Malevolence @ Download Festival XXII - Sunday

Malevolence @ Download Festival XXII - Sunday (Andrew Whitton)

Dogtooth Stage

President

One of the biggest talking points of the weekend is the debut show — or Inaugural Address, as they called it — by the mysterious President. A heavy promotional campaign and just enough clues left for us to figure out who is hiding behind the mask on vocals meant the Dogtooth Stage is more than bursting to capacity — there are thousands outside it. I made sure I was early enough to get a good spot inside the tent and as they finally make their way onto the stage, but those of us hoping for an unmasking were disappointed. However, there’s no hiding that voice — that is, as suspected, Busted and Fightstar’s Charlie Simpson. Their only two releases so far — Fearless and The Name Of The Father — suggested a full metalcore album would be on the way, but softer moments in the unreleased songs suggest something much more varied. It will be interesting to see how they continue to build on this hype.

Avalanche Stage

Dead Poets Society

LA quartet Dead Poets Society hit us hard from the off with guitar riffs and big hooks — the comparisons I had heard to Royal Blood were not wrong. They have an infectious energy about them and tracks like .CoDa., Running In Circles and Hurt sound massive — massive enough for them to climb the bill in future years.

Malevolence

“Welcome to the not-so-secret set” jokes Alex Taylor, frontman of the Sheffield heavy-metallers. The crowd is spilling way out of the tent, and it must contain more crowd surfers per head than any other set this weekend. A brutal display of old favourites (If It’s All The Same To You, Keep Your Distance) — with Alex taking aim at those in the industry that rejected them when they were trying to make it — and tracks from new release Where Only The Truth Is Spoken, a brutal six song set goes by all too quickly but it’s a real treat to catch them in a smaller setting than usual.

Me First And The Gimme Gimmes

Download is quite intense, so sometimes it’s nice to mix it up a bit. Me First And The Gimme Gimmes offer a break from brutality, and bring us humour and punk-rock covers of pop songs that allow us all to have a little dance. With the weekend nearing a close, it was nice to stop the crowd surfing and moshing and have a little singalong to legendary tracks like Jolene, Dancing Queen and Rocket Man — songs I certainly didn’t expect to be rocking out to this weekend!

Kids In Glass Houses

Closing the Avalanche Stage for the weekend is Kids In Glass Houses. One of the most hyped bands of the late 2000’s, the Welsh rockers are back promoting their first new material in over ten years with last year’s release Pink Flamingo. It’s more new-wave and synthy than their old material but retains enough of their original identity that means this set flows rather well, ending on a trip of old school favourites Easy Tiger, Saturday and Matters To All. A triumphant return.

Opus Stage

Seven Hours After Violet

System Of A Down’s Shavo Odadjian is used to playing Download’s Main Stage, but today he’s on its smallest stage with side project Seven Hours After Violet. Taylor Barber — also away from his main job as vocalist from deathcore outfit Left To Suffer — hypes the crowd throughout this in-your-face display of power.

Alien Ant Farm

No disrespect intended to them at all, but I didn’t expect a crowd of this size for Alien Ant Farm. I’ll confess that I was actually trying to make my way between the other stages as they were on, but ended up seeing their whole set due to being unable to move. Movies and their famous cover of Michael Jackson classic Smooth Criminal were a staple of the music video channels I flicked between as a teenager so I thoroughly enjoyed this slice of nostalgia.

Jerry Cantrell

Jerry Cantrell was always going to draw a big crowd. One of the founding members of the legendary Alice In Chains, here’s here promoting his fourth solo release, I Want Blood. He and his backing band do delve into the legendary grunge bands back catalogue though, and deliver spectacular renditions of Them Bones, Would? and Rooster.

Municipal Waste

From the moment vocalist Tony Foresta bounces on stage and announces, “We are Municipal Waste from Richmond, Virginia” and indicates he wants the circle pits to open immediately, we knew we would be in for a chaotic set. From opener Sadistic Magician, it’s clear that even on a Sunday afternoon the crowd is ready to oblige every command, including one that sees us all give a passing plane a middle finger salute!

