Download Festival 2024 – THE BIG REVIEW!

Return to the Castle! Donington, we’ve missed you – but we are home on your hallowed fields for Download Festival XXI, and it feels like the beginning of a new era.

There’s a new production company running the site this year, who when quizzed at the DL Press Conference earlier this year, mentioned that they had a lot of plans in place to avoid the colossal road issues of 2023. As it stands, we sailed right in with no traffic whatsoever, which means something has gone right. Sure last year was a bit of an outlier with an extra day to contend with and a considerably higher volume of people entering, but still – this may be the smoothest it has ever gone.

One notable dark stain on this year’s event though, is the fact that a cadre of bands have pulled out of the line-up due to the ongoing sponsorship of Download by Barclays, who have clear financial links to companies supplying arms to Israel. The bands who have pulled out up to this point are; Speed, Scowl, Zulu, Ithaca and Pest Control who commented “We cannot sacrifice the principles held by this band and by the scene we come from and represent, just for personal gain.”. As it stands, Download have made no comment on the boycott, but it is later announced that Barclays have pulled sponsorship from all of Live Nation’s 2024 events, which include Download, Latitude and the Isle of Wight festival.

Following this announcement, Enter Shikari posted on their social media that they had previously been in talks with Download, expressing their objections about the sponsorship and working with other bands to exert pressure, through ‘Bands Boycott Barclays’ and that they are satisfied with this result.

Aside from all that news, the one other thing we are all keeping a worried eye on is the weather. We’ve had a good run of a few dry years, but it seems we aren’t going to escape the Midlands monsoon season this time around. As we pull into the lush greenery of the carparks, the ground is looking decent but the skies are looking ominous.

FRIDAY

Starting our day off at The Village to check out the Download Megastore, we are greeted by an absolutely torrential downpour to really get the weekend going, and we watch as people start racing for the queue-free Co-Op store across the tarmac. One meal deal and a poncho please.

Inside, the store is chock full of fun merchandise, interesting displays and even a tiny café and some arcade games. The basic point of it seems to be, as a place to sell some of the more niche products that Download have started offering over the years, but I have to say, it’s a helluva trek for anyone on a weekend or day ticket who isn’t camped out this way – especially since external bus terminals are about an hour and half walk in the opposite direction.

For those that do make it out here though, you can spend your hard earned cash some some really silly brilliant stuff like; a full DL bedding set, a rock-duck (stored inside a giant rock-duck), jewellery, posters, boiler suits and an array of special edition tshirts. If that doesn’t tickle your pickle, how about a Grandad Skateboards deck which looks like one of the stage Totem poles? Or maybe a bottle of Lou’s Brews bright green Download hot sauce, and a Father’s Day ‘Rockin’ Dad’ tshirt? Actually I did try and purchase one of these but a lot of sizes had already sold out.

One thing I did go in for, was some of the once again excellent collaboration of Mary Wyatt x Download. The designs are really interesting and unique, and the quality of the clothing is second to none. I could have spent a fortune (especially after I missed out last year, the merch sells so quickly!) but I ended up with a cropped vest featuring Donington Castle and a black-metal style Download logo. Long may this collaboration continue, it’s a perfect match.

As we head into the arena, it’s pretty clear that the ground isn’t going to survive. There’s already mud, we’re putting on and taking off raincoats every half hour, but you know what? It’s damn good to be back in a field with the gang. On Apex we catch a bit of Welsh rockers Those Damn Crows who are putting on a lively set in the face of some pretty wild wind, followed by local Derbyshire talent The Struts whose vocalist Luke Spiller is indeed strutting about the stage confidently in his white cowboy boots, despite the rain slick. It does kinda seem like classic rock has been pushed to the early slots this year, but there are a lot of people out having a damn good time.

Unfortunately the storms keep comin’ and it isn’t long before the arena is swamped. Standing in the rain isn’t the end of the world or anything, but not being able to sit down between sets or eat a non-soggy burger it is kind of annoying. Luckily we are too awestruck to care when Polyphia hit the Apex stage. Wow is an understatement for this band, the euphoric and intricate guitar-work is unrivalled in current rock music. Sure there’s a bit of pyro and guitarist Tim Henson calls out “Let’s see some fucking crowd surfers” to tick off some festival bingo boxes, but honestly most people seem to just be standing around mesmerised. I’d be happy if they played every year.

© Toddow Young for Download Festival

Over on the Opus stage Soft Play (formerly known as Slaves) are having a delightfully rowdy time, telling everyone they “…used to play to absolutely no-one, now we’re here” and making everyone chant “fuck the hi-hat” for no apparent reason. It’s a decent crowd but I’ll be honest – not really my jam.

© Andrew Whitton for Download Festival

Slip-sliding back over to main for Black Stone Cherry who are trying their very best to bring some Kentucky warmth to the UK, “Download! Are we having a good time yet? Even in the rain and cold?” elicits a roar. We might be good at whinging, but we’re also good at just getting the fuck on with things here. ‘Soul Creek’ and ‘In My Blood’ are excellent but it’s the very singable ‘White Trash Millionaire’ and ‘Blame It On The Boom Boom’ that get everyone going, it’s a great set.

I do have a bone to pick with the arena set up though. Why does the sound tent centre stage keep getting taller and taller. The Liquid Death plastered monolith now completely eclipses an entire runway up the hill, there’s no peak point you can see over the top of it from. With the huge sound towers (of Babel as Andy Copping puts it) as well, there’s quite a lot of view obstruction in the arena now, but especially of the artist runway into the centre.

©Matt Higgs for Download Festival

Great strides have also been attempted when it comes to accessibility after last year’s fiasco – there’s a clear run of festival flooring between routes in from camping and stages, but I suspect that they won’t last long unencumbered as the weather continues.

