Download Festival

DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 36 MORE BANDS

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JANE’S ADDICTION, NOFX, SIXX:A.M., BURY TOMORROW,

PERIPHERY, ALIEN ANT FARM, AMON AMARTH AND MORE

 

MAIN STAGE NAMED ‘THE LEMMY STAGE’ IN HONOUR OF

LEMMY KILMISTER

 

Download Festival, the world’s premier rock and metal event, adds 36 new acts to an already meaty bill, including Jane’s Addiction, NOFX, Sixx:A.M., Alien Ant Farm and Amon Amarth. Download Festival takes place on 10-12 June 2016 in Donington Park. Tickets are on sale now; a special early bird ticket rate is available until 12 February.

Joining headliners Rammstein, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden for three days of unmissable rock are the mighty Jane’s Addiction – Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and Chris Chaney – ready to bring their dizzying blend of funk-infused rock to Donington. The band are one of the most exciting and frenetic live acts in the game, fronted by the legendary Farrell whose spellbinding power onstage is sure to transfix the masses this summer.

Whilst we’re saddened to say Motörhead will no longer be performing at this year’s Download Festival, we will honour a true rock ‘n’ roll icon who inspired so many others on the bill, Lemmy Kilmister. This year, Download Festival’s Main Stage will be named ‘The Lemmy Stage’ in tribute to a much loved and missed legend. We are working with Motörhead’s management on a tribute to the great man during the slot he would have performed on, more information to follow.

SoCal pioneers NOFX are coming to stir a hurricane-like frenzy with their politically charged punk with its tongue firmly in its cheek. Sixx:A.M., featuring former Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx, will inject their brand of old school-style, high-octane rock into the hallowed grounds of Donington.  Anti-Flag will bring a blast of white hot three-chord punk this summer. The band are about to tour the US with their new album, American Spring, and Download is currently their only UK show.

South coast metalcore mob Bury Tomorrow have been busy packing out increasingly large venues across the country over the past few years, installing themselves as one of the most exciting homegrown acts to emerge in the genre. Swaggering US rock gang Escape The Fate will come to rage with their energetic, visceral live shows that are the stuff of legend. Prepare for some nu mental antics when Cally foursome Alien Ant Farm takes to the stage at Donington. Their album ANThology featuring singles ‘Movies’ and their cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal’ turns 15 this year.

Next up, Amon Amarth; get ready to be at the mercy of these monolithic Swedish warriors whose fist-pounding take on Viking metal is not to be missed. Periphery are also confirmed and are one of the most revered acts in the progressive metal scene. Electric Wizard, the reigning kings of doom, return with their relentless, ritualistic blackness. Rightfully regarded as one of the heaviest bands in the world, expect some hefty, deep and crushing riffs that build, consume and destroy.

Monster Truck will provide an amped-up, modern take on good old fashioned bluesy rock. The Canadian rockers pack searing guitar riffs, intense vocals and just the right amount of vintage appeal. Graveyard have been capturing the hearts and minds of the rock world over the last few years, establishing themselves as one of the best live acts on the scene. The Swedish three-piece will also bring a blast of retro-cool to Donington.

Municipal Waste will lead the thrash metal party charge. The band plays with expert precision and intensity, embracing and feeding off the crowds’ constant chaos. Japanese phenomenon, One OK Rock have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years. The enigmatic four-piece have been on tour with All Time Low and have just been announced to support Issues later this year. Nottingham’s Heck, formerly Baby Godzilla, will also bring the carnage to Donington.

Pop-punk upstarts Hill Valley High are ready to rock with their energetic and infectious party vibes; Turbowolf, renowned for their debaucherous live shows, will bring some of the chaos to Donington; Grand Magus are set for one hell of an exciting live show with bulldozer riffs and powerful vocals courtesy of frontman JB Christoffersson. Southern rockers Whiskey Myers provide some straight up, booze swilling, highway-driving, great country music.

Cane Hill have been pounding the pavements since their inception a few years ago and will bring their fresh interpretation on nu metal. With a set list guaranteed to be full of huge moments, London rockers Zoax are also confirmed. Canadian three-piece Danko Jones will have crowds in the palm of their hands with a smart mix of hits, fan favourites and cuts from their latest album, Fire Music; and Shvpes, formerly Cytota, are ready for a lethal concoction of aggressive hardcore and hard-edged metal.

With a raucous mix of death and doom backed with atmospheric black metal, The King Is Blind will blow the lid off Download Festival. Buckle in for one full on live set of head bangers from these metal behemoths. Berlin trio Kadavar have quickly become one of the most prominent acts in the European heavy underground, bringing retro, blues-fuelled psychedelic grooves to the masses at this year’s festival. As Lions, the new band from former Rise To Remain members Austin Dickinson, Will Homer and Conor O’Keefe, also join the bill.

Slaves (US), featuring the show-stopping vocals of Jonny Craig, will add drama and rock dynamism to the bill. Wage War will bring their heavy hitting sound, ready for an all-out energetic, circle pit inducing set, while Palisades provide their swirling concoction of hook-laden metal for the dance club masses.

