Vol. 139
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Download Festival
Donington Park
12-14 June 2026
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DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 2026 REVIEW
The last few years has seen Download Festival undertake something of a soft reset with fans dubbing this new era of the Donington Park event Download 2.0. Post-pandemic the festival simply hasn’t looked back and continues to go from strength to strength.
This year the event is sold out. Something which longtime attendees won’t have experienced often. That does mean that the arena is rammed and again those old school rockers find everything takes a little longer. That said, compared to some other festivals, it never feels dangerous or unsafe.
It’s corny but the Download Family makes this the occasion that it is. These past few years have seen high percentages of first-time attendees and with rock back in fashion, the future of heavy music appears to be healthy.
FRIDAY
Those that enter the arena early on Friday have Scene Queen getting the weekend started on the main stage. An act that in the darker days of rock gatekeeping would’ve been bottled off stage, instead is given a great reception as her bimbo-core brand brings colour to the world and typifies this new Download.
Of course, like all festivals, clashes are inevitable and again this year there are four music stages to pick from. In the biggest change to the arena layout in a decade the Avalanche Stage now occupies part of the campervan field, creating a whole new area. This works well as a standalone space and alleviates some of the pressure caused by the hyper-attendance.
For us we stay on the main stage for a nostalgic sing-along with P.O.D as the packed crowd sings back the likes of ‘Boom’, ‘Youth of the Nation’ and ‘Alive’. Then we catch great little sets from James and the Cold Gun in the Dogtooth, Paleface Swiss at the Opus Stage and Lakeview in the Avalanche tent as we catch our bearings again.
Organisers have done well to open up space and make the most of the arena, which continues to fill up as the day goes on. There are the usual food stalls with some returning favourites and festival standards. Queue wise despite the crowds (barring some really popular options), things aren’t too bad.
The festival is now in full-swing and the sheer scale of the crowd becomes clear as we arrive at the main (Apex) stage for Pendulum. With a bigger crowd then some past headliners have got the band deliver a textbook performance that elicits delirious scenes. The highlight being an appearance by Rou Reynolds (Enter Shikari) on their cover of ‘Sorry, You’re Not a Winner’.
The great thing that Download has always done is intermix iconic acts and new bands and we catch the always joyous Lake Malice next who celebrate announcing their debut album with a full-throttle performance.
The buzz around Electric Callboy continues to mount and if we are judging band by crowd participation and volume then again this is a band in the headliner conversation. Time will tell if the novelty ever wears off but seeing a crowd full of metalheads living their best lives to the first of two airings for ‘RATATATA’ is a joy to behold.
We are split three-ways on the clash front next with Cypress Hill, Halestorm and Feeder taking to the bigger stages. We plump for Halestorm on Opus (plus a bonus side of Story of the Year in the Avalanche) and whilst we don’t know what we’ve missed elsewhere; Lzzy and co deliver a stunning audition for future headliners. Again, seeing the smiles on faces as they breakout their cover of Lady Gaga’s ‘Bad Romance’, sums up the festival this year and backs up our decision.
Day one is all about Limp Bizkit though. The band who were meant to headline the first ever Download only to pull out finally take that top spot some twenty-three years later. The main stage is simply a party as the band show that they belong in this slot. After an emergency causes a delay, the band reprise ‘Break Stuff’ and day one is an enormous success.
SATURDAY
There’s an emotional return to Donington Park for The Wildhearts to kick off Saturday with Ginger receiving a hero’s welcome and blowing away any cobwebs from the night before.
One thing that has crept in in recent years is shorter sets. Back in the day thirty minutes was the minimum, but Tropic Gold are able to make the most of their twenty minutes in the Dogtooth tent. This allows us time though to catch South Arcade on the main stage who deliver one of the most engaging sets of the weekend.
We then head to Opus to catch Drowning Pool, however due to a change in schedule are greeted by As Everything Unfolds. Despite the genre and fanbase differential, the band capitalise on the larger stage and do a great job in winning over some confused old rockers!
Two bands that we were incredibly excited for in advance are back-to-back next in the Avalanche tent. Die Spitz and Mouth Culture both deliver punchy sets but it’s Mouth Culture who enter the conversation for set of the weekend. From the moment they arrive with ‘Ratbag’, the band had the audience in the palm of their hands. We’ve said it before, but this band deserve to be massive.
