Cancer Bats

DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL REVEALS
EVEN MORE ARTISTS FOR 2023 LINE-UP

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The line-up for Download Festival’s 20th anniversary has expanded with a further 12 names added to the weekend’s programme. All stage splits for the four days have also been revealed. The special anniversary edition, taking place for the first time over four days on 8-11 June 2023 at Donington Park, will now feature Cancer Bats, Casey, Hundred Reasons, Puscifer, State Champs and more, alongside headliners Bring Me The Horizon, Slipknot and Metallica, who will perform two headline sets with no repeat songs. The very last tickets are available from www.downloadfestival.co.uk.
 
Tool and A Perfect Circle frontman Maynard James Keenan will be bringing Puscifer to Download for the very first time, Canadian hardcore punk band Cancer Bats will also be delivering the noise this year and Hundred Reasons are back with their first new music in 15 years and will be playing Download for the first time since their 2006 debut.
 
Further additions include the recently reunited Welsh outfit Casey, as well as New York pop punk heroes State Champs, daredevil rock’n’roll darlings Cherry Bombs, and Welsh TikTok heroes Punk Rock Factory, who are rightfully graduating to a Main Arena performance after their memorable set in The Village last year.
 
The line-up continues with theatrical post-hardcore band Static Dress, South coast punk rockers SNAYX, Australian alt four-piece RedHook, and Kerrang! Radio The Deal competition winners Rituals, who will open The Avalanche Stage with their blisteringly heavy Newcastle metal.
 
These further additions continue to add to an incredible line-up for the very special anniversary edition of Download Festival. Stage splits have been confirmed and can be found at www.downloadfestival.co.uk.

Slamdunk Slam-dunks!

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With so many festivals spread over whole weekends, Slamdunk offers something a little different. With seven stages, both indoor and out, and bands playing throughout the day, Slamdunk Wolverhampton offers the younger generation a chance to experience the excitement of a punk rock festival without the hassle of camping.

The crowd immediately gravitated towards the Monster Energy stage at the far end of the arena, a­s it boasted the first act of the day, Heart in Hand. The British hardcore act kicked off the festival with a bang, exhibiting the spirit that set the precedence for all the bands that followed them.

After exploring outside through all the assorted merchandise tents, the flow of the crowd swept me inside in time to see what the main stage had to offer. With bands such as Tonight Alive and Sleeping with Sirens on throughout the day, there was constantly a lively crowd leading up to the big headliners, the fantastic All Time Low. I don’t think I’ve ever heard screams like those leading up to the entrance of the US four piece. As the lights went out after the final sound checks, the screams were beyond deafening and many of those ladies had their bras at the ready to throw. And throw them they did! Lead guitarist, Jack Barakat, had quite the extensive collection hanging from his mic stand by the time the first song peaked. And with their bright, energetic performance, they didn’t disappoint, with crowds spilling into the hallways straining to get a glimpse of the famous foursome.

If you preferred a closer encounter with your favourite bands and were willing to explore the more hidden stages, you were rewarded with two more stages, each offering their own unique take of the festival experience. The Tiger stage alone offered a more intimate setting, giving bands like Yashin and Cancer Bats, a chance of a far more personal performance. In fact Harry Redford, one of the two lead singers of Yashin, couldn’t keep himself away from the crowd.

It wasn’t exclusively for the younger generation of punk rockers though. Heading back outside to the Vans stage, there was an impressive  line-up of 90s punk bands to greet the more old school punk in the crowd. Throughout the day there was a gathering of brightly coloured mohawks to be seen, and as soon as the bands announced their arrival the ‘hawks made their way forward, like shark fins heading towards their next victim.

With the likes of [Spunge] proclaiming “We are not dead!” and MC Lars stating out loud to the crowd that skanking is still cool, with his post-punk laptop rap inviting members of the crowd onto the stage to get down and dance.  There were even brass instruments, some more steampunk than others, making an appearance with the likes of Streetlight Manifesto and the recently reformed King Prawn.

All in all, beers, bands, bras and some bloody scary 10ft aliens walking around. This bank holiday Monday, Slamdunk Wolverhampton was the place to be!

Check out the photos here

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.