Before the next biblical downpour we fight our way around some of the stalls and food outlets in the centre to grab some delicious gyoza and have a mooch around the Mysticum Luna shop for some jewellery.

Next up, Royal Blood are fun and upbeat jumping all over the damp stage, but they are plagued by technical issues throughout their set. I guess the weather situation is affecting all areas. We make the trudge back over to Opus, (which is already getting difficult) to see our favourite Horrible Histories nostalgia band Heilung… aaand so has everyone else. It is jam-packed out here, spilling across the road and right up to the shops. There is something undeniably hypnotic about Faust’s throat-singing overlayed with the rhythmic percussion of cursed instruments (no really, there’s a rattle filled with human ashes dontcha know) and it is utterly enthralling to watch. To be completely honest though, there is one point where it sounded exactly like the music that plays in the steam/forest room at a fancy spa, and you can’t convince me otherwise. I also wonder if it takes hair and make-up a long time to make it look like they’ve been dragged through a bush, because I already look like that and I’ve only been here a few hours. Anyway, Viking dance party? 10/10, I’m here for it.

© Matt Higgs for Download Festival

At Avalanche, Wheatus – the little band that could are brining the noughties nostalgia for a change-up and we LOVE it. Their line-up might have almost completely changed over the years, but Brendan B Brown’sunique vocals still sound exactly like the Teenage Dirtbag we all loved. Last year they played a stonking 42 date tour, with entirely crowd-curated sets spanning their entire recording history and it seems so fitting that they get to crown that here at Donington, singing “I’ve got two tickets to Iron Maiden baby…” at the very location Iron Maiden have inhabited many times over.

Following that, the queue for Busted at avalanche is impassible. There’s a long history of Download booking enormously popular bands in tents that aren’t able to adequately house the numbers, and it seems like this year is no different. Though Busted might seem like a controversial line-up inclusion, the times they are a-changing, and they probably represent quite a large number of people’s gateway into the rock and metal scene from the now core age group of Download. At any rate, the bangers are there of course, but it seems like a much heavier version of them that has come to play, and I’m never not going to giggle at swearing from wholesome people.

© Matt Higgs for Download Festival

Unfortunately some set time changes meant we missed all but the last little snippet of Biohazard over on the Dogtooth stage, but they did end strong and fantastically chaotic as always.

Queens Of The Stone Age take to the Apex stage to bring home night one, with a very aesthetically pleasing stage set up. Receding neon lights form a sort of pyramid shaped tunnel for the band to stand inside as they kick off with ‘Little Sister’ and ‘Burn The Witch’.

“What beautiful English weather were having” laughs Josh Homme before he yells“Repeat after me, I’m so fucked up I feel amazing” and “You cunts are alright” but really it all sounds a bit forced.

‘Go With The Flow’ and ‘The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret’ go hard, but as the set progresses I can’t help but think it’s a bit samey and not the kind of exceptional show I expect to see from a headline act. Yes they’re really good at what they do, but something feels off and flat in the crowd – indeed a lot of people seem to be heading off early.

Yelling “Girls get on the boys shoulders, tonight the security works for me.. this place is ours” is maybe the most lively it has gotten tonight, as people clamber on top of their friends to acquiesce. Closing out with ‘No-one Knows’ and ‘A Song For The Dead’, gives QOTSA a brighter uptick to end on but I don’t know if it really saved the whole set. They weren’t bad by any means, they just weren’t spectacular – and we have come to expect spectacular from Download headliners.

© Danny North for Download Festival

SATURDAY

On our way into the arena this morning, we spoke to a couple of members of the car park management team who were just being radioed to put their golf umbrellas away, as one of their members elsewhere on site was struck by lightning this morning. Thankfully they’re ok and on their way to hospital, but given the tropical weather we’ve been having I’m surprised we’ve seen nothing struck in the actual arena up til now. In the Press area we go visit the Liquid Death pink hearse and grab a couple of cans from the cooler-casket (where can I get one, what a rad idea for a Halloween party) and visit the Mary Wyatt pop-up who are handing out ponchos both there and out in the crowd. They are sincerely doing the lord’s work, this poncho saved my life.

Unfortunately yet another announcement mars this morning, with Electric Callboy cancelling their hotly anticipated set due to vocalist Nico Sallach being ill. I think this would have been one of the busiest sets of the weekend, after last year’s tent fiasco where people were crammed into the oven-like Avalanche stage like lightly baked sardines.

Bambie Thug up first on Apex has really suffered from the weather situation, there are a lot less people eager to arrive before the morning’s downpour has concluded, but they put on an engaging and fun show, ending with the brilliant ‘Doomsday Blue’ off the back of their Eurovision entry. Wargasm also deserved a rowdier crowd, but alas the rain was relentless at this point.

© Sarah Louise Bennett for Download Festival

A brief reprise of sun heralds Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes but the arena is now an absolute state. Whilst site crews have been skimming the arena to remove some of the mud, the rain is just making for an impossible task – and unfortunately there’s nowhere near enough hay to make headway in the high traffic areas. Frank fans make no concessions however, and seem to be going hard down at the front, as Frank himself – wearing a pink cardigan, yells “I fucking love you Download” and leaps into the crowd for a quick surf.

© Matt Higgs for Download Festival

Karnivool on Opus are just good solid metal with a decent turnout, but following that, Bleed From Within’s set was severely delayed, and basically ended up as just a performance of Metallica’s ‘Enter Sandman’ with comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan, for their Sky TV show. Yeah sure it’s funny and something special but, I’m fairly sure the people we actually came to see the band weren’t super pleased that’s all there was.

