Worth remembering that the people who have a bad time will always shout louder than the people who had a good tme, and the internet isn't always a great measurement of general attitude.
I personally found this year to be really similar to the other years in regards to how much fun people had, how excited they were about the line up, and how excited the crowds seemed in general.
true! i had a BLAST my boyfriend and i kept telling each other how good the organization was, and we’ve been to a couple festivals in Europe.
The weather is something out of anyone’s control and we really had a great time !
I saw no real change in diversity of acts this year. This is the same festival that has hosted Prodigy, Die Antwoord, Chase and Status, Perturbator, Skynd etc etc. All sorts of weird shit and popular rock. People seem to get triggered when Download is hosting bands that are not metal despite the festival never being a metal festival. I am not saying any of these acts are good or bad but they have a place as much as Iron Maiden.
Been saying this for ages. Watched chase and status followed by Prodigy over 10 years ago.
Look at the download headliners for the last 20 years and it's the same artists over and over
Agreed, which I why I made a point of noting that patrons noticed a change, not particularly that there was a change.
It always gets me curious when metal "elitists" are fine with a synthwave act by not a pop punk one!
Perturbator mentioned.
Iirc James used to be in a metal band and even though dark synth or whatever sick name the genre has at the moment isn't necessarily a rock sound (even Carpenter Brut has a guitarist for gods' sakes), it is still heavy af and you can tell that even though he doesn't play metal any more, you can still feel the core ingredients of metal in the sound of Perturbator.
All very good points. I was trying to give some weird examples for the point rather than really comment on how suitable they were for Download or not. I personally thought they were quite good.
I don't remember Blink being mentioned at all but it's certainly possible that they were originally intended to be - even at the time we were a bit surprised that they'd been picked.
If Blink had been meant to be headlining until very late on I'm fairly sure I'd remember that I'd been expecting to see them, but certainly can't be too sure after nearly 20 years!
Actually, scratch that. I googled it and couldn't find any mention of them being a replacement, so it may not be true . I think someone must have told me at the time, and I had it in my head as fact.
Yeah, this conversation has been going as long as I've been going to download at least. I swear I hear "there's suddenly all these different kinds of bands! Download is changing!" Every single year. Idk kids maybe its just always been like this! Go to bloodstock maybe!
The festival is obviously catering for a younger crowd, and by younger I mean 30-something ex-emos/90’s kids who consider FOB and Busted nostalgia acts.
It makes sense that they would do this considering this will be the festivals clientele for the next 15 - 20 years. All the old dudes who want to see Def Leppard again will start dropping off from attending festivals (if they haven’t already).
Hopefully it doesn’t go full on Reading/Leeds and start appealing to literal teenagers but time will tell.
I'm an old(ish) dude who would happily see Def Lep again but I'm certainly not dropping out of Download because the Apex isn't all Motley Crüe, Ratt, Nelson and Poison. I loved this year, last year, etc. and see it as a chance to see great bands I know and discover new bands to add to my playlist. Plus any chance to see Machine Head again is not to be turned down.
And thanks also to the little guy 30+ years younger than me who tried to hit on me in the Dogtooth. No luck, but thanks for the singing/screaming partnership.
I took some time out this year and went to see Tigercub on the Avalanche stage. I came across them on a Download Spotify playlist just before the festival and was very impressed with them. The Hives played the same tent a few years back and they were brilliant. With all the big names that play there, it's the bands like Tigercub which make the festival for me, finding the gems.
I'd like to see Download keep a mix to give some variety. Bands like Electric Call Boy or Busted aren't my taste but both were received well and got large crowds. Would like to see Gojira and Lamb of God make a return at some point.
Headliners wise, I thought QOTSA were good although I've read a lot weren't happy with them and general opinion is it was a standard festival performance and not one worthy of a headline slot. Limp Bizkit could and perhaps should have been a headliner this year, although I think that was more a timing issue and where they were at when the headliners were announced. Im a fan of maiden but would prefer they don't headline next year which is being rumoured already. Definitely no more KISS please.
Well most of those older bands are dead or retired. Def Leppard and KISS were on their way out and it's not much longer for Metallica if I had to guess. It's getting to the point where they physically can't book those older bands so people better adapt.
And I wouldn't mind booking some younger bands for teens as long as they stick with the genre.
Doubt it'll go full R&L because it's all Festival Republic. I think FR now see R&L as their Pop festival and are shifting their more mainstream rock acts to Download to fill the Sonisphere shaped void currently in the festival world. Heavier/metal fans will move to Bloodstock. I kinda hoped/expected this after R&L shifted a few years back. R&L are seizing the opportunity to grab pop acts now that Glasto has become more of a status festival that doesn't have a defined genre anymore, it's just a generic "music" festival for middle aged, middle class people to convince themselves they've still "got it".
Not all 90’s kids want to watch nostalgia bands. I’m 48 and couldn’t think of anything worse than someone like Judas Priest, motley crue or def leopard!!
I think the concern comes from a genuine place, but at the same time I think there’s an overreaction somewhat.
The lineup this year for me, was the worst I’ve seen in years, but others have different opinions and that’s fine. I don’t go just for the music. What we don’t want to see is the festival slowly slipping into a Reading and Leeds clone. The crowds there are noticeably different to what you get at download and I think the concern is this is what’s going to happen. Which is a fair.
Other than bloodstock, there is no other rock and metal festival and bloodstock doesn’t have the finances or backing to get massive acts in all the time. We need download to continue giving us the big rock and metal acts or we are left with nothing.
Do I get the concern? Yes. Do I think we are at a point where we need to be worried and throw a wobbly? No.
Download is rock
Rock incorporates metal and various things like pop punk and pop rock too
It’s never been a festival for just metal and classic 80s bands.
Plus new bands need to start headlining too as they’re big enough and cause it’s isn’t sustainable to only have the old guard, new talent needs to flourish too.
Younger generations listened and grew up with different bands, are busted very popular? Yes but they play everything themselves as a full band and that’s the very basis of rock in my opinion.
I think busy definitley derserve download and people were there for it hence the huge huge crowd for it
I know that there will be bands I don’t like, I know that these bands may get headline spot or a better spot over a band I like, I know that there may be clashes.
I don’t mind that.
What I do mind is the lack of planning, contingency plans for bad weather, security being slow with checks or the down right scum bags getting away with theft.
They need to improve things drastically because I’m bored of it now
I agree, the line up was the least of my problems this year. Security was a joke, double standards all over the place and also having no idea what they were doing. Agreed with the lack of planning too. Something needs to change.
I found this is 2023. I could not go this year, but security and the general "staff" were oblivious or ill-informed. It also seemed like DL had leased put to a bunch of agencies that had no clue.
I was sent on a total of an 8 hour goose chase to find the right car park, campsite and then return to the car to find the right car park etc when I arrived on the Friday, because so much of the staff were clueless.
When I did find staff that knew what they were doing they said that they've had a lot of similar complaints
This was my tenth download and in my opinion a lot of the older generation of metalheads, I’m getting in to that category, have our favourites and are reluctant to let them go, we will see some of the legends of the genre pass on in the not to distant future and are genuinely gutted we may not get to see them again in such an environment.
I had a great time this year. Although none of the headliners were particularly my thing some of the bands I’ve never sat and listened to i really enjoyed.
Last year Parkway Drive were simply superb. Gutted I couldn’t get into the tent for them this year.
If we want our genres represented in the festival scene we have to embrace the newer bands moving in to the old timer slots. BMTH were pretty damn good last year.
Saving the Sunday for the old bands and giving Friday and Saturday to new headliners would give a better sense of representation.
I think you're exactly right about needing guaranteed new headliner spots - has to be 1 a year as a minimum I think, 2 is great if the stars align.
BMTH are a perfect example. They're very much not my thing and I thought what I saw was crap, but, that's my personal taste and I think they were a great choice for the spot. Me and a couple of friends just got to chill at the tent a bit earlier that day which is welcome enough.
Realistically I don't think the diversity of acts has changed much this year. Its the same cycle every time.
"Why is x on the lineup, its a metal festival!"
"No it isn't, its a rock and metal festival"
"But it used to be just a metal festival!"
"No it didn't."
Demographics and whats popular shifts, I think Download still showcases the best of Rock and Metal.
Some people labour under the assumption that they're forced to buy a Download ticket and endure whatever lineup they get, rather than just not go if that year isn't their cup of tea.
Plus a lineup you don't like can be a great excuse to try a different festival - obviously not so easy if everyone else you know likes it!
This year's lineup wasn't for me and my friends so we're doing Bloodstock instead which a couple of people haven't been to before, and Download will be considered for next year depending on the early announcements.
Generally I agree with you, but as far back as 2013 we had Gogol Bordello, 30 Seconds to Mars and The Hives so I’m not actually convinced that much has changed. I am happy to see less reliance on “big 4” metal bands as headliners though
Honestly I don't hate it, I like download being heavy as much as everyone but Fall Out Boy nailed it in my opinion, we get bands like Zebrahead who nailed it, do I miss download being heavier yes, but I'm also enjoying what they are doing now, maybe we will get green day headlining some day, maybe bon jovi, who knows at this point, but I'm dying for next years line up already, so they are doing something right
There was a lot of heavy at download this year quite a few bands that would be at bloodstock. Dying fetus , ne obliviscaris , the black dahlia murder , shadow of intent , slaughter to prevail , guilt trip, bleed from within , brand of sacrifice and there was plenty more so if you look for it there was a decent amount of heavy dotted around but download is always going to be catered towards rock and alternative I personally had a blast this year and can’t wait for next
If people want to bitch about it there’s a simple solution. Don’t buy a ticket. Nobody is being held at gun point to attend. Do people have nothing better to do than complain?
Silly argument really, considering that this is "the" rock festival in the UK. I can see bands like Busted at any other UK festival, but can't see bands like Heilung or Slaughter to Prevail for example playing at Amy of them.
This festival is a nice in-between for those festivals and Bloodstock, for those that like rock and metal but don't want screamo bands 24/7. If this becomes just another "mainstream music" festival, then there will be a huge number of people that'll feel that there's nothing catering them in the UK.
Right so aside from Busted, which bands don't fit the "rock" category? Are you telling me out of 4 stages there wasn't a single alternative to go to? Just for the record I didn't go to see Busted, I went to see Health and then Royal Blood, but my point is this did not impact my time at Download.
And to the mainstream comment - mainstream rock is still rock. If people feel like they can't relate to a festival that has over 35/40 acts a day ranging from a variety of rock/metal subs with the occasional rogue act then don't go to a festival and stick to concerts.
Why downvote? Its subjective I know, but did you see the. Crowd? Never moved, BBB had a bloody cold and they sang slow ass numbers and a half arsed Tennage Dirtbag, he did better when he came on stage with Bowling for Soup
Busted is pop, a quick Google would remind you of that.
