Download Festival

Iron Maiden confirmed to headline Download 2013

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This will also be a record FIFTH time that the multi million selling British rock pioneers will have topped the bill at Donington, following two Monsters of Rock performances (1988 and 1992) and two spectacular Download Festivals (2003 and 2007).

Frontman Bruce Dickinson says “We’re absolutely over the moon to be headlining Donington again. The idea of returning exactly 25 years later with a show inspired by that same 1988 “Seventh Son” Tour, was too good an opportunity to be missed! And, thanks to modern technology, we’ve been able to update and improve on the original production. We will be bringing a huge new lightshow, stage set, various incarnations of Eddie, plenty of pyro and allkinds of other exciting stuff for the fans. And of course treating the fans to lots of their favourite songs from that period! We’ve had many great times at Donington and there is always a wonderful mix of bands and a really wild crowd who love their metal, all of which makes for a memorable show and fantasticparty atmosphere!

Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden recently completed the hugely successful North American leg of their ‘Maiden England’ tour, with a set list and production based largely on the band’s live concert video filmed in Birmingham during the ‘Seventh Son of a Seventh Son’ tour in 1988.  Widely considered one of the most important rock acts of all time, Iron Maiden have sold almost 90 million albums worldwide, played over 2000 live performances across 58 countries around the globe, and released 15 studio albums including the most recent, The Final Frontier, their biggest ever chart success attaining No.1 positions in over 28 countries.

Andy Copping, VP of Promotions at Live Nation commented,  “I am delighted to see the return of Iron Maiden to Download next year to mark the 25th anniversary of their first playing at Donington. They are without doubt  one of the biggest bands in the world and their live shows are legendary. I caught them in Los Angeles and the audience reaction to the stunning stage production and incredible set-list was just phenomenal to witness. After watching rare performances of songs like Afraid To Shoot Strangers, The Prisoner and Seventh Son, alongside classicslike The Number Of The Beast, Aces High, The Trooper and Fear of the Dark, I can’t wait to see this show again at Download 2013. It is sure to be something really special.”

Download Festival 2012 SOLD OUT

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Fans looking for accommodation can still purchase a very limited number of RIP options including the new RIP Metal Hotel. Both day tickets and RIP packages are available at www.downloadfestival.co.uk/tickets
 
This year’s Download Village entertainment is set to be better than ever in celebration of the 10th Anniversary. The Doghouse returns with a full weekend line-up of DJs, Rockeoke and its infamous “Fancy Dress Friday”. This year’s theme is ‘Download Legends’ and everyone is encouraged to get involved by paying homage to theirs.
 
The comedy tent returns to raise more laughs, with some popular names from years past as well as fresh faces; and if fans want to escape the crowds after the main arena closes they can kick back at the Download Cinema

To commemorate Download’s 10th anniversary there will also be a range of vintage merchandise & limited edition t-shirts that fans can purchase.
 
Download Festival are also excited to announce the return of the ever rocking Download Radio powered by Team Rock, broadcasting on 87.7FM across the Donington site, and online at www.DownloadFM.co.uk, providing a weekend of tunes alongside a pint of Official Download 2012 beer, Tuborg – a match made in heaven.  Download FM is on air 9am Wednesday 6 June and finishing 12pm Monday 11 June. Requests can be made via twitter @DOWNLOADFM & by email to [email protected]. 
 
Zippo is back and ready to rock with you at Download Festival for a second year! Check out your favourite bands on the Zippo Encore stage and then come chill out in Zippo’s Encore zone. There’ll be lots of surprises for you including the return of the hugely popular ‘Design My Zippo Lighter’ competition, face painting and other exciting activities. You will also be able to purchase Zippo lighters on-site, including Download  Festival limited editions. We look forward to seeing you there, make sure you stop by. Those that rock, roll with Zippo!
 
Max it with your mates this year with Pepsi Max, join us at the Pepsi Max Stage and rock out to all your favourite acts. Max out on music.www.pepsi.co.uk. 