Bristol crew Ashestoangels will add to their growing legions of fans with a hearty, gothic rock-tinged masterclass; London up and comers The Kenneths will perform some unapologetic, brash and bouncy punk, and indie-rockers Muncie Girls will make a splash with their unique injection of book-smart lyrics and streetwise musical sass.

Last but by no means least, Download also welcomes newcomers Reigning Days, who have hit their thunderous musical stride with latest single ‘Friendly Fires’, released last month. Brighton born quartet Black Peaks will pack a punch with their mix of hardcore and progressive rock. Strange Bones will bring unashamedly loud guitars and a real raw edge. The Blackpool trio are turning the heads of the rock scene off the back of their debut single, ‘Sick Of It All.’ Finally Transatlantic tech-heads Good Tiger will bring their fusion of metal, prog riffs and hardcore energy. 

Download Festival is the home of rock music and takes place on the sacred grounds of Donington Park, which have been associated with rock since the eighties. The festival attracts icons of rock and metal to its main stage, plus some of the best and hottest new acts in the world. AC/DC, KISS, Metallica, Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, Rage Against The Machine, Slipknot, Linkin Park and many more have all headlined its main stage.

  

Tickets for Download Festival are on sale now. A special early bird ticket rate is available until 12 February. For further information, please visit www.downloadfestival.co.uk

Shinedown, Killswitch Engage and more added to Download 2016

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Download Festival, in one of its biggest announcements yet confirms 33 new additions for 2016 including Shinedown, Killswitch Engage, Down, Don Broco, Architects, Neck Deep, Tremonti and more. Download Festival takes place 10-12 June 2016 in Donington Park and tickets are on sale now.

Download Festival, the world’s premier rock and metal festival, returns for 2016 with one of its biggest lineups to date. Joining headliners Rammstein, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden for a weekend of incredible rock music are Shinedown, who played an unforgettable set at the festival in 2012. The band’s latest album Threat To Survival shot to Number 13 in the UK charts earlier this year.

Killswitch Engage, dubbed “the people’s champions of metal”, will make the floor move under your feet with a jaw-droppingly outstanding set; Down, featuring former Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo, will deliver some booming dark riffs and all out metal; Don Broco, who celebrated a Number 6 album earlier this year forAutomatic, will bring charisma by the bucketload with a chaotic and immensely enjoyable live set, and Brighton metallers Architects are confirmed for a ferocious, boundlessly energetic set ensuing some gigantic circle pits.

Neck Deep are making waves as the heroes of UK pop-punk. The Wrexham five-piece have been on tour with Bring Me The Horizon and All Time Low, and will headline their own tour next year; Tremonti, fronted by former Creed and Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti, are known for their fast and heavy headbang-worthy riffs; French band Gojira will provide some full on heavy metal throwing crowds into an absolute meltdown; bringing Satan back to the masses, Swedish six-piece Ghost are confirmed for some sticky-sweet hooks and melodies, and lots of satanic musings.

Back on British soil, Billy Talent are preparing to deliver a storming set for crowds in Donington Park. The Canadian sensations will also release a new album in 2016; Saxon will bring some classic rock and guitar heavy tunes; Australian metal-core band The Amity Affliction will put on a great live set mesmerising crowds and are bound to create a raucous mosh pit; Halestorm, led by awesome frontwoman Lizzie Hale, return with some hard, riffy rock; one of the hottest bands in the ‘alternative’ world, US band Beartooth are confirmed, and Glasgow rockers Twin Atlantic, whose last two albums scored Top 5 in the UK Rock & Metal chart, will bring their unique pop rock sounds to Download.

Californian metallers Atreyu are renowned for their high-energy and impassioned sets; self-proclaimed “party-metallers” Attila will bring a heavy-hitting set; reggae-metal group Skindred will get the pit bouncing and rocking and are guaranteed to please the crowds at Donington; former Gallows frontman Frank Carter is confirmed with his new band The Rattlesnakes; Milton Keynes five-piece Tesseract, one of progressive metal’s elite, will send the audience into overdrive with a flawless performance; and with some big, belligerent metal, Counting Days are also confirmed.

Controversial electronic punk rap group Ho99o9 will be bringing their raucous live show to Donington; Milk Teeth have rapidly been gaining widespread acclaim for their nineties grunge nostalgia. Dead! went out on tour with Young Guns this year and have established themselves as one of the hottest bands to look out for in 2016, as have Exeter three-piece Black Foxxes, who have sold out every London show they’ve played. Fort Hope have been championed by Radio 1 this year and their album Courage reached Number 8 on the UK Rock & Metal Chart.

Rival Sons have earned a name as “one of the hottest rock bands on the planet” and will bring an awe-inspiring set of raw power and soulful, bluesy rock; hard rockers Breaking Benjamin are back following a five-year hiatus and will be loud and glorious; American thrash metallers Havok will bring exactly that; Dutch synth-metal band Delain are known for their upbeat energetic performances and US rockers Skillet are set to bring one hell of a monster show. Bringing some fun and thrash metal, Lawnmower Deth are also confirmed to play next year. The band are currently battling it out for the Christmas number one spot with their version of ‘Kids in America’.