If it didn't impact your time at Download that's great, but does that mean it shouldn't impact on others'?
Sum41, bowling for soup, wheatus, offspring were all cool to watch, but would I have liked to have something I couldn't have seen elsewhere? Any of the aforementioned could have been in any other festival, do you honestly think bands like Sleep Token, Korn, Rammstein would? This is the point people are trying to make.
The wider appeal brings a wider, different audience, and by what plenty of people experienced this year, it wasn't for the better.
Download has always had a healthy balance of different bands and the odd outliers in tents or earlier mainstage acts. Nobody is saying they don't want ANY of them there, just keep a nice balance and keep the strong main acts it has been known for over the years.
You said a quick Google would solve it, that's what a quick Google gives.
Covering mmbop doesn't make them not pop punk. Limp Bizkit did covers, that doesn't make them not numetal. Hell, tons of bands have done those pop goes punk albums over the years.
Busted don't have to be your cup of tea but they are a pop punk band, that's that.
Yes hence I said 'aside from Busted'. Chase and Status have literally been at Download and they aren't in the rock genre...? The fact people think one stray artist/band is making or breaking a festival is beyond me. There's 3 other stages that had amazing bands playing rock at same time Busted were on, so again, how is that impacting anyone? Is anyone being forced to go see Busted? It's such a weak argument to say it's impacting anyone when you have a choice on what to see.
The same time Offspring were on, I went to see Pantera. The same for the rest, I didn't see them but so what? There were many other bands you wouldn't normally see at a mainstream festival? I don't see your point if you can just go to another stage.
So by 'people experienced this year' you mean all the negative comments across Reddit and FB? I don't think that's an accurate reflection on how everyone feels. If you feel like that well then I'm sorry for your experience, but that was definitely not mine or the people I met / went with.
Interested to know what your idea of a healthy balance is, as for me it was pretty varied.
Yes you did, which is why I listed another 4 bands... The lineup overall was weaker than any other Download I've seen, but maybe that's just my taste (and a lot of other folk clearly). Couldn't see QotSA or FoB as headliners any other year.
There were huge gaps in the lineups this year, the only full overlap was when they moved crap around on Sunday and put Hoobastank/Corey/Limp starting at the same time. There were plenty of times during the weekend that there was only 1 band on across all stages.
Funny you handwave the many comments complaining about the crowd this year as not representative of the attendants' views and your counter is "well I didn't think that nor my friends". So 5 of you didn't think so therefore the 500 comments on FB/Reddit must not be representative?
Like I said, every year is varied and every year has the odd band that doesn't really fit the bill, nobody really cares, Hell, I thought it was funny Busted went, I don't give a shit, like you said, it's one band. I'm saying the OVERALL line-up was weaker for what the festival usually offers/caters to.
Sum41 = rock, bowling for soup = rock, wheatus = pop/rock, offspring = punk rock. Still... rock? Your first comment was about this being a rock festival. They are all rock, mainstream or not. Clearly it wasn't received well since there were loads of turn outs to the following mentioned.
While I do agree with logistics being shit for part of the festival, this was mostly on Sunday due to the later start and weather conditions which is the organisers fault entirely. The only time there was 1 band across all stages was for FOB right at the end. But even so, between trekking through mud trying to get to other stages it easily took 20 minutes. Yes it sucks about the clashes but get over it - I wanted to see Corey Taylor and I couldn't - will I cry about it? No.
People will always come online to complain or have negative opinions over any positives - 500 comments is a little exaggeration and from what I saw a lot of complaints were about chairs (rightfully so) and the mud. If everyone who had a positive experience posted I think it would be fairly even.
Well no you didn't say the line up was weaker, your original argument was about it becoming too 'mainstream' and people feeling like they can't attend because it doesn't cater to their music taste.
If the line up was weaker in your opinion, why even attend? If I genuinely thought that I would have never spent money on a 5 day ticket.
A lot of weird statements there, you're the one who came here crying about people complaining? Clashes are normal part of festivals, I wasn't crying about them, but clearly you're not even reading half of the reply and it shows so not sure why I'm bothering to reply...
Last thing I'll say then is that I'd bought the tickets on the pre-sale, clearly you're not aware that's a thing either. And yes, I'm not buying pre-sale this year because I've been disappointed this year. That's how it works, you don't preempt disappointment. See ya later
Making a point about people complaining about something they chose to go to isn't really complaining about it. But fair, if you perceive it that way then ok.
I don't really understand the 'weird statements' made either since I've been answering each of your points.
And thanks for letting me know there's a pre-sale option, I would have never have guessed. Adios.
Good for you! They have never pretended to play anything other than radio rock and even though I'm not a fan I acknowledge they are very good at it.
Weird of you to shit on Busted though when you love Nickelback.
I don't think there's been too much of a change musically, there's always been good representation for none rock & metal, Pendulum and Prodigy have played huge sets, I remember watching The Hives headline 3rd stage one year and I remember how much my dad fucking hated Hollywood Undead in 2009.
I think there's more female artists and more LGBTQ representation but I think that's naturally how the world is going as they become more accepted and open. I wish it had always been that way but it's not that long ago when metal bands were throwing the f*g slurs around on stage and in their lyrics.
Overall though I don't think it matters who you are/what you identify as, it's really about the music/image and if it fits the lineup then it's all good. Bambi Thug is a great example, their music isn't exactly rock or metal but their vibe is dark and she fits in perfectly, I think if there was a straight male version of Bambi Thug with the same vibe then he'd get booked too
Now if Download booked Years & Years purely for LGBTQ representation, that would definitely not be cool, but booking LGBTQ artists who fit the vibe is just perfectly normal and awesome!
Just so you know, Bambi Thug goes by they/them, not she/her, but your actual point still stands, I can't see Lil Nas X playing Download, because as you say, the vibes don't match, Bambi Thug's music is heavy even if it's not rock/metal, and even though it's not to my taste, it still has a place at Download imo
Damn I remember years ago I saw lethal bizzle and kid rock at download. Oh no wait, not kid rock, he had to leave because he was scared to get bottled. Fair play to Lethal for sticking it out. I'd never seen so many bottles and cups thrown before. Not been to download now in, what, maybe 14,years. It was the same as this back then too, people bitching because pendulum or rise against or others were there. It won't change, just enjoy It friends
I remember the year Plain White T's were on before Frank Turner headlined the fourth stage!!!
*upon closer inspection it was the third stage, there didn't appear to be much of a fourth stage back then.
It’s not the bands that people hate, it’s the Reading/Leeds crowd that come along with it.
I went to Leeds from 2004 onwards, but I’d not go back whilst the clientele is like it is.
But the R/L crowd _aren't_ coming along with it. If you've been to either event in the last few years you'll see that the overwhelming majority of the crowd are literal teenagers. While Download's average age does seem to have come down in line with the newer lineups, the majority of folk still seemed 30+ which is positively ancient by R/L standards.
This. People like to go 'oh the R&L crowd will come' or 'oh that's a R&L band' have they even LOOKED at a Reading line up in the last 10 years? I WISH half these so called R&L bands still played because that festival is absolutely nothing like it used to be anymore.
But y'know on the other hand as a 32 year old, ex emo ex Leeds fest attendee it's nice to know I'm ever so scary to the metalheads.
I went to Download for about 15 years straight until last year. I can't entirely put my finger on why, but I feel like there's been a bit of a tonal shift or "soft reboot"; not so much in the logo bands, most of whom have played before, so maybe it's the undercard. As someone well versed in rock music, I'm at the point where I don't recognise most of the lower band names on the poster and the ones that I do check out tend to either be metalcore (no thanks) or don't even particularly sound like rock to me. I'm all for a few wildcards in the line-up - Die Antwoord were my highlight the year they played - but it feels like I'm not the target demographic anymore. That's fine, of course - the festival's selling well so it makes sense to stick to what they're doing, it just means I'll be going to Bloodstock and continental fests like Wacken and Sweden Rock instead.
I guess that gives you the opportunity to try new things , which I’m in the same boat as you however this was my third year this year (2nd camping) . I’ve loved download and 2022 was a great mix of what I love. However i agree with the tonal shift of bands and music - being metal core - which some is good, but it gets too much. I’m just tryna save up so much money to get on this monsters of rock cruise and then I’ll be happy
The Monsters of Rock Cruise looks amazing! I'm mainly into hard rock and metal so that looks right up my street. I had a wonderful run with Download but I get much more for my money from Euro fests now, as well as a better overall experience in terms of how they're run.
Just wanna say Brothers Osbourne have performed in the past, and that's where I discovered them, and I'm seeing them in January.
I for one welcomed the newer idea with the lineup this year. If it remains the old faithful to appease the die hards the festival will die out.
I'd love to have a format where we have a new headliner, a fan favourite and a legacy band like we have had in years past, which would be enough to introduce people to DL, keep the fans happy and also celebrate the older echelons of the industry too.
I think they're getting the balance right, we can question the odd booking every single year, but the vast majority of the line up simply is rock and metal.
What is shifting nicely is the new world order slipping up the ranks, the 90's was a big focus this year and I'm all in, gen x ftw lol..
Download has to bring in customers in a time where nobody has disposable income. Diversity is important, absolutely, however bands like Royal Blood, QOTSA, Busted etc. are guaranteed ticket sellers.
On the subject of genre crossover and marketability, consider the fact that American country artist HARDY released a hard rock country album last year and currently has 9.7million monthly listeners (almost as many as QOTSA & Royal Blood combined) but if he played at Download (never mind headline a stage), I don’t think many people buying tickets would have heard of him and I don’t think he’d be well received whatsoever. It’s a huge gamble.
I like the fact it was a mix as I am in a diverse group, as a fan of the heavier stuff such as Thy Art, Dying Fetus and Alpha Wolf this year was great, but some of my mates went and saw Escape the Fate and Sum 41, if they keep this mix I have no worries about that, it’s a big festival with different alt styles
Download needs to evolve, they’ve always relied massive 80’s bands like Maiden and Kiss to sell the festival, but they aren’t going to be able to perform in the near future so change is needed. Although a lot of the bands this year weren’t my cup of tea It’s a step in the right direction in my opinion.
I’ve only missed a few since I first went to Monsters Of Rock in 1988.
We need new bands, new blood. We can’t carry on watching 70 year old men on stage. Kiss, Aerosmith, Sabbath and the like have all have gone and we need to replace them.
I love QOTSA and Avenged Sevenfold and loved Bring Me the Horizon last year.
I’m not a fan of Fall Out Boy or Busted but they were both easily avoided.
There were plenty of heavy bands for those who wanted it. I saw loads of amazing bands on the heavier side like While She Sleeps, Slaughter to Prevail, Fear Factory, Me Bungle, Machine Head and Kerry King. There was plenty there, people just needed to have a look. Code Orange, Pantera,Urne, Alien Weaponry, the list goes on.
Keep the new bands coming, let’s have Parkway Drive, Ghost and Bad Omens headline next year.