This year, acts from The Red Bull Bedroom Jam have entered by 
uploading a video to www.redbullbedroomjam.com. Entrants are in the running to appear in an online show recorded straight from their home, have a professional music video recorded for them by the Bedroom Jam pro's ANDsupport the UK tour of a major artist. On top of all that the top 8 bands of 2012 will join previous success stories play the Red Bull Bedroom Jam stage at Download!
 
Jägermeister will bring their monolithic metal beasts – two specially converted ex-military 25 tonne vehicles converted into a cool, sub zero ice bar known as the JägerIce Truck and an awesome acoustic stage known as the JägerRock Truck. The JägerIce Truck comes with a 21 meter bar, serving Ice Cold Jäger shots from tap machines that chill the Jägermeister to an icy zero degrees. Download the app “Jägermeister Ice Cold”, check in when you visit their Ice Truck and stand the chance to win amazing prizes.

http://www.facebook.com/JagermeisterUK

Download to honour Jim Marshall

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Download promoter, Andy Copping said “The music industry lost an innovator & a legend with the sad passing of Jim Marshall. We had to remember him in some way and having the main stage dedicated to his name seemed the perfect tribute.” 

Jim Marshall

With only eight weeks to go until Download Festival 2012 opens its gates, organisers have confirmed another 19 acts who’ll appear across the weekend of 8,9,10 June at Donington Park.

Leading the charge are acclaimed Swedish heavy metallers Ghost, blues rockers Saint Jude (who count Ronnie Wood and Jimmy Page as fans), American metallers Shadows Fall, whose new album isproduced by Killswitch Engage bassist Adam Dutkiewicz and Kerrang!-championed Brits My Passion.

Also announced today are Feed The Rhino, La Dispute, Lawnmother Deth, Six Hour Sundown, Silent Descent, With One Last Breath, The Union, No Americana, Royal Cartel, Tyla, The Dirty Youth, Yashin, Voodoo Johnson andSanguine.

With Download always providing an incredible amount of variety over the weekend, organizers are pleased to confirm a 5th stage with the return of the JägerRock Truck as The Jägermeister Acoustic stage. After its success over the last few years and back by popular demand, the JägerRock Truck will host exclusive acoustic sets from famous live rockbands across the weekend.

With Download fever continuing to grow in anticipation of the festival’s 10th anniversary, the first round of Download Club Nights have been announced towhet fans appetites. Across the UK on the nights of 20 / 21 April, rock clubs all over the UK will be taken over by the spirit of Download, with guest area ticket giveaways and other goodies up for grabs.

Fri 20 April London, Sin @ The Electric Ballroom (10.00pm)
Sat 21 Newcastle, Legends (from 9.00pm)
Sat 21 Birmingham, Vudu (from 9.30pm)
Sat 21 London, Decadence @ St Moritz (from 10.30pm)
Sat 21 Nottingham, Rock City (from 9.00pm)
Sat 21 Manchester, Satan’s Hollow (from 9.00pm)
Sat 21 Liverpool, Krazy House (from 9.00pm)
Sat 21 Norwich, Meltdown @ The Waterfront (10.00pm)
Sat 21 Sheffield, Reservoir Rocks @ The Corporation (from 10.00pm)
Sat 21 Glasgow, The Cathouse (from 10.30pm)
Sat 21 Cardiff, Bogiez (from 10.00pm)
Sat 21 Wolverhampton, Corrosion at The Wulfrun (from 10.00pm)

More club nights will be announced in the coming days with details published on the festival website.

Download Festival adds Refused, Kids in Glass Houses and more!

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The mighty Download Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with one of its biggest and best line-ups to date. Set to show crowds the shape of punk to come, Swedish hardcore punk band Refused will make their exclusive UK festival appearance at Download Festival. Earlier this year, the band announced their long awaited reunion; this is one come back show not to be missed! Additionally, hardcore punk rockers,Gallows, return to Donington for its 10th year with their new line-up, (including front man Wade McNeil, former Alexisonfire) and a new EP.