Headlining the third stage on Friday, Gutterdämmerung – the brand new rock ‘n’ roll film from Belgian-Swedish visual artist Bjorn Tagemose billed as a “loud and dark fairy tale” – will be screened at Download. The film features the combined might of Slash, Iggy Pop, Josh Homme, Henry Rollins, Lemmy, Tom Araya and many more of hard rock’s finest.

Download Festival is the home of rock music and takes place on the sacred grounds of Donington Park, which have been associated with rock since the eighties. The festival attracts icons of rock and metal to its Main Stage, plus the best hot and new acts in the world. AC/DC, KISS, Metallica, Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, Rage Against The Machine, Slipknot, Linkin Park and many more have all headlined its main stage.

Korn, Motorhead, Megadeath and more added to Download 2016 lineup

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Download Festival announce an incredible six acts added to the line up for next years’ festival; Korn, Motörhead, Deftones, Megadeth, Nightwish and Disturbed join the already announced UK show exclusive headliners; Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and Rammstein, as Download Festival returns for its 14th year to Donington park on 10,11 and 12 June 2016.
 
True pioneers of the whole Nu-Metal era, Korn will play Friday 10 June at Download Festival. Jonathan Davis, Munky, Head, Fieldy and Ray will bring that signature rumble to the spiritual home of rock. Their highly anticipated 12th studio album is due for release this year, ahead of what is a welcomed return to Donington. After a tumultuous few years, and fresh from the release of Bad Magic, the mighty Motörhead, the ultimate British rock ‘n’ roll institution, will play Download Festival on Friday 10 June. The pure embodiment of a rock – front man Ian Fraser 'Lemmy' Kilmister will bring swagger and attitude, and we’re certain of a few things – there will be No Sleep Till’ Donington, they are Motörhead, and they play rock'n'roll like no other.

Alternative rock mainstays, Deftones join an already mind-blowing Saturday line up. With the highly anticipated release of their eighth studio album, Deftones will bring a live show of epic proportions to the hallowed grounds of Donington next year. The Sacramento quintet have evolved since their inception, but inarguably they maintain the essential soundtrack to all hardcore fans.  Deftones are Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter, Frank Delgado, Abe Cunningham and Sergio Vega.  Metal veterans, Megadeth, release their 15th album Dystopia early next year, which will no doubt excite the fans ahead of their Saturday performance at Download Festival.

On Sunday 11 June, symphonic operatic metallers, Nightwish, come with heavy guitars, intense instrumentals and edgy duet vocals from Floor Jansen and Marco Hietala. Their hypnotising take on metal melodrama will no doubt lure the crowds to Donington next year. Returning from their hiatus, Disturbed released the epic Immortalized in August this year, a long awaited album of epic proportions proving that their live show next year will be nothing short of unmissable. Now resurrected – their dark metal craft and distinctive sound claimed the number 1 album spot in the US. Disturbed are: David Draiman, John Moyer, Dan Donegan, and Mike Wengren.

Rammstein confirmed as final headliner for Download 2016

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Rammstein announced as the third and final headliner for Download Festival 2016. Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden also headlining the 3 day metal fest, taking place on 10-12 June 2016 at the spiritual home of rock in Donington Park, Leicestershire.
 
Headlining Friday 10 June at the home of rock, German visual masters,Rammstein will bring their outlandish pyrotechnics and techno theatre to Donington. Always putting on a live performance of epic proportions, the Goth industrial group will no doubt open the show in spectacular fashion. Rammstein return to Donington having headlined Download, Europe’s biggest rock and metal festival, in 2013.
 
 
Epic in scale and capable of touching all of the senses; a dark and spectacular fairy-tale laced with controversy and don’t-try-this-at-home theatrics, Rammstein are: Till Lindemann and Flake Lorenz, Christoph Schneider, Paul Landers, Richard Z. Kruspe and Oliver Riedel.
Rammstein said: “Download is a festival; it is not a moon landing"
 
IRON MAIDEN will make a spectacular return to Download Festival on Sunday 12 June to headline the final day of Download Festival, their only UK show of 2016. The band will fly in to East Midlands Airport on their enormous Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet Ed Force One, piloted by Bruce Dickinson and carrying band, crew, stage production and equipment over 55,000 miles around the world, visiting 35 countries on The Book Of Souls World Tour.
Bruce Dickinson comments:

'Download is a very special place for us. Not just because it’s always great to play on home turf but because there’s a truly unique vibe there, it’s the very heart of England and of Metal, so a fitting place for Iron Maiden! The crowd is always fiercely passionate and the whole band feeds off that famous Donington energy. We aim to deliver a really memorable show for our fans to close the 2016 Festival. Although this is our sixth time headlining at Castle Donington, it’s the first time we’ve been able to land Ed Force One right on the doorstep of the Festival site!.'

'We haven't decided on the set list as yet and won’t until we start rehearsing but we really look forward to playing a number of new songs live, especially as the recording was so much live. However, as it’s been a while since we saw you all, I am sure we will include plenty of older fan favourites too. I think the fans will be delighted by what we have in mind. We are also in the middle of creating the new show and rest assured we are working hard to bring you all something spectacular, something with a lot of heart!!! You certainly deserve it for your patience. '

The legendary Black Sabbath – Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler – will headline Download Festival 2016 on Saturday 11 June. Nearly five decades on from their beginnings in Birmingham, the band – who have been widely proclaimed as ‘The Greatest Metal Band of All Time’ – will be coming back to Donington Park as part of their FINAL ever tour entitled “The End”, which will see their biggest and most mesmerising production to date.
 