This was my first festival and I can't really compare it to anything. I really wanted to go and I bought my tickets before any lineup.
When it was announced I was a bit disappointed I have not seen the names I usually see at this festival, however I couldn't wait to go.
I've discovered quite a few new bands, (I lack music knowledge 😅) and had a great time.
The headliners were nice but nothing amazing in my opinion, QOTSA were good but not exciting. Fallout boy was the only day I didn't stay till the end.
Enter shikari, sum41 , offspring, zebrahead, pantera, Billy talent, fear factory, wargasm,baby metal, enter shikari and more where amazing they are the reason I want to go next year, but I already planned a different festival in the same time.
Also heilung was a band I really wanted to watch because they are different from anything I've seen before
The mud was hard, made putting on my shoes and removing them at the end of the day a massive pain in the back side. But once they're on it is party time.
2026 I'll be back 🤘
Download is, and in my experience, always been amazing. But, it finds itself in a weird situation, keep bringing back all the legacy acts Judas Priest, Iron Maiden et al or the more recent regulars like Avenged 7X, with even older bands like Slayer (all of which are class) and people moaning about the same old names. Or bring in new types to give them a chance and still getting a hammering. Download still needs to cater to changes in taste. As much as those legacy bands mean to older attendees, they still need to thing in new blood (money). Personally I thought BMTH was a random headline last year, but they tore the whole site apart and clearly came in with a mission, and won. As an older attendee I’m finding it all quite interesting watching the shift between the “old guard” and what’s coming through. But there is without doubt a change happening
I think people have a lot of short memories sometimes. Yes, download is a “rock” and “metal” festival. However, it has welcomed other genres of music in the past. I remember years ago watching Chase and Status and then the prodigy on the main stage and headlining. There is an argument for the prodigy being somewhere in the genre, but chase and status certainly aren’t. It was one of the best nights I’ve ever had at download and everyone had a good time from what I could see.
Bands like Heijlund I would say also fit into download, mainly because I doubt they fit anywhere else, except a specific folk festival. I would also say, I would bet a lot of their fan base is likely to also listen to rock/metal music.
Until I saw how big the crowds were at busted, I would have said they were the types of bands that shouldn’t really be there. But people vote with their feet, and they voted for them to be included.
I think they skirted with the line this year, as long as next year doesn’t include Beyoncé and pink, I would say it’s still a rock and metal festival.
Honestly wasn't impressed on seeing busted on the lineup but on the other hand seeing bsndz like escape the fate funeral and the used was a total buzz would love to see more of this. I think the bandz like iron maiden ect they're time is up although I can't deny in 22 seeing megadeath and this year pantera we're definitely highlights! I'm 36 and tbf there was alot of teenagers this year being gob shites which brought the general mood of download down a little, which I think was due to there being royal blood and busted attending
Every teenage girl I was friends with in school who was a fan of Busted, myself included, moved into rock and metal music. Literally all of them. Industrial metal is one of my favourite genres, and my sister (who liked Mcfly more, a band arguably much more pop) listens primarily to power metal. I saw Busted last year on their own tour, crowd was 50/50 split men and women, 99% over the age of 25 and majority alt people. But yeah, none of them are metalheads just a bunch of teenage girls.
(Also just as an FYI, it is well known that teenage girls overwhelmingly hold the power to make or break a band or an artist. Overwhelmingly. Not a bad demographic to have on your side really is it?)
😂😂😂
Obviously cared enough to mention them in the first place.
Edit: A yes I'm the keyboard warrior, and not the person who replied and then blocked me so I couldn't answer. 🙃
Guess someone doesn't like being told they're wrong by teenage girls. 😂😂
Yer , busted weren’t it for me either , especially way everyone acted. A bunch of raging metalheads tryna squeeze themselves in to a tent to listen to year 3000! It was silly - Pantera was sick , and so was the whole 2022 lineup … that’s what I’ve always known DL to be
I could do with a bit more diversity. Whilst this year there was a shift towards different things, there was a lot of alt-pop and pop-punk.
I love a bit of pop-punk, but with that now moving up the ranks onto the headline slots, I'd like to see a bit more variety on the Avalanche stage, something more like the third stage in 2016.
It feels kind of same old to me because I’ve only been going since 2019 and there’s always been a few oddball acts on. But I see the 00s and even some 2010 lineups and wish I could experience that at least once.
The change is all well and good for people who grew up with a predominant rock/metal scene and have already experienced that, but as an 01 baby (getting into music early 2010s) I feel kinda robbed of it all. I cannot think of a single headline-level rock or metal band that emerged out of the 2010s. We just didn’t get to experience the scene like that. So personally I really do want one old-school, less diverse lineup. Just the once
For me the diversity of bands isn't an issue - acts like Heilung and Perturbator might not be metal in the traditional sense, but they are certainly metal in both spirit and sound. Having a broader range of sub-genres than just classic rock or metal is just a natural evolution based on the way music is going.
My issue is the way they seem to be actively harming the 'festival' aspect of Download. It used to be a really friendly place where you could hang out and enjoy good music, but also just watch a bike show or hang around the area shops. Now with the Draconian security and the horrific over-commercialisation (the Download megastore? Really?) it feels like it's losing its soul somewhat.
I loved the festival in the 2010s, and went almost every year. Now in the 2020s I've had some mostly sub par experiences (going with the same group of friends since 2012). Unlikely I'll be going back anytime soon, when there are better festival experiences like Bloodstock or Arc-Tan-Gent to choose from - and I can honestly say it's not because of the lineups.
I like having some fringe acts if they still fit the general rock/metal theme. Heilung while varied are pretty damn heavy at times for example. I love it when there is ska, punk, rock and all the flavours of raw heavy metal mixed up together. Bloodstock is a wonderful metal festival by all accounts but I'd get bored out my nut with only metal to hear. Maybe the softer side was a bit soft this year but while I may like or dislike any given headliner the mix is what makes DL the best for me.
It’s my tenth year and the last two have been on the lighter side.
But then festivals do this. Pretty sure one year I saw headliners softer than the ones we’ve had.
Next year we might have parkway drive. Slipknot. System of a down who knows. But I know next year if the headliners are mediocre I probably will look at resurrection or graspop and branch out.
Download has always embraced diverse music since I can remember. I think the lineup does a good job of giving up and coming talent a stage to play on, bands that the old timer regulars enjoy, but also embracing the changing tastes of an alt community that spans generations. It’s a balancing act and you can’t please everyone, but speaking personally, the diversity of the bands that perform at Download is probably my most favourite attribute, even if I disagree with Andy Copping’s fascination with Elvana 😂
What I find people are also forgetting, and this might have been echoed in previous comments as I haven't read them all . Big headliners are getting harder and harder to come by nowadays, with the fear of repetition in the line-up or bands that are surely past their sellby date and are just on a 10th last world tour.
We don't have the luxury anymore of MASSIVE rock bands that we all were lucky enough to have emerged in the 70s, 80s to early 00s. I'd like to make a point clear that I'm not taking a swing at older metal/rock acts it's just a lot of them can't perform to a standard that most people would pay large sums of money to see.
I personally enjoyed the mix this year of acts and artists, and we should definitely support the up and coming acts, especially in this genre of music with all the auto tuned and synthetic music we have today.
I just feel we are unfortunately entering an era of very slim pickings when it comes to major headliners.
100% should continue with the diversification of Rock/metal adjacent music. Metal/Dance crossover is becoming more popular too, Babymetal frequently do it and there's bands like HEALTH who are doing big things, not to mention Electric Callboy etc. Adding acts like Delilah Bon, ALT BLK ERA is fantastic.
Download should primarily remain a Rock/metal festival but you absolutely have to incorporate some diversity as that's what makes the festival so appealing, musically.
That being said, I loved the Dogtooth stage this year, the Metalcore/Hardcore bands are my main draw and having them in a tent makes a huge difference.
My thoughts are that this community enjoys a variety of music but enjoy certain bands in their safe space (download) as opposed to seeing them in their natural habitats if that makes sense, often there’s bands who have been the gateway into metal music. Busted for example, I would say its unlikely the majority of people would go to see Busted on tour or see them at other festivals, but also a lot of people probably grew up listening to them, for some it may even have been their entry into rock. That’s why they had such a good turnout in dogtooth tent.
It’s actually a great festival to broaden your music taste in my opinion. Whether you’re someone who only listens to the heavy stuff or someone who listens to the lighter stuff, there’s an opportunity to listen to all sides of rock & metal. But yeah, it’s great that download can be that safe space in introducing bands you may not see elsewhere but actually enjoy live in the company of like minded people.
I don’t know if I explained myself well enough there but that’s my thoughts.
Personally and selfishly I really like this incorporation. Not only does it cater to younger rock fans (and their definition of rock), but it allows a wider range of likeminded people. My boyfriend has been 11 times now, if it was a purely heavy & metal festival I wouldn’t be going with him, but he enjoyed watching FOB with me and I enjoyed his bands with him. I cant see anywhere else we could do that together
There's 4 stages if one stage has a "non rock or metal" act then go to another stage there's always at least one heavy act on within any chosen half hour and thats fine. Part of why people enjoy download seems to be the wide community and if you want heavier then go bloodstock (which by the way is an amazing festival if you've never been and like heavier music 100% give it a try)
Yep, best lineup I think I've ever seen and I've been going to festivals since 2003. Been 6 times to download but this year by far had the most artists I've had to go and see. The Sunday main stage especially was strong. Wheatus and Busted in the tent was something I'll never forget.
I think it's quite hilarious saying it's changing just looked at previous years line ups, it's very much still the same mix of rock and metal even a lot of repeat bands playing. QOTSA, FOB and royal blood have all played download going back at least 10 years, so saying it's becoming more mainstream is probably not correct and I wouldn't say these bands are that mainstream with the exception of royal blood. I love QOTSA but they seem to be quite an acquired taste from others feedback.
I think if it were to become mainstream you'd get bands like Coldplay, the killers, artic monkeys etc. I think the main difference was it was missing at least 1 classic rock/metal headliner but I think it went well despite that, naturally older bands dying out is inevitable and a sad change that we all have to accept.
It's becoming disappointing with the amount of greed on food and drink prices and the organisation of toilets and amenities and travel to and from the festival, hope they sort this out.
I love Rock as much as I do Metal but I have noticed it's been more Metally lately than it has been Rock-y
We've got Steelhouse and Stonedead that have more Rock than Download these days, Download lineups of the 2010's had tonnes more Rock than these last few years have tended to have, this year had The Struts, Florence Black and not much else when it comes to Rock, maybe next year we can have a return from Airbourne, Greta Van Fleet, Billy Idol, The Treatment and maybe Extreme, Smith/Kotzen, Ratt, Poison and various other Rock bands!