Refused

Dennis Lyxzén of Refused: “We´re very excited to have been given the chance by the people at Download to play the festival and meet our UK fans for the first time in 15 or so years. We played an unannounced show in Stockholm Friday night, it went great and we and can´t wait to bring this show to all the people that have been waiting for the last 15 years to see us.”

Giving Donington ‘what they want’, Kids in Glass Houses will return to Download festival following the success of their third studio album ‘Gold Blood’, released last year. Alternative Brit rockers Lower than Atlantis also join the bill for what’s set to be the ultimate 10th birthday celebration. Bringing the hardcore pop punk, American natives Four Year Strong are joining the line up with last year’s tour supporters nu metal Brits, Don Broco.

Hailing from across the pond, electronic producer Porter Robinson has also been added; storming onto the dubstep scene, he joins the lineup alongside Riverside rapper T. Mills. Other new additions include the likes of theatrical rock troupe, Fearless Vampire Killers, female fronted Kobra & The Lotus, German power metallers, Edguy and American blues rock band, Rival Sons, fresh of their UK support tour with Black Stone cherry. Sheffield superstars Black Spiders also return to Donington, following their Download debut in 2009.

A limited number of Day and Weekend tickets for Download 2012 are on sale now and available fromwww.downloadfestival.co.uk

Download RIP ticket packages are on sale now and can be purchased viawww.livenationexperience.co.uk or by phoning 0207 009 3484.

Another dirty dozen bands added to Download Festival 2012

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Making their Download debut despite a career spanning three decades, Sweden’s most successful rock group EUROPE are confirmed, to bring hits such as ‘The Final Countdown’ and ‘Rock The Night’ to the Donington masses.

Ahead of their second album release, Pennsylvanian quartet HALESTORM, led by the enigmatic Lzzy Hale, will make their second appearance at Download, along with Greek heavy metallers FIREWIND (who last played in 2008).

Norwegian “deathpunk” act TURBONEGRO will be back, alongside platinum selling Roadrunner signings THEORY OF A DEADMAN and their upcoming tour mates STELLAR REVIVAL, long standing Brit punk band ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE, the mixed bag of sound that is Bristol’s TURBOWOLF, acclaimed Cambridge rockers MALLORY KNOX, the Radio 1 championed prog metallers THE SAFETY FIRE, American deathcore act EMMURE and infectious hard rockers BROKEN.

Corey Taylor and 21 more acts announced for Download 2012

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They join The Prodigy, Metallica and Black Sabbath for the greatest weekend in the rock calendar on 8-10June 2012.

One of metal’s modern heroes, Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor is confirmed for his first solo acoustic performance at Download. Following the release of his acclaimed book Seven Deadly Sins, and a one off address at the Oxford Union, Corey has emerged  as one of rock’s most engaging ambassadors.

Hardcore punk/Celtic folk band Dropkick Murphys also join the bill. The critically-acclaimed band’s set will mix old and new songs to inspire fist pumping madness in the moshpit. And proving that loud, gritty and ranting punk rock is very much alive, Cancer Bats are confirmed for their third appearance at the mighty Download Festival.

London-based metalcore group Rise To Remain, fronted by son of legendary Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson, are also confirmed, joined by multi-million selling UK heavy metallers Saxon who are welcomedback for their fifth appearance at ‘the spiritual home of rock’.

Other exciting additions to the 10th anniversary line-up include Glaswegian rockers Gun, best known for their cover of Cameo’s ‘Word Up!’, Heaven’s Basement with their extreme energy live show and James Cleaver Quintet with their mix of soulful punk rock and post-hardcore.

Irish trio Kopek, who have been out on tour with Papa Roach and Stone Temple Pilots also join the bill, as well as classic rockers The Quireboys, probably best known for their hit album ‘A Bit of What You Fancy’ which reached Number Two in the UK charts. They’re joined by critically acclaimed UK metallers Sylosis, shock-rockers Butcher Babies, London metallers The Defiled, American metal-rockers Fozzy and former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach – returning to Donington for his first solo performance, although he was a surprise guest during Guns ‘N’ Roses’ headline performance at Download 2006.