Ozzy Osbourne commented:
 
“Download is my absolute favourite summer festival.  It’s always like coming home. See you all there!”
 
Download festival promoter, Andy Copping has said:
 
“I cannot wait for this year- three of the biggest names in rock are heading to Donington. Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath have legacies to rival Download Festival and its rich rock heritage, it’s a match made in rock heaven. The mighty Iron Maiden back after another yet another number 1 album, the legendary Black Sabbath on their final tour and Rammstein who blow me away every time I see them – their headlining set at Download 2016 will make rock history”

Saturday headliner announced for Download Festival 2016

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The legendary Black Sabbath – Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler – will be returning to headline Download Festival 2016 on Saturday 11 June. 

Nearly five decades on from their beginnings in Birmingham, the band – who have been widely proclaimed as ‘The Greatest Metal Band of All Time’ – will be coming back to the spiritual home of rock at Donington Park as part of their FINAL ever tour entitled “The End”, which will see their biggest and most mesmerising production to date.

 
 
Ozzy Osbourne commented:

'Download is my absolute favourite summer festival.  It’s always like coming home.   See you all there!'

With IRON MAIDEN already announced to headline Sunday 12 June, Download Festival still has details of one more headliner to announce. Watch this space

Iron Maiden to headline Download 2016

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Download Festival 2016, the UK’s ultimate rock festival is back, announcing IRON MAIDEN as festival closing headliners on Sunday 12 June 2016. The 3 day rock and metal fest is set to take place on 10-12 June 2016 at the spiritual home of rock in Donington Park, Leicestershire.

IRON MAIDEN will make a spectacular return to Download Festival on Sunday 12 June to headline the final day of Download Festival, their only UK show of 2016. The band will fly in to East Midlands Airport on their enormous Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet Ed Force One, piloted by Bruce Dickinson and carrying band, crew, stage production and equipment over 55,000 miles around the world, visiting 35 countries on The Book Of Souls World Tour.

Bruce comments:
 
“Download is a very special place for us. Not just because it’s always great to play on home turf but because there’s a truly unique vibe there, it’s the very heart of England and of Metal, so a fitting place for Iron Maiden! The crowd is always fiercely passionate and the whole band feeds off that famous Donington energy. We aim to deliver a really memorable show for our fans to close the 2016 Festival. Although this is our sixth time headlining at Castle Donington, it’s the first time we’ve been able to land Ed Force One right on the doorstep of the Festival site!”
 
“We haven't decided on the set list as yet and won’t until we start rehearsing but we really look forward to playing a number of new songs live, especially as the recording was so much live. However, as it’s been a while since we saw you all, I am sure we will include plenty of older fan favourites too. I think the fans will be delighted by what we have in mind. We are also in the middle of creating the new show and rest assured we are working hard to bring you all something spectacular, something with a lot of heart!!! You certainly deserve it for your patience. “

36 Crazyfists, Corrosion of Conformity and more added to Download Festival

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With, unbelievably, less than two months to go until Download 2015, the finishing touches are being added to this year’s masterpiece of a line-up, and today sees twenty five more flashes of colour streaking the tableau of Europe’s biggest rock and metal festival.

Seminal post hardcore megaliths Funeral For A Friend make a first appearance in four years following the release of January’s enormous record Chapter and Verse.

Singer Matthew Davies-Kreye said: Download is a festival very close to our hearts and we're thrilled to have been invited back this year alongside some amazing bands.

Alaskan metalcore steamroller 36 Crazyfists are also basking in the glory of a huge new album, February’sTime and Trauma and will join FFAF in taking their place on the mainstage.

A long lost friend will also return as, amid reports that a new album is in the works, heavy metal titansCorrosion of Conformity, freshly reunited with vocalist/guitarist Pepper Keenan, come to Donington for the first time in twenty years having played Monsters of Rock in 1995, while a new friend arrives in the form of legendary Liverpudlian metallers Carcass give Download a first ever fistful of their mastery of every extreme genre from goregrind to melodic death metal.

For Carcass the appearance is the fulfilment of a long-held dream: Well, after years of badgering Andy Copping he has finally broken and agreed to let us despoil Download! We’re genuinely excited to finally get to play Castle Donington after all these years – maybe this time without rolling Landrovers and cracking shoulder bones on the journey there (a LONG story!). We hope to see some of you at a loose end, with no one better to watch at CARCASS’ ONLY UK festival appearance this Summer!

Corrosion of Conformity’s prodigal son Pepper Keenan was similarly excited about making along-awaited return: Super stoked about getting back to download with COC, always an honour. It's been waaaaay to long. Up the f***in hammers!

Another band to have a huge influence over their genre are pop-punk giants Yellowcard who make their first Download appearance when they headline the third stage on Sunday night.

One of the most distinctive and angry voices of their (or any) generation, crossover thrash frontiersmenSuicidal Tendencies play Download for the first time in five years following a(nother) hiatus and reunion, headlining the fourth stage on Sunday night.