Airborne

Australia’s Airborne’s schtick is pretty simple — straight up rock and roll. The kind you would see in your local bar. This isn’t a criticism. They make this vast stage more intimate with their crowd engagement — during Girls In Black, frontman Joel O’Keeffe is carried aloft into the crowd, smashing cans of beer over his head — this set has us throwing our rock horns to the sky throughout. Rock and roll!

Lorna Shore

Perhaps the biggest deathcore band in the world today, Lorna Shore’s sub headline slot on the Opus Stage is packed full of pyro and the trademark vocals of Will Ramos. I would say these are an acquired taste — certainly too heavy for me, I must admit — but the size of the crowd means it will only be Main Stage appearances from now on.

Steel Panther

Oh, come on…it’s 2025 — has Steel Panther not been cancelled yet? Are songs like Asian Hooker and Gloryhole really acceptable? This set is an absolute…riot! Literally. After encouraging as many girls to get on stage for 17 Girls In A Row, the set has to be halted as the hundred or so ladies trying to swarm the stage end up blocking a security exit. Michael Starr and co meet their match in a girl who did manage to make it on stage, as they find it difficult to embarrass and out gross the more than game for it Libby whilst serenading her to Girl From Olklahmoa. A fun hour or so and a big middle finger to the bores who turn their nose up at the novelty act who refuse to die.

People and Atmosphere - Download Festival XXII - Sunday

People and Atmosphere - Download Festival XXII - Sunday (Simon Reed)

Apex Stage

Jinger

Tatiana Shmayluk’s vocal range is absolutely insane and something you have to see in person to really believe. Whilst melodic verses into guttural growls is something you will see many bands do over the weekend, most will be done by two separate vocalists — this is an astonishing range coming from one person. “This is a new one” she says, before their biggest release Pisces. You tease!

Spiritbox

Spiritbox’s rapid rise in popularity shows no signs of slowing down. They are only two albums into their career and will spend the summer touring stadiums with Linkin Park. It’s easy to see why they were booked for that — Courtney LaPlante’s vocal style will appeal massively to fans of Emily Armstrong. She describes their last appearance here in 2022 as one of the best and most important memories of their lives — but this one is surely even bigger, and one that puts them in the conversation to be the first female fronted band to headline the festival in future years.

Korn

Questions surrounded all three headliners this weekend. One that couldn’t be levelled at Korn is “are they a Download band?” This is their tenth appearance at Donington. But one question did remain. Are they big enough to headline? Previous appearances have been lower down on the Main Stage or headlining the second stage.

The size of the crowd that has gathered is an early indication that they absolutely are. They’ve inspired many bands on this bill — and many in the audience, who sport a mixture of Adidas tracksuits, dreadlocks and baggy jeans much like their heroes. I didn’t spot many kilts though!

The introduction to Blind is the perfect set opener. The haunting build-up with the cymbals opens up a number of pits. The distorted guitars kick in and even though we know what’s coming, the build up of anticipation is huge. Johnathan Davies finally screams the iconic “Are you ready?” and the tension is ready to be released. Chaos. Bodies collide everywhere. A defining track of the Nu-Metal era from arguably it’s defining band. What a way to start.

The final band of the weekend and the crowd are giving every last bit of energy they have. Here To Stay could be a metaphor for Nu-Metal, which has come full circle. The purists and critics have always derided it but a whole new generation has embraced its music, fashion and culture. Fans young and old are fully engrossed, headbanging as one as a tidal wave of crowd surfers make their way over the barrier. Got The Life keeps the euphoric momentum going.

A bagpipe solo precedes Shoots And Ladders before it transitions into Metallica’s One, a thunderous rendition that they have frequently included in their show for years.

Festival headline sets are always the best when a band comes out and plays the greatest hits. No new stuff to promote, just a simple this is what you know us for, enjoy! Korn certainly delivers on that front. Twisted Transistor, A.D.I.D.A.S and Y’All Want A Single are all fan favourites that stop anyone that was thinking of heading home early.