The weather this year was a hot topic in advance with the forecast very difficult to predict. The rains that greeted campers on Wednesday and Thursday however thankfully subsided and the three main days are graced with a deceptive amount of sun (based upon the number of red necks on display).
Many would’ve predicted heavy rain during BABYMETAL due to their previous main stage appearances seeing two of the worst weather events in the history of Download. This year (though winds are high), the rain stays away. This finally gives the band that uninterrupted opportunity to showcase their unique performance and judging by the amount of people singing back ‘Gimme Chocolate!!’, their set is a winner.
We are at the tail end of the day now and this is when people typically begin flagging a bit. What better way to stay alert then a textbook Trivium face-melting set. Stepping up to sub-headliners with ease (despite the wind cutting back their bells and whistles), the band make a clear and undeniable statement that it’s their destiny to headline this event in the future.
Next, we sneak in a cheeky Hot Milk performance in the Avalanche as the band deliver a trademark emotive set to a crowd eager for some energy. That may be because, closing the day is a now standard three-hour slog with Guns N Roses.
No longer the most dangerous band in the world, instead the most dad-rock band in the world. It’s a technically sound performance which includes all of the hits that you’d want to hear and some great deeper cut choices too. Would a shorter more chaotic set be more fun? Maybe. But the third coming of Guns N Roses still provides amazing bang for your buck.
SUNDAY
Opening the main stage on Sunday when the majority of the crowd is hungover and warn out is a treacherous spot. unpeople though are a band that can knock any challenge out of the park and by the end of their set everyone is on board the hype train.
Whilst the food queues have coped well this weekend, the same can’t be said for the bars and merch stands with both at times looking horrendous. Even on Sunday morning the merch stalls are still too much for some to bother, instead we checkout Catch Your Breath and Mammoth on the Opus stage who both go down well as we gather energy for what’s to come.
The story of RØRY is truly remarkable and is inspiring in so many different ways. Clearly her slot on the main stage is a big moment for her and her fans. The performance is captivating and ‘BLOSSOM’ was made for stages like this!
We are then back in the Avalanche tent for The Pretty Wild and TX2 who keep the trend going of not catching a bad performance so far. What is frustrating however is the increasing propensity of groups setting up their own mini areas of chairs and blankets. Chairs have always been controversial at Download and within reason we feel the choice should remain. However full camps being set-up in the centre of tents is potentially dangerous.
The Pretty Reckless are next on the Apex and deliver a slow burning performance that in many ways is sublime however is arguable too slowly paced for the big slot they are in. Fitting only eight tracks into a fifty-minute set feels a little like a wasted opportunity to showcase their fantastic back catalogue to a big crowd. The energy displayed at the top of the hill for a secret set from Skindred drawing even more attention to this fact.
Speaking of headline size crowds, Ice Nine Kills draw a massive crowd to the main stage, however instead we are back in the Avalanche tent for two of our favourites. First up, Dinosaur Pile-Up who may just capture that set of the weekend with an incredibly fun slot and then the ever-majestic Ash who’s own warm reception again shows the mindset of the event is much different to their last appearance in 2008.
It’s then time for the final run-in. Bad Omens make the mother of all Download debuts in the sub-headline slot and deliver a performance that leaves little doubt that when they return they will top the bill.
A Day To Remember then headline Opus and show their versatility again. Wherever you book them, they will deliver one of the most fun sets of the festival. They may feel further away from the top spot then a few years back, but you can’t ever envisage a time when they won’t deliver the goods.
Finally, it’s down to the reunited Linkin Park to closeout the entire weekend. With a monstrous crowd, and all the hype in the world, the band hit the stage with ‘The Emptiness Machine’ and don’t look back.
It’s worth noting that somehow Emily Armstrong is the first female headliner ever at Download. A massive moment, albeit many years too late and not without its own controversies. With so many amazing women in rock, we prey that it won’t be long before we see a truly organic headliner.