Chicago’s Soil will be flying in for their fourth appearance at Download, joined by Red, White & Blues featuring lead guitarist from Skin, Myke Gray, and US metallers Upon A Burning Body, mixing brutal breakdowns with catchy two steps and heavy blast beats.

Last but certainly not least, hardcore mob While She Sleeps are added to the bill, as well as post-hardcore group We Are The Ocean, fresh from the recording with legendary producer Pete Miles, 18 year old classic rockers The Treatment and the hotly tipped Marmozets.

Download Festival 2012 tickets on sale tomorrow 9am

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Biffy ClyroWith a spectacular line up including headliners The Prodigy (Friday 8 June), Metallica (Saturday 9 June) and Black Sabbath (Sunday 10 June), plus an array of exciting acts such as Slash, Biffy Clyro, Steel Panther, Soundgarden, Lamb of God and You Me At Six, this year’s event at Donington Park is set to blow the top right off the roof!

Download promoter Andy Copping says “This year’s Download is going from strength to strength and the line up is shaping up nicely. We’ve had a phenomenal reaction to weekend tickets, and have decided to go on sale with day tickets early. Happy days!”

A further 60 + acts will be announced between now and June, and organisers continue to hit a home run by confirming American metalcore band KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, the multi-million selling SHINEDOWN, last year’s biggest rock newcomers BLACK VEIL BRIDES, DIY punk masters NOFX, epic progressive metallers OPETH and symphonic Scandinavians NIGHTWISH for thisyear’s Download.

Weekend with camping tickets are also available to purchase along with limited RIP packages – go to www.downloadfestival.co.uk for all ticket options.

This year’s Download will also see the debut of the RIP METAL HOTEL, the first of its kind indoor ‘pop up’ hotel located on the festival site, a mere hop skip and a jump to the main arena. Each room will have two beds, thermostatic climate control, an en-suite wet room with toilet, basin and shower, storage space, a flat screen TV, and secure card entry. Not only that, all rooms will be serviced with with quality linen, towels and toiletries by dedicated Metal Hotel personnel, as well as offering continental breakfast, providing a truly luxury experience to coincide with the festival’s 10th anniversary celebrations. Rooms will be available from the Download website.

 

Five Finger Punch & Reckless Love for Download 2012

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This will be the third time that Five Finger Death Punch have featured at the event, having made main-stage appearances in 2009 and 2010; For Reckless Love, meanwhile, this will be outing number two, following on from their Download debut in 2010.

Five Finger Death Punch

5FDP NOW stand as one of America’s most high profile rock acts, with their first two albums now certified Gold in their home country, and latest release, ‘American Capitalist’, well on the way to following suit (300,000 units and rising fast!)

The band have a new single/video released through the Spinefarm label on February 20th; titled ‘Remember Everything’ and drawn from the ‘American Capitalist’ album, the song is already a big hit at US radio, following on from the incredible out-of-the-box success of previous single, ‘Under And Over It’ – the video for which has now clocked up over 3 million hits on YouTube!

March 20th will also see the release of the new single/video from Reckless Love; titled ‘On The Radio’ and taken from the band’s second studio album, ‘Animal Attraction’, out now, the single features the previously unreleasedbonus track, ‘Push’.

Reckless Love will headline The Garage in London on February 2nd (an HMV ‘Next Big Thing’ Event in conjunction with Spinefarm Records), and the following month they head out on tour with much-touted US rockers Black Veil Brides, starting in Wolverhampton on March 24th.

Soundgarden, Biffy Clyro, and more announced for Download 2012

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Soundgarden, one of the forefathers of the renowned Seattle alternative rock scene in the 90s, reunited last year following a 14-year hiatus, and is set to release a brand new album later in the year. Download takes place 8-10 June and is headlined by The Prodigy, Metallica and Black Sabbath. 

