LIVE: KORPIKLAANI Brings The Folk Metal Party With HEIDENFEST 2026 @ KK's Steel Mill
- Feb 11
- 3 min read
There are few places more closely associated with heavy music than KK's Steel Mill in Wolverhampton. Metal truly defines it, even to the extent of the painted toilet cubicle doors. Truthfully, I'm surprised it's taken me so long to visit, then again it's not exactly my most local venue. But I'm thrilled to finally be here, eager to enjoy some good old pagan folk metal, because tonight is HEIDENFEST night.
The mega tour sees Finnish folk metallers Korpiklaani share a stage with Finntroll for the first time in 13 years, rounded out with a cast of colourful characters ripped straight out of a fantasy RPG - trolls, pirates, fluffy pink flamingos... Tonight's stop at the Steel Mill follows UK shows in London and Manchester, sandwiched between a complete set of mainland Europe dates.
Leading the night is the predominantly LA-based DREAD CREW OF ODDWOOD, kicking off the night with a catchy blend of acoustic folk and nautical banter. A highlight is seeing the double bass in full action, and with song titles such as "Giant Fucking Demon Crab" and "Leather Ship," they offer great entertainment. The set feels short, but it has served as an excellent opener for tonight's event.
Things take a pink (and fluffy) turn with Norway's TROLLFEST. Currently touring their 2022 album "Flamingo Overlord," the band dresses for the occasion in fluffy pink outfits, latex flamingo heads, and socks that resemble bird legs. During "Pina Colada," the band's bassist leads a giant conga line through the venue, one of many moments where the band exercise their bonkers nature. I might not have come for a workout, but I definitely left feeling like I had one.
These were the main sell of the night for me, having been on my list of bands to see for some time, and I'm glad to say they didn't disappoint.
The night then shifts into the darker realms of this fantasy world on display. It's impossible to overlook HEIDEVOLK as they take the stage, waving a flag in Trooper-like fashion. The band maintains the momentum, substituting Trollfest's playful vibe with a darker, more sinister tone, setting the stage for tonight's co-headliners. This is my second time seeing the band live, and they're as refined as I remember.
A decorative smoking ram skull soon adorns a microphone stand, signalling FINNTROLL's set is near. A minor light show accompanies a dramatic, orchestral crescendo, and the band starts. Finntroll's vocalist for this tour, Mathias Dahlsveen, may have stepped in last minute, but you wouldn't have known - I'd seldom use the phrase goblin theatre kid to describe anyone, let alone as a compliment, but here it's exactly that, Dahlsveen prancing around on stage and having a great time.
If anything, tonight has highlighted the camaraderie within the metal scene. During Finntroll's set, the first real mosh pits appear, and as people fall, they are swiftly helped back up (some repeatedly). A more amusing scene unfolds as a man, holding two pints, looks panicked while calling for his friend, with a mosh pit separating them.
The pinnacle of the night is KORPIKLAANI, as eccentric as they are technical. During their set, the video screen behind the bands is utilised the most, with each song paired with a different video clip, some showing an animation, some showing the relevant music video. Top-hatted frontman Jonne Jarvela is as charismatic as ever, smiling whenever he's not singing, and the band is in top form.
It's hard to not think about the long drive back home, but I'm glad to have made the pilgrimage to KK's. It's a venue I'd happily come back to, though perhaps not for a five band bill on a school night (the things you do for metal).
As the night concludes with "Vodka," it serves as a reminder that the best metal has, and always will be, fun. Perhaps the world would be a better place if everyone dressed like a pink flamingo or danced through any metal band's performance.
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