BLOODSTOCK 09 CHOOSE PYTHIA
TO PAY TRIBUTE TO MURDERED GIRL
‘The Sophie Lancaster Stage at Bloodstock ’.

Hailed as one of the most exciting new acts in Metal, PYTHIA have been chosen to represent the female Gothic community at Bloodstock Open Air 09. PYTHIA will perform on the new Sophie Lancaster’s stage at one of the UK’s largest Metal festivals, as a tribute to the murdered teen.
Brought together by a love of gothic literature and Metal, PYTHIA are a group of classical and Metal inspired musicians who believe that music is a lifestyle that should be lived only by the brave and true of heart.
The Bloodstock Team feel PYTHIA’s performance will be a fitting tribute to a young girl who was brutally attacked along with her boyfriend in 2007 while walking through her local park in Bacup, Lancashire. Sophie and her boyfriend were singled out not for anything they had said or done, but because they looked and dressed differently. Sadly Sophie later died in hospital following the injuries from this vicious and unprovoked attack.
Bloodstock founder and promoter Paul Gregory says, "adding PYTHIA to the festival was a natural choice to represent the female Gothic community and the launch of the Sophie Lancaster Stage. This stage is in memory of a young girl whose life was needlessly cut short by intolerance and mindless brutality. Sophie celebrated life through the music and lifestyle she chose, PYTHIA's ideology mirror this perfectly".
Stunning lead singer Emily Alice Ovenden is perhaps better known as a member of the No.1 selling classical act Mediaeval Baebes and as a gothic novelist. However PYTHIA may prove to be her most successful venture yet after a series of spectacular shows at some of the UKs most prestigious venues, including Shepherd’s Bush Empire, The Forum and The Electric Ballroom.
“PYTHIA is a band dedicated to making music which not only incorporates gothic themes but also the themes of Power metal which we feel help to give strength and positivity to the darker side of our stories,” says Emily Alice. “We are extremely honoured to be playing Sophie’s stage at Bloodstock. I don’t understand how anyone could have hurt such a beautiful young girl.”

Sophie’s family have set up THE SOPHIE LANCASTER FOUNDATION. Through the Foundation they hope to provide training to professionals in order to raise awareness of the prejudice and violence faced by people from alternative subcultures.

Sophie's brother Adam Lancaster says, “What happened horrified more people then we could ever know, not just the attack but the pointlessness of it all. We thank you for your thoughts and wishes and look forward to being involved with Bloodstock in 2009."
PYTHIA will perform live in Sophie’s honour on The Sophie Lancaster Stage, 13th August 09, Bloodstock Open Air Festival, Catton Hall, Derby, 7:00pm

Further Reading:

PYTHIA
http://www.pythiamusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/pythiamusic

Sophie
http://www.myspace.com/inmemoryofsophie

Bloodstock
http://www.bloodstock.uk.com