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M2TM CYPRUS

EVENTS INFORMATION

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M2TM CY Events Information

Metal to the Masses is Bloodstock Festival's initiative dedicated to discovering and promoting upcoming metal bands. Through regional competitions, bands compete for a coveted spot on Bloodstock's New Blood Stage offering unparalleled exposure to fans and industry professionals alike. Rock Island proudly hosts the Cyprus leg, where one winning band from our island will showcase their talent to the world.

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MARCH 30TH - HEAT 1

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APRIL 6TH - HEAT 2

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APRIL 13TH FINAL

The first leg of the competition will take place:

March 30th 2025 @Kyklos venue in Limassol. 

The second leg of the competition will take place: Sunday April 6th @Kyklos venue in Limassol.

The final with a maximum of

5 qualifying bands will take place: Sunday April 13th @Savino Live in Larnaca.

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Competition Information

Competition Information

HEAT 1 - SUNDAY MARCH 30TH 2025 - Kyklos - Limassol​

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  • Each band performs for 20 mins (ONLY ORIGINAL SONGS!) 

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  • 5 Bands will progress from the heat to the final round. 

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  • The bands which will qualify for the final will be determined by a 50% audience vote and a 50% independent judging panel decision. Voting will strictly happen ONLY on-site DURING the event, through voting forms which will be provided to each audience member on presentation or purchase of a ticket for the event. 

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HEAT 2: SUNDAY APRIL 6TH 2025 - Kyklos - Limassol​​​

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  • The top 5 bands from BOTH heats combined will qualify for the final. This means that the top 5 bands will be fully confirmed after the second heat takes place. Applying bands will only perform at one heat.

 

FINAL: SUNDAY APRIL 13TH 2025 - Savino Live - Larnaca

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  • 5 Bands total will progress from the Heats to the Final. Each band performs for 30 mins (NO COVERS!).​​

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  • WINNING BAND (1 ONLY!): will be determined by a Bloodstock Festival representative: Simon Hall, who will be attending the final in Cyprus from the UK. 

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​TYPES OF BANDS ALLOWED TO APPLY:​

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  • The initiative is open to all bands and musicians that fall within the Rock & Metal envelope. i.e. Hard Rock, Heavy, Speed, Thrash, Death, Doom, Folk, Battle, Gothic, Groove, MetalCore, Industrial, Neo-Classical, Nu, Post, Power, Progressive, Sludge, Stoner, Alternative, Extreme, Symphonic or Viking – any other hard rock/metal genre that materialises will almost certainly be ok.

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  • Bands must be either Self Signed, Unsigned, on low level independent labels or DIY – no bands signed to major or recognised as major labels will be allowed entry and all bands will be checked.

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  • Bands must have original music released.​​

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  • All band members must be above the age of 16.

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  • No prior performance at Bloodstock festival (including winning ANY other M2TM Event at ANY location (globally!). 

Winning Band: What they get!

30 MINUTE PERFORMANCE ON THE NEWBLOOD STAGE

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  • Full festival access passes for all band members for the entire weekend (including access to the VIP artist area, artist camping area, artist parking area).

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  • Full backline provision for their performance (only their instruments should be provided by them. Drum set and amp heads are provided by the festival).

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  • Full access to on-site artist camping if they wish to camp at the festival vs booking accommodation at their own cost. (This area has its own parking and security and options are available to ensure the safe storage of equipment/instruments).

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  • Full media opportunity with the winning band having access to all festival media correspondence – interviews, reviews, photos and the chance to network with industry representatives. 

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  • The chance to open the ‘Sophie Lancaster Stage’ the following year – playing on the opening night to a captive audience of thousands. This stage is the only stage open on the opening night!


 

WHAT'S NOT PROVIDED:​

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  • Bloodstock is not responsible for travel arrangements or costs for any bands. 

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  • Bloodstock is not responsible for accommodation or costs for any band or representatives. (A full list of local hotels and accommodation, plus full (free) access to on site artist camping is offered to all bands).


 

WINNING BAND RESPONSIBILITIES:​

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  • Booking their own flights from Cyprus to Bloodstock at their own cost. 

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  • Ensuring they have all permitted documents for travel to the UK (Cypriot nationals can visit the UK for up to 6 months without a visa https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa ).

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  • Booking their accommodation at their own cost. (Alternatively they can camp in the artist camping area which they will have full FREE access to. This area has its own parking and security and options are available to ensure the safe storage of equipment/instruments).

Participating Bands Do's & Don'ts 

BRING YOUR OWN GEAR!

You must be able to supply all relevant breakables in order to perform. Here's a list of equipment you should supply, and a list of items the venue will supply.

 

Band Supplies:

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  • Guitars/Bass

  • Any/all instruments/equipment (smoke machine, triggers, stage lights, keyboard etc.).

  • Amp heads (or combos if that's your set-up, in case the venue supplied heads don't match your requirements), leads, instruments, pedals.

  • Drum breakables (Snare, cymbals, stands, throne, sticks).

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We do recommend that you create and supply a tech-specification sheet in advance for the venue sound engineers so that they have a good idea in advance of your expected set-up, and whether they need to plan for anything out of the ordinary.

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Venue Supplies:

 

  • 2x 4x12 guitar cabs

  • 2x amp heads

  • 1x bass cab/DI input

  • 1x bass head

  • Drum shells (bass, 1x floor tom, 2x rack tom)

  • Additional DI inputs for synth/keyboard/backing tracks/samples

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Please treat supplied equipment with care as though it was your own. Any damage inflicted on supplied equipment whether due to malice or inappropriate use is payable by the band that causes it.
 

STICK TO YOUR SET TIME.

 

Heats: 20 mins setlist 

Final: 30 mins setlist
Change-over timing is a strict 20 minutes.
 