It’s fitting that perhaps the most alternative anthem of all time — Freak On A Leash — is the last song of Download 2025. You don’t get more Download than that. A FU to the naysayers, Korn cemented their legacy on a weekend that will go down in history for many reasons.

Download Festival XXII didn’t just answer all its questions in emphatic style, it raised the bar on what to expect from the UK’s premier alternative festival. Roll on next year!

Korn @ Download Festival XXII - Sunday

Korn @ Download Festival XXII - Sunday (Carolina Faruolo)

Review of Sunday at Download Festival XXII by Will Maxwell. Photography by Simon Reed, Sarah Louise Bennett, James Bridle, Carolina Faruolo & Andrew Whitton.

From Chaos To Catharsis: Sleep Token Silence The Doubters As Day Two Of Download Festival XXII Delivers Big Moments And Bigger Emotion

Download Festival XXII - Saturday

Crowd & Atmosphere @ Download XXII (Simon Reed)

Dogtooth Stage

Lastelle

With many festival goers still nursing hangovers, the 11am slot is a hard sell. However, I and the others that made our way into the Dogtooth tent nice and early were treated to the perfect wake-up call. The post-hardcore outfit only has twenty minutes to impress, but they do so with their latest single, Bitter Seeds. Announcing a UK tour for this September, we suggest you catch them before they explode.

Zetra

For a duo, Zetra manage to make such a fulfilling sound. The eerie harmonies feel almost dreamlike. They have the appearance of a Black Metal band but are more Type O Negative crossed with the Pet Shop Boys. Their set isn’t nearly long enough and as So finishes it off we are left wanting much more.

Cradle Of Filth

You know what to expect at a Cradle Of Filth show. One of the most iconic frontmen in British metal, Dani Filth, delivers his trademark growls and high-pitched screams to new material (White Hellebore) and favourites like Her Ghost In The Fog. What we didn’t expect to see was romance in the air, as Dani takes the opportunity halfway through the set to propose to long-time girlfriend Sofiya Belousova. Of course, she said yes! Congratulations from everyone here at Rockshot Magazine!

Avalanche Stage

LØLØ

Describing herself as “the least metal artist at the festival”, lolo’s angst-laden bouncy pop melodies are a welcome change of pace. After having her heart broken by an elder emo (not guilty!) most of her tracks like u turn me on (but u give me depression) relate with the largely female crowd.

Smash Into Pieces

One of the hottest bands in Scandinavia turned the heat up in the tent even more with their pyro, and their heavy yet radio-friendly style appeals to many. They are eight albums into their career but last year’s Ghost Code managed to find a new audience, which is no surprise with the massive sounding Heroes Are Calling and Six Feet Under.

Twin Atlantic

Whenever a Scottish band plays live, you can bet your life that many of their countrymen make up a large percentage of the crowd. Scotland shirts and flags dominate the tent as Glasgow’s finest treat us to a set of festival ready anthems. They battle some technical hiccups but everyone is in fine voice for Free and Heart And Soul.

Opus Stage

Sophie Lloyd

I have to feel for Sophie Lloyd a little bit. A massive crowd has gathered here at the Opus Stage, and it’s on the strength of a rumour of a secret act opening up the day. The crowd is so large that they make an announcement that no such set will happen and that Sophie will be the first act performing here today.

Those who did leave will kick themselves, as they miss a great set. Finding fame by posting guitar covers on YouTube, where she has amassed over 1.2 million subscribers, she’s also part of Machine Gun Kelly’s live band.

Sophie Lloyd & Will Maxwell (Will Maxwell)

Sophie Lloyd & Will Maxwell (Will Maxwell)

To accompany her awesome shredding ability, she enlists the help of Marisa Rodriguez (Marina And The Moths) on Won’t You Come, whilst Nathan James (Inglorious) joins her for Let It Hurt, Fall Of Man and Do Or Die. The highlight is a storming instrumental cover of Metallica’s Enter Sandman.