After a more ambient mid-set, the final run-in for Linkin Park is insane. ‘What I’ve Done’, ‘Numb’, ‘Heavy Is The Crown’, ‘Bleed It Out’, ‘Papercut’, ‘In The End’ and ‘Faint’ is one hell of a way to close out Download 2026.
With Linkin Park 2.0 and Download 2.0 showing us that with a mixture of nostalgia and new favourites, you can achieve wonderful results, we simply can’t wait to get back to Donington Park in 2027!
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Vol. 138
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Vol. 90
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Download Festival
Donington Park
13-15 June 2025
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DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 2025 – the big review
After a washout of a year last year, those making the annual pilgrimage to Donington Park this year were checking the weather forecasts regularly. Would it be scorching? Would there be storms? Rain? Snow? The forecasters had us prepared for anything this weekend.
As always though as we enter the hallowed grounds of Download Festival, we are prepared to rock! For over twenty years now this monster event has welcomed the best of the alternative scene for a weekend of revelry and kickass music and 2025 on paper looks no different.
The arena itself though does look a little different. The now standard layout remains the same, but everyone is quick to notice and appreciate the upgrades in toilets and a few other little touches such as a screen outside the Avalanche Stage and the new fancy video totems on the main stage.
FRIDAY
The weather on Friday is hot, hot, hot… so it’s nice to start our weekend off in a tent! Karen Dio is a bundle of energy as she opens proceedings on the Avalanche Stage. The early crowd enjoy every moment of her short but sweet set and Download Festival 2025 is a go!
The line-up across the Avalanche Stage this week is great and features some of the best young bands on the scene. One of the most exciting is next as unpeople bring the riffs and the audience bring the party as we get into full swing today.
After a quick sojourn over to the main stage where CKY bring back memories of Tony Hawk games and teenage tomfoolery. The current line-up continues to defy the odds and as the sun beats down, they get the vocal cords of another crowded year warmed up.
There’s plenty of singing to be done next as we return to the Avalanche tent for Scottish breakouts Dead Pony. The likes of ‘MK Nothing’, ‘RAINBOWS’ and ‘MANA’ have the crowd repeating every word and the band can leave the stage knowing that they’ve smashed their opportunity.
Speaking of smashing opportunities and it’s back to the main stage for Boston Manor. Wow. The boys from Blackpool read the assignment and they understood every word. With a busy crowd, the sun shining and the beers flowing, Boston Manor deliver the biggest set of the entire weekend.
Every one of the nine tracks is delivered with passion and energy and the audience give the band everything that they have. This is just goosebump inducingly good. This set is one of those moments that you have to stand back and take in. It’s one of those moments in which a band solidifies their future and ensures that when they return, they will be playing even higher up the bill!
The run now on the main stage will become the stuff of legend and Rise Against are next up. A band who can be a little hit or miss, especially with their festival sets are fully on top of their game today. Blasting out the likes of ‘Prayer of the Refugee’, ‘Satellite’ and closer ‘Savior’, they all sound huge today and Friday is setting a tough measure to follow.
A quick trip for Trophy Eyes on the Avalanche Stage shows that the tent is still in full swing before it’s time for Jimmy Eat World to make their return to Download. Bringing in the likes of ‘My Best Theory’ and ‘Get It Faster’ helps their set to flow and of course ‘The Middle’ presents one of the biggest moments of the festival.
The nostalgic feel continues next with the ever-delightful Weezer bringing hits such as ‘Hash Pipe’, ‘Beverly Hills’ and ‘Buddy Holly’ to the main stage crowd. A Download appearance is a long overdue thing for the band and their first time didn’t disappoint.
Download Festival debuts is the Friday night theme and we can’t help but check out McFly in the Avalanche tent next. The crowd is expectedly large, if considerably smaller than Busted last year. McFly mix some snippets of rock classics amongst their own hit songs and those gathered have a whale of a time.
The biggest and longest overdue Download Festival debut however is reserved for our Friday night headliners Green Day. There is a real sense of occasion as the band hit the stage, and you feel that this is a true moment in time for the festival.
When a band can begin a performance with a run of ‘American Idiot’, ‘Holiday’, ‘Know Your Enemy’ and ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’ and make a two-hour set go by in a flash then you know that they are special.