Also unfortunately for RØRY (an artist who has actually been making music for a long time, but has recently blown up on social media for her and her partners’ posts about living with ADHD) she has been scheduled at the exact same time as Babymetal, in an area that is accessed only via mudslide.

Sadly, we probably should have been over there instead since Babymetal went a little something like; They walk slowly on stage like they’re bridesmaids at a wedding, wearing rainbow warrior outfits. They play one and a half songs before the music screeches to a standstill and they’re ushered off stage. The deluge begins, and is so strong we have to crouch to avoid getting knocked over by the sideways barrage. Fifteen minutes elapse, the rain finally ceases. We get three more songs when they finally re-emerge, but the last one is ‘RATATATA’ which probably should have included a cameo from Electric Callboy but obviously couldn’t. Sigh. They also decided to ask everyone to “Get down low” and crouch after a massive storm shower which just seems a little ridiculous, and I am more than a little miffed that this is the second time I’ve stood in the rain to watch Babymetal at Download.

© Toddow Young for Download Festival

Luckily the sun actually begins to shine and the clouds are replaced by bright blue skies – at least for now. I am especially thankful for this at the start of Enter Shikari, with Rou Reynolds practically catapulting himself onto the stage with glee, wearing extremely risky white trousers and a pink Shikari footie shirt. Starting off with his ‘System…’ monologue, and then launching straight into ‘Meltdown’ there is no doubt that this is going to be an absolutely stellar show.

‘Live Outside’ might not be aimed at being taken literally, but I do not in fact want to live outside this weekend thanks. Sorry to everyone camping. We love the ‘Sssnakepit’ circle pit that strikes up in the absolutely sodden front lines, and as Rou finishes his classic mid-show banana (not a euphemism) he shouts out “Make some noise for Wargasm right now” and is joined on stage by the duo for ‘The Void Stares Back’. We also get a snippet of their tour with Rou scaling a ladder and then falling backwards into one of the lighting effect towers, to be replaced by a dancing thermal image as he sneaks to the other side of the stage for a crowd surfing moment.

© Andrew Whitton for Download Festival

“I’m so tempted…” he says, being filmed frantically by the tech crew, and then launches himself backwards off the gangway right into a mud swamp. A true man of the people. Later, I found a tiktok of Rou’s stylist watching this in abject horror – a beautiful thing. After the inevitable changing of the fucked monitor he had on him, the band finish up with an expected Rou soliloquy “Enter Shikari would like to stand with our Jewish friends, our Muslim friends, our atheist friends, all of you. I hope to God there’s a Gaza left when this fucking atrocity ends.” to a huge roar of solidarity from the crowd. Closer ‘A Kiss For The Whole World’ seems entirely fitting, and is crowned by a huge double rainbow over the arena. I would very much endorse a Shikari headline set here.

© Andrew Whitton for Download Festival

On Opus, Tom Morello is giving a masterclass in Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave hits, and thanks everyone for all the times he’s been able to play Download festival. I for one would probably throw up with joy if Rage decided to reunite for return to Donington – the last time they played was absolutely mindblowing. As a former touring guitarist with Bruce Springsteen (wild diversity I know) it’s fitting to hear a cover of ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad’, especially when he flips it over to play with his teeth, revealing a giant ‘Ceasefire’. Finishing up with “…an old English folk song” – the best Christmas Number 1 we ever had ‘Killing In The Name’ and ‘Power To The People’ with guest drummer, 14 year old sensation Nandi Bushell, secure Tom’s set as one of the best of this weekend.

© Abbie Shipperley for Download Festival

Pantera have a large crowd despite Phil Anselmo’s pretty well recorded history of well, saying racist shit. It’s an interesting booking to be honest, especially in a punk/activist stacked lineup. They seem to be having a nice time and keeping it schtum, but I do wonder if their ‘fuck the Tories’ exit music is an attempt at reparative lipservice.

On the main stage, The Offspring deliver one of the best shows of the entire weekend, it’s like mainlining pure nostalgia right to the heart. They look as cool as they ever did to me as a teenage punk, and they sound phenomenal. ‘All I Want’ is screamed at the top of everyone’s lungs, and Dexter and Noodles joke around like we’re hanging with them at a jam session “Can you feel the love coming off this audience?”“I can feel a lot of stuff coming off this audience…”. Each song gets it’s own digital backdrop of which album it has come from, the true Eras tour. Dex yells “Download Fest you are fucking beautiful once again” before they up the ante with ‘Staring At The Sun’ and a cover of Ramones’ ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’.

© James Bridle for Download Festival

“Do we have any classic metal fans… this is a classic metal song…” did not lead where I thought it would lead, and instead to Edvard Grieg’s ‘In The Hall Of The Mountain King’ otherwise known in the UK as, the Alton Towers theme music, which was quite fun as a punk rock song. ‘A Million Miles Away’ from Conspiracy of One and ‘Why Don’t You Get A Job’ from Americana are both iconic, and this is the most crowd interaction I’ve seen for a band all weekend.

“They don’t care if they got rained on, they’re out here rocking their ass off” shouts Noodles, before they throw giant marble-like inflatable balls out into the crowd and give us ‘Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)’. The Offspring are just consummate showmen, something I think a lot of punk rock bands have in common – they’re comedians as well as musicians and it really gives them the edge in crowd engagement. ‘You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid’ is a lot of fun, there are quite a few giddy kids who are excited to sing the word ‘fuck’ out here, but ‘The Kids Aren’t Alright’ and ‘Self Esteem’ are the absolute cherry on the cake of this truly brilliant set. They are the anthem to my youth and I’ve loved every second.

