LIVE REPORT: Quest Fest 2026 @ KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton UK 10.10.2026

It started as a discussion in the middle of a festival field, it’s now a household name in Melodic Metal. Quest Fest is what’s being spoken about here in case you were wondering. It embarked on its second year in its latest dwelling of KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton not too long ago and goers are quite rightly still talking about it now. It makes sense of it being in a venue owned by metal legend KK Downing, the bands that played the stage that day could also be household names in metal. A lot of them most likely are.

The doors opened an hour before the bards started, this was a capital idea as it gave frequent adventurers a chance to either remind themselves of their surroundings and for newcomers to explore it for the very first time. It also provided vital timing for comrades to greet each other, discuss what bards they were most eager to see and to collect their merchandise from the hardworking crews who give their time for free every year to help this amazing festival come to life.

Given how brand new they are to the scene, CROWN SOLACE were one of the most anticipated bands on adventurer’s lists. From the moment they started to play their set, it was very easy to see why that was. Their set consisted of powerful vocals and stunning riffs that worked together to create spellbinding melodies. Bands like EPICA and BLACKBRIAR came to mind very quickly as they performed their impressive set. Rising Symphonic Metal stars in the making, CROWN SOLACE are definitely ones to watch out for.

Find CROWN SOLACE here.

Whilst the band FORTUNE TELLER have been around for just over a year, there is lots of experience between each member of the band. From listening to their singles such as Command The Legions and Familiar to the live stage, what FORTUINE TELLER lacked in songs, they made up for in a strong stage presence. In particular, Theresa Smith, also lead vocalist of METAPRISM, brought her experience and commanded the stage effortlessly, with strong storytelling that only amplified the live performance. Ending the set with their first grand single Savage Seas was clearly the perfect choice as the crowds showed their clear love for this. Overall, FORTUNE TELLER are a band to watch out for if you like orchestral power metal with big melodies.

Find FORTUNE TELLER here.

Having roots in Southampton, it’s always great to see BATTLE BORN take the bigger stages, and they always deliver every time. Every song is built for live environments, whether it’s the anthemic Power Force or the synth-led Dragon Heart; there wasn’t a moment where the crowd wasn’t participating or singing along to their power metal classics. Another crowd-pleasing moment was when they played Electric Eye by JUDAS PRIEST, which, given the fact the festival is based in Wolverhampton, went down very well. They even said they were filming footage that day for the new music video for Heart Of A Hero, what a way to make Quest Fest history.

Find BATTLE BORN here.

Whilst watching SERIOUS BLACK, an epiphany rose; whilst it’s hard being the opening band of the festival, it’s difficult being the middle band of the festival. The time where a lot of the crowd go and get something to eat, someone called them the dinner time band. That’s what SERIOUS BLACK were that day and whilst that was the case, they still pulled a huge crowd. Their catchy, tight sound shone through their eclectic setlist of songs including Party In The Sun, Serious Black Magic and Last Man Standing. Ending on High And Low was the ultimate crowd pleaser. They will be coming back to the UK on a mini tour at the start of next year if wanted to check it out, it’s recommended you do.

Find SERIOUS BLACK here.

Quest Fest have a history of booking legends onto their bill every year, this year it was MASTERPLAN. It had been twelve years since they played the UK last so they were also one of the most anticipated bands on adventurer’s lists. From the moment they played, it was easy to see why. They demonstrated a tight sound as they performed a fantastic range of songs from across their discography; from the newest sounds such as Shadow Man and Through The Storm to classics Spirit Never Die and Kind Hearted Light from the first self titled album, MASTERPLAN know how to create that perfect setlist that includes crowd favourites whilst promoting new material. This setlist was performed with a lot of energy and passion as well, all the components needed for that brilliant live show.

Find MASTERPLAN here.

MYRATH were also talked about a lot when they were announced a year ago, it was now time to experience their live show. They did not disappoint. From the moment they stepped onto the stage, it was evident they knew how to put on a great show as an array of songs from across their discography was performed. This eclectic setlist included Dance, Born To Survive and No Holding Back. Lots of dancing and celebrating was had in that venue as they performed, even the bar staff couldn’t resist joining in with the dancing from behind the bar. They ended on the absolute crowd pleaser Believer. This was their first time back in the UK after 10 years, judging from the reaction from the crowds, they are welcome back anytime.

Find MYRATH here.

ALL FOR METAL were billed as the party band for the night and with their cheesy, fun songs; that was the perfect thing to do. By this point, some of the adventurers were getting weary and exhausted; the charisma and showmanship from ALL FOR METAL seemed to fix that right up. There was an eclectic selection of songs from across their albums to please the crowds from the pumping Fury Of The Gods to the more tribal Hear The Drum, there seemed to be something for everyone in that crowd. It was certainly a fun way to end this fantastic day and night of frivolities.

Find ALL FOR METAL here.

Quest Fest delivered a fantastic day once again; doing what they do best, showcase the best in classic and upcoming metal whilst allowing a whole community the space to be their full authentic selves. It’s the 10th anniversary of the festival next year and they already have a great handful of bands announced for the occasion.

Final Thoughts

Lotty: This has been my fifth year covering the festival and there was a 50/50 chance I was going to make it this year.

As most of you know, I am currently navigating day-to-day life again after an intense battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma earlier this year. The thought of going to Quest Fest kept me going through treatment if it all went well. The treatment worked well and now in full remission. I was more grateful to be able to go this year.

I loved each of the bands that played that day, MYRATH being my personal band of the day. My biggest surprise was MASTERPLAN. Given their legendary status, I hadn’t listened to them much until I saw them perform. Their set was fantastic and will definitely be checking them out more. As well as discovering new music, I always feel a strong sense of community and I have always been able to unmask fully every time I go to Quest Fest. This year was more important than ever before.

I want to thank Amie and her hardworking crew for putting on this amazing event! I also want to thank Megan for being a brilliant partner in crime and being a great collaborator on this review. Bring on next year!

Megan: This was my second quest fest and it was great to see how the festival had grown since I first attended way back in 2023.

I was particularly fond of the newer venue KK’s Steel Mill, which had fantastic sound and an intimate feel while being able to hold larger crowds. My biggest highlight was seeing BATTLE BORN, a Southampton homegrown favourite play a bigger stage in front of a highly energised crowd.

Having gone through quite a challenging time in my life as a neurodivergent person, where there’s a lot of change, the time I did manage to spend at Quest Fest was highly enjoyable thanks to some excellent performances.

A big thank you to Lotty for inviting the team and me to Quest Fest for allowing us to attend as press! Hoping to attend another edition of Quest Fest soon!