Awolnation

The Los Angeles rockers have big songs like Run and Burn It Down, but it’s their gigantic hit Sail – 890 million Spotify streams and counting – that steals the show.

Eagles Of Death Metal

Jesse Hughes and co treat us to a set of their kick-ass rock and roll sound, with a couple of covers (Duran Duran’s Save A Prayer and David Bowie’s Moonage Daydream) and a healthy amount of crowd interaction.

Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter

I never thought I would see punk legends The Sex Pistols (Paul Cook, Steve Jones, Glen Matlock) take to the stage at Download Festival! But a headline slot here on the Opus is a riot, and fittingly, full of anarchy. Frank Carter is no stranger to Donington – his band …and The Rattlesnakes have played here many times, including headlining the pilot event post-covid – and his wild-style breathes fresh life into these iconic songs. Bravely heading into the crowd – particularly after famously having his neck chain stolen here doing the same thing last year – he causes havoc by opening a large circle pit. Perhaps, as he acknowledges, not the wisest thing to do when the first showers of rain have hit us. This causes bodies to fall during Pretty Vacant, and it’s restarted twice to ensure the safety of everyone. God Save The Queen and Anarchy In The UK ring out loud and proud that allows a whole new generation of fans to hear these songs played with the justice they deserve.

Apex Stage

Palaye Royale

Singer Remington Leath and co bring their modern day glam-rock to the main stage. Appealing to the younger generation – in particular the girls! – it’s sleazy, theatrical and polished all in equal measures.

Shinedown

With all the talk of promoting new headliners, I got the feeling Shinedown are treating this as an audition for the next band to be promoted. An unreal amount of pyro lights and heats up the stage and they draw one of the biggest crowds of the weekend. From the pounding tracks like Cut The Chord, Monsters and Devil, they are also just as adept and taking it down a notch on the emotional If Only You Knew and A Symptom Of Being Human. Taking the chance to address the audience in between every song, frontman Brent Smith delivers a number of impassioned messages, particularly before Three Six Five. Asking us to remember those we have lost, it reduces a number of people around me to tears. An emotional rollercoaster and one we may see top the main stage next time they are here.

Sleep Token

Whenever a festival lineup drops, online reaction is usually mixed. “Why is this band headlining? Why isn’t it XYZ? Should this band even be at this festival?” are common responses to virtually any announcement. But it’s fair to say Sleep Token has been the most controversial headline booking in Download history.

Let’s dive into the argument. Are Sleep Token metal? Not strictly. But is Download still a metal festival? Also, not strictly. Maybe this is the perfect example of where Download is at in 2025.

Gone are the days of three legacy headliners, which draw a crowd of older generation, double-denim-clad rockers. I say that with the utmost respect – as someone who loves bands such as Iron Maiden, Guns N’ Roses and Metallica. The festival is evolving, its clientele is changing, and new bands must be elevated to headline status for the festival to survive and stay relevant. Considered the biggest risk in its history, the pressure is certainly on the “anonymous” masked London outfit to deliver.

Throughout the day it was obvious how many people were here to see them. People decked head to toe in their merch, temporary and permanent tattoos, and band-inspired masks and outfits are absolutely everywhere. Whilst the demographic leaned towards the younger generation, it wasn’t as heavily in favour of them as I expected. In fact, I didn’t really know what to expect. Having only recently started listening to them in preparation for this weekend, my interest was peaked but I hadn’t quite got *it* yet.

Sleep Token @ Download Festival XXII - Saturday

Sleep Token @ Download Festival XXII - Saturday (Adamross Williams)

So as I make my way as far towards the front as possible, I do so with great intrigue. An almost unnerving noise of wind whistling is blaring out of the speakers before Look To Windward eventually starts. A hiccup with the curtain covering the elaborate stage setup is fixed just in time as it eventually clears as the heavy drop of the song kicks in. That is the only hiccup of the set as Sleep Token don’t miss a beat.

