New heavy music stars Defects; comedian, BBC presenter and metal fan Darren Harriott, Black Parade and Download DJ Em Masters, and a Flatpack Festival short film compilation have been added to the line-up for a much-anticipated special evening celebrating metal and Black Sabbath’s homecoming in Birmingham.

The final announcements for BBC Radio WM celebrates Metal in the Midlands, which takes place at Birmingham’s iconic Town Hall venue on Wednesday 2 July 2025, come as Sabbath fever picks up pace in the UK city.

Programmed as part of celebrations to welcome the heavy metal pioneers back for their final ever show, the event is part of BBC in the West Midlands’ commitment to recognising the importance and global impact of the genre and culture.

Defects, signed to hard rock and metal label Mascot and currently hitting new heights with single ‘Heresy’, released on 18 June, are currently on tour in Europe.

The five-piece, made up of Tony Maue (vocals), Luke Genders (guitar), James Threadwell (guitar), David Silver (bass), and Harry Jennings (drums), will make a special return to their hometown of Birmingham to headline BBC Radio WM celebrates Metal in the Midlands.

Watch Defects’ music video for Heresy here

The band’s drummer Harry Jennings said: “We are beyond excited to be one of the bands representing metal in the Midlands for the BBC on this iconic week.

“The Town Hall holds a lot of memories for family members of the band, and it’s a real honour to perform.”

Black Country born comedian Darren Harriott, a BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio WM presenter and metal fan, will host the evening.

A regular on UK TV and radio shows, Darren - born in Oldbury - has a passion for the energy of live heavy music and events, and his support for the show underlines BBC Radio WM’s backing for recognition of Sabbath’s role in driving civic pride and music heritage in the West Midlands region.

As part of BBC Radio WM celebrates Metal in the Midlands, Birmingham’s Flatpack Festival has been commissioned to produce a metal-inspired short film compilation to explore the global genre’s international reach during the show.

Fresh from playing at Download Festival, alternative DJ Emily Masters (Black Parade/Chop Suey/Mantra, Download and Slam Dunk) completes the line-up for the night, already complementing a line-up which features three live acts representing the future of heavy music in the UK.

Rising stars CHERRYDEAD, GANS, and Meatdripper, all hailing from across the West Midlands, will light up the stage at historic city landmark Town Hall for the event on Wednesday 2 July 2025.

Spanning sludge, stoner, doom, folk, psych, alt and nu metal, and drawing on hardcore, punk, hard rock and other ends of the heavy music spectrum, the three acts are currently flying high with support from industry, fans, and media across the country.

Birmingham – the birthplace of heavy metal – will welcome city sons Black Sabbath and up to 41,000 fans to Birmingham in the week of 30 June 2025.

For the first time in 20 years, the original Black Sabbath lineup of Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler will reunite live on stage for an historic final show, ‘Back to the Beginning’  at Villa Park.

The all-day event on 5 July, also features performances from Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, Lamb of God, Anthrax, and Mastodon. Additionally, Guns N' Roses, Tool, and Rival Sons are part of the lineup, with a supergroup featuring musicians from various bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Limp Bizkit, and The Smashing Pumpkins.

As well as BBC Radio WM celebrates Metal in the Midlands, a series of celebratory events and programmes are taking place in Birmingham, including the world premiere cinema screening The Nine Lives Of Ozzy Osbourne, a free-to-enter exhibition at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery called ‘Working Class Hero’ (25 June-28 Sept, 2025) showcasing Ozzy’s most prestigious international honours, a free outdoor Black Sabbath photography exhibition in Victoria Square, showcasing archive images of all four founding members of the band; Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne, alongside iconic album artwork and fascinating facts about the band’s Birmingham roots.

On nearby Navigation Street, close to the site of Black Sabbath’s first ever show, street artist Mr Murals has created a stunning 40 metre street-long artwork in tribute to Black Sabbath featuring their iconic logo and lifelike portraits throughout the last seven decades.

Tickets for BBC Radio WM celebrates Metal in the Midlands at Town Hall Birmingham on Wednesday 2 July, priced £5, are available via B Music here.