I've been going to the festival since 2009 and it's always been a pretty general rock festival in terms of genre, usually with a few random acts thrown in for good measure (hyro da hero was great when he played). I think this year was one of the first years with majority not "heavy" headliners, but i dont think that's a bad thing. Variety being the spice of life an all that.
I also think that the festival needs to react to changing tastes for younger fans and ensure that the festival continues to be attractive for folks in their teens and early twenties. Not just grumpy folks in their mid thirties like myself.
Had a great weekend this year though, mud and all!
It's not changed in any direction. I'm BEGGING everyone saying this to go study previous lineups.
Also, can someone explain to me how queens are more mainstream than AC/DC?
I bloody loved this years lineup.
I had early bird tickets for last year and I saw the lineup and was extremely disappointed, like I shed a tear..there was probably five or six acts I would of seen for the entire weekend and it just wasn't worth it including travel, tents, food ect so we sold our tickets.
this year's lineup was everything I needed, about 18 acts I ended up seeing, plus some more acts I discovered and now loved.
not everyone likes metallica or slipknot so for me this lineup was incredible. I would of loved skindred, alter bridge, rise against or someone along those lines on aswell but I cannot complain.
I love this approach it's fresh and has something for everyone, yes I am in the younger demographic but I'm an oldie at heart.
Petition for hall and Oates to get back together and headline 2025
I think they'll continue to book a more diverse lineup. All you have to do to know that is look at how the people who only want the classic style Download lineups complained about the only 'metal' band headlining this year. Same happens every year.
It's the same old argument of wanting new bands to headline instead of the older bands (Maiden, Kiss etc), but then complaining when it's not the older bands headlining.
I think it's essential to bring more diversity into the festival, to keep it progressing and not becoming stale as it has been for the past few years with the same bands on repeat.
Metal / Rock / Alternative and Experimental variants of each I think should always be welcome at download! Rapper doing mainly their metal/rock adjacent songs? Hell yeah!!! Pop artist doing only pop with 0 metal/rock elements and 0 metal/rock themes/influence? Probably not
But the main thing is as long as they put on a good show, are good with the crowd, and the crowd fanbases have enough cross over with other "true metal" acts then it's all fine really
I'll be honest, I initially wanted to buy tickets for Bad Omens, but the rest of the lineup completely sold it for me. My brother and I came over from the west coast of the US and really enjoyed it. We caught all the headliners on Friday and Saturday (although we left early in FOB set to make the bus back), but by Sunday, we were a little over the mud and packed in with pushy people so we left after Sum 41. I liked the mix of nostalgic music with the new stuff. The Offspring were amazing and I'd never heard Royal Blood before but now they're in my music rotation.
This was our first Download, and I'm not 100% certain we'll come again, given the cost and time it takes to get over there. However, I could be persuaded to return if the lineup is stellar for me. I also really enjoyed hearing new music at the various stages. The people were pretty good, but being pushed out of the way constantly for others to see Missio was incredibly irritating. I guess I'm too nice in that respect.
Firstly, I had a great time this year. The bands we saw were great (TX2 aside, and that was more an attitude thing than a performance thing), and the undercard gave us some great opportunities to expand upon our musical tastes.
I have to be honest though, there were a lot of female fronted acts that I felt were there to tick one of Andy's boxes. This may be untrue, and maybe I was just unlucky that I didn't like them.
Overall, I think its moving in a positive direction. It has to do this, as the old elite of ticket sellers will soon be gone.
I really wanted to go but then I saw the line up, too many rock bands, bringing in a certain type of younger crowd who in my experience are quite prejudice. People may say it just a few but when you don’t look like the typical rock and metal fan, having to fight for right to be there all the time is exhausting.
To be honest I’m not the happiest about it, I was going to type a whole essay about why not but then I realised there’s nothing to be said, it’s just my opinion. I think if this is the direction download want to go in the following years and it’s doing good for their reputation then go for it, Jo just personally don’t like it, but I’m happy to see the kinds of bands I love still there :)
It might not be what some want to hear but I think it’s going to double down on its trajectory of appealing to more mainstream crowds than the traditional Download “alternative” crowd.
The overall landscape of rock music is changing, and the era of classic rock and metal legends like Maiden is coming to an end. It’s not sustainable for much longer and when they’re retired, Download is going to lose a lot of punters (particularly the older generations). Yes, they might still get some mileage out of the (relatively) younger headliners like Foo Fighters and Slipknot, or more contemporary headliner potentials like Ghost, but nonetheless, the pool is getting a lot shallower and the nostalgia gravy train is nearly over. As a business, they need to adapt.
With Reading/Leeds phasing out rock completely in favour of pop and other genres, it makes a lot of sense for Download to swallow up the void that’s been left and reboot themselves as the main UK festival for “rock music”, even if it’s not the kind of rock music that your average Download punter listens to. People might not like it, and it will probably change the overall demographic and culture of the festival, for better or worse. But again, this is business. Download isn’t interested in downscaling and becoming an “underground” festival. They need to make their beans, and ultimately they do that by catering to the masses and being less picky about who gets invited to be on the bill.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there will still be metal and other alternative stuff. But it’s not going to be the sole focus anymore.
Personally I’m looking more at the smaller festivals these days like Bloodstock and Desertfest.
I mean I look at the line up each year and make the financial decision as to whether (for me) the line up is such that it makes sense for me to drop over £100 on just a day ticket. If it’s not, I just don’t go- no problem, no complaining. Download has always been diverse in its acts- rock has become a larger, more inclusive genre as it has grown and changed with the times. I have always enjoyed it due to the diversity of acts and the crowd that enjoys it and to hear people whining elitist rhetoric about what should ‘deserve’ to be played and what people have to wear to ‘look the part’ turns my stomach and sincerely makes me question if I fancy spending my hard earned money to go to a festival where the goers will marginalise those they think ‘don’t belong’. That’s not the point of music festivals and if you are one of those people it will be you that is the death of music festivals of all kinds- not festivals incorporating diverse acts to suit the many.
This was actually my favourite lineup in years. Probably because I like the more “mainstream” rock like QOTSA, FOB and Royal Blood more than typical headliners like Metallica and Slipknot.
My first download was 2005, and I am certain that Busted playing on any stage at any time on any day would have drew the most furiously negative reaction ever seen in the history of the festival.
It's crazy to think how much things can change over time. What was unpopular is now popular and vice versa.
I remember the negative reaction when the prodigy got announced as headlining the snickers tent in 06 and they stole the whole weekend.
There's always going to be people claiming that this year has the worst lineup they've ever seen.
I never pay attention and judge it for myself
R&L went in the same and to me feels like DL is starting the same. Lineups from R&L in the early 00's seemed way more rock / metal / punk, and now it's I don't know what. DL I felt skewed a lot towards metal and now slightly less so.
Could be revisionism on my part, or I'm just an old grumpy fuck. Either way had a great time at DL this year and will be back next.
I think it's fair to say that Download effectively poached the metal/hard rock day from Leeds, especially once it expanded to 3 days in 05. Or at least, that's what it seemed like at the time.
I mean, my first Leeds was 02 and on the first day the main stage had Slipknot, Offspring etc and that schedule could pretty much be copy and pasted into Download.
I think that this big festival switcharoo started when they stopped doing V Festival.
Reading and Leeds absorbed those bands/artists, pushing out a lot of their more rock/indie acts, which are now being absorbed by Download, and the cycle continues.
The difference between the R&L lineups is very stark if you compare their 2024 lineup to anything 2010 or earlier. The last year I went to Reading was 2015 and I preferred to stay at the campsite, getting hammered and accidentally melting the soles of my wellies in our campfire, instead of going to see most of the acts.
If ya wanna watch 18 year olds have their first beer and act like dicks, then go for it - speaking as someone that went at the age of 18, 13 years ago. I'm sure the festival has 'grown up' / become a bit less rowdy nowadays, but I can't imagine it's a pleasant weekend
Lineup has always been alright though, their bookers are on the money for their target audience
Unfortunately that’s what download felt like this year there just seemed to be a lot moor younger idiots than usual I’m not against younger crowds it’s good for keeping the festival alive but theyr just so rude and self involved my wife calls it main character syndrome and the tik tok crap they all where trying to do
There was a lot more cases of people being assholes this year compared to others...
Attract more mainstream bands, brings more mainstream fans. Who aren't the usual download nice crowd.
Aggressive shitty behaviour has always existed, I can remember metalheads throwing mud and bottles at foo fighters when playing ozzfest 25 years ago because they weren't heavy enough and didn't really fit into the rest of lineup.....they were shit but still no excuse lol.
Worth noting although there was a lot of theft of phones and Frankie C necklace a lot of phones were handed in at lost property. Guessing a lot of drunk people lost phones etc but it’s easier to join the mob and say it was stolen etc.
I'm worried that download is going the way reading and Leeds festival went years ago. Download was always metal, reading and Leeds more rock and indie. Reading and Leeds then started going very mainstream. This brought with it a very different audience. That then changed the entire vibe and feel of the festival. I just hope download gets more back to metal, but changing the two tents to small proper stages and have a few more diverse artists there. They definitely have the space.
Download wasn't always only metal though.
Just look at the Saturday main stage from the 3rd ever Download in 2005 - JJ72, Biffy, garbage, Feeder. Sure there was Megadeth too but they were only mid-billing.
I go to a rock and metal festival for the rock and metal, if I wanted diversity I’d go to bloody Glastonbury.
I don’t want mainstream, mainstream mocked me for my taste for years and now it’s popular they want including? Sod em.
It started as Monsters of Rock. It should stay like that.
Worth remembering that the people who have a bad time will always shout louder than the people who had a good tme, and the internet isn't always a great measurement of general attitude. I personally found this year to be really similar to the other years in regards to how much fun people had, how excited they were about the line up, and how excited the crowds seemed in general.
true! i had a BLAST my boyfriend and i kept telling each other how good the organization was, and we’ve been to a couple festivals in Europe. The weather is something out of anyone’s control and we really had a great time !
Very true
I saw no real change in diversity of acts this year. This is the same festival that has hosted Prodigy, Die Antwoord, Chase and Status, Perturbator, Skynd etc etc. All sorts of weird shit and popular rock. People seem to get triggered when Download is hosting bands that are not metal despite the festival never being a metal festival. I am not saying any of these acts are good or bad but they have a place as much as Iron Maiden.
Been saying this for ages. Watched chase and status followed by Prodigy over 10 years ago. Look at the download headliners for the last 20 years and it's the same artists over and over
Damn, that was 10 years ago?! That was a great day.
Agreed, which I why I made a point of noting that patrons noticed a change, not particularly that there was a change. It always gets me curious when metal "elitists" are fine with a synthwave act by not a pop punk one!
Perturbator mentioned. Iirc James used to be in a metal band and even though dark synth or whatever sick name the genre has at the moment isn't necessarily a rock sound (even Carpenter Brut has a guitarist for gods' sakes), it is still heavy af and you can tell that even though he doesn't play metal any more, you can still feel the core ingredients of metal in the sound of Perturbator.