Also making a long awaited return, having not played since 2009 are Gothic-ambient-alt metal sirensLacuna Coil, playing the main stage on Friday afternoon.

Elsewhere, homegrown supergroup Krokodil take their composite members’ most brutal musical sensibilities and crush them into some of the most soulsplittingly raucous groove metal on the scene, while another supergroup, this time from across the pond, Antemasque, features former members of The Mars Volta and At The Drive-In, blending the prog, funk and punk rock for which their progenitors were renowned to tumultuous effect.

Krokodil looked forward to returning to the site of one of their early triumphs: It's going to be so good to be back where it all began for us, so much has happened since our first show at Download 2013. Now the record’s out, it only seems right to be back there tearing sh*t up again with full f****ng force! Download, we're coming for you.

Canadian stadium rockers Three Days Grace will also (surprise!) join the line-up, while Reading thrash merchants Malefice will return following the planned release of a brand new E.P in May, and fellow homegrown axe-wielders The Wild Lies will provide a straight-up shot of pure undiluted classic hard rock.

Sharp dressed Texas deathcore desperados Upon A Burning Body will return to Donington having been denied their Download appearance last year when singer Danny Leal was taken ill at the last minute. But will they join recent collaborator Ice-T on the bill for their recent Pop Goes Pnk smash, Turn Down For What? we hear you ask…

Leal looked forward to regaining his birthright: DOWNLOAD! We are excited to be on this year’s line-up. Having to cancel last year was so upsetting for us and we do apologize. We are pumped and ready to come see all of you guys and completely make up for last year. Come say hello and let's crush this year!

Another act who had to had to pull out of their 2014 performance but return in 2015 is September Mourning, the alternative rock sect of the eponymous transmedia Gothic culture project, who take to Donington for the first time ahead of the release of their debut album.

If all that doesn’t dust your fretboard, Finnish folk-prog goliaths Von Hertzen Brothers will also set off on their maiden Donington expedition following the release of epic album, New Day Rising in March.

Also gracing Donington for the first time will be Brighton hard rock-breakbeats crossover maniacs TheQemists fresh from the release of their new album Warrior Sound, whose fellow Brightonians, classic rockers Colour of Noise make their debut ahead of the release of their eponymous debut album in September, while Londoners LTNT are another act embarking on a first tour of duty.

Swedish-American banditos Blues Pills combine smoky blues with thunderous hard rock powered by singer Elin Larsson’s incredible vocals, while surf/skate punks Fidlar are another act due to make their Download debut this year, as are homegrown dub-rave-punk experimentalists Get Hot.

Chunk, No, Captain Chunk! the French ‘easycore’ exports, will also make their first appearance, while fellow pop punk debutantes and Kerrang! Best Newcomer Award nominees E of E will be making the comparatively short trip from Dudley.

Coming from an even shorter distance are anthemic Derby rockers The Struts bringing with them a whole sackful of soaring choruses.

Blowing in from New Zealand to join compatriots Rival State on the bill come Like A Storm, who, as well as gaining a string of admirers for their mix of Spaghetti-Western swagger and hard rock steel, are one of the few rock bands to fully realise the awesome seismic power of the didgeridoo.

Country rockers The Cadillac Three are yet another newcomer, adding a touch of Nashville honky-tonk vibrancy to the cascade of rock anthems.

Arguably the easiest listening of the weekend (or hardest depending on your tastes) will come in the form of vocal harmonists The Lounge Kittens whose twist on rock and metal classic has earned them opening spots for Limp Bizkit and Steel Panther among others.

These incredible acts will join a pantheon of rock and metal gods at Download, including headlinersSlipknot, Muse and Kiss, main support Judas Priest, Faith No More and Mötley Crüe, and such other musical giants as Marilyn Manson, Slash, Enter Shikari, Black Stone Cherry and A Day To Remember. 

Download Festival 2015 add Pro Wrestling and more to its programme

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With such a titanic line-up of bands set to hit Europe’s biggest rock and metal music festival this year it’s easy to forget that Download is also the home of some of the most varied, exhilarating, weird, wonderful and outrageous on site entertainment in the festival world.

This year’s dress-up theme is Pro-Wrestling so it is highly appropriate that additions to the programme this year include the country’s finest independent wrestlers, the mighty PROGRESS Wrestling, and the continuation of the beef between Champion Jimmy Havoc and our very own figurehead, Download Dog.

Other new on-site features include the Dog’s Bed Stage – the fully equipped open mic experience that allows YOU to follow in the footsteps of rocks pantheon by performing at Donnington, a Pop-Up Art Gallery, LASER TAG – no explanation needed, the Hair of the Dog beer and real ale house, heavy metal mask making and circus skills Workshops, KISS face painting (bring your own tongue) and speed dating hosted by Heavy Metal Dating.

And if all works out with the Heavy Metal Dating, you can practise tying the knot in Download’s Chapel of Love at the Inflatable Church. Alongside those wishing to get married (sadly not legally) there will be a host of other activities in the chapel – from the Morning Glory Rock Spandex Workout to Air Guitar Competitions and much more.