The stage production is huge. A castle with a waterfall houses the band (Vessel – vocals and II – drums are the only official members. III (bass), IV (guitar) and backing singers known as Espera are live touring members.) pink confetti trickles down and a dazzling array of lights bathe the stage.

Opening with heavier tracks The Offering and Vore feels like a middle finger to the critics that say they’re not metal enough. Emergence is probably the best example of how many genres they push the boundaries of. The enigmatic frontman Vessel opens the song on piano, before coming out on the platform into the crowd to rap the verses whilst the breakdown is as brutal as any band that has topped this stage before them, and ends with a saxophone outro. A wild journey to be taken on during one song.

A large mosh pit opens right in front of me, and I try to keep one eye on that and one eye on the stage. Not just for my own safety, but mirroring the band, it wasn’t your typical pit. People are dancing, throwing shapes – and a phrase I probably shouldn’t be using as I’m pushing forty but – it was a vibe. The pit is always a place for the most hardcore fans but these guys looked at one with the music, completely engrossed in this true spectacle.

The stunning waterfall behind Vessel is the perfect backdrop to Rain, whilst the funkiness of Caramel is one of the more singalong moments of the set. Both tracks express feelings of vulnerability that so many people connect with. Vessel may hide behind a mask, but there’s no hiding his feelings of frustration. Pacing around, he looks and sounds agitated and at times distressed as he spits the verses of Caramel. With references to his real identity being posted online, this is a peak behind the mask, a deeply personal track about his struggles with fame and mental health.

Sleep Token @ Download Festival XXII - Saturday

Sleep Token @ Download Festival XXII - Saturday (Adamross Williams)

He doesn’t say a word in-between songs yet he captivates the audience in a way I have rarely seen before. It’s hard to take your eyes off him. He certainly has the attention of many of the females in the audience. Perhaps I should start going out wearing a mask!

Their softer side comes out more in the latter half of the set, with The Love You Want, Higher and Damocles. Take Me Back To Eden brings the night to a close. This was a phenomenal performance that has elevated them to new heights. Point proven.

Sleep Token @ Download Festival XXII - Saturday

Sleep Token @ Download Festival XXII - Saturday (Adamross Williams)

Review of Saturday at Download Festival XXII by Will Maxwell. Photography by Simon Reed. Sleep Token images by Adamross Williams.

Punk, Pop, and Pyro: Day One Of Download Festival XXII Ignites Donington Park

Weezer @ Download Festival XXII - Friday

Weezer @ Download Festival XXII - Friday (Simon Reed)

Dogtooth Stage

Svalbard

Having recently announced that their next tour will be their last, Bristol’s Svalbard celebrate their career in typically ferocious style. Frontwoman Serena Cherry and guitarist Liam Phelan trade harsh vocals on this stage reserved for the heavier artists on the bill.

Vola

Denmark’s Vola mix prog-metal and pop and the result is huge on tracks like Cannibal and Straight Lines. Refuge from the beaming sun may have been the draw for some of those that flocked to the Dogtooth tent, but the atmospheric nature of Vola’s output drew them in even closer.

Avalanche Stage

McFly

Ah, the purists will hate this one. If you had said twenty years ago that McFly would not only play Download, but have this tent bursting to capacity – with many stuck outside – you’d have been laughed out of town. Their friendly rivals Busted played this same spot last year, and the vibe is the same. Tom Fletcher (vocals, guitar), Danny Jones (vocals, guitar), Dougie Poynter (bass, vocals) and Danny Judd (drums) are in a playful mood, aware they are somewhat of a novelty booking on this bill. The catchy chant of “Rock and Roll is good for the soul!” on opener Where Did All The Guitars Go? has everyone jumping from the start.