© James Bridle for Download Festival

Tonight’s headliner Fall out boy, are hotly anticipated – off the back of last year’s sold out stadium tour the arena is full right back to the big wheel ready for them. Starting off with some interesting staging we see Patrick Stump on the screens, dressed in… a hospital gown. He is let loose from his backstage hospital bed onto the main stage with the rest of the band, where there are giant video walls and a curiously large black sofa.

There’s no adaptation to a heavier style here whatsoever, they are unapologetically themselves and I love that. ‘Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy’ is an immediate throwback, to easier times of sideways hair and multiple studded belts. ‘Sugar, We’re Going Down’ hits a lot of people right in the singing-at-house-parties-with-your-mates feels and ‘Dance, Dance’ with those keyhole logos splashed all over the screens, is absolutely iconic.

The Infinity on High portion of the night comes with a flying sheep (yes really) and a ton of pyro to really solidify that headline slot production value. Also, if you aren’t singing the misheard lyrics of “Golf cart arse face” to ‘This Ain’t A Scene It’s An Arms Race’ then we can’t be friends.

“Thank you for trusting us with your entertainment this evening. Last time we played here was 10 years ago, and we were kinda nervous to play this festival… but there’s 80 thousand of you making us feel better” laughs Pete Wentz, “I used to watch VHS tapes of Metallica playing Donington. The dream. This is so fucking special” he saysbefore giving us the fantastic ‘Thanks Fr Th Mmrs’.

Not to be outdone by other bands who have graced this stage (Kiss, Rammstein) Pete rocks a flame-cannon attached to his bass guitar for ‘Phoenix’, there’s an angry inflatable bear, heaps more pyro for ‘My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em’ Up)’ of course, then scary cheerleaders and even a little Munsters riff to pass the time. Truly I feel like they could play for half the night and I wouldn’t get bored.

© James Bridle for Download Festival

‘Immortals’ is another arena-wide singalong, with a sassy social media comment backdrop joking “Wow a one-word song title from Fall Out Boy” which racked up likes as they played. Can’t fault their eye to detail on this set, they’ve made it fun to watch as well as fun to listen to – something I really feel sets those great headliners apart from the average ones.

There’s a beautiful starry backdrop with a giant moon hanging above the stage for  ‘So Much (For) Stardust’, and then a fan throws a Ziploc bag with a card inside up onto the stage to ask the band to do their gender-reveal live. “Oh ok a gender reveal? Will it be a Fall Out boy or a Fall Out girl?… you’re having a boy!”.

‘Centuries’ is absolutely perfect and could easily have been the closer, but they give us one more with ‘Saturday’ – and, I’ll admit there’s something very brain-itchingly pleasing about ending with the namesake of the day you’re headlining, bravo. What I enjoy even more is the bonkers scene of a bunch of doctors and nurses helping Pete Wentz fly into the air on a bunch of balloons, surrounded by confetti and streamers blasted into the crowd. I’m not sure I really got the full screenplay of the night but I liked it regardless. What an incredible headline choice, this really was a highlight.

There’s a few fireworks to end the night but they’re mostly caught inside their own crowd of smoke so it isn’t that impressive, and of course it is beginning to rain once again.

SUNDAY

Cursed with the state of the arena, Download issue a statement that the arena will open an hour later today so that they can get a handle on the ground work – after yet another blast of rain this morning. Unfortunately with a big walk to the arena from shuttles and camping, shortened sets to accommodate and the now drying mud creating a shoe-sucking trench to go anywhere, it’s looking difficult to fit many bands into our schedule today.

We head off to see Royal Republic who play one of the most lively and fun shows of the weekend, we loved dancing with them to ‘Tommy Gun’ and ‘Ratatata’ (no not the Babymetal one). Zebrahead follow up with some pop-punk to a respectable sized crowd, but we decide to check out some of the shops along the back of that area. Amazingly, this whole section is on the dry stone standing and is relatively mud free.

We check out chains and rings at Tomfoolery, frog hats and silly sunglasses, patches, a vintage clothing store selling heaps of blank battle jackets for you to curate, and a Viking drinking horn shop. It reminds me that I really miss the (age) old set up of having all the shops along the racetrack itself – it was nice to have a shopping destination if you had a gap in your plans.

© Gobinder Jhitta for Download Festival

Over on Apex Kerry King is obviously slaying (ahem) but it does feel a bit strange that we said goodbye to Slayer at Download 2019 on their farewell tour, but today we get… well, basically a Slayer set. In the Dogtooth tent the must discussed secret act turns out to be a roaringly intense set from Aussie metalheads Parkway Drive who almost blast the roof off – I’m expecting to see them on the main stage next year and certainly for more than a very short thirty minutes. On Opus, Elvana have yet again pulled a huge crowd for their Elvis/Nirvana mash up silliness. I love them but they’ve pulled the short straw going up against Bowling For Soup in the beautiful sunshine.

I’m absolutely convinced that ‘Girl All The Bad Guys Want’ is Bowling For Soup’s response to The Offspring’s ‘Want You Bad’, but it’s such an ingrained iconic song that we are all singing along at the top of our voices. “It’s so weird being up here without Chris (Burney). He had to fly home to Oklahoma for some health stuff” the guys lament their missing member, before bringing a special guest onto the stage.“Isn’t that the guy from wheatus over there… the teenage dirtbag?” BBB does indeed come on stage to sing a little, and announce their joint tour coming in 2025. What a fun nostalgic collaboration to make January a little nicer next year.

After rudely Rickrolling us, they also bring out Zebrahead for ‘Punk Rock 101’ and then end with ‘1985’ – singing the absolutely perfect line for sharing the stage with another band today She rocked out to Wham, not a big Limp Bizkit fan”.

