missing everyone you wanted to see. 

---

STAND A CHANCE TO WIN 2 x TICKETS

TO THIS YEAR'S GHOSTFEST

• Sign up below (one entry per person/email address)

• Make sure to follow Ghostfest and Pins & Knuckles Merch on Instagram for festival updates

• Winners announced 6 June 2025

• Terms & Conditions apply

ENTER NOW

By entering this competition, you agree to your name and email address being added to the Pins & Knuckles mailing list and receiving company newsletters, as well as being shared with Ghostfest/Kerosene Management who may contact you for marketing purposes. You can opt out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy for more info.