It’s not often rain is welcomed at Donington but perhaps the moment of the festival is the shower that begins with precision just as Billie Joe sings the line “…Here comes the rain again…” during ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends’!
Green Day’s ability to make a packed field feel like a small venue is a gift and tonight they simply make headlining a major festival look easy. As the fireworks and ‘Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)’ close out a fantastic day, we can’t wait to do it all again tomorrow!
SATURDAY
Friday felt big and by comparison Saturday feels a little more subdued. We have a much talked about headline set to come and there are still some exciting acts spread across the stages however.
After a mysterious gap on the Opus stage results in nothing, we start our day as Static Dress continue their ascent up the line-up by opening the main stage. They do their best to wake up a clearly hungover early crowd and can leave knowing they didn’t fluff their lines.
BEX is fully prepared to win over a docile pre-midday audience in the Avalanche stage and brings her infectious energy and a couple of “Big BEX” colleagues to get the crowd engaged. Her short set is a resounding success, and the future looks very bright for an act Full Pelt have highlighted since the beginning.
Two more such exciting young acts, VENUS GRRRLS and Split Chain sandwich some hardcore icons on the main stage. Hatebreed cause chaos with their brutal set, but it’s both the two younger acts that really show themselves as ready to step up next.
Another set that will stand the test of time and prove to be a defining career milestone is that of Poppy on the main stage. The sort of act that old school Download Festival attendees would’ve bottled relentlessly, Poppy is incredible this afternoon. Even the most hardened sceptics in the audience appear to be won over by a superb set.
AWOLNATION are our next stop off over on the Opus stage and they lean heavily on their breakthrough record, ‘Megalithic Symphony’ much to the delight of the crowd. ‘Sail’ naturally provides another one of those big moments.
Teen Mortgage are good fun in the Dogtooth tent before we catch the beginning of Smash Into Pieces on the Avalanche stage. They say dress for the job that you want and not the one you have – well Smash Into Pieces bring a show ready for the main stage and the crowd love it today.
For a number of years fans have clamoured for Don Broco to be given a logo spot on the main stage. Those fans knew that the band could own such a slot and to nobody’s surprise that’s exactly what the band do. In a similar vein to Boston Manor yesterday, the band know what they need to do today, and they simply smash it.
Shinedown next are given a big opportunity to step up to sub-headline the main stage. We remember first seeing them low down the bill in 2009 and since then they’ve worked their way up the line-up. With a performance and show like they deliver today, you wouldn’t put it past them one day topping the whole thing!
A unique experience is on offer next as festival favourite Frank Carter is back. Not with his Rattlesnakes however, nor one of his other past bands but instead with the legendary Sex Pistols! Present day John Lydon may not endorse this collaboration but a rammed full Opus stage at Download Festival most certainly does.
Speaking of unique experience, a different sort of experience is next as Sleep Token act as a beacon for all young acts that says that headlining is not unattainable. The rise or even explosion of Sleep Token is a refreshing phenomenon and the volume of their t-shirts on parade this weekend show that they deserve this shot.
They are however something of a marmite band and those that love them, really love them and if you don’t “get it” then you actively seek to tear them down. Their set this weekend will only split the crowd even more.
What it is not is the statement that Bring Me The Horizon delivered. It’s also not one of the instantly forgettable sets that have topped the bill. Musically and stylistically the band are captivating. However, those very aesthetics and the whole no audience engagement element of their mystique also make the performance quite inaccessible to those not already clued in.
It’s a shame that the performance doesn’t win universal acclaim because in some ways it needed to. The reality is though that this festival needed to evolve and bring in fresh blood and the fact that Sleep Token were given this chance and they didn’t completely fumble the ball must be seen as a win for the future.
SUNDAY
The heat and the mammoth scale of the festival looks to be taking it’s toll on the audience and the arena is relatively quiet as Sunday gets underway with the mesmerizing Harpy in the Avalanche tent.
After a downpour during Sex Pistols last night, the rain is still lingering this morning which may also mean some stick to the comfort of their tents to sleep off lasts nights fun. Orbit Culture and Archers both bring a crisp brutality to the morning air and do their best to blow away the Sunday morning cobwebs.