Sum 41’s final performance at Download is a bit of a tear-jerker, they like others on this bill were part of the pop-punk makeup that was so many people’s teenage gateway to rock and metal. I’d say they’re one of the big reasons I ended up here myself, and the huge crowd around me suggests a lot of people feel the same way.

Deryck Whibley is looking better than he has in a long time, jumping around the stage with wild abandon in his signature red creepers. ‘Motivation’, ‘In Too Deep’ and even a cover of Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ are all excellently performed, but it’s Deryck’s words that catch us in the feels “We are so honoured to be here, this festival and these crowds hold a very sacred space in our hearts. It’s the last record we’re gonna make”. Cue the loud boos across the arena.

© James Bridle for Download Festival

“Your boos are so heartwarming… It’s been almost 30 years hasn’t everyone had enough of sum 41?” as the resounding ‘No’ is screamed back at them they tell us“We’re gonna fucking miss You we promise you. Thank you for all these years. There might be one more chance this year we can see you. Keep your ears peeled.” and launch into ‘Fat Lip’ and finally ‘Still Waiting’. The refrain “This can’t last forever” is a nice little note to remind you, go see your favourite bands while they’re still around.

A giant travesty of the weekend is putting Limp Bizkit, Corey Taylor and Hoobastank on all at the same time, with impassable mud trenches in between.

In the end we can’t help but choose Limp Bizkit – mostly for the memories. Swanning in wearing baggy white trousers, a baseball jersey and a baby blue bucket hat, Fred Durst struts to ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ before throwing down with ‘Break Stuff’. He might have a grey beard these days but damn does he sound just the way I remember. It’s powerful, it’s nostalgic, and it does indeed make you want to break stuff.

© Danny North for Download Festival

“I hope you don’t mind we brought the California Sun with us” Fred jokes, but quickly notices those rowdy front centre pits “If someone falls down we pick em back up. Help each other out”. We are also made to sing-along with Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’ a cheeky little diss from Fred, who once said that he was a big Oasis fan and even had Liam Gallagher’s autograph, despite Liam publically labelling Limp Bizkit as “Shite”. “Liam, you hear that? We are fucking waiting on you Oasis!” Fred quips, but the laughs subside and we are given what we really came for – ‘Rollin (Air Raid Vehicle’. Suddenly half the crowd seems to be wearing a red hat (remember when they were cool, before MAGA idiots co-opted them?) and we are all dancing the moves like true noughties kids.

Rollin’ is outtro’ed with a little bit of ‘Proud Mary’, because the rain this weekend really has us rollin’ on the river, and it’s onto hit after hit with ‘My Generation’ and ‘My Way’. There is a short stoppage mid-song for Fred to make security aware of an issue in the crowd “There’s something wrong over there, get someone in there”, but he then brings someone from the crowd up onto the stage to sing with him – “Great job brother let’s hear it for the Loco!”.

The band play a fun little request section with snippets of George Michael’s ‘Faith’, Nirvana ‘Come As You Are’ and Metallica’s ‘Master of Puppets’, then spin up a circle pit frenzy with ‘Take A Look Around’ – “Let’s do that weird song Tom cruise likes”. Bookending the set with a second blast of ‘Break Stuff’ is a great choice, it goes even harder the second time, and Download head honcho Andy Copping hitting the stage in his own red-hat is extremely joyful. I kinda wish they’d headlined instead of QOTSA in all honesty, maybe next time.

Headlining the Opus stage Machine Head give an absolute masterclass in how to bring a full showcase experience. I find it hard to express how incredibly powerful and impressive this set actually was, this band have proved time and time again that they have the capability and the crowd support to headline the main stage but here we are. You just know that if they start the show with a visible Fireman at the side of the stage, there’s a good chance you’re going to get your eyebrows singed.

© Matt Higgs for Download Festival

In true Moshy Ned style, there is so much pyro in the opening ‘Imperium’ that you can barely even see the band, which probably doesn’t matter as everyone around us seems to be moshing, screaming and throwing their middle fingers up in reference to the song.

Rob Flynn yells “Scream for me Download” (someone has to do it, Bruce Dickinson isn’t here) and “Download are you ready to lose your minds with Machine Head tonight?” before inciting circle pits and a giant wall-of-death “push back, push back”, for ‘CHØKE ØN THE ASHES ØF YØUR HATE’.

‘The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears’ sees bright red ticker tape confetti raining down like a cloud of blood, and there’s a very providential rainbow just to the right of their stage during ‘Is There Anybody Out There?’. I can dig a god who loves Machine Head.

“I went crazy at download festival, chant with me!” is the scream that ends the show, ‘Davidian’ and ‘Halo’ are beyond sublime, and this is the first time this weekend I’ve seen some proper old school hair-windmilling and headbanging – it’s a comfort. I have no notes, it was perfection.

So, we sacrificed most of Avenged Sevenfold for Machine Head, and I’m not sorry about it. Getting across the arena in the waning light, with even the access roads now covered in a sucking gloop of mud… treacherous. We didn’t make it far down the hill but I can totally appreciate the reason A7X were booked onto that Sunday headline slot – they are smashing it. Sadly they seem to have been hit with a couple of unfortunate coincidences this evening, as the field is nowhere near as full as it was for last night’s FOB set.

The weather has done a number on people’s resolve, I think a lot have favoured heading off early or following Machine Head, and there is information circulating already about car-parking being horrendous with cars stuck in the mud. At any rate there’s a steady stream of people heading for the exits.

Regardless, there’s a lot of people down the front having the time of their lives still, and you can’t overstate A7X’s incredible melodic guitar work for a great way to cap this weekend of amazing musical talent. ‘Hail To The King’ was dedicated to all the Dads in the audience, on Father’s Day, a nice moment – especially when so many have brought their children with them this weekend.

