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It is almost possible to hear Jonni Davis shaking his head at the other end of the telephone. Speaking from HRH's HQ in a balmy Ibiza (19 degrees as opposed to the UK's minus 4) Davis seems as certain as ever that Hard Rock Hell IV will not be affected by the very early announcement this week of major headliners at the Uk's two biggest outdoor festivals.
"VIP tickets for our event next year were almost sold out before the site closed!" he states in a delighted voice. "That's almost 35 percent of all ticket sales already. It's marvellous, because the line up isn't even sorted yet!"
certainly the announcements are likely to make a difference to the success of ticket sales for niche events such as HRH's Hammerfest in March, coming so close to Christmas. Davis is concerned that the public's general shaortage of money will lead them to plan their summer partying even earlier than before, although when questionedhe seems confident that early ticket sales for the big outdoor events will have limited impact on hammerfest sales. "People don't just attend our events for the party," he says, "it's the whole environment - good accommodation that doesn't involve rolling around in mud, a dependable line-up of quality bands, top notch facilities - we offer a completely different experience."
Hammerfest's first outing earlier this year featured Heavy Metal giants such as Paradise Lost, Opeth and Sepultura on a varied bill which leaned towards the heavier side of Metal. Davis feels that although outdoor festivals have enough capital to invest in supergroups to headline, the events are so huge they cannot tailor to a more individual audience. He is certain Hammerfest will again be sold out by the end of February, and that any drop in sales at this stage will improve when Christmas and the initial wave of enthusiasm for other festivals has passed. "People simply don't have the money at this time of year!" he exclaims. "Everyone is focussing on Christmas, they've ended their year at a brilliant sold-out Hard Rock Hell where the atmosphere was amazing. Where else would you find Steve Harris [Iron Maiden] wandering around just chatting to people and having a beer?" He thinks many people will simply leave ticket purchasing until the New Year, but admits to being confused as to why there appears to be a race for outdoor line-ups to be revealed.
"If it's a great event then fans will feel safe in the knowledge that the bill will be of the calibre they expect," he says quietly. "For me, it's very important to make every event we organise special so that everyone has a brilliant time. The events sell out early simply because we work really hard to make it a great experience for our customers, and each time we try to make it even better."
Davis and his team are currently organising the line up and logistics of their most ambitious project to date, the HRH Roadtrip, a week of Metal mayhem taking place in Ibiza next June. This is to be a chilled out, family friendly event, aimed at giving everyone sun, sea, sand and the best entertainment they could hope for on an ideal holiday - HRH style. It seems nothing is ever quiet in the HRH camp, but Davis much prefers it that way. "There are a few things I'd like to improve at Hard Rock Hell," he says. "But that's only behind the scenes and the customers will never see them. They will just get an even better experience next time!"
Hammerfest, in association with Metal Hammer magazine, takes place at Pontins Prestatyn Sands, North Wales, 11th - 13th March 2010, with exclusive performances from Devildriver, Iced Earth, Suicidal Tendencies and Five Finger Death Punch, to name but a few, with prices starting at £99 per person for the two days, including accommodation. Ring the hotline on 08700 110034 for information on low deposits and easy payment terms to ease the burden this Christmas.
HRH Road Trip Ibiza will be from 2nd - 9th June 2010 with prices starting at £190 for a ticket to include all event entry and accommodation. Look for more details on www.hrhroadtrip.com, or call the ticket hotline for latest information.
Hard Rock Hell IV will be at the start of December 2010 - watch this space for more details, or bookmark www.hardrockhell.com for latest announcements.
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