Before we get back into our musical entertainment, let’s shout out the food and drink offerings with the new dedicated bars and areas continuing to provide individual feels to the arena. The Guinness bar is a favourite for us and we are won over by Supermac’s who we hope will be back again next year!
Right, back to the music and we are back at the Opus stage for an always visceral Nothing More. The group only have limited time but they undoubtedly make the most of it with the likes of ‘If It Doesn’t Hurt’ showing their ability to enthral and entertain.
The afternoon phase of Sunday is then something of a mixed bag with Vower making the most of their Dogtooth slot, Jinjer doing a good but perhaps slightly underwhelming turn on the main stage, Alien Ant Farm and Jerry Cantrell both delivering alright sets that perhaps dip due to understandable lethargy from the crowd, and a superb House of Protection statement set.
As we head into the final run of bands for the weekend Spiritbox do what they need to do in their big main stage spot and Airbourne do what Airbourne do over on the Opus stage. Neither set will likely prove that memorable, but both are a good time.
The heat this weekend whilst not quite at 2023 levels is certainly a factor in Sunday feeling quite sluggish. Many fans seem exhausted and the bands on offer whilst technically sound lack the ability to grab these fans by the collar and drag them from their stupor – case in point the very good Unprocessed who play to a rather tepid gathering in the Dogtooth tent.
It takes a firm festival favourite like Bullet For My Valentine to get momentum building again and the fans are treated to another run through of their seminal album, ‘The Poison’. Frontman Matt Tuck has never made any bones about his desire to headline, and he makes another bold proclamation at the end of their set. Up until recently you’d have probably laughed this suggestion off but with the band regaining their own momentum and the festival in a new era it’s entirely possible.
Another Welsh group reclaiming their past glories is Kids In Glass Houses and we catch them closing out the fantastic Avalanche stage for the weekend with a crowd-pleasing set.
Then there was one left. Closing out the entire festival are the band that Bullet will be hoping to emulate – Korn. A prime example of a band who lost out when Monsters of Rock died. If a Donington event had existing when Korn were at their peak, then perhaps they would’ve topped the bill before now but at last in 2025 it’s happening!
It seems that every single person at the festival wants to see the band take their opportunity with both hands and that love from the audience erupts as the opening echoes of ‘Blind’ ring around the arena.
A simplistic but effective production means that the band let their songs speak for themselves and as they blast out ‘Here to Stay’, ‘Got the Life’, ‘Clown’ and ‘Did My Time’, the band and audience find themselves in a combined state of euphoria.
A splendid outing for rarity ‘Twisted Transistor’ is a highlight but by the time they bring everything home with ‘Freak on a Leash’ the band have solidified themselves as bonified headliners at a festival that they are synonymous with.
There is perhaps no better way to finish the weekend and close the chapter on another Download Festival. This year’s will last long in the memory and is up there with the best. For the diehard attendees, Download Festival is their diary marker that they plan their year around. So the question now turns to who will make their mark next year?
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Download Festival
Donington Park
14th to 16th June 2024
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Oh, the difference a year makes! Last year the sun shone down on the bumper twentieth anniversary edition of Download Festival. Pretty much every person in attendance last year would say that it was simply too hot. Of course, this year then had to do a complete 180 and instead of a desperate search for water to quench our thirst, this year there is far too much of it – and sadly we aren’t talking about new headline sponsor Liquid Death!
No, months of rain in the UK left the festival grounds at Donington Park ill prepared for the downpours that would arrive over the first few days of the festival. The ground conditions quickly becoming treacherous and a weekend of hard slog, delays, cancellations, rejigs and almost every problem imaginable ensues.
There is a real risk that this year’s edition of Download will be remembered for the mud and for the protests that led to Barclays stepping back as a sponsor of the event. This is unfortunate as really the event should be remembered for a progressive line-up that leads the event into the next generation.
After an overreliance of guaranteed ticket shifters, Bring Me The Horizon’s dominant performance last year appears to have opened the door to new headliners (not that Queens of the Stone Age or Fall Out Boy are actually new!), and fresher overall line-ups.
