Rockshot Ready To Rock At Download Festival XXI!

This weekend will see 80,000 fans flock to the hallowed grounds of Donington Park for Liquid Death Presents Download Festival XXI! Rockshot Magazine will have a team on site and will bring you all the action and here’s a taste of what you can expect.

Fall Out Boy @ The O2

Patrick Stump & Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy @ The O2 (Kalpesh Patel)

Heading In A New Direction
This year’s festival sees two acts being given the opportunity to headline the Apex Stage for the first time. Queens Of The Stone Age and Fall Out Boy both had huge UK Arena tours last year and take top billing alongside Download veterans Avenged Sevenfold. This is a welcome change for many, who have criticised the festival in the past for booking the same headliners.

Queens of the Stone Age @ Wembley Arena

Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age @ Wembley Arena (Kalpesh Patel)

An Epic Undercard
All three days are packed with heavy hitters. From some of the UK’s best such as Royal Blood, Enter Shikari, Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes to the finest international acts like Black Stone Cherry, The Offspring and Limp Bizkit it really is a stacked lineup. There will be some special moments as Pantera play their first UK show in 20 years, a last UK festival appearance for pop punk icons Sum 41, and Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor plays a solo set.

Stone Sour @ Brixton Academy

Corey Taylor of Stone Sour (Kalpesh Patel)

Rising Talent
Two of Wales’s finest have big slots as Those Damn Crows will take to the Main Stage. Their recent UK tours have been a total sell-out, the venues keep getting bigger and now they play the biggest stage of them all. Holding Absence are obviously highly thought of too, sandwiched in between Silverstein and Billy Talent on Download’s Opus Stage.

Those Damn Crows @ Manchester Academy

Those Damn Crows @ Manchester Academy (Joe Jones)

Left Field Bookings
Let’s start with Busted! Probably not a name many would have expected to see on a Download lineup, but they were a gateway band for many. Headlining the Avalanche Stage on Friday, we fully expect it to be bursting to capacity.

Busted @ AO Arena

Busted @ AO Arena (Joe Jones)

Other surprising bookings include Ireland’s Eurovision entry Bambi Thug, the EMO pop-punk of Charlotte Sands and London Rap trio Frozemode proving the festival is looking at a more diverse range of artists.

Bambie Thug @ Mighty Hoopla 2024

Bambie Thug @ Mighty Hoopla 2024 (Kalpesh Patel)

A Special Surprise …
Festival booker Andy Copping recently teased a secret act will be playing this year. The rumour mill is in full force, with the likes of Slipknot, Green Day, Foo Fighters, My Chemical Romance and Biffy Clyro amongst the names speculated by fans. We don’t have any inside information, but we spot a gap on the Dogtooth Stage on Sunday between 3pm-4pm. We’ll be there, just in case…

The Churnups @ Glastonbury Festival 2023

The Churnups (Foo Fighters) @ Glastonbury Festival 2023 (Kalpesh Patel)

District X
For those camping, District X will provide you virtually non-stop entertainment. From exercise class Rockfit in the morning, chilli and hot dog eating contests during the day, late-night DJ sets, club nights, and surprise acoustic sets, you will be more than entertained. You can even catch England and Scotland’s Euro 2024 fixtures live on a big screen!

We hope all our readers have an amazing time at Download Festival, and we’ll try and bring those of you who aren’t there as close to all the action as possible.

Liquid Death Presents Download Festival takes place this weekend. For Tickets, Set Times and more information, please visit www.downloadfestival.co.uk

Fall Out Boy Headfirst Slide In Stardust At The O2

Corella Unleash Explosive New Single ‘Thunder Strike’ Ahead Of ‘A Beautiful World To Lose’

Manchester indie-rock favourites Corella have shared the thunderous new single Thunder Strike, offering another powerful preview of their forthcoming second album, A Beautiful World To Lose, due for release on 18th September.

Angus & Julia Stone @ Koko (Abigail Shii)

Angus & Julia Stone Transform KOKO Into A Spiritual Karaoke Bar

On a sizzling hot evening in London’s Camden Town, ARIA Award-winning Angus & Julia Stone left a packed KOKO completely spellbound. The Sydney-born sibling duo are back with their seventh studio record Karaoke Bar on 4th September, its title track already released alongside Monroe and stoking excitement for the album’s arrival.

The Cheap Thrills Announce Debut Album ‘Keep Cheap’ And Extensive UK Tour

Liverpool indie favourites The Cheap Thrills have announced details of their long-awaited debut album, Keep Cheap, arriving on 18th September 2026. Alongside the album announcement, the band have unveiled an extensive run of UK headline dates this autumn, plus a series of special instore performances to celebrate the release.

Thee Sacred Souls @ Somerset House Summer Series 2026 (Abigail Shii)

Thee Sacred Souls Bring Timeless Soul To A Sold-Out Somerset House Summer Series 2026

There are few places in London quite like the Somerset House Summer Series. As live music settings go, the historic courtyard strikes a near-perfect balance between festival atmosphere and city convenience. You get golden-hour sunshine, open skies and an enthusiastic crowd, but without the mud, endless walks back to the station or logistical headaches that come with many outdoor events. Instead, it’s a quick Tube ride home after an evening of world-class music.

Self Defense Family - Reclusion single artwork

Self Defense Family Return With First New Music In Six Years As ‘Reclusion’ Signals A New Chapter

After six years without new material, Self Defense Family have broken their silence with the release of Reclusion, the band’s first new single since 2020 and their first fresh studio recording in six years.

Breaking Benjamin @ O2 Academy Brixton (Abigail Shii)

Breaking Benjamin Dance With The Devil At O2 Academy Brixton

Hard rock heavyweights Breaking Benjamin performed to a sold out crowd on their return to the UK in a sweltering auditorium in South London which only added to the passion, intensity and emotion of the night.

Fantastic Negrito Captures The Power Of Live Performance On New Album ‘Alive!’

Three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning singer-songwriter Fantastic Negrito is celebrating the raw energy of live music with the release of his new live album, Alive!, arriving this Friday, 17th July. Ahead of the album’s release, the acclaimed Californian artist has shared the live version of Honest Man, offering another taste of a record that strips away studio polish in favour of spontaneity, emotion and the irreplaceable connection between performer and audience.

The Samurai Seven Return With New Single ‘Duck And Cover’ And Announce ‘Make It Real’ EP

Oxford indie-punk favourites The Samurai Seven continue their long-awaited return with the release of their new single Duck And Cover, while also announcing their forthcoming four-track EP, Make It Real, due for release on 11th September. The track follows Punching Down, the band’s first new music in more than 25 years, and marks another step in what has become one of the more unexpected and welcome reunions on the UK alternative scene.