NO COVERS!!!

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  • All your material needs to be ORIGINAL. If you play any cover songs you will be disqualified as per Bloodstock competition rules.


ARRIVE ON TIME
 

  • Running order/ load in / load out times will be clearly communicated ahead of the events.

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  • Running order (who performs first-last, will be determined by a raffle ahead of the heats and final).
     

VOTING RULES HEATS

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  • Voters/audience members will be assigned a ballot sheet where they assign points for each band performance. If there are 3 performing bands, their favourite band gets a 3, followed by their next favourite getting a 2, then 1.

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  • Vote sheets will have clear instructions on how to follow this set of rules. Each audience member will receive their individual voting sheet on site during the event with a presentation of a valid ticket.

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  • After the last competing band has played, voters will be given a brief amount of time to fill out their vote-sheet and submit this into a ballot box. After the voting window has passed, the organisers will tally the votes in view of the judge/s of the evening, double-checking the count. 

 

We hope this approach encourages voters to look beyond just supporting their friend's act, reducing the risk of a pure popularity contest. It also aims to get more of the crowd to watch all the bands. While fans will naturally vote for their favourites, we want to inspire people to discover new local bands. This system may not be perfect, but we believe it strikes the best balance—even if it means some quick math on our part!​
 

WEIGHTINGS

In keeping with how M2TM works across all countries: 

Heats : 50% Judge Vote, 50% Crowd Vote 

Final : 100% Official Bloodstock Judge Vote 


The reasons for the weightings should be implicit. It is important that you bring a crowd regardless as reaction counts for a lot even in the final where it's all decided by one Bloodstock representative.

Guest judges will not be publicly revealed at any stage unless they choose to announce it themselves (we'll advise them not to). We will typically look to have up to 3 judges per event with a variety of backgrounds but all will be heavily involved in the Metal scene in some capacity.

 

Everyone has their own subjective criteria when watching bands but ultimately they will be looking out for things like: Stage presence; Interaction/showmanship; Crowd response; Professionalism (setting up/down, dealing with surprises etc); Musicianship; Strength of setlist.

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The event organisers have no say or influence in any judge's decision. We're there to ensure the smooth running of the event, and to communicate the results at the end.
 

NO GUEST-LIST

The only free-entrants beyond venue staff, promoters, judges and event sponsors are the band members themselves. Why? The venues and we as promoters have costs to cover not limited to the franchise fee payable to Bloodstock. This ensures the longevity of the competition.
 

IF IN DOUBT, ASK THE ORGANISERS

We're not robots, yet! Ultimately we want this to be a success with every band given their fair chance to run some amazing, well attended shows that are healthy celebrations of the Cypriot Metal scene.

 

We are here to provide you with additional support where we reasonably can. We welcome any questions or assistance you may need before, during and after your participation, similarly if you have any grievances about the running or processes in place, we urge you to talk to and work with us.

 

info@rockisland-festival.com

+357 99829793

Some Additional Points & FAQ's:

RESPECT THE VENUE RULES

 

It should really go without saying that if any part of your band contravenes venue rules and is ejected from the premises, then similarly you will consider yourselves removed from the competition.  

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COMMUNICATION IS KEY

 

Running late? Illness within the band? Last minute problems mean you cannot play? Want to drop out of the competition entirely? LET US KNOW!!!  We’ll certainly be understanding, but not so much if we’re not finding out in good time.

GUEST MUSICIANS

 

You CAN use them, however we do recommend you consider the merit in allowing them to perform part of your set. If they legitimately add to your set/song but are not an active part of your band and not playing Bloodstock should you win, then this would be an overall negative. Try and stick to your core line-up. 

 

PROMOTE YOUR HEAT! 

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It's kind of a given, and the Bloodstock team do watch the build-up to the finals and band activity. Bands that promote well do better than bands that don't and that’s a fact that extends beyond the realms of this event. 
 

CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT/BRING BACK-UP

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We’ve seen probably every technical failure under the sun over the years, but there are certain things you can do to mitigate the unexpected. Bringing a back-up guitar, spare cables, changing strings before the show... Consider what could happen and try and plan to prevent that from happening either by having a contingency in place, or by double checking everything prior to hitting the stage.

 

If there is a failure with the house equipment, you will NOT be penalised, but you should be able to mitigate or deal professionally and promptly with your own equipment issues.

 

BRING MERCH!

 

You'll have allocated table space if you require it and it reflects well on you to have that added measure of marketability. 

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PHOTOS & VIDEOS

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We will have photographers and media throughout the events, work with them particularly if they are independents and make sure you credit their work appropriately if you decide to share their output. They’re creatives just like you so we do ask that you respect their graft.

 

CONNECT ONLINE


Follow some of the social media channels and get involved, including the official M2TM Facebook page for updates from our esteemed leader and overlord Simon Hall, as well as helpful posts from former winners/event runners. 

 

SUPPORT THE SCENE


Network with & Support the other bands in the competition. Be sure to check them out, talk with them, learn from their experiences etc. Further down the line, that camaraderie is seen as an absolute positive in the eyes of the Judges who will be watching too.

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Keep engaged - Sticking around and watching other bands play, particularly if you play first, is good practice. Leaving early without good cause harms your merch sales, and leaves a sour taste in the mouth of the people who put you on the stage, and the bands that you share it with. Similarly, spending all of your time outside of the venue doesn’t encourage your fans to give the other bands some attention too. We love to see bands supporting each other, and encouraging their fans to equally be active proponents of supporting the local talent.

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY & ALL ASPECTS OF THESE RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE ORGANISER - ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL BE GIVEN NOTICE TO ANY SUCH CHANGES WHEN ENACTED

 

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALL!!

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