Sleep Token performed at the UK Tech-Metal Fest on the Winspear Stage for what is considered only their 8th ritual. At the end of this set was the live debut of Blood Sport, which would not have an official release until November 21 2019 when the album Sundowning was offered for consumption. Due to lack of sources, it is possible that Blood Sport was played previously but this is the first mention of the song the curator of this blog has found so far. Edit: Per advice from another archivist, Blood Sport was also played a month prior, at Download Fest 2018.
The setlist was as follows:
Thread the Needle
Calcutta
Fields of Elation
Jaws
Nazareth
Jericho
Blood Sport
According to several sources, the original band slated for that event had canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. The festival then advised there was a replacement act, a “worst kept secret”, as Distorted Sound Mag put it. There was hint of it on the collective’s website as well as on their Twitter.
The word “வழிபாடு” used with the July 8th date is Tamil, the world’s oldest spoken language, for “worship”.
For additional photos and saved screenshots of articles and websites reviewed for this curated moment in the collective’s history, please see the Archives drive folder here: 2018 UK Tech-Metal Fest
On February 21 2017, it was announced that Sleep Token would be joining the line up for the 2017 edition of the UK Tech-Metal Fest. However, what was meant to be their second ritual ended up never happening as the collective found it necessary to cancel this appearance for unknown circumstances. Their spot was given to The Parallax Method and had Sleep Token performed, it would have been July 8 2017.
The collective had prepared some offerings to be obtained at this event but due to their impending absence, it was decided that the shirts would be still sold at the festival as well as a means of communicating with the band. This was a letter box, or ‘dream’ box, that was available at the same table as their t-shirts would be displayed.
The t-shirts that were made.
The UK Tech-Metal Fest 2017 poster prior to cancellation.
The Sleep Token Archive 