© Andrew Whitton for Download Festival

“We’ve played many times…. Download festival, and we are honoured. You have so much great fucking music that comes to the UK, so much.” Shouts vocalist M. Shadows, but unfortunately as they dive into ‘Nightmare’ the main stage suffers from a power outage issue that seems them summarily cut off, only to be karaoke’d by the crowd. It does seem like there have been more than a few issues with sound this weekend.

Luckily it is fairly quickly resolved so that the band can come back for ‘Unholy Confessions’, ‘A Little Piece of Heaven’ into ‘Save Me’ and finally ‘Cosmic’. They might not be on my personal highlight menu for the weekend, but it was a great show.

It would be remiss of me to note a few things that have come up post-festival, even though it isn’t all good news. Rob Kellas (of the now infamous TPDTV gang) reported that his sister Mary Kellas was hit with food poisoning after eating one of the giant yorkshire pudding meals, and had to leave the site early due to being so ill. Photos have also arisen of raw chicken being served to punters, and a brisket stall also being the culprit for multiple food poisoning incidents this weekend. Apparently environmental health had been contacted and the affected outlets were shut down once it had been reported to them.

I must also note that there has been yet another significant and obvious price hike on the arena food, there now aren’t many meals available under the £12 mark. The inclusion of an alcohol-free cocktail bar has been a great one, but I do wish that this was part of their regular bar options instead of having to take a trek to the specific area to get one. Merchandise offerings were decent, and the queues to get stuff was nowhere near as bad as last year due to seemingly having a lot more staff on board. I do however wish DL would take a leaf out of Wacken’s book, and offer some cheaper small items for sale – or bring back the reusable branded beer cups that can be taken home as souvenirs.

Thefts seem to also have been a massive issue this year, with one photographer working the festival asking for help online as someone had actually unclipped and stolen a lens off her camera as she was walking through the site. A huge number of phone thefts have also been spoken about online, and even Frank Carter had a sentimental item – a gold chain, stolen from around his neck whilst crowd surfing; “Which one of you c***s stole my f***ing chain. I’m fuming. I’ve had that chain for 10 years. And do you know what, I’ve sacrificed it to the mosh pits of Download. If 24-carat gold doesn’t buy us some f***ing love…”.

All in, I’d say there were some significant issues that need to be addressed following the festival this year, but despite that and the unfavourable weather – we still had a fucking magnificent time. This is testimony to the family, the ethos, the vibe of this festival, long live Download. See you next year!

The Killers and The Cure to headline Glastonbury 2019

The Killers will return on Saturday night to headline the Pyramid Stage since their last outing in 2007.  On Sunday night, The Cure return to headline the Pyramid for the first time since 1995, in what marks a record-equalling fourth Glastonbury headline set (Coldplay being the only other act to have occupied the closing slot four times). The Cure previously also headlined in 1986 and 1990.

Liam Gallagher added to Reading and Leeds Festival

Already boasting a phenomenal line-up of indisputable headliners and the hottest voices in modern music, Reading & Leeds has announced even more names for this year’s festivals, taking place between 25 – 27 August 2017 at Richfield Avenue, Reading and Bramham Park, Leeds. Tickets are available here.

Rock ‘n’ roll legend and an unmistakable icon of music history, Liam Gallagher will be bringing his highly anticipated solo performance to Reading and Leeds in a UK Festival Exclusive. One of the most recognised figures in British music, his show will be an attitude filled performance fuelled with Oasis classics and tracks from his debut solo record; announcing the next huge step for the nation’s most unmissable frontman.

Undeniable alt-rock sensations PVRIS will be laying out their marker for the year ahead at Reading and Leeds, as they return to the stage ahead of their long-awaited sophomore record. After becoming the hottest name in emerging rock with the release of debut album White Noise in 2014, their electro-infused anthems have continued to resonate with an audience of devoted fans eager for their next chapter. 

Long Beach trailblazer and Def Jam star, Vince Staples has become the definitive voice of rising hip-hop. Earning the respect of influential musical figures such as Odd Future, Earl Sweatshirt, Mac Miller, and Gorillaz following his debut album Summertime 06, his eagerly awaited appearance at Reading and Leeds this summer is sure to be an unmissable coronation of future rap royalty.

From one generation to another, timeless drum and bass titan Goldie will make a very special stop at this year’s Reading & Leeds festivals. A true innovator for a genre and a movement, Goldie transcends British culture, with classic LP Timeless still sounding as raw and captivating as it first did upon release in 1995. With a new album set for release, 2017 is the year Goldie returns with a bang, laid out in full colour at Reading & Leeds this summer.

 With an incredible variety of genres and styles spread across the festival's six stages, Reading & Leeds is bursting with exciting names and defining sounds for 2017 and beyond.

MAIN STAGE

With huge headline performances set from the likes of Kasabian, Eminem and Muse, even more names have been confirmed for their standout moment in the sun on that iconic Reading & Leeds Main Stage. Along with the unmissable returns of Liam Gallagher and PVRIS, politically-charged garage rockers VANT will be making the step-up, following on from a festival-stopping set on last year’s Festival Republic Stage. With debut album Dumb Blood radiating unstoppable hits, expect their performance at this year’s festival to be a journey into unfiltered riffs in full glory. Grunge-tinged indie-pop pair Honeyblood will lay out tracks from second studio album Babes Never Die at the festivals, with LA blues rock duo Deap Vally will be bringing Femejism to both sites, and frenetic London quartet Judas heading back to the Main Stage after their sensational last-minute slot at Leeds last year.

Lynn Gunn, PVRIS:

“We are incredibly grateful to be performing again at Reading & Leeds. Our first experience at the festival was phenomenal and took us completely by surprise. We are excited to see what comes from it this time around and perhaps even play some new tunes *wink wink* 

Deap Vally;
"We can't wait to return to the R & L stage and show everyone how it's done”!