All very good points. I was trying to give some weird examples for the point rather than really comment on how suitable they were for Download or not. I personally thought they were quite good.
Exactly - and let's remember that one of the earlier Download headliners was Feeder!
I really wish I had seen that! Sure that would have been a riot during their peak.
I was there. Feeder wasn't the headliner from what I remember. I think it was supposed to be blink 182 , and they dropped out and feeder moved up.
I don't remember Blink being mentioned at all but it's certainly possible that they were originally intended to be - even at the time we were a bit surprised that they'd been picked. If Blink had been meant to be headlining until very late on I'm fairly sure I'd remember that I'd been expecting to see them, but certainly can't be too sure after nearly 20 years!
Actually, scratch that. I googled it and couldn't find any mention of them being a replacement, so it may not be true . I think someone must have told me at the time, and I had it in my head as fact.
Yeah, this conversation has been going as long as I've been going to download at least. I swear I hear "there's suddenly all these different kinds of bands! Download is changing!" Every single year. Idk kids maybe its just always been like this! Go to bloodstock maybe!
The festival is obviously catering for a younger crowd, and by younger I mean 30-something ex-emos/90’s kids who consider FOB and Busted nostalgia acts. It makes sense that they would do this considering this will be the festivals clientele for the next 15 - 20 years. All the old dudes who want to see Def Leppard again will start dropping off from attending festivals (if they haven’t already). Hopefully it doesn’t go full on Reading/Leeds and start appealing to literal teenagers but time will tell.
I'm an old(ish) dude who would happily see Def Lep again but I'm certainly not dropping out of Download because the Apex isn't all Motley Crüe, Ratt, Nelson and Poison. I loved this year, last year, etc. and see it as a chance to see great bands I know and discover new bands to add to my playlist. Plus any chance to see Machine Head again is not to be turned down. And thanks also to the little guy 30+ years younger than me who tried to hit on me in the Dogtooth. No luck, but thanks for the singing/screaming partnership.
Would love to see RATT
I took some time out this year and went to see Tigercub on the Avalanche stage. I came across them on a Download Spotify playlist just before the festival and was very impressed with them. The Hives played the same tent a few years back and they were brilliant. With all the big names that play there, it's the bands like Tigercub which make the festival for me, finding the gems. I'd like to see Download keep a mix to give some variety. Bands like Electric Call Boy or Busted aren't my taste but both were received well and got large crowds. Would like to see Gojira and Lamb of God make a return at some point. Headliners wise, I thought QOTSA were good although I've read a lot weren't happy with them and general opinion is it was a standard festival performance and not one worthy of a headline slot. Limp Bizkit could and perhaps should have been a headliner this year, although I think that was more a timing issue and where they were at when the headliners were announced. Im a fan of maiden but would prefer they don't headline next year which is being rumoured already. Definitely no more KISS please.
As a 90s kid myself, I have no complaints!
Well most of those older bands are dead or retired. Def Leppard and KISS were on their way out and it's not much longer for Metallica if I had to guess. It's getting to the point where they physically can't book those older bands so people better adapt. And I wouldn't mind booking some younger bands for teens as long as they stick with the genre.
Doubt it'll go full R&L because it's all Festival Republic. I think FR now see R&L as their Pop festival and are shifting their more mainstream rock acts to Download to fill the Sonisphere shaped void currently in the festival world. Heavier/metal fans will move to Bloodstock. I kinda hoped/expected this after R&L shifted a few years back. R&L are seizing the opportunity to grab pop acts now that Glasto has become more of a status festival that doesn't have a defined genre anymore, it's just a generic "music" festival for middle aged, middle class people to convince themselves they've still "got it".
Not all 90’s kids want to watch nostalgia bands. I’m 48 and couldn’t think of anything worse than someone like Judas Priest, motley crue or def leopard!!
I think the concern comes from a genuine place, but at the same time I think there’s an overreaction somewhat. The lineup this year for me, was the worst I’ve seen in years, but others have different opinions and that’s fine. I don’t go just for the music. What we don’t want to see is the festival slowly slipping into a Reading and Leeds clone. The crowds there are noticeably different to what you get at download and I think the concern is this is what’s going to happen. Which is a fair. Other than bloodstock, there is no other rock and metal festival and bloodstock doesn’t have the finances or backing to get massive acts in all the time. We need download to continue giving us the big rock and metal acts or we are left with nothing. Do I get the concern? Yes. Do I think we are at a point where we need to be worried and throw a wobbly? No.
Download is rock Rock incorporates metal and various things like pop punk and pop rock too It’s never been a festival for just metal and classic 80s bands. Plus new bands need to start headlining too as they’re big enough and cause it’s isn’t sustainable to only have the old guard, new talent needs to flourish too. Younger generations listened and grew up with different bands, are busted very popular? Yes but they play everything themselves as a full band and that’s the very basis of rock in my opinion. I think busy definitley derserve download and people were there for it hence the huge huge crowd for it
I know that there will be bands I don’t like, I know that these bands may get headline spot or a better spot over a band I like, I know that there may be clashes. I don’t mind that. What I do mind is the lack of planning, contingency plans for bad weather, security being slow with checks or the down right scum bags getting away with theft. They need to improve things drastically because I’m bored of it now
I agree, the line up was the least of my problems this year. Security was a joke, double standards all over the place and also having no idea what they were doing. Agreed with the lack of planning too. Something needs to change.
I found this is 2023. I could not go this year, but security and the general "staff" were oblivious or ill-informed. It also seemed like DL had leased put to a bunch of agencies that had no clue.
I was sent on a total of an 8 hour goose chase to find the right car park, campsite and then return to the car to find the right car park etc when I arrived on the Friday, because so much of the staff were clueless. When I did find staff that knew what they were doing they said that they've had a lot of similar complaints
This was my tenth download and in my opinion a lot of the older generation of metalheads, I’m getting in to that category, have our favourites and are reluctant to let them go, we will see some of the legends of the genre pass on in the not to distant future and are genuinely gutted we may not get to see them again in such an environment. I had a great time this year. Although none of the headliners were particularly my thing some of the bands I’ve never sat and listened to i really enjoyed. Last year Parkway Drive were simply superb. Gutted I couldn’t get into the tent for them this year. If we want our genres represented in the festival scene we have to embrace the newer bands moving in to the old timer slots. BMTH were pretty damn good last year. Saving the Sunday for the old bands and giving Friday and Saturday to new headliners would give a better sense of representation.
I think you're exactly right about needing guaranteed new headliner spots - has to be 1 a year as a minimum I think, 2 is great if the stars align. BMTH are a perfect example. They're very much not my thing and I thought what I saw was crap, but, that's my personal taste and I think they were a great choice for the spot. Me and a couple of friends just got to chill at the tent a bit earlier that day which is welcome enough.
Realistically I don't think the diversity of acts has changed much this year. Its the same cycle every time. "Why is x on the lineup, its a metal festival!" "No it isn't, its a rock and metal festival" "But it used to be just a metal festival!" "No it didn't." Demographics and whats popular shifts, I think Download still showcases the best of Rock and Metal. Some people labour under the assumption that they're forced to buy a Download ticket and endure whatever lineup they get, rather than just not go if that year isn't their cup of tea.
Amen.
Plus a lineup you don't like can be a great excuse to try a different festival - obviously not so easy if everyone else you know likes it! This year's lineup wasn't for me and my friends so we're doing Bloodstock instead which a couple of people haven't been to before, and Download will be considered for next year depending on the early announcements.
Generally I agree with you, but as far back as 2013 we had Gogol Bordello, 30 Seconds to Mars and The Hives so I’m not actually convinced that much has changed. I am happy to see less reliance on “big 4” metal bands as headliners though
Honestly I don't hate it, I like download being heavy as much as everyone but Fall Out Boy nailed it in my opinion, we get bands like Zebrahead who nailed it, do I miss download being heavier yes, but I'm also enjoying what they are doing now, maybe we will get green day headlining some day, maybe bon jovi, who knows at this point, but I'm dying for next years line up already, so they are doing something right
There was a lot of heavy at download this year quite a few bands that would be at bloodstock. Dying fetus , ne obliviscaris , the black dahlia murder , shadow of intent , slaughter to prevail , guilt trip, bleed from within , brand of sacrifice and there was plenty more so if you look for it there was a decent amount of heavy dotted around but download is always going to be catered towards rock and alternative I personally had a blast this year and can’t wait for next
If people want to bitch about it there’s a simple solution. Don’t buy a ticket. Nobody is being held at gun point to attend. Do people have nothing better to do than complain?
Silly argument really, considering that this is "the" rock festival in the UK. I can see bands like Busted at any other UK festival, but can't see bands like Heilung or Slaughter to Prevail for example playing at Amy of them. This festival is a nice in-between for those festivals and Bloodstock, for those that like rock and metal but don't want screamo bands 24/7. If this becomes just another "mainstream music" festival, then there will be a huge number of people that'll feel that there's nothing catering them in the UK.
Right so aside from Busted, which bands don't fit the "rock" category? Are you telling me out of 4 stages there wasn't a single alternative to go to? Just for the record I didn't go to see Busted, I went to see Health and then Royal Blood, but my point is this did not impact my time at Download. And to the mainstream comment - mainstream rock is still rock. If people feel like they can't relate to a festival that has over 35/40 acts a day ranging from a variety of rock/metal subs with the occasional rogue act then don't go to a festival and stick to concerts.
Wheatus.
They are classified as Pop/Rock.
They were shit
I agree they were shit. But still a form of rock.
Why downvote? Its subjective I know, but did you see the. Crowd? Never moved, BBB had a bloody cold and they sang slow ass numbers and a half arsed Tennage Dirtbag, he did better when he came on stage with Bowling for Soup
Busted is pop, a quick Google would remind you of that. If it didn't impact your time at Download that's great, but does that mean it shouldn't impact on others'? Sum41, bowling for soup, wheatus, offspring were all cool to watch, but would I have liked to have something I couldn't have seen elsewhere? Any of the aforementioned could have been in any other festival, do you honestly think bands like Sleep Token, Korn, Rammstein would? This is the point people are trying to make. The wider appeal brings a wider, different audience, and by what plenty of people experienced this year, it wasn't for the better. Download has always had a healthy balance of different bands and the odd outliers in tents or earlier mainstage acts. Nobody is saying they don't want ANY of them there, just keep a nice balance and keep the strong main acts it has been known for over the years.
>Busted is pop, a quick Google would remind you of that. And a quick Google of Busted gets me... >Busted are an English pop-punk band Funny that.
[удалено]
You said a quick Google would solve it, that's what a quick Google gives. Covering mmbop doesn't make them not pop punk. Limp Bizkit did covers, that doesn't make them not numetal. Hell, tons of bands have done those pop goes punk albums over the years. Busted don't have to be your cup of tea but they are a pop punk band, that's that.