McFly @ Download Festival XXII - Friday

McFly @ Download Festival XXII - Friday (Simon Reed)

Star Girl morphs into Rage Against The Machine’s Killing In The Name Of. A melody of Livin’ On A Prayer/I Wanna Dance With Somebody/Radio Gaga/Twist and Shout has us all dancing. Erm hang on, am I having too much fun?! I’m supposed to sneer and bemoan the downfall of Download with this booking, apparently. Dougie asks us to open a Wall of Death – yes, this is more like it – before hilariously playing the ballad All About You. Mixing 5 Colours In Her Hair with Metallica’s Master of Puppets isn’t nearly as offensive as it sounds, completing what I have to say is one of the most fun hours I’ve had at a festival.

Opus Stage

Myles Kennedy

Is a man never being at home the key to a happy marriage?! Playing here on his wedding anniversary, Myles Kennedy’s relentless touring schedule sees him play the festival circuit in one guise or another virtually every year. Whether it’s with his main band Alter Bridge, Slash and the Conspirators, or – as he is today  performing his solo material, he’s a hugely popular figure. With one of the finest voices in rock today, his solo stuff is softer – see the tender Love Will Only Heal – whilst an acoustic version of Alter Bridge’s Watch Over You takes on even greater meaning.

Opeth

Death metal and Friday the 13th? A match made in hell, right? What could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot, unfortunately. It’s totally out of the band’s hands, but a late start due to sound problems – which are never properly fixed – they battle on as best as they can. True professionals!

Apex Stage

Crowd & Atmosphere - Download Festival XXII - Friday

Crowd & Atmosphere - Download Festival XXII - Friday (Simon Reed)

Rise Against

It’s no surprise Rise Against draw a huge crowd. They’ve put the hard miles in on the road, and here at Download – this is their sixth appearance, and it’s rewarded with their highest billing so far. A well-earned reputation as a must-see live band, the crazy amount of pyro on opener Re-Education (Through Labour) coupled with today’s weather must have been really testing for those on and close to the stage.

Crowd & Atmosphere - Download Festival XXII - Friday

Crowd & Atmosphere - Download Festival XXII - Friday (Simon Reed)

“The songs stay the same, but the works around us keeps changing” frontman Tim McIllrath remarks, whilst keeping the politically charged anthems coming our way with the likes of Prayer Of The Refugee and Help Is On The Way. The energy created on stage is channeled through the crowd with various circle pits in full motion. The most wholesome moment happens during Satellite, as the big screens show a man crowd surfing with his young daughter in what will always be a core memory for them both, especially on Father’s Day.

Jimmy Eat World

Is there anything better than when you’re in a field, singing your heart out to one of your favorite bands, with the sun shining and thousands of other people doing the same? Jimmy Eat World have always meant a huge amount to me, and an hour of their emo anthems on this glorious day couldn’t have felt any more perfect. From opener Pain, these aren’t sad songs to wallow in, but to release the angst and frustration we have inside. Their heartfelt Big Casino and All The Way (Stay) tackle topics of hope and resilience. A well-polished live outfit, they know to save The Middle ironically until last, as we deliriously bounce away our problems before some much-needed rehydration.

Green Day

It’s finally time for Green Day to take to the stage. Fans have been waiting a long time for this, and I’m not just talking about today. Somehow they have never played Download before, so this is a long overdue moment.

A giant heart-shaped grenade from their American Idiot album cover inflates behind them, and they waste no time in launching into its title track. A subtle lyric change to “I’m not part of an Elon agenda” hints at their feelings about the current state of American politics before the much less subtle rants calling Donald Trump a fascist and later on asking the crowd to chant “You fat bastard” in his, erm, honour. They duly oblige.

Having brought the Saviors Tour to UK Stadium’s just last summer – a tour for their most recent release, but one in which they also celebrated the anniversaries of Dookie (30 years) and American Idiot (20 years) by playing both albums in full – this is more of a greatest hits setlist.

Inviting fans on stage is a regular occurrence at a Green Day show, and early on a female fan lives out her dreams by taking over vocal duties on Know Your Enemy.