Judas;

"We feel totally honoured and privileged to be asked to open the main stage this year. We have been working so hard for so long and it's amazing to be rewarded with the chance to play the main stage at the best music festival in the U.K. Thank you to everyone who has supported us, see you in August! Let's have it"

Honeyblood

“Mega excited to be playing Reading and Leeds this year! It's such a legendary festival and it's an absolute dream come true be on the main stage.”

NME / RADIO ONE STAGE

Spilling with big names and rising favourites, including previously announced headliners You Me At Six, Flume and Haim, the NME/Radio One Stage has announced even more stand-out sets over the weekend. Monumental live performances will come from Mura Masa, the electronic maestro behind hits ‘Love$ick’ and ‘Firefly’. The highly acclaimed producer and multi-instrumentalist will reign over Reading and Leeds with thundering beats and a set that promises to point towards one of the most exciting artists in the world. Bass-giant Sub Focus is set to up the ante with an unmissable live set of eclectic dance, having released new material Lingua earlier this year. 

Having made a name for herself through collaborations with Rudimental, Sean Paul and Clean Bandit, Anne-Marie is set to bring her mellifluous melodies and infectious synth lines to the festival. Teenage singer-songwriter extraordinaire Declan McKenna is another new name on the bill who is most definitely primed for big things over the year ahead. Possessing a live show that lights up packed venues and TV screens wherever he goes, and with a debut album out this summer, Declan McKenna’s moment is here and Reading and Leeds is the place to be to witness it all.

Chicago’s The Orwells will be packing out their muscular riffs and catchy refrains for an unpredictable appearance this year, along with Marika Hackman, whose hotly tipped new album I’m Not Your Man is set to drop this summer, full of distinct melodies and a bolder new sound. Expect it to go down a treat when Marika Hackman steps up to the Reading & Leeds stage this summer.

 Brighton geek-rockers The Magic Gang, melancholy indie scuzz three piece Blaenavon and Australia's psych-pop groovers Pond are also lined up for stunning moments over the weekend, while further additions King No-One, SG Lewis, Mutemath and X Ambassadors all add to making the NME/Radio One Stage a not to be missed musical destination throughout the festival.

 Declan McKenna;

“Reading & Leeds is definitely going to be a highlight of the year for me. Am so excited to finally be playing at a festival I love so much and have been to so many times.”

 Zach Lount, King No One;
"Reading and Leeds is such an amazing platform to spread who we are and drive our message of equality to more and more people. We can't wait to share our biggest moment”

FESTIVAL REPUBLIC STAGE

With headliners Bear’s Den, The Black Lips and The Hunna already primed for rapturous sets – the Festival Republic Stage is once again overflowing with future stars and acts possessing that special something that’ll take them to a whole new level. These include renowned garage rock heroes Japandroids, who returned earlier this year with acclaimed new album Near To The Wild Heart Of Life packed full of the shout-along hooks that have packed venues across the globe. 90s guitar riffers Ash are primed for a return to the festivals with a catalogue of indisputable hits at their disposal, while the transcendent grooves of US ambient-electro force Cigarettes After Sex are sure to be a highlight of the festival weekend.

Dazzling with a who’s who of names destined to burst into record collections over the next 12 months, the stage will play host to the likes of Aussie dance-psych kings Jagwar Ma with their infectious cuts from latest LP Every Now & Then, trailblazing indie-noir heroes Black Honey, glacial electro swooner The Japanese House, all-encompassing cinematic dreamers Pumarosa, modern pop tilter Bishop Briggs and Danish eruptive-pop trio Off Bloom amongst others.

After releasing their acclaimed debut About U, MUNA will make their first appearance at the festivals – promising a powerhouse show full of lush harmonies and potent pop perfection. They’ll be joined across the weekend by vibrant guitar-pop gang The Big Moon, sun-soaked pop prince Will Joseph Cook, US garage rock kickers The Districts, Dirty Hit two piece Superfood, Sydney duo Vallis Alps, distinct bassline pointer Cosima, blistering indie upstarts Paris Youth Foundation and the blues-fuelled highs of Ten Tonnes for landmark moments at every turn.

With further sets confirmed from Barns Courtney (Reading Only), LA creator Mondo Cozmo and electric pop swaggers OUTLYA – the Festival Republic Stage is a must-see look at the future of music and the world’s next favourite acts.

 Tim Wheeler, Ash;

"We’re very proud to announce an historic 10th appearance for Ash at the Reading festival. We first performed there in 1995 and our shows at the festival stand among our favourite shows that we’ve ever played, it’s always been a highlight of each year we’ve done it. Somewhere along the way we were promised a statue upon reaching our 10th appearance, so we’re looking forward to the grand unveiling in August!"

Black Honey;
"We've been going to Reading and Leeds since we were little, it's where I crowd surfed for the first time and fell in love with music, it feels so fucking good to be back on the other side of the barrier again this year"

Barns Courtney;

“Looking forward to making my debut appearance at one of my fave UK festivals which was the 1st one I ever a went to as a kid! Looking forward to rocking your little socks off Reading and thanks for the invite”

MUNA;

"We love the U.K. and are beyond thrilled and excited to be able to finally play a festival there!”

THE PIT/LOCK-UP STAGE

Bringing together the hottest names from every inch of the rock world, The Pit/Lock-Up Stage is set to play host to the most genre-defining sets of the weekend as Japanese leaders ONE OK ROCK, riotous live favourites Gnarwolves, riff masters Arcane Roots, high-octane lo-fi duo PWR BTTM and American heavyweights Breaking Benjamin will storm the coveted rock spotlight.