If that doesn’t get your motor revving then bear in mind that all of this insane entertainment comes to you in addition to Download favourites, The Doghouse – featuring such iconic rock club nights as Uprawr, Voodoo Rocks, Alpha, Face Down & Ultimate Power, as well as internet sensations and fast food-themedBlack Sabbath covers band Mac Sabbath – the big top Cinema, comedy and silent disco in the Side Splitter, medieval carnage courtesy of Demolition Download, and the instantly iconic Download Totem.

Away from the delirious awesomeness of the live music and the on-site entertainment Download continues to expand its amazing gastronomic offering with the likes of Goodness Gracious, Texas Smoker and Kwacker making mouths water this year, while the Seat of Luxury pass offers the cleanest, most refreshing high-tech festival toilet experience in the history of music festival toilets.

Remember that time Lord Somersby rocked Download? Well Lord Somersby has made his mark in many places, but never has he rocked out at Donington Park. This year, we are bringing his literal home, the Manor, including bar and DJ, to the spiritual home of rock. See you at the bar for a Somersby cider?

Some of rock’s biggest bands will grace the Zippo Encore stage, and the festival experience continues at the Zippo area where festival-goers can get their hands on the infamous limited edition Download Festival lighter, design their own Zippo lighters and take part in competitions to win side-of-stage experiences.

And then there’s the music…Download 2015 will be headlined by Slipknot, Muse and Kiss, with main support coming from Judas Priest, Faith No Moreand Motley Crue, with other musical beasts unleashed on the Donington faithful including Marilyn Manson, Slash, Enter Shikari, Black Veil Brides andBlack Stone Cherry.

Fightstar, A, Apocalyptica and more added to Download 2015 lineup

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Download 2015 comes a huge step closer today with DAY TICKETS for Europe’s biggest rock and metal music festival set to go on sale at 9am on Friday 27 February and a whopping 38 bands joining the line-up.     

Bands joining the line-up include the mighty Fightstar: a decade on from their debut release, the post hardcore giants came back from a 4 year hiatus at the end of last year for a triumphant run of sold out shows celebrating their 10th anniversary and return to the Donington stage for the first time since their main stage performance in 2008.

Charlie Simpson from Fightstar said: 

We are incredibly excited to be playing our first festival appearance in five years at this year’s Download Festival. Download has always been one of our favourite festivals in the calendar and this year is going to be the best yet! We can't wait to hit the stage again and enjoy the mayhem.

Cult British alt-pop punks, ‘A’, are another act to return after years of rumours and hearsay for their first Donington appearance in a decade.

Speaking on their Download Festival comeback, frontman Adam Perry said: 

We are stoked to be playing Download again, I think the last time we played it was 10 years ago in 2005, so it’s been while! We are excited to announce that Shay (formally of Kids in Glass Houses) will be joining us on bass for the show and it feels great to have “A” back in our lives. Looking forward to seeing some old and new faces down the front!

Alongside them, Apocalyptica, the world’s favourite titans of neoclassical metal return to Download for the first time in seven years to prove that the cello can be as mighty as the axe, while two giants of rock and metal music over the past 20 years, Max and Igor, bring the Cavalera Conspiracy to Donington for the first time in seven years.

Apocalyptica’s Eicca Toppinen said: 

It has been a while since we played Download last. We love the festival and have great memories to play there and to see other bands and friends. Finally we release a new studio album – Shadowmaker – and we are proud we are able to premiere the new touring cycle for England at Download.

Meanwhile neither Cavalera brother pulled their punches when describing what Download fans can expect.

Iggor said: 

I am super excited to be part of this amazing line up for Download 2015, we can't wait to hit the stage and display some brutality from our new record. See you all on the pit!

Max said: 

I am excited to return to Download with Cavalera Conspiracy!  I promise you all the most brutal show ever!

Other exciting acts bound for Donington include Modestep. The rock-dubstep crossover marauders join the line-up for Download 2015 ahead of the release of their hotly anticipated second album, London Road.

Josh from Modestep said:

“We feel privileged to be coming back to Download for a third time, we hope this will be our heaviest show yet. Our first ever show as a band was at Download, so it's always a moment for us to return.”

The Sword are also back, with the Texan stoner-doom-sludge-merchants confirmed for Download just in time to hit the studio in March to record their fifth album, while Sylosis bring their signature mix of thrash and death metal back to Download for the first time since the release of January’s gigantic album Dormant Heart.

Emerging fem-punk rockers The Pink Slips make their Download debut this year, fronted by seventeen year-old Grace McKagen, whose father has dabbled with the bass guitar once or twice at Donington over the years.

Another enfant terrible heading to Download is the UK’s premiere blues rock prodigy, Aaron Keylock, the seventeen year-old Oxford resident who already shreds like a rock heavyweight. 

Among their fellow newcomers are metalcore cum punk powerhouse Beartooth, fronted by former Attack! Attack! frontman Caleb Shomo; and Butcher Babies, the Heavy Metal sirens famed for their confrontational performance style and horror-themed on-stage antics.

The Download faithful will also have a first opportunity to see Donington regular Ginger Wildheart moonlighting as an ass-kicking glam rocker with Hey! Hello!, and a first chance to witness former Ipso Facto singer Rosalie Cunningham’s intensely atmospheric progressive psych-rock project Purson..

