Download Festival
Back for another roaring June weekend of metal, leather and mainly over thirties, download festival returns this summer. As a festival that has consistently dominated the alternative music scene in the UK for years, those with a passion for heavy music will already be well aware of its existence. For those that are new on the scene or just looking for a bit more information here is a brief rundown about what Download is about. Since its creation in 2003 Download festival has gone from strength to strength, hosting some of the biggest names in metal and hard rock from Black Sabbath to Guns and Roses. It has built a reputation as annual mecca for fans of the alternative genre consistently providing line-ups of undeniable quality in a location that caters to all your festival desires. Expect loud music, impressive gravity defying hair dos and a crowd consisting mainly of black t-shirts. If that sounds like your idea of a great weekend join the exodus of metal heads heading down to Leicestershire from the 9th to the 11th of June for another year of heavy sounds and getting drunk in tents. More general information about the fest can be found here.
Who will be Playing 2017’s Fest
This year’s line-up has got so much promise. As stated by festival organiser and promoter Andy Copping, Download 2017 will include “three giants of rock and metal topping the bill.” Old-timers System of a Down will be returning to the fest for their third Download performance since previously headlining in 2005 and 2011. System have been one of the biggest heavy-metal groups on the scene for multiple decades and now have 5 studio albums to their names and 40 million record sales globally. With their signature sound and a vast back catalogue, we expect their return to the fest to be the latest in a history of successes. Rock veterans Biffy Clyro will be debuting at Download this summer. The Scottish rock trio have become part of the furniture at many of the UKs rock fests but are finally making their first appearance at the festival this year off the back of their second number one album ‘Ellipses’. As a stable act in the UK’s dwindling rock scene we look forward to their long overdue arrival at Download. Rock royalty Aerosmith will be gracing the lucky crowd with their presence all the way from Boston, America in their only UK performance of 2017. The group who need little introduction have carved their way through rock n roll history books with a whole host of hits, bestselling albums and a characteristic blues/hard rock sound. As the bestselling American hard rock group of all time, prepare for a set of great music played by true hall of fame legends. On top of these prepare yourself for a whole host of other rock and metal greats. Super group Prophets of Rage featuring members of Rage Against the Machine will be making an appearance for you lucky attendees. Cypress Hill, the hip hop group we have all grown up with will be making their way to the UK for this summer’s fest. Thrash metal staples Slayer will be continuing despite old age with their particular brand of virtuoso guitar and throat tearing vocals. As one of the four bedrock thrash metal groups (as well as Metallica, Anthrax and Megadeath) their sets are one to see for any first timer or die hard fan. Off the back of their new top ten album ‘Emperor of Sand’ American metal group Mastadon will be also appearing at Download this summer. Impressively having outsold current chart dominator Ed Sheeran this week among others, we look forward to hearing their new material live. The full line-up deserves a quick browse. Find it at the link bellow.
http://downloadfestival.co.uk/ lineup/poster
Get Tickets Now
With such an exciting line-up of much loved acts don’t expect tickets to wait for you. Get online now to secure yourself the chance to see some all-time greats live. Don’t forget to pack some waterproof gear and check your tent for holes as last year was wet.
Download festival 2017 will be held from the 9th to the 11th of June in Donington Park Leicestershire; tickets are available here.
By Matt Bower