The balance this year between old favourites (Machine Head, Bowling For Soup, Black Stone Cherry), fresh big hitters (Fall Out Boy, Royal Blood, Queens of the Stone Age) and future contenders (Creeper, Enter Shikari, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes), is spot on. There is something here for rock and metal fans of all ages and that is going to be key to the longevity of the festival.
FRIDAY
So let us walk through some of the best sets of the weekend, starting Friday on the main stage as a more classic rock feel welcomes early attendees. The Blue Stones open the festival with a solid performance before Those Damn Crows show just how far they’ve come with a top-level set.
The clash-gods haven’t been kind to us this year and many sacrifices must be made, however we are able to catch the superb Mouth Culture make their mark on the Dogtooth stage next.
It’s then back to the main stage as The Struts continue to show why over the top sing-along rock n roll will never go out of fashion. Frontman Luke Spiller has the crowd in the palm of his hand and not even the continuing rain can dampen the spirits of a crowd belting out ‘Could Have Been Me’.
Black Stone Cherry are regular visitors to Donington Park, but today marks their first appearance in some six years. Clearly the fans have missed them, and the band make sure that they make the most of their time on stage. Fan favourites and a couple from latest album, ‘Screaming at the Sky’ has the field rocking hard and attendees won’t have to wait long to catch the band again with a headline tour on its way!
Sticking with the main stage, the booking of Royal Blood as sub-headliners is another sign of a more modern focus for the festival. Technical issues however disrupt the momentum of the performance and metaphorically dampen the mood in the already damp crowd. That said when the duo can fully unleash their power, a realisation appears to hit even the staunchest doubters of their Download credentials.
And speaking of Download credentials… Busted! Even five years ago the thought of the band playing these hallowed grounds would have sent the old school punters into a frenzy. How dare they bring their deplorable pop rubbish to our prestigious and very serious metal festival!!!!!
Well, thankfully the mentally that saw My Chemical Romance bottled off stage in 2007 is almost gone (just don’t look at the Facebook comments on the Busted announcement!). Headlining the Avalanche stage, the crowd is deep outside the tent as fans try to catch a glimpse of the trio. Before we head back to the main stage for our headliners, we get to witness the glorious sight of even the most hardened rockers partying along to the likes of ‘Air Hostess’ and ‘MMMBop’!
There is a different kind of party on the main stage however as Queens of the Stone Age are belatedly given top-billing at the UK’s premier rock festival. Josh Homme is clearly high on the atmosphere (amongst other things), and the band deliver a stunning performance chronicling their incredible career. Naturally it’s ‘No One Knows’ that enters the face for sing-along moment of the weekend, but the likes of ‘The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret’ and ‘I Sat by the Ocean’ are glorious tonight.
SATURDAY
On to Saturday now and a fair few in attendance may be nursing hangovers this morning (especially the poor Scots after their Euro’s humbling), but as always Download has the cure. After a slight delay the venue fills again ready for another day of music with a point to prove.
That starts immediately with Bambie Thug who opens the mainstage with another set which probably wouldn’t have been greeted as well a decade ago. Bambie Thug however manages to mesmerise and captivate the early crowd with a truly powerful performance of The Cranberries ‘Zombie’ acting as a stance against ongoing atrocities across the world. Whilst the work of others helped to change the position of Barclays, the statement made here by Bambie Thug is something that will last long in the conscience of attendees.
The levels of energy and passion continue throughout sets from WARGASM on the main stage and KNIFE BRIDE and ALT BLK ERA on the Dogtooth stage. Then it’s time to change pace with The Hunna (another fresh booking) taking to the main stage. The group clearly appreciate the opportunity and make a great impression during their relatively short time on stage.
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes are up next and whilst the anger and ferocity of their stage presence may have balanced out, the elevation in showmanship and passion ensures that the group remain one of the best live acts in town. Their main stage set this weekend is sublime and you’d expect Carter and co to help lead this festival into the future.
They say that lightning never strikes the same place twice… well, what about torrential downpours? In scenes eerily reminiscent of their main stage slot in 2016, BABYMETAL have their set almost completely destroyed by a biblical shower which also destroys what is left of the arena grounds. During their short time onstage BABYMETAL are fantastic, but unfortunately, they may be seen as cursed when booked on the main stage!