Green Day @ Download Festival XXII - Friday

Green Day @ Download Festival XXII - Friday (Todd Owyoung)

Like many, I fell in love with music as a teenager. One of the CDs (remember them?) I played the most was Green Day’s 2001 release International Superhits. A Greatest Hits collection of their career to that point. So a run of tracks from that album – Longview, Welcome To Paradise, Hitchin’ A Ride, J.A.R and Brain Stew – took me right back to my formative years of being told off for playing music too loud in my bedroom, but this time it’s much louder, and I’m happily dancing in a field rather than stomping around the house declaring life isn’t fair.

The political commentary isn’t overdone, and frontman Billie Joe Armstrong is in his usual playful mood throughout. Leading the crowd through various “Heyyyy ho’s!” he has Donington Park in the palm of his hands as the hits keep coming. Minority sees the usual band introductions to Mike Dirnt (bass), Tré Cool (drums) and their live touring members before Basket Case sends the various mosh pits wild.

We often describe moments at gigs as magical, but that is the only way to describe what happens during Wake Me Up When September Ends. As Billie Joe sings the line “here comes the rain again, falling from the stars” the very first drops of rain we had felt that day land on our heads. A huge cheer erupts as we all realise what is happening. Believe me when I say the rain never gets a cheer at Download Festival.

A huge singalong for acoustic set closer Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) brings the first day of the festival to a close. Punk-Rock reigned supreme on Day One of Download. Over to you, Sleep Token…

Review of Friday at Download Festival XXII by Will Maxwell. Photography by Simon Reed. Additional Green Day images by Todd Owyoung / iShootShows. Lead image by Sarah Louise Bennett.

An Epic Weekend Of Mud And Moshing At Download Festival 

People and Atmosphere @ Download Festival 2024

People and Atmosphere @ Download Festival 2024 (Simon Reed)

Here’s the lowdown on what to expect…

Three Brand New Headliners

Sometimes criticised for repeating headliners, this year’s festival has three bands who have yet to top the bill.

In fact, Green Day haven’t even played the festival before. The iconic punk rockers have been on the Download wishlist for many years, and finally the stars have aligned. With an incredible back catalogue to choose from, expect a Greatest Hits set from one of the best of their genre.

Green Day @ The O2 Arena

Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day @ The O2 Arena (Kalpesh Patel)

Sleep Token are considered by some to be a controversial booking, but it’s fair to say Download have struck whilst the iron is hot. Having recently completed a sold-out UK Tour And latest album, Even In Acardia, topping the charts in both the UK and USA; their meteoric rise – they were playing Download’s smallest stage in 2018 – is rewarded with a Saturday headline slot that we are sure will dazzle and delight fans new and old.

Korn are true legends of the scene and will close the festival on Sunday. The pioneers of Nu-Metal have influenced countless bands on the bill and are no doubt a staple of the music collections of the majority in attendance. Expect a high-energy show both on the stage and in the crowd.

A stacked line-up

As usual, there is a whole host of big names to see over the weekend. Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, Rise Against, Within Temptation, Shinedown, The Darkness, Bullet For My Valentine and Steel Panther are some of the heavy hitters amongst the 90+ bands on show.

Secrets and Surprises

After Parkway Drive’s secret set last year, the rumour mill is in overdrive at who could sneak into the line-up this year. We spot a suspicious gap with a late start to the Opus Stage on Saturday morning. Could Trivium fill this spot, having opened the festival in the same spot 20 years ago? We will be there to find out…

Sophie Lloyd takes to the stage after that mysterious gap. And, following the announcement that Inglorious frontman Nathan James and Marisa And The Moths’ own Marisa Rodriguez will be taking on vocal duties during her set, Lloyd’s appearance could also feature some further surprise guests. That’s just pure speculation on our part, but with the YouTuber turned Stadium Rocker – she is part of Machine Gun Kelly’s touring band – and her cover heavy set could include one or two artists that are on the bill elsewhere.

Sophie Lloyd (nathersonn)

Sophie Lloyd (Nathersonn)

The much-hyped President will play their first-ever gig at Download. The band’s line-up is a secret, but all signs point to them being fronted by Busted and Fightstar’s Charlie Simpson. We will squeeze our way into the Dogtooth Stage on Sunday to see for ourselves.