French electro-doom bringer Carpenter Brut, bass-heavy Bristol natives Turbowolf, and grime-punk new bloods Astroid Boys promise to redefine the very meaning of blistering festival performances, whilst Boston Manor, Defeater, VUKOVI, God Damn, WSTR, and Viagra Boys are destined to steal the stage with their raw punk behaviour.

In a seismic billing of alternative power, critically acclaimed Zeal & Ardor are set to bring anthemic black metal to the stage as hotly tipped acts Palisades and Casey reinforce the unapologetic intensity of The Pit/Lock-Up Stage. A monumental mix of fierce acts including Tigers Jaw, Big Jesus, Tired Lion, Culture Abuse, Muncie Girls, TIGERCUB, SLØTFACE, RavenEye, Freak and LIFE promise to take 2017 to another level.

Andrew Groves, Arcane Roots;

Playing the esteemed Reading & Leeds Festival last year was one of the highlights of our career, so to be asked to play again this year, with a new album on the way and an ambitious new sound, is both an honour and a opportunity to unveil what we've only teased at so far. Reading & Leeds has always felt like a proving ground to us, and we'll be certain to bring something special with the likes of Billy Talent shortly after us.

Thom Weeks, Gnarwolves;

"We're very excited to be playing Reading and Leeds this year. It'll be our 4th time at Reading and we get to play on the stage we first played on 4 years ago! I spent my teenage years at Reading, watching bands like Thursday and Sick Of It All, so getting to play is like living out a teenage fantasy…4 times!"

Ben Hopkins, PWR BTTM;

"My mind is completely blown that we are going to be playing Reading and Leeds where so many incredible bands have played for so many years. I just hope my outfit looks good!!!”

Lande Hekt, Muncie Girls:

“We're so exciting to go back to Reading and Leeds this year. Last time Eminem played, Dido made a surprise appearance and amongst the thousands of shocked fans, there wasn't a dry eye to be seen. We can only hope for the same this year. Also the Lock Up stage is amazing. What a way to end our summer!”

Sløtface;

"Just thinking of the fact that we'll be on the same poster as Kasabian, Charli XCX, At The Drive In and Eminem is really exciting. We love the festival life in the UK and this is the biggest UK festival we've ever done, so this has to be amazing.”

BBC 1XTRA STAGE

Promising to be one of the most exciting stages of the weekend, the BBC 1Xtra Stage welcomes Manchester’s finest Bugzy Malone. The northern Grime wordsmith’s credentials remain unchallenged with genre-defining E.P’s Walk With Me and Facing Time entering the UK Album Chart Top Ten. With videos of his flawless freestyles and music videos racking up over 90 million views; it’s no surprise he returns to Reading and Leeds as the stage’s final headliner. 

New additions today include London’s grime queen, Stefflon Don, explosive American rapper Vince Staples, the hotly tipped West London MC AJ Tracey, MOBO Award Winner Abra Cadabra, and one of America’s most exciting hip-hop artists and producers, Russ.

Lord of The Mics legend, P Money will take to the BBC 1Xtra Stage, whilst Dante Jones and Drew Love appear as R&B success story, THEY. Critically acclaimed Canadian DJ Lunice will be bringing his highly anticipated mix of hip-hop, breakbeat and trap to the festival alongside hip-hop polymath Akala, freestyle master Big Tobz and grime young blood Jaykae. In addition to these incredible names, DJ Semtex (Reading only), Not3s, Bossman Birdie, A2, and Monster Florence also join the line-up, making for the most exciting BBC 1Xtra Stage billing to date.

Bugzy Malone;
"I cannot wait to get back on stage at Reading and Leeds. It will be my third year in a row and I'm so gassed to be headlining the BBC 1Xtra stage. I've got a few surprises planned, so make sure you get there early."

P Money;

"Glad to be back! Third time is always the best time! Grime in full effect"

DJ Semtex

"The raw energy and excitement of the crowd that Reading and Leeds festival attracts is unrivalled. They demand the hardest, pounding abrasive sounds, and I love that. For me this is the event of the year."

BBC RADIO 1 DANCE STAGE 

With Goldie announced today, the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage packs the biggest electro line up of the summer, with new additions today including radio icon and contemporary tastemaker Mistajam. A gatekeeper to the most exciting music of the present day, he’ll take to the coveted stage alongside Brentford’s finest pirate radio DJ crew Kurupt FM, live beat-maker and multi-instrumentalist Jax Jones, and garage sound-system stars Heartless Crew. With Delta Heavy, Monki, and Hospital Records’ own Metrik also confirmed for moments across the weekend, the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage will once again provide an exciting soundtrack to the bank holiday weekend.

Already soaked in unmistakable dance royalty, the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage will be full of electronic boundary-pushers throughout the weekend, including seismic blending from South London’s prodigal beat maker Jacob Plant, garage pioneers Dreem Teem, homegrown house producer Kideko and a Fabric favourites B2B set from Loadstar and Matrix & Futurebound. Also added today and set to provide a fitting summer soundtrack is LANY, the alt-pop trio known for their sunset haze sound, Alma, who will be on hand with her tropical house beats and powerhouse vocals, and indie-pop charmers HAUS.

 

Jacob Plant;

"I can't wait to play R&L this year!  It's hands down my favourite festival to play in the world.  This will be my 4th time playing and every year gets bigger and better!"

 

Loadstar;

'We are delighted to be playing at Reading & Leeds festival this year, its definitely one of those festival's we've always dreamt of playing and to be part of the massive line up for the R1 dance stage is huge honour…see you there!'

 

LANY;

"Reading and Leeds is muddy and weird and perfect. I can't wait to be back."