Other homegrown talent coming to Download includes the melodic rock of Emp!re, powered along by Joe Green’s astonishing vocals, and London rap/electro/hardcore punk crossover experimentalists The One Hundred, while bands proudly maintaining the Midlands’ tradition of producing top class rock and metal music include Wolverhampton’s eighties-influenced melodic rockers Iconic Eye, their close neighbours, hardcore-grunge maestros God Damn, Telford’s uncompromising alt-grunge predators Hyena and Milton Keynes metallers Heart of a Coward – following the release of brutal new album Severance in November.

Other upcoming British acts setting foot on the iconic stages for the first time are Leeds alt-grungersAllUsOnDrugs, highly rated pop-punk quintet Roam, sludgy stoner rockers Dolomite Minor, Bath post-hardcore upstarts Decade, North East rockers Sirens In The Delta and pop punk tyros Love Zombies andTrash Boat.

Download 2015 will also feature some of the most mind-alteringly awesome new music from across the Atlantic and beyond, including the genetic experiment in post-apocalyptic doom-punk known as Code Orange whose fellow Pennsylvanians Crobot will also be serving up their steel-reinforced, supercharged blues rock to the Donington masses for the first time.

Other newcomers include Southern bluegrass-rock groovesters Blackberry Smoke, Texan Rockers American Fangs, the insane and distinctive melodic hooks of Dead Daisies – the Australian-American revolving door of Rock’s best and brightest – leaders in a genre of one and self-proclaimed “Hauntedmansioncore” proponentsNew Year’s Day, hard rockers Pop Evil and electronic horror-rockers Ghost Town.

In Hearts Wake join the Australian metalcore insurgency gripping Download this year, while highly-rated Finnish doom mongers Insomnium, New Zealand punk-rockers Rival State and Canadian melodic metalcore supremos Counterparts bring up-to-date what is becoming a truly breathtaking line-up.

This deluge of talent flooding Donington Park from June 12-14 will be joined by headliners Slipknot, Muse andKiss, main support Judas Priest, Faith No More and Mötley Crüe, and such rock and metal megastarsBlack Stone Cherry, Enter Shikari, Marilyn Manson, Five Finger Death Punch, A Day To Remember,Slash and Miles Kennedy, Black Veil Brides, Lamb of God, Rise Against, Billy Idol, L7, Andrew W.K, In Flames, Testament, Parkway Drive, Hollywood Undead, Clutch, Body Count, Eagles of Death Metal,Godsmack, Mallory Knox, Motionless in White, Madball, Every Time I Die, Dragonforce, Backyard Babies, Crown the Empire, Northlane and H.E.A.T.

Andrew WK, In Flames, Testament and more added to Download 2015 lineup

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Hard-partying punk philosopher Andrew W.K. will make his debut at Download festival in 2015. The rocker cum self-help guru cum motivational speaker has been tirelessly spreading his philosophy of partying over the past decade, delivering lectures at such revered institutions as Oxford and Yale Universities. But in 2015 he will finally take his place on the most prestigious stage of all when he performs at Donington for the first time.

The man himself feels that the iconic festival will be inkeeping with his lifestyle:

Aaaaahhhhhhrrrrgggaaaa!!! I'm totally chuffed about playing and partying at my first ever Download! I've no doubt that it will be partier than even the partiest party I've ever been to!

Swedish metal giants In Flames will also return to Download in 2015; the infernal five-piece spent much of 2014 in the recording studio but are set to roar back on to the UK live scene to set Europe’s biggest rock and metal festival alight this summer.

Lead singer Anders Friden said: 

It will be fantastic to be back on UK soil. Download has always been a great festival. We’re looking forward to meeting friends and playing our take on heavy metal in front of some of the greatest fans that there is.

They will be joined by seminal thrash heavyweights Testament seven years on from their only previous Download performance.

Guitarist Alex Skolnick looked forward to rejoining the pantheon of British rock and metal: I recall reading about Download as a teen, seeing early pics of Maiden, AC/DC and other greats all sharing a bill there (back when it was "Castle Donington"), thinking how lucky they have it in the UK and dreaming about one day playing an incredible event like that with so many bands. Well, dreams can come true, so on behalf of all of Testament, let me say how thrilled we are to be appearing at Download 2015!

Following his surprise departure from Asking Alexandria last week, Danny Worsnop’s new project, We Are Harlot – whose music draws on the awesome tradition of its 1980s classic rock forebears – are also bound for Download 2015.

Grunge legends L7’s addition to the line-up is their first confirmed UK live date in over fifteen years. Having lit up the musical world with their refreshingly grizzly sound and their resolute, tampon-chucking, live-TV-panty-dropping, one-night-stand-raffling refusal to give a f**k, L7enraptured fans by announcing that they were once more ‘hungry for stink’ at the end of 2014.

Among other renowned acts joining the line-up are titanic metal supergroup Hellyeah, featuring former Mudvayne singer Chad Gray,Nothingface guitarist Tom Maxwell and legendary Pantera and Damageplan drummer Vinnie Paul.