Fightstar @ Wembley Arena

Charlie Simpson of Fightstar @ Wembley Arena (Nick Allan)

Solo Performances and Side Projects

The Sex Pistols (Paul Cook, Steve Jones and Glen Matlock) headline the Opus Stage on Saturday, with a set that will be based around the legendary Never Mind The Bollocks album. With the energy of Frank Carter on vocals, this will be a performance you cannot miss.

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes @ Roundhouse

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes @ Roundhouse (Nick Allan)

Alter Bridge frontman Myles Kennedy will perform a solo set, as will Alice In Chain’s Jerry Cantrell. System Of A Down’s Shavo Odadjian will appear with side project Seven Hours After Sunset.

Beyond the music

For those camping, District X will provide an array of entertainment. You could start your morning by taking part in RockFit or relax to live versions of popular podcasts such as On Wednesdays We Wear Black and Justin Hawkins Rides Again. Party in to the early hours with some of the UK’s finest club nights from Uprawr and Face Down. Live performances from Thanks For The Memories and Nu-Castle will provide you with the perfect nostalgia hit, Funeral For A Friend and other as yet-to-be-announced artists will perform acoustic sets, and the Vengaboys will have the Dog House bouncing to their cheesy pop anthems. See, something for everyone!

Download Festival XXII takes place between 13th-15th June. For the full line-up, last minute tickets and any other information you need, visit www.downloadfestival.co.uk

We hope everyone attending has a fantastic and safe weekend. We’ll see you in the pit!

Incubus Bring Morning View To Life At London’s O2 Arena

AC/DC @ Wembley Stadium

Angus Young of AC/DC @ Wembley Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)

After an incredible fifty-year career, the AC/DC brand is as strong as ever. Literally everyone is wearing some form of band attire, and the queues for tour merch – including flashing horns at £20 a pop – on Wembley Way are around the length of the football pitch inside the stadium.

Huge cheers greet the band as they arrive on stage. Brian Johnson in his traditional flat cap, and Angus Young in his trademark schoolboy style outfit and the quickly launch into If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It). Johnson rarely interacts with the crowd in between songs, perhaps choosing to rest as much as possible these days, but says “let’s pick up where we left off, have some fun, and play some rock ‘n’ roll” before the familiar riff of Back In Black kicks in.

This is mainly a Greatest Hits set, with Demon Fire and Shot In The Dark the only tracks from 2020’s Power Up that get an airing. They fit in well, but it’s the classics that everyone is here for, and this incredible setlist is certainly crowd pleasing. Loud chants of “Thunder!” can only mean one thing as the epic intro to electrifying classic Thunderstruck wobbles the famous Wembley Arch.

AC/DC @ Wembley Stadium

Brian Johnson of AC/DC @ Wembley Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)

The stage production feels a little toned down compared to previous tours, but the lowering of a giant AC/DC branded bell proceeds Hells Bells. The pace of the show doesn’t really change. These are just timeless rock anthems that have inspired countless bands and given many of us sore necks as we can’t help but headbang along whenever we hear them, whether that be in a dirty, dingy rock bar or live in person in the glorious surroundings of Wembley Stadium. Shoot To Thrill, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap and You Shook Me All Night Long are a joy to hear live.

The loudest reaction is reserved for Highway To Hell, as the delirious 70,000 in attendance bellow out the chorus at the top of their lungs as flames engulf the stage. A near twenty minute version of Let There Be Rock, with the energetic as-ever Angus Young giving the rest of the band a breather as he performs solo after solo brings the main set to a close. They return for an encore of T.N.T. and For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) before an impressive firework display signals the end of this explosive night.

AC/DC prove that age is just a number, delivering a thrilling performance befitting of their status as one the greatest bands of all time.

Review of AC/DC at Wembley Stadium on 3rd July 2024 by Will Maxwell. Photography by Kalpesh Patel.

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