For its thirteenth instalment, Download Festival organisers have once again brought the biggest and most exciting names in alternative music to Donington Park. The diversity of the festival has once again been mirrored in their choice of headliners, with metal, classic and melodic rock finding itself represented at top level. Seemingly becoming the Download Festival house band, Slipknot receive the honour on Friday 12th, before the initially controversial selection of Muse on Saturday and classic rock veterans KISS on the Sunday. There’s plenty to watch out for further down the bill too, and although punk is vastly underrepresented compared with previous years, there’s still plenty to get those teeth sunk into.
There’s also a load of activity away from the main festivities, not least the first use of a cashless system at a British festival. Punters are wholeheartedly encouraged to add money to their RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) Dog Tags before arriving on site, although it is possible to top-up at any time via an online system or at top-up stations across the festival. Don’t spend too long debating how much money to add either, as any that isn’t used is refundable after the event as long as online registration has been completed. The deadline to do this isn’t until November 2015, and refunding is automatic.
Download 2015 Festival also boats speed dating, an inflatable wedding chapel where fans can unofficially marry anything (yep…), comedy, cinema, football, Progress Wresting and the return of the Doghouse – including a highly recommended appearance by Mac Sabbath (double yep…).
There should also be some time to catch some bands. Here’s our guide to what’s happening across the weekend, and where you will find the Punktastic crew.
Friday 12th June
Slipknot take the headline slot with the main stage following suit, welcoming metal powerhouses Judas Priest, Five Finger Death Punch and more. The Zippo Encore Stage promises more diversity, including Fearless Vampire Killers potentially playing to a huge crowd. Yet for punk and underground fans the Maverick Stage and Jake’s Stage look like the place to be.
Fightstar take headline duties on the Maverick Stage following their recent reunion. This isn’t the first time the band have appeared in Donington Park, having unjustly battled against flying bottles in 2006 before taking to the Main Stage in 2008. Their fourth appearance at the festival should showcase their reinvigorated attitude and encourage some hefty singalongs.
Hefty singalongs won’t be missed when Jake’s Stage headliners A power through their iconic ‘Nothing’ and ‘Starbucks’, as well as their lesser known but equally loved material. Young Guns precede the band with a surprise set that is destined to cause a stir on the smallest of stages which also welcomes genre-mashup powerhouses The One Hundred, pop-punk climbers Decade and exploding grunge revivalists Allusondrugs.
Back on the Maverick Stage, Punktastic favourites Gnarwolves make their Download debut following their Main Stage slot at Reading and Leeds last year, immediately followed by the brilliant Defeater who blew Groezrock away in early May.
Our ones to watch:
Counterparts Maverick Stage, 13:00 – 13:30
Gnarwolves Maverick Stage, 14:50 – 15:20
Defeater Maverick Stage, 15:45 – 16:15
Beartooth Maverick Stage, 16:45 – 17:15
Allusondrugs Jake’s Stage, 17:10 – 17:35
Decade Jake’s Stage, 18:50 – 19:15
The One Hundred Jake’s Stage, 19:40 – 20:05
Fightstar Maverick Stage, 20:05 – 20:50
Young Guns Jake’s Stage, 21:30 – 21:55
A Jake’s Stage, 22:15 – 22:55
Saturday 13th June
With a quick shift, Saturday sees the lighter side take to the Main Stage as Muse take headline duties. The Zippo Encore Stage sees the brunt of the heavier bands, including death-metalcore outfit Motionless In White. Marilyn Manson is likely to prove an impressive spectacle as he heads up the second stage, shortly after Black Veil Brides take a high profile slot that is likely to test their ability.
Jake’s Stage proves another hub of activity with the exciting goth-punk upstarts Creeper making their first appearance at Donington Park. The stage also sees pop-punks ROAM, melody makers Emp!re and rockers Dolomite Minor take to Download Festival.
The main share of punk(ish) music is spread across the Main Stage and the Maverick Stage, with possible highlights from Rise Against on the former and an enticing opportunity to see Funeral For A Friend play to a larger crowd once again. No doubt Andrew W.K. will bring a fair share of his uplifting spirit to The Maverick Stage, especially as headliner, where fans will be partying hard. Having completely owned Reading and Leeds Festival last year, Every Time I Die will also be well worth any punter’s time.
Our ones to watch:
Funeral For A Friend Main Stage, 11:50 – 12:20
Stray From The Path The Maverick Stage, 12:50 – 13:20
Emp!re Jake’s Stage, 13:30 – 13:55
Creeper Jake’s Stage, 15:10 – 15:35
ROAM Jake’s Stage, 16:00 – 16:25
Rise Against Main Stage, 16:25 – 17:15
Every Time I Die Maverick Stage, 17:35 – 18:15
A Day To Remember Main Stage, 17:45 – 18:35
Andrew WK Maverick Stage, 19:55 – 20:40
Sunday 14th June
The final day of Download Festival 2015 sees the Main Stage predominately dominated by classic rock, with the likes of Slash, Motley Crue and Billy Idol preceding headliners KISS (who should put on one hell of a show!).
The Encore Stage proves itself to be increasingly eclectic, with Enter Shikari enjoying a headline slot to mark their fifth appearance at Donington since arriving on the MySpace Stage back in 2006. The band previously headlined the same stage two years back to thunderous applause, and with new album ‘The Mindsweep’ under their belts, it should prove electrifying.
Elsewhere hardcore punk veterans Madball take to the Maverick Stage, shortly before Yellowcard deliver a headline performance. Having lost the “Kids” part of their moniker, the seriously heavy Code Orange will undoubtedly be turning some heads as they impart destructive beauty from their excellent ‘I Am King’ LP.
Once again, Jake’s Stage proves to be one of the places to be throughout the day on Sunday as fast rising UK pop-punk upstarts Trash Boat sit alongside Japanese punks Man With A Mission and debauched US surf-punks FIDLAR. The latter are playing the Main Stage at Reading and Leeds, so to see them on such a small stage could be one of the highlights of the weekend. Jake’s Stage also welcomes the return of thrash-punks Suicidal Tendencies who previously played Download Festival in 2007 and 2010. Finishing the festival with this lot should prove perfect. See you there!
Our ones to watch:
Code Orange Maverick Stage, 14:00 – 14:30
Trash Boat Jake’s Stage, 15:10 – 15:35
Madball Maverick Stage, 17:15 – 17:55
Man With A Mission Jake’s Stage, 17:40 – 18:05
Yellowcard Maverick Stage, 19:35 – 20:20
Enter Shikari Zippo Encore Stage, 21:05 – 22:15
FIDLAR Jake’s Stage, 21:10 – 21:40
Suicidal Tendencies 22:05 – 22:50
For full details, including tickets, head to the Download Festival website.
http://downloadfestival.co.uk/