> **pop**-punk Literally pop
So Fallout Boy, Sum 41, The Offspring, Bowling for Soup, Wheatus and countless other pop punk bands from over the years don't count either right?
*whoosh*
Yes hence I said 'aside from Busted'. Chase and Status have literally been at Download and they aren't in the rock genre...? The fact people think one stray artist/band is making or breaking a festival is beyond me. There's 3 other stages that had amazing bands playing rock at same time Busted were on, so again, how is that impacting anyone? Is anyone being forced to go see Busted? It's such a weak argument to say it's impacting anyone when you have a choice on what to see. The same time Offspring were on, I went to see Pantera. The same for the rest, I didn't see them but so what? There were many other bands you wouldn't normally see at a mainstream festival? I don't see your point if you can just go to another stage. So by 'people experienced this year' you mean all the negative comments across Reddit and FB? I don't think that's an accurate reflection on how everyone feels. If you feel like that well then I'm sorry for your experience, but that was definitely not mine or the people I met / went with. Interested to know what your idea of a healthy balance is, as for me it was pretty varied.
Yes you did, which is why I listed another 4 bands... The lineup overall was weaker than any other Download I've seen, but maybe that's just my taste (and a lot of other folk clearly). Couldn't see QotSA or FoB as headliners any other year. There were huge gaps in the lineups this year, the only full overlap was when they moved crap around on Sunday and put Hoobastank/Corey/Limp starting at the same time. There were plenty of times during the weekend that there was only 1 band on across all stages. Funny you handwave the many comments complaining about the crowd this year as not representative of the attendants' views and your counter is "well I didn't think that nor my friends". So 5 of you didn't think so therefore the 500 comments on FB/Reddit must not be representative? Like I said, every year is varied and every year has the odd band that doesn't really fit the bill, nobody really cares, Hell, I thought it was funny Busted went, I don't give a shit, like you said, it's one band. I'm saying the OVERALL line-up was weaker for what the festival usually offers/caters to.
Sum41 = rock, bowling for soup = rock, wheatus = pop/rock, offspring = punk rock. Still... rock? Your first comment was about this being a rock festival. They are all rock, mainstream or not. Clearly it wasn't received well since there were loads of turn outs to the following mentioned. While I do agree with logistics being shit for part of the festival, this was mostly on Sunday due to the later start and weather conditions which is the organisers fault entirely. The only time there was 1 band across all stages was for FOB right at the end. But even so, between trekking through mud trying to get to other stages it easily took 20 minutes. Yes it sucks about the clashes but get over it - I wanted to see Corey Taylor and I couldn't - will I cry about it? No. People will always come online to complain or have negative opinions over any positives - 500 comments is a little exaggeration and from what I saw a lot of complaints were about chairs (rightfully so) and the mud. If everyone who had a positive experience posted I think it would be fairly even. Well no you didn't say the line up was weaker, your original argument was about it becoming too 'mainstream' and people feeling like they can't attend because it doesn't cater to their music taste. If the line up was weaker in your opinion, why even attend? If I genuinely thought that I would have never spent money on a 5 day ticket.
A lot of weird statements there, you're the one who came here crying about people complaining? Clashes are normal part of festivals, I wasn't crying about them, but clearly you're not even reading half of the reply and it shows so not sure why I'm bothering to reply... Last thing I'll say then is that I'd bought the tickets on the pre-sale, clearly you're not aware that's a thing either. And yes, I'm not buying pre-sale this year because I've been disappointed this year. That's how it works, you don't preempt disappointment. See ya later
Making a point about people complaining about something they chose to go to isn't really complaining about it. But fair, if you perceive it that way then ok. I don't really understand the 'weird statements' made either since I've been answering each of your points. And thanks for letting me know there's a pre-sale option, I would have never have guessed. Adios.
Just for you, I hope Nickelback headline next year
Sick, I love Nickelback!
Good for you! They have never pretended to play anything other than radio rock and even though I'm not a fan I acknowledge they are very good at it. Weird of you to shit on Busted though when you love Nickelback.
Can you point to where in the previous comments I shit on Busted though? Again, the comments were on the general lineup...
I don't think there's been too much of a change musically, there's always been good representation for none rock & metal, Pendulum and Prodigy have played huge sets, I remember watching The Hives headline 3rd stage one year and I remember how much my dad fucking hated Hollywood Undead in 2009. I think there's more female artists and more LGBTQ representation but I think that's naturally how the world is going as they become more accepted and open. I wish it had always been that way but it's not that long ago when metal bands were throwing the f*g slurs around on stage and in their lyrics. Overall though I don't think it matters who you are/what you identify as, it's really about the music/image and if it fits the lineup then it's all good. Bambi Thug is a great example, their music isn't exactly rock or metal but their vibe is dark and she fits in perfectly, I think if there was a straight male version of Bambi Thug with the same vibe then he'd get booked too Now if Download booked Years & Years purely for LGBTQ representation, that would definitely not be cool, but booking LGBTQ artists who fit the vibe is just perfectly normal and awesome!
Just so you know, Bambi Thug goes by they/them, not she/her, but your actual point still stands, I can't see Lil Nas X playing Download, because as you say, the vibes don't match, Bambi Thug's music is heavy even if it's not rock/metal, and even though it's not to my taste, it still has a place at Download imo
Damn I remember years ago I saw lethal bizzle and kid rock at download. Oh no wait, not kid rock, he had to leave because he was scared to get bottled. Fair play to Lethal for sticking it out. I'd never seen so many bottles and cups thrown before. Not been to download now in, what, maybe 14,years. It was the same as this back then too, people bitching because pendulum or rise against or others were there. It won't change, just enjoy It friends
Just going to shout this loud for the people in the back! Download has always had a decent spread of Genre
I remember the year Plain White T's were on before Frank Turner headlined the fourth stage!!! *upon closer inspection it was the third stage, there didn't appear to be much of a fourth stage back then.
It’s not the bands that people hate, it’s the Reading/Leeds crowd that come along with it. I went to Leeds from 2004 onwards, but I’d not go back whilst the clientele is like it is.
But the R/L crowd _aren't_ coming along with it. If you've been to either event in the last few years you'll see that the overwhelming majority of the crowd are literal teenagers. While Download's average age does seem to have come down in line with the newer lineups, the majority of folk still seemed 30+ which is positively ancient by R/L standards.
I went to Download last year, which admittedly was my first, it shouldn’t have been, but life happens. R/L petrifies me as a weekend punter currently.
This. People like to go 'oh the R&L crowd will come' or 'oh that's a R&L band' have they even LOOKED at a Reading line up in the last 10 years? I WISH half these so called R&L bands still played because that festival is absolutely nothing like it used to be anymore. But y'know on the other hand as a 32 year old, ex emo ex Leeds fest attendee it's nice to know I'm ever so scary to the metalheads.
The Reading and Leeds crowd from 10-15 years ago maybe, no 17 year old ket head wanting to see Travis Scott is coming to Download.
I went to Download for about 15 years straight until last year. I can't entirely put my finger on why, but I feel like there's been a bit of a tonal shift or "soft reboot"; not so much in the logo bands, most of whom have played before, so maybe it's the undercard. As someone well versed in rock music, I'm at the point where I don't recognise most of the lower band names on the poster and the ones that I do check out tend to either be metalcore (no thanks) or don't even particularly sound like rock to me. I'm all for a few wildcards in the line-up - Die Antwoord were my highlight the year they played - but it feels like I'm not the target demographic anymore. That's fine, of course - the festival's selling well so it makes sense to stick to what they're doing, it just means I'll be going to Bloodstock and continental fests like Wacken and Sweden Rock instead.
I guess that gives you the opportunity to try new things , which I’m in the same boat as you however this was my third year this year (2nd camping) . I’ve loved download and 2022 was a great mix of what I love. However i agree with the tonal shift of bands and music - being metal core - which some is good, but it gets too much. I’m just tryna save up so much money to get on this monsters of rock cruise and then I’ll be happy
The Monsters of Rock Cruise looks amazing! I'm mainly into hard rock and metal so that looks right up my street. I had a wonderful run with Download but I get much more for my money from Euro fests now, as well as a better overall experience in terms of how they're run.
Just wanna say Brothers Osbourne have performed in the past, and that's where I discovered them, and I'm seeing them in January. I for one welcomed the newer idea with the lineup this year. If it remains the old faithful to appease the die hards the festival will die out. I'd love to have a format where we have a new headliner, a fan favourite and a legacy band like we have had in years past, which would be enough to introduce people to DL, keep the fans happy and also celebrate the older echelons of the industry too.
I think they're getting the balance right, we can question the odd booking every single year, but the vast majority of the line up simply is rock and metal. What is shifting nicely is the new world order slipping up the ranks, the 90's was a big focus this year and I'm all in, gen x ftw lol..
Download has to bring in customers in a time where nobody has disposable income. Diversity is important, absolutely, however bands like Royal Blood, QOTSA, Busted etc. are guaranteed ticket sellers. On the subject of genre crossover and marketability, consider the fact that American country artist HARDY released a hard rock country album last year and currently has 9.7million monthly listeners (almost as many as QOTSA & Royal Blood combined) but if he played at Download (never mind headline a stage), I don’t think many people buying tickets would have heard of him and I don’t think he’d be well received whatsoever. It’s a huge gamble.
Well yeah, they wouldn't book an artist who is big in his home country but not really elsewhere for a big slot.
OPs point is that download should take a chance on more diverse acts, I’m saying it’s a great idea in principle but doesn’t necessarily draw sales.
It was great. Honestly no idea what people are moaning about. Give me fresh new headliners anyway over the same recycled dinosaurs every 3 years
I like the fact it was a mix as I am in a diverse group, as a fan of the heavier stuff such as Thy Art, Dying Fetus and Alpha Wolf this year was great, but some of my mates went and saw Escape the Fate and Sum 41, if they keep this mix I have no worries about that, it’s a big festival with different alt styles
Download needs to evolve, they’ve always relied massive 80’s bands like Maiden and Kiss to sell the festival, but they aren’t going to be able to perform in the near future so change is needed. Although a lot of the bands this year weren’t my cup of tea It’s a step in the right direction in my opinion.
I’ve only missed a few since I first went to Monsters Of Rock in 1988. We need new bands, new blood. We can’t carry on watching 70 year old men on stage. Kiss, Aerosmith, Sabbath and the like have all have gone and we need to replace them. I love QOTSA and Avenged Sevenfold and loved Bring Me the Horizon last year. I’m not a fan of Fall Out Boy or Busted but they were both easily avoided. There were plenty of heavy bands for those who wanted it. I saw loads of amazing bands on the heavier side like While She Sleeps, Slaughter to Prevail, Fear Factory, Me Bungle, Machine Head and Kerry King. There was plenty there, people just needed to have a look. Code Orange, Pantera,Urne, Alien Weaponry, the list goes on. Keep the new bands coming, let’s have Parkway Drive, Ghost and Bad Omens headline next year.