Soundgarden

Soundgarden – Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron and Ben Shepherd – along with their contemporaries Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Nirvana, were all pivotal in the creation of a brand new sound in alternative rock during the 90s which centered on Seattle. ‘Grunge’ became a worldwide phenomenon, not only impacting musically but on wider culture and fashion too. 1991’s album Badmotorfinger produced the singles ‘Jesus Christ Pose’ and ‘Rusty Cage’ whilst its follow up, 1994’s Superunknown, which reached No.1 on the US Billboard Chart and No. 4 on the UK Album Chart featured the singles ‘Black Hole Sun’ ‘Fell On Black Days’ and ‘Spoonman’. Soundgarden have sold over 21 million albums worldwide.
 
"We are beyond psyched to play Download 2012. It will be a huge year for the band and what better way to celebrate than bring it all to our UK family at Download. See you there!" – Matt Cameron, Soundgarden
 
A further 13 acts have been announced to play Download to ensure the festival’s 10th anniversary is its biggest and best weekend yet!  Scottish rockers BIFFY CLYRO bring their incendiary live show to Donington for the 5th time in their career, whilst TENACIOUS D – Jack Black and Kyle Gass’ comedy-tinged rock act – and London Electronic / Dubstep duo CHASE & STATUS LIVE will both make their Download debut, the latter as special guests to The Prodigy. They will be joined by the biggest names in contemporary metal – LAMB OF GOD, TRIVIUM and MACHINE HEAD – who all return to Download for more ferocious action on the stage and in the mosh pits. 
 
Thrash icons ANTHRAX, who celebrated their 30th anniversary last year, return to Donington for this year’s Download, as well as YOU ME AT SIX, the UK rockers who have gone from strength to strength with most recent album Sinners Never Sleep reaching No. 3 in the UK charts. 
 
Famed for their Guinness World Record Attempt for ‘Largest Circle Pit’ at Download 2009, DEVILDRIVER will play the festival for the third time in support of new album Beast, along with American metalcore act AUGUST BURNS RED and the highly creative and eclectic DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT. Download 2012 will also see the reformation of UK rockers LITTLE ANGELS and Californian hard rock band UGLY KID JOE.
 
Weekend tickets for Download 2012 are now on sale from www.downloadfestival.co.uk <http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk/>  – subject to availability.  Weekend ticket prices for Download 2012 will remain the same as the prices for Download 2011 until midday Monday 30th January 2012 when all ticket types will go off sale. All tickets will go back on sale at 5pm Monday 30th January 2012 with Weekend tickets increased to 2012 prices. Festival organisers encourage fans to take advantage of this offer while it lasts.

The Prodigy confirmed to headline Download Festival 2012

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After notching up over 25 million record sales and selling out venues across the world, the masters of synth punk, The Prodigy are back doing what they do best and bringing their mind-blowing set to Donington for 2012. Expect plenty of classics from their incredible catalogue alongside some new tracks fresh from the studio. This will be the third time the band has played Download and the first time they’ll play the main stage. The Prodigy will join headliners Metallica (Saturday 9 June) and Black Sabbath (Sunday 10 June) for one of the biggest Download Festivals EVER.

Andy Copping, VP of Promotions at Live Nation said, “We’re very excited to welcome The Prodigy back to Donington, it’s great to have them here for the third time and this time headlining the main stage. The crowdsalways go mental when The Prodigy are in town. The band never fail to impress, and it’s going to be one hell of a weekend.”

Weekend tickets for Download 2012 go on general sale 9am Friday 18th November 2011 from www.downloadfestival.co.uk – subject to availability.  Weekend ticket prices for Download 2012 will remain the same as the prices for Download 2011 until midday Monday 30th January 2012 when all ticket types will go off sale. All tickets will go back on sale at 5pm Monday 30th January 2012 withWeekend tickets increased to 2012 prices. Festival organisers encourage fans to take advantage of this offer while it lasts.