The weather from here on out just can’t make its mind up with a mixture of sun and rain, but that eclectic mix is perhaps fitting for Enter Shikari who present their unique smorgasbord of sound next on the main stage. The group have grown up with the festival so it’s nice to finally see them in a prominent slot on this stage. The opportunity is seized with both hands and Shikari prove why they also must be considered amongst the best live acts on the circuit.
Sticking again to the main stage, The Offspring deliver a headline worthy performance next which even includes an encore much to the chagrin of festival etiquette experts. The band however carry themselves as headliners and they of course have bangers for days as they say. After the punishing weather, it’s great to see the audience finally unleash and dance their way through this wonderfully fun set.
A quick sojourn to the Dogtooth stage for a short but sweet Cassyette performance then leads us to the big Saturday headline slot which this year is taken on by Fall Out Boy. Another example of a band perhaps criminally underfeatured at this event in the past due to not having the perceived heaviness required by the gatekeepers of yesteryear.
The band however are ready to make up for lost time as they produce a memorable one-off set akin to the ‘Eras’ show from a certain Taylor Swift. And whilst it’s unlikely the festival will ever welcome the army of swifties; it’s refreshing to see the positive reception received by Fall Out Boy. From somebody that witnessed the My Chemical Romance hostilities, it’s another positive indictment that the future of the festival is looking bright.
SUNDAY
The Sunday at a major festival like this is always a tough one, with everyone tired and already over-stimulated. It takes something memorable to kickstart proceedings and after lengthy delays in setting up the arena, it’s Code Orange that truly get things going today with a set that ends in the band smashing up the stage after going over time.
You can understand their frustration however with the times of bands changing at short notice due to the supposed actions required to get the arena ready for the fans. It must be said though that when we do finally enter, it’s hairy still without much action being obvious at least!
The changes in times frustrate some, but for us the movements mean that we can catch both Creeper on the main stage and Royal Republic over on the second stage. Two incredible live acts, Creeper are up first and showcase in just thirty minutes what they could look like as future headliners. An all-out show accompanies some fantastic music and indeed, you have to hope that Creeper are given an opportunity further up the bill next time around.
As for Royal Republic, you know what you are getting – a highly enjoyable live act who will always bring the party. That’s exactly what they do today as they showcase their superb new album, ‘LoveCop’.
Much hype surrounded the mysterious secret set at Download this year, those battling their way into the Dogtooth are treated to a Parkway Drive performance, we however avoid the crush and instead sing-along to some pop-punk favourites as Zebrahead and Bowling For Soup serenade their crowds.
In fact, we are certainly in the sing-along portion of the weekend as the main stage welcomes two iconic bands from the new millennium. Firstly Sum 41, who are embarking on a final tour as they bring the sun down on their career. The band get a big crowd who send them on their way by singing each song right back at them with the final run of ‘In Too Deep’, ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘Fat Lip’ and ‘Still Waiting’ particularly loud!
Loud is also a great way to describe Limp Bizkit who are up next. The band are like a fine wine and just keep getting better, with Fred Durst able to orchestrate the crowd as only he can. A double dose of ‘Break Stuff’ sums up the vibes of the set, which for many is the perfect way to close out the festival.
For others there is still a choice between Machine Head, The Used, The Black Dahlia Murder or Avenged Sevenfold to be that final performance of another wet but glorious weekend. For us we follow the theme of the weekend and position ourselves at the main stage.
Avenged Sevenfold are headlining the event for the third time, and this time they have a rather polarising new album to play. The weather, the other options and that ambivalence towards ‘Life Is But a Dream…’, means the crowd is a little on the thin side, but those in attendance make up for those missing.
Some of the new songs do flatten the atmosphere but when the band bang out the likes of ‘Afterlife’, ‘Hail To The King’, ‘Bat Country’ and ‘Nightmare’ there is no better way to finish the weekend.
As we said at the start, there is a real risk that this weekend will be remembered for different reasons, but for us the takeaway is that the event is finally looking towards the future. It’s refreshing to see the real-life reactions to some of the online contentious bookings and that helps point that the future of Download is a positive one.
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Full Pelt Magazine
Vol. 41
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