Carving a Career in Live Music (with James Spence)

Who goes one line up on the poster? Whose logo needs to be bigger? Who goes left or right when two bands are virtually identical in stature? And who decides? The art of billing the line-up poster is a messy and confusing one, which often leads to heated rows, fall outs and promoters being left with tough calls to make. But do fans even notice or care? James and Gav share their pain and misery on 2 Promoters, 1 Pod. We go again, every Thursday morning.

29 Feb 202444min

In a short space of time, Slayer transformed themselves from dependable festival fodder, who filled academies on tour to an arena outfit who have returned to share top billing alongside the likes of Slipknot and Motley Crue with one simple trick: the fake farewell. Should fans be delighted with the return, or question why they were duped in the first place? Will other bands and their management follow the same strategy? And where are promoters left in the mix of booking the panto? We go agai...

29 Feb 202428min

Dillinger are back and everyone is buzzing, so why aren't they playing any of the UK festivals? Is Calculating Infinity worth the gamble? Is there anything to learn from the At The Drive In, Refused or Botch reunions? Will we see Dimitri and co. play London in 2024 instead? Damnation and ArcTanGent organisers, Gav and James, share their thoughts on the first episode of 2 Promoters, 1 Pod. We go again, every Thursday morning.

29 Feb 202427min

After three decades on the road, grindcore Godfather Shane Embury has committed his tour tales to paper with the release of Life...? And Napalm Death. Shane joins Damnation Vs to discuss the decision to publish the novel and where to draw the line with what's for the masses and what stays on tour. Playing arenas to Volbeat fans, why he needs to see the faces of the crowd when he's playing and rediscovering Cult of Luna. #napalmdeath #damnation #damnationvs We go again, every Th...

21 Okt 202346min

It looked like it could all be over for Anaal Nathrakh but Dr Dave Hunt has some "unfinished business" to attend to, which will include a one-off headline performance at this year's Damnation Festival. How did it feel to release Endarkenment in the middle of a pandemic and have no stages to take it to? What was the process of rebuilding a live band with no Mick Kenney? Will we ever see Nathrakh live again after 2023? And is there any hope of more records in the future? Dr Hunt tackles it al...

1 Aug 202352min

Packing out their debut year only to crash into a global pandemic, moving to Manchester then being chucked out their new arena shortly afterwards and landing Sleep Token before they became the band who'd sell out Wembley Arena in 10 minutes... The first few years of Radar have been a rollercoaster and as they head into this year's festival, co-organiser/director Ash Cook joins Damnation Vs to share the highs and lows. We go again, every Thursday morning.

18 Juli 202352min

Bloodstock booking boss, Vicky Hungerford, returns to the Damnation Vs podcast with all guns blazing - plans for this summer's festival no matter what restrictions the government throws at them, her feelings on an "all British" event, the highs and lows of appeasing some of metal's most demanding headliners and what do you do when oral sex is on the rider? #damnationvs #bloodstock For further info on Damnation Vs, or Damnation Festival visit: damnationversus.buzzsprout.com damnationf...

5 Jan 20231h 47min

Man of many roles, Sam Loynes, joins Damnation Vs to discuss THAT Goat of Mendes set, becoming Akercocke's unofficial "fixer" and the band's plans for the year ahead. Also, his long and rich relationship with Damnation and quest for more gin, limes and ice, Voices' latest record 'Breaking The Trauma Bond', if we'll ever see The Antichrist Imperium live again and the future of his most "fun" project, Shrines. Pure satan worship, at its most enjoyable. #damnationvs #akercocke For furt...

5 Jan 20231h 18min