French heavy metal music festival launches kids spin-off

France’s largest heavy metal music festival is launching an afternoon edition for under-11s in order to generate interest in the genre.

Hellfest, which has been running since 2006, will host Hellfest Kids on Wednesday June 26, in Gétigné, Loire-Atlantique. 

This is a day before the four-day festival in nearby Clisson kicks off. 

The main event welcomes around 60,000 ‘metalheads’ per day, and this year sees headliners including Metallica and The Foo Fighters.

The free kids event is aimed at local primary pupils (plus their guardians), who are being invited to come along for a first interaction with metal music.

“We hope to connect generations and spark an interest in metal,” said communication manager Eric Perrin.

“It will be the first concert for the majority of [the children]. Hopefully it will generate a desire to join a band, listen to metal albums or go to metal festivals in future.”

In 2010, the Catholic Association AFC asked a judge to ban under 18s from Hellfest and for a list of song titles to be given in advance so it could be checked for anti-Christianity links. 

The demand was rejected.

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