Iron Maiden’s recent and continued efforts to safeguard their fans against touting and counterfeiting ahead of 2017’s The Book Of Souls UK arena tour (which starts on May 4) has been hailed a triumph by fans, promoters and legitimate ticketing sites.

By implementing an extensive “Paperless Ticketing” policy and ensuring all other available tickets would carry the name of the purchaser and would also require the purchaser’s credit card and ID on entry, amongst other measures, the number of tickets available at inflated prices on the secondary platforms plummeted by over 95% compared with the band’s last UK arena tour in 2011. By eliminating many of the resale platforms there was nowhere for the so called ticketing “power brokers” and counterfeiters to go to sell, thus largely eliminating touting and keeping tickets on the official box office at the correct pricing, with over 100,000 tickets sold first day all at the intended price.

Proof of the success of the Maiden initiatives includes:

In November 2010 when tickets went on sale eight months in advance for Maiden’s 10 date 2011 Summer UK arena tour, 6,294 tickets appeared overnight on three of the biggest secondary ticketing platforms (Viagogo, Seatwave, Getmein) compared with just 207 tickets in 2016, all of which were listed only on Viagogo. With secondary ticketing much more developed now, the difference is probably much greater.

Of those 207 tickets listed by Viagogo in 2016, most were identified as bogus and are now in the hands of the relevant authorities investigating criminal activity. The few genuine tickets which made their way onto Viagogo have been made null & void per our conditions of ticket purchase.

Maiden’s promoter Live Nation confirms that overall sales are higher than the equivalent sales point in 2010. Live Nation also confirms that customer feedback has been excellent and Ticketmaster report that they have had only positive comments about the fact the artist is trying to restrict exploitative pricing via the resale market.

Although both shows at London’s O2 Arena and most other shows are already sold out for the May tour, due to all these initiatives fans can still get their hands on tickets AT FACE VALUE for IRON MAIDEN The Book Of Souls UK Tour 2017 in Aberdeen, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester via TicketMaster.co.uk or IronMaiden.com/tours.

The family-friendly boutique festival eschews international acts this year with the budget going on the biggest and best live acts in the country. The Riptide Movement will headline The Volkswagen Main Stage on Saturday 3rd June.  Having blown the Irish music scene wide open in 2014 with their number one, gold-selling album Getting Through, a string of Top 10 singles and various sold-out headline tours, the four-piece's new single ‘Changeling’ from their Top 5 charting album Ghosts, is out now.

Following on from last year's scorcher of a weekend, the line-up also includes Choice Music Prize nominees Overhead, The Albatross, the exceptional Dublin folk four-piece Lankum (formerly Lynched), and the inimitable Kíla – due to release a new live album on St. Patrick’s Day.

The quality of the line-up doesn't end there though, with alternative legends The Pale joining the fray. Heavy rock fans will have planty to sate their appetites with New Secret Weapon , Vulpynes, and Mindriot on the card, while Musos’ Guide favourites Hvmmingbyrd and Mongrel State show the diversity of the bill.

Vantastival 2017 will take place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th June at Beaulieu House & Gardens, Drogheda.  Other attractions will include The Volkswagen Campervan Cook-off, open mic sessions, art installations, storytelling, festival traders, a host of children’s activities and much more.  Vantastival has something for everyone, with or without a campervan! Weekend tickets are on sale now at €85 + booking fee for two nights camping. Day Tickets Cost €40.

Full first wave announcement:

The Riptide Movement, Kíla Overhead, The Albatross, Lankum (Lynched), The Pale, Corner Boy, New Secret Weapon, Cat Dowling, Orchid Collective,  Mindriot, Heroes In Hiding, Wob!, Wolff, Hvmmingbyrd, Mongrel State, Mark Geary, Vulpynes, Navá, 5th Element & Doublescreen, Elmore, Blaming Hannah, Dioscó Na Mbó, More Than Machines, Dahlia   Lōwli, Sub Motion, Vinci, Frankenstein Bolts, Graham Sweeney, Emma Lou & The Agenda, The Pox Men, Cranky Face, Sonnets & Sisters, Amoon, The Lost Gecko & Suso Youth Choir.