Download Festival
Why Women Are Campaigning For More Female Headliners At Rock Festivals
By Holly Mosley in Music / Festivals on 09 March 2020
You'd be surprised at how few women get to headline rock and metal festivals.
Since it was revealed that a mere handful of female artists were scattered across the Reading & Leeds Festival line-up and the fast majority were male musicians, feminist music lovers have been expressing their annoyance that festival organisers still can't manage a gender-balanced line-up in 2020 - a time when gender equality issues are at their most prominent.
However, fans haven't always appreciated the line-ups put together by Download Festival. Some years the headliners can seem out of place and other years the line-up has come across as unoriginal or repetitive.
Continue reading: 10 Bands That Should Have Been Booked For Download Festival 2020
Download Festival 2018 Live Review
By Adam Holden in Music Reviews on 13 June 2018
After years of melancholic weather, Download Festival finally got five days of the stunning weather it deserved, as over 100,000 fans descended on the UK's home of rock n roll and the likes of Guns N Roses, Ozzy Osbourne and Avenged Sevenfold left everyone raising their hand horns.
With the vicissitudes of rock n roll over the last few decades, and the capricious tides of metal since the nascent of Monsters of Rock, all the way through to Download, the festival is now more eclectic than ever.
Continue reading: Download Festival 2018 Live Review
Download Festival 2018 - Preview
By Adam Holden in Music / Festivals on 06 June 2018
The most exciting acts to watch out for at this year's event.
Held on the famous Donington Race Track, just a stone's throw away from East Midlands Airport, the three-day festival has been home to rock fans for decades, hosting the Monsters of Rock festival from 1980 for 16 years. Since then, Download was curated and whilst replacing Monsters of Rock, it has never lost its appeal or hype, as the biggest acts have frequented the festival since the Download inauguration.
Download returns to Leicestershire, UK once again on June 8th 2018 for three days of the best rock 'n' roll in the world. It's now been revealed that joining stellar headliners Avenged Sevenfold, Guns N' Roses and Ozzy Osbourne are the likes of shock rocker Marilyn Manson, Bullet For My Valentine and Parkway Drive.
Continue reading: Marilyn Manson And Bullet For My Valentine Join Download Festival 2018 Line-Up
System Of A Down, Prophets Of Rage, Biffy Clyro: Who Rocked Download Festival 2017?
By Holly Williams in Music / Festivals on 12 June 2017
Pictures emerge of the best of Download 2017.
Another Download Festival has come and gone and this year was an absolute smash of an event with System Of A Down, Biffy Clyro and Aerosmith headlining the main stage. Donington Park was definitely the place to be with its four stages of the heaviest music you'll hear all year.
Kicking off the first day of the festival on Friday (June 9th 2017) saw System of a Down headlining, throwing out some of their most popular hits like 'Chop Suey', 'Toxicity' and 'Sugar'. Also on the main stage were Five Finger Death Punch, Mastodon and Prophets of Rage.
Continue reading: System Of A Down, Prophets Of Rage, Biffy Clyro: Who Rocked Download Festival 2017?
Alter Bridge, Sum 41 And Pierce The Veil Join The Download Festival 2017 Line-Up
By Holly Williams in Music / Festivals on 02 December 2016
More than 20 new artists have been added.
Download Festival returns to Donington Park in June 2017 and, while it might seem like a world away yet, they have added at least another twenty names to the ever-growing line-up which is headlined by System of a Down, Biffy Clyro and Aerosmith.
One of the world's biggest rock bonanzas, Download Festival have expanded their 2017 line-up with appearances from the likes of Sum 41, Clutch, Airbourne and Coheed and Cambria. Making their Download debut in the summer is San Diego's Pierce The Veil who released their fourth studio album 'Misadventures' back in May.
Continue reading: Alter Bridge, Sum 41 And Pierce The Veil Join The Download Festival 2017 Line-Up
Iron Maiden Confirmed As First Headliners For Download Festival
By Stephanie Chase in Music / Festivals on 20 October 2015
In true rock ’n’ roll style Bruce Dickinson will fly the band in on his Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet.
Iron Maiden have been announced as the first headliners for next year’s Download Festival to be held at Donington Park, Leicestershire. The festival appearance is their only confirmed UK gig during their 2016 world tour, which is set to begin in the US next February.
The festival will take place from June 10th to 12th, with the band scheduled to take the main stage on the closing night. The band’s frontman Bruce Dickinson has recently been given the all clear from cancer, after undergoing a seven-week course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy for a cancerous tumour on his tongue.
Continue reading: Iron Maiden Confirmed As First Headliners For Download Festival
Download Festival - 2015 Live Review
By Sophie Brannon in Music Reviews on 22 June 2015
One of Europe's best rock and metal festivals returned to its home at Donnington Park last weekend and it's safe to say, once again, that Download smashed it. With a range of bands from Kiss, Motley Crue, Billy Idol, Rise Against, Parkway Drive, We Are Harlot and more all booked to play, there was something for everyone at the festival, and that was one of the most noticeable highlights.
Muse were considered to be a controversial band to have booked, but all concerns were quickly dashed as soon as they hit the stage on Saturday. Matt Bellamy's vocal abilities were on top form as the band belted out tracks from their newly released album 'Drones' as well as well-known hits like 'Supermassive Black Hole' and 'Plug In Baby'. Even those who were indifferent or somewhat disliked Muse couldn't deny that they put on the show of a lifetime complete with dancing lights, pyrotechnics, confetti and inflatable balls.
Continue reading: Download Festival - 2015 Live Review
Nikki Sixx and Mötley Crüe - Download Festival - Day 3 - Performances at Download Festival - Donnington, United Kingdom - Sunday 14th June 2015
Marilyn Manson - Download Festival - Day 2 - Performances & Atmosphere at Download Festival - Donnington, United Kingdom - Saturday 13th June 2015
Slipknot Set To Raise The Proverbial Roof At Download Festival 2015
By Sophie Brannon in Music / Festivals on 03 June 2015
Here's a preview of what to expect from Download 2015.
Download Festival sponsored by Zippo is now approaching its twelfth year and it keeps on going from strength to strength, and this year is looking to be the biggest and best to date. The festival will return to Donnington Park (its home since 2003) between 12th and 14th June with a line-up that covers everything on the rock, punk and metal spectrum.
Rock royalty are headlining this year's festival, with Slipknot and Judas Priest rocking the Friday, Muse and Faith No More on the Saturday and Kiss and Motley Crue on the Sunday; it's looking to be a jam packed weekend.
Continue reading: Slipknot Set To Raise The Proverbial Roof At Download Festival 2015
Status Quo - Status Quo headline The Zippo Encore stage on day 2 of Download Festival at Donnington Park - Castle Donnington, United Kingdom - Sunday 15th June 2014
30 Seconds to Mars and Jared Leto - Download Festival 2013 - Day 3 - Leicestershire, United Kingdom - Sunday 16th June 2013
James Hetfield, Metallica and Download Festival - James Hetfield of Metallica Saturday 9th June 2012 The Download Festival 2012 at Donington Park