Festival News: Download Reveals Epic Line-Up!
One unforgettable weekend. Three legendary, era-spanning bands. And one special word: Download.
Well this is it ladies and gentlemen. Download’s 20th Anniversary, the jumbo-sized, bumper edition of the venerated festival — now spanning four days, because three was never really enough — has finally had its first line-up announcement. And it’s a doozy.
Thursday: metal maestros Metallica
Friday: Burgeoning, bludgeoning Bring Me The Horizon
Saturday: iconic, seminal music masters Metallica (again, with a completely different set) — a UK first.
And finally, Sunday: the nightmare-fuel beauty that is Slipknot.
Three headliners, four headline sets. They’re multi-generational, multi-faceted and multi-membered. But four sets? That’s unlikely to even break double digits of music — so let’s keep going.
First up, the only band in the world. Fresh off their UK/EU tour with Boston Manor, Alexisonfire are right back on England’s mountain green. There’s also Brighton’s finest, Architects, currently on tour supporting Download favourites Biffy Clyro. There’s The Distillers, punk rock extraordinaries, and there’s Disturbed, complete with the stunningly-voiced David Draiman. There’s Evanescence, owners of possibly the most anthemic, iconic song of all time along with a veritable trove of beautiful ballads — not to mention, perhaps the first proper playing of the succinctly titled One Day The Only Butterflies Left Will Be In Your Chest As You March Towards Your Death? — and the ridiculously recognisable and revered Swedish outfit Ghost. I Prevail, Parkway Drive, Pendulum. Placebo. Simple Plan. VV, Within Temptation. The list goes on and on, and that’s barely scratching the surface.
65 doubtlessly unmissable bands have been revealed, from all shores of life — what other festival would have Crawlers and Set It Off next to Lorna Shore and Polaris? — and hackles are already starting to rise with anxiety at the clashes.
8-11th June 2023. A weekend that is sure to go down in history — just make sure you’re there to be a part of it.
Words by James O’Sullivan