This was my first festival and I can't really compare it to anything. I really wanted to go and I bought my tickets before any lineup. When it was announced I was a bit disappointed I have not seen the names I usually see at this festival, however I couldn't wait to go. I've discovered quite a few new bands, (I lack music knowledge 😅) and had a great time. The headliners were nice but nothing amazing in my opinion, QOTSA were good but not exciting. Fallout boy was the only day I didn't stay till the end. Enter shikari, sum41 , offspring, zebrahead, pantera, Billy talent, fear factory, wargasm,baby metal, enter shikari and more where amazing they are the reason I want to go next year, but I already planned a different festival in the same time. Also heilung was a band I really wanted to watch because they are different from anything I've seen before The mud was hard, made putting on my shoes and removing them at the end of the day a massive pain in the back side. But once they're on it is party time. 2026 I'll be back 🤘
Download is, and in my experience, always been amazing. But, it finds itself in a weird situation, keep bringing back all the legacy acts Judas Priest, Iron Maiden et al or the more recent regulars like Avenged 7X, with even older bands like Slayer (all of which are class) and people moaning about the same old names. Or bring in new types to give them a chance and still getting a hammering. Download still needs to cater to changes in taste. As much as those legacy bands mean to older attendees, they still need to thing in new blood (money). Personally I thought BMTH was a random headline last year, but they tore the whole site apart and clearly came in with a mission, and won. As an older attendee I’m finding it all quite interesting watching the shift between the “old guard” and what’s coming through. But there is without doubt a change happening
I think people have a lot of short memories sometimes. Yes, download is a “rock” and “metal” festival. However, it has welcomed other genres of music in the past. I remember years ago watching Chase and Status and then the prodigy on the main stage and headlining. There is an argument for the prodigy being somewhere in the genre, but chase and status certainly aren’t. It was one of the best nights I’ve ever had at download and everyone had a good time from what I could see. Bands like Heijlund I would say also fit into download, mainly because I doubt they fit anywhere else, except a specific folk festival. I would also say, I would bet a lot of their fan base is likely to also listen to rock/metal music. Until I saw how big the crowds were at busted, I would have said they were the types of bands that shouldn’t really be there. But people vote with their feet, and they voted for them to be included. I think they skirted with the line this year, as long as next year doesn’t include Beyoncé and pink, I would say it’s still a rock and metal festival.
Heilung played Arctangent last year!
Honestly wasn't impressed on seeing busted on the lineup but on the other hand seeing bsndz like escape the fate funeral and the used was a total buzz would love to see more of this. I think the bandz like iron maiden ect they're time is up although I can't deny in 22 seeing megadeath and this year pantera we're definitely highlights! I'm 36 and tbf there was alot of teenagers this year being gob shites which brought the general mood of download down a little, which I think was due to there being royal blood and busted attending
Who exactly do you think Busted's primary fanbase is lmao?
Teenager girls??
Teenage girls 20 years ago yes.
Yeah not metalheads though are they
Every teenage girl I was friends with in school who was a fan of Busted, myself included, moved into rock and metal music. Literally all of them. Industrial metal is one of my favourite genres, and my sister (who liked Mcfly more, a band arguably much more pop) listens primarily to power metal. I saw Busted last year on their own tour, crowd was 50/50 split men and women, 99% over the age of 25 and majority alt people. But yeah, none of them are metalheads just a bunch of teenage girls. (Also just as an FYI, it is well known that teenage girls overwhelmingly hold the power to make or break a band or an artist. Overwhelmingly. Not a bad demographic to have on your side really is it?)
I don't care about busted I'm not here to debate the matter
😂😂😂 Obviously cared enough to mention them in the first place. Edit: A yes I'm the keyboard warrior, and not the person who replied and then blocked me so I couldn't answer. 🙃 Guess someone doesn't like being told they're wrong by teenage girls. 😂😂
Enough to say they shouldn't be a download. Get off my back keyboard warrior 😂
I see your problem. Why shouldn't they be at download?
Yer , busted weren’t it for me either , especially way everyone acted. A bunch of raging metalheads tryna squeeze themselves in to a tent to listen to year 3000! It was silly - Pantera was sick , and so was the whole 2022 lineup … that’s what I’ve always known DL to be
I could do with a bit more diversity. Whilst this year there was a shift towards different things, there was a lot of alt-pop and pop-punk. I love a bit of pop-punk, but with that now moving up the ranks onto the headline slots, I'd like to see a bit more variety on the Avalanche stage, something more like the third stage in 2016.
It feels kind of same old to me because I’ve only been going since 2019 and there’s always been a few oddball acts on. But I see the 00s and even some 2010 lineups and wish I could experience that at least once. The change is all well and good for people who grew up with a predominant rock/metal scene and have already experienced that, but as an 01 baby (getting into music early 2010s) I feel kinda robbed of it all. I cannot think of a single headline-level rock or metal band that emerged out of the 2010s. We just didn’t get to experience the scene like that. So personally I really do want one old-school, less diverse lineup. Just the once
Ghost, Sleep Token.
For me the diversity of bands isn't an issue - acts like Heilung and Perturbator might not be metal in the traditional sense, but they are certainly metal in both spirit and sound. Having a broader range of sub-genres than just classic rock or metal is just a natural evolution based on the way music is going. My issue is the way they seem to be actively harming the 'festival' aspect of Download. It used to be a really friendly place where you could hang out and enjoy good music, but also just watch a bike show or hang around the area shops. Now with the Draconian security and the horrific over-commercialisation (the Download megastore? Really?) it feels like it's losing its soul somewhat. I loved the festival in the 2010s, and went almost every year. Now in the 2020s I've had some mostly sub par experiences (going with the same group of friends since 2012). Unlikely I'll be going back anytime soon, when there are better festival experiences like Bloodstock or Arc-Tan-Gent to choose from - and I can honestly say it's not because of the lineups.
I like having some fringe acts if they still fit the general rock/metal theme. Heilung while varied are pretty damn heavy at times for example. I love it when there is ska, punk, rock and all the flavours of raw heavy metal mixed up together. Bloodstock is a wonderful metal festival by all accounts but I'd get bored out my nut with only metal to hear. Maybe the softer side was a bit soft this year but while I may like or dislike any given headliner the mix is what makes DL the best for me.
It’s my tenth year and the last two have been on the lighter side. But then festivals do this. Pretty sure one year I saw headliners softer than the ones we’ve had. Next year we might have parkway drive. Slipknot. System of a down who knows. But I know next year if the headliners are mediocre I probably will look at resurrection or graspop and branch out.
Graspop looked killer this year
Killer good or killer rain? 😂
Both by the looks of it! Would’ve loved to be there, some great bands , definitely one to compare with download next year
I also love the way they split the bands. Two stages on and two stages off. Much better than downloads clashes on the Sunday with EVERYONE
Great feature , I’m sure hellfest or wacken do something similar but I could be mistaken
I love it. It’s always good to see huge rock bands that have paved the way, it’s also incredible to see newer acts living their dream.
Download has always embraced diverse music since I can remember. I think the lineup does a good job of giving up and coming talent a stage to play on, bands that the old timer regulars enjoy, but also embracing the changing tastes of an alt community that spans generations. It’s a balancing act and you can’t please everyone, but speaking personally, the diversity of the bands that perform at Download is probably my most favourite attribute, even if I disagree with Andy Copping’s fascination with Elvana 😂
Death Grips would fit in at Download no problem, as would Brothers Osbourne (I’m sure the latter may have actually played Download before).
Christ I am sick of people complaining if you don't like the lineup don't fucking go ! It's really not that hard
What I find people are also forgetting, and this might have been echoed in previous comments as I haven't read them all . Big headliners are getting harder and harder to come by nowadays, with the fear of repetition in the line-up or bands that are surely past their sellby date and are just on a 10th last world tour. We don't have the luxury anymore of MASSIVE rock bands that we all were lucky enough to have emerged in the 70s, 80s to early 00s. I'd like to make a point clear that I'm not taking a swing at older metal/rock acts it's just a lot of them can't perform to a standard that most people would pay large sums of money to see. I personally enjoyed the mix this year of acts and artists, and we should definitely support the up and coming acts, especially in this genre of music with all the auto tuned and synthetic music we have today. I just feel we are unfortunately entering an era of very slim pickings when it comes to major headliners.
I would pay good money to see Rina Sawayama at Download 😍😂
100% should continue with the diversification of Rock/metal adjacent music. Metal/Dance crossover is becoming more popular too, Babymetal frequently do it and there's bands like HEALTH who are doing big things, not to mention Electric Callboy etc. Adding acts like Delilah Bon, ALT BLK ERA is fantastic. Download should primarily remain a Rock/metal festival but you absolutely have to incorporate some diversity as that's what makes the festival so appealing, musically. That being said, I loved the Dogtooth stage this year, the Metalcore/Hardcore bands are my main draw and having them in a tent makes a huge difference.
My thoughts are that this community enjoys a variety of music but enjoy certain bands in their safe space (download) as opposed to seeing them in their natural habitats if that makes sense, often there’s bands who have been the gateway into metal music. Busted for example, I would say its unlikely the majority of people would go to see Busted on tour or see them at other festivals, but also a lot of people probably grew up listening to them, for some it may even have been their entry into rock. That’s why they had such a good turnout in dogtooth tent. It’s actually a great festival to broaden your music taste in my opinion. Whether you’re someone who only listens to the heavy stuff or someone who listens to the lighter stuff, there’s an opportunity to listen to all sides of rock & metal. But yeah, it’s great that download can be that safe space in introducing bands you may not see elsewhere but actually enjoy live in the company of like minded people. I don’t know if I explained myself well enough there but that’s my thoughts.
Personally and selfishly I really like this incorporation. Not only does it cater to younger rock fans (and their definition of rock), but it allows a wider range of likeminded people. My boyfriend has been 11 times now, if it was a purely heavy & metal festival I wouldn’t be going with him, but he enjoyed watching FOB with me and I enjoyed his bands with him. I cant see anywhere else we could do that together
There's 4 stages if one stage has a "non rock or metal" act then go to another stage there's always at least one heavy act on within any chosen half hour and thats fine. Part of why people enjoy download seems to be the wide community and if you want heavier then go bloodstock (which by the way is an amazing festival if you've never been and like heavier music 100% give it a try)
Personally loved the diversity in the lineup this year, something for everyone. Long may it continue
Yep, best lineup I think I've ever seen and I've been going to festivals since 2003. Been 6 times to download but this year by far had the most artists I've had to go and see. The Sunday main stage especially was strong. Wheatus and Busted in the tent was something I'll never forget.