US metallers All That Remains add yet more bulk to the bill with their huge choruses and relentless driving melodies.

Homegrown horror rockers Fearless Vampire Killers also bring their inimitable iron-clad gothic theatricality to the line-up, fresh from the release of new album Unbreakable Hearts.

Guitarist and co-vocalist Kier Kemp looked ahead to the festival: 

Download's line-up totally fucking owns this year! We're just super happy to be part of it all again. We've been working on a lot of stuff behind the scenes. New material, new direction and this will mark a new era for FVK. Download is going to be the perfect forum to show this all to the world.

Elsewhere, ahead of their headline performance, Kiss’ former axe man Ace Frehley will hit Download with a sharp dose of his distinctively grungy sound following the release of mega album Space Invader in 2014.

On bringing his solo project to Donington Frehley said: 

I'm really looking forward to rockin' out in the UK at Download…It's been 7 years since my last appearance and my new band kicks ass!

Acclaimed Alter Bridge and Creed shredder, Mark Tremonti, is also added to the line-up under the guise of his hard-rocking solo act Tremonti, which sees him team up with fellow rock royal Wolfgang Van Halen on bass, with the duo having confirmed recently that they are working on a new album.

His fellow hard rockers and hellraising progeny of Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders, will share material from their hugely anticipated new album,The Killer Instinct, with the Download faithful for the first time.

British rockers Thunder are also confirmed ahead of the release of their first record in six years, Wonder Days, which is due for release in February.

Thunder’s Danny Bowes said:

Download is one of my favourite festivals in the world, so I can’t wait for June to come around. Donington was where we made our mark back in 1532 [sic], so it's fitting somehow to be back at Download this year when we release 'Wonder Days', our first studio album for 6 years, and it’ll be great to see how the new tracks go down alongside the classics. The Download crowd is always amazing, so as my dear old Mum used to say, "Let’s have it!”…

They will be joined by melodic metalcore superstars The Ghost Inside, following the release of their massive album Dear Youth last November.

As well as these rock and metal icons, Download 2015 will provide a platform for some of the genres’ finest young pretenders; King 810 have shot to the attention of rock fans over the past year, having had to pull out from last year’s festival at the last minute, and, fresh from their slot on Slipknot’s mammoth ‘Prepare For Hell’ Tour, Flint’s finest are ready for an all-action, all-conquering performance at Download.

Their fellow debutants Defeater’s Donington debut last year was also thwarted – by an injury to frontman Derek Archambault – but the Boston hardcore mob return stronger than ever in 2015 take their rightful place among rock’s live elite.

Also making their Donington bow are Utah deathcore maniacs Chelsea Grin, who join the line-up following the success of their savage 2014 record Ashes to Ashes.

For vocalist Alex Koehler, the band’s Download appearance represents the fulfilment of a long-held dream: We're all looking forward to playing Download festival this year. Ever since I watched Slipknot's live DVD filmed at download, I've been dying to experience it first-hand.

Local cult heroes, Nottingham metallers Evil Scarecrow, will be scuttling South West along the A52 to unleash the mighty Crabulon on unsuspecting legions of festivalgoers.

Frontman Dr Hell said: 

The first festival I attended was Metallica at Donington Park in 1994. Since that life altering occasion it’s been my lifelong ambition to play this hallowed ground and I finally, finally get to shout “Scream for me Donington!”. We are totally stocked beyond all belief. We are working on a very special show for this, one that will defy the world of physics.

Swedish metalheads Bombus will also fly into Donington for the first time armed to the teeth with their uncompromising breed of barnstorming, balls-out heavy metal, while Brighton punk rockers Gnarwolves make their biggest festival appearance to date, building on the release of their eponymous breakthrough album last year.

If that isn’t enough, alt-power-rockers Hands Like Houses add to the booming Australian delegation, while cult hardcore punks Stray from the Path also hit Download for the first time, as do hotly tipped punk rock tyros, Creeper and the new project form the post-hardcore marauders formerly known as Climate, Blood Youth.

Hands Like Houses see being part of the festival’s bill as the rock world’s ultimate bragging right: 

We are beyond excitement in announcing we'll be playing at Download Festival 2015! It's a huge honour to be invited to be part of such a massive bill and can't wait to get back to the UK for such an iconic rock event!

Blood Youth also looked forward to their debut: It’s every bands dream to be able to play a festival of such magnitude and legendary status. To say we've been given that opportunity is unreal and we're damn grateful. We look forward to tearing it up alongside so many great bands and hope to see you there.

This deluge of talent flooding Donington Park from June 12-14 will be joined by headliners Slipknot, Muse and Kiss, main support Judas Priest, Faith No More and Mötley Crüe and rock and metal megastars Black Stone Cherry, Enter Shikari, Marilyn Manson, Five Finger Death Punch, A Day To Remember, Slash and Miles Kennedy, Black Veil Brides, Lamb of God, Rise Against, Bill Idol, Parkway Drive,Hollywood Undead, Clutch, Body Count, Eagles of Death Metal, Godsmack, Mallory Knox, Motionless in White, Madball, Every Time I Die, Dragonforce, Backyard Babies, Crown the Empire, Northlane and H.E.A.T.