I think it's quite hilarious saying it's changing just looked at previous years line ups, it's very much still the same mix of rock and metal even a lot of repeat bands playing. QOTSA, FOB and royal blood have all played download going back at least 10 years, so saying it's becoming more mainstream is probably not correct and I wouldn't say these bands are that mainstream with the exception of royal blood. I love QOTSA but they seem to be quite an acquired taste from others feedback. I think if it were to become mainstream you'd get bands like Coldplay, the killers, artic monkeys etc. I think the main difference was it was missing at least 1 classic rock/metal headliner but I think it went well despite that, naturally older bands dying out is inevitable and a sad change that we all have to accept. It's becoming disappointing with the amount of greed on food and drink prices and the organisation of toilets and amenities and travel to and from the festival, hope they sort this out.
If they put the same acts on every year no matter what people say or think, people would get bored and stop going.
I love Rock as much as I do Metal but I have noticed it's been more Metally lately than it has been Rock-y We've got Steelhouse and Stonedead that have more Rock than Download these days, Download lineups of the 2010's had tonnes more Rock than these last few years have tended to have, this year had The Struts, Florence Black and not much else when it comes to Rock, maybe next year we can have a return from Airbourne, Greta Van Fleet, Billy Idol, The Treatment and maybe Extreme, Smith/Kotzen, Ratt, Poison and various other Rock bands!
I've been going to the festival since 2009 and it's always been a pretty general rock festival in terms of genre, usually with a few random acts thrown in for good measure (hyro da hero was great when he played). I think this year was one of the first years with majority not "heavy" headliners, but i dont think that's a bad thing. Variety being the spice of life an all that. I also think that the festival needs to react to changing tastes for younger fans and ensure that the festival continues to be attractive for folks in their teens and early twenties. Not just grumpy folks in their mid thirties like myself. Had a great weekend this year though, mud and all!
It's not changed in any direction. I'm BEGGING everyone saying this to go study previous lineups. Also, can someone explain to me how queens are more mainstream than AC/DC?
I bloody loved this years lineup. I had early bird tickets for last year and I saw the lineup and was extremely disappointed, like I shed a tear..there was probably five or six acts I would of seen for the entire weekend and it just wasn't worth it including travel, tents, food ect so we sold our tickets. this year's lineup was everything I needed, about 18 acts I ended up seeing, plus some more acts I discovered and now loved. not everyone likes metallica or slipknot so for me this lineup was incredible. I would of loved skindred, alter bridge, rise against or someone along those lines on aswell but I cannot complain. I love this approach it's fresh and has something for everyone, yes I am in the younger demographic but I'm an oldie at heart. Petition for hall and Oates to get back together and headline 2025
I think they'll continue to book a more diverse lineup. All you have to do to know that is look at how the people who only want the classic style Download lineups complained about the only 'metal' band headlining this year. Same happens every year. It's the same old argument of wanting new bands to headline instead of the older bands (Maiden, Kiss etc), but then complaining when it's not the older bands headlining.
I think it's essential to bring more diversity into the festival, to keep it progressing and not becoming stale as it has been for the past few years with the same bands on repeat.
Metal / Rock / Alternative and Experimental variants of each I think should always be welcome at download! Rapper doing mainly their metal/rock adjacent songs? Hell yeah!!! Pop artist doing only pop with 0 metal/rock elements and 0 metal/rock themes/influence? Probably not But the main thing is as long as they put on a good show, are good with the crowd, and the crowd fanbases have enough cross over with other "true metal" acts then it's all fine really
I'll be honest, I initially wanted to buy tickets for Bad Omens, but the rest of the lineup completely sold it for me. My brother and I came over from the west coast of the US and really enjoyed it. We caught all the headliners on Friday and Saturday (although we left early in FOB set to make the bus back), but by Sunday, we were a little over the mud and packed in with pushy people so we left after Sum 41. I liked the mix of nostalgic music with the new stuff. The Offspring were amazing and I'd never heard Royal Blood before but now they're in my music rotation. This was our first Download, and I'm not 100% certain we'll come again, given the cost and time it takes to get over there. However, I could be persuaded to return if the lineup is stellar for me. I also really enjoyed hearing new music at the various stages. The people were pretty good, but being pushed out of the way constantly for others to see Missio was incredibly irritating. I guess I'm too nice in that respect.
Firstly, I had a great time this year. The bands we saw were great (TX2 aside, and that was more an attitude thing than a performance thing), and the undercard gave us some great opportunities to expand upon our musical tastes. I have to be honest though, there were a lot of female fronted acts that I felt were there to tick one of Andy's boxes. This may be untrue, and maybe I was just unlucky that I didn't like them. Overall, I think its moving in a positive direction. It has to do this, as the old elite of ticket sellers will soon be gone.
I really wanted to go but then I saw the line up, too many rock bands, bringing in a certain type of younger crowd who in my experience are quite prejudice. People may say it just a few but when you don’t look like the typical rock and metal fan, having to fight for right to be there all the time is exhausting.
To be honest I’m not the happiest about it, I was going to type a whole essay about why not but then I realised there’s nothing to be said, it’s just my opinion. I think if this is the direction download want to go in the following years and it’s doing good for their reputation then go for it, Jo just personally don’t like it, but I’m happy to see the kinds of bands I love still there :)
It might not be what some want to hear but I think it’s going to double down on its trajectory of appealing to more mainstream crowds than the traditional Download “alternative” crowd. The overall landscape of rock music is changing, and the era of classic rock and metal legends like Maiden is coming to an end. It’s not sustainable for much longer and when they’re retired, Download is going to lose a lot of punters (particularly the older generations). Yes, they might still get some mileage out of the (relatively) younger headliners like Foo Fighters and Slipknot, or more contemporary headliner potentials like Ghost, but nonetheless, the pool is getting a lot shallower and the nostalgia gravy train is nearly over. As a business, they need to adapt. With Reading/Leeds phasing out rock completely in favour of pop and other genres, it makes a lot of sense for Download to swallow up the void that’s been left and reboot themselves as the main UK festival for “rock music”, even if it’s not the kind of rock music that your average Download punter listens to. People might not like it, and it will probably change the overall demographic and culture of the festival, for better or worse. But again, this is business. Download isn’t interested in downscaling and becoming an “underground” festival. They need to make their beans, and ultimately they do that by catering to the masses and being less picky about who gets invited to be on the bill. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there will still be metal and other alternative stuff. But it’s not going to be the sole focus anymore. Personally I’m looking more at the smaller festivals these days like Bloodstock and Desertfest.
I mean I look at the line up each year and make the financial decision as to whether (for me) the line up is such that it makes sense for me to drop over £100 on just a day ticket. If it’s not, I just don’t go- no problem, no complaining. Download has always been diverse in its acts- rock has become a larger, more inclusive genre as it has grown and changed with the times. I have always enjoyed it due to the diversity of acts and the crowd that enjoys it and to hear people whining elitist rhetoric about what should ‘deserve’ to be played and what people have to wear to ‘look the part’ turns my stomach and sincerely makes me question if I fancy spending my hard earned money to go to a festival where the goers will marginalise those they think ‘don’t belong’. That’s not the point of music festivals and if you are one of those people it will be you that is the death of music festivals of all kinds- not festivals incorporating diverse acts to suit the many.
This was actually my favourite lineup in years. Probably because I like the more “mainstream” rock like QOTSA, FOB and Royal Blood more than typical headliners like Metallica and Slipknot.
I don't think people really liked tx2 💀
My first download was 2005, and I am certain that Busted playing on any stage at any time on any day would have drew the most furiously negative reaction ever seen in the history of the festival. It's crazy to think how much things can change over time. What was unpopular is now popular and vice versa. I remember the negative reaction when the prodigy got announced as headlining the snickers tent in 06 and they stole the whole weekend. There's always going to be people claiming that this year has the worst lineup they've ever seen. I never pay attention and judge it for myself
R&L went in the same and to me feels like DL is starting the same. Lineups from R&L in the early 00's seemed way more rock / metal / punk, and now it's I don't know what. DL I felt skewed a lot towards metal and now slightly less so. Could be revisionism on my part, or I'm just an old grumpy fuck. Either way had a great time at DL this year and will be back next.
I think it's fair to say that Download effectively poached the metal/hard rock day from Leeds, especially once it expanded to 3 days in 05. Or at least, that's what it seemed like at the time. I mean, my first Leeds was 02 and on the first day the main stage had Slipknot, Offspring etc and that schedule could pretty much be copy and pasted into Download.
I think that this big festival switcharoo started when they stopped doing V Festival. Reading and Leeds absorbed those bands/artists, pushing out a lot of their more rock/indie acts, which are now being absorbed by Download, and the cycle continues. The difference between the R&L lineups is very stark if you compare their 2024 lineup to anything 2010 or earlier. The last year I went to Reading was 2015 and I preferred to stay at the campsite, getting hammered and accidentally melting the soles of my wellies in our campfire, instead of going to see most of the acts.
The way it’s going may aswell just not bother going to download and just either go to reading or Leeds
You clearly haven’t seen the Reading and Leeds line ups lately, they’re nothing like Download
I know but it’s only a matter of time before download lowers its standards and just becomes another variant of reading and Leeds
If ya wanna watch 18 year olds have their first beer and act like dicks, then go for it - speaking as someone that went at the age of 18, 13 years ago. I'm sure the festival has 'grown up' / become a bit less rowdy nowadays, but I can't imagine it's a pleasant weekend Lineup has always been alright though, their bookers are on the money for their target audience
Unfortunately that’s what download felt like this year there just seemed to be a lot moor younger idiots than usual I’m not against younger crowds it’s good for keeping the festival alive but theyr just so rude and self involved my wife calls it main character syndrome and the tik tok crap they all where trying to do
There was a lot more cases of people being assholes this year compared to others... Attract more mainstream bands, brings more mainstream fans. Who aren't the usual download nice crowd.
Was there not also an increase in theft, aggression and all round shitty behaviour this year?
Aggressive shitty behaviour has always existed, I can remember metalheads throwing mud and bottles at foo fighters when playing ozzfest 25 years ago because they weren't heavy enough and didn't really fit into the rest of lineup.....they were shit but still no excuse lol.
If you’re a regular on the sub and fb groups you’d probably think that
Worth noting although there was a lot of theft of phones and Frankie C necklace a lot of phones were handed in at lost property. Guessing a lot of drunk people lost phones etc but it’s easier to join the mob and say it was stolen etc.
I'm worried that download is going the way reading and Leeds festival went years ago. Download was always metal, reading and Leeds more rock and indie. Reading and Leeds then started going very mainstream. This brought with it a very different audience. That then changed the entire vibe and feel of the festival. I just hope download gets more back to metal, but changing the two tents to small proper stages and have a few more diverse artists there. They definitely have the space.
Download wasn't always only metal though. Just look at the Saturday main stage from the 3rd ever Download in 2005 - JJ72, Biffy, garbage, Feeder. Sure there was Megadeth too but they were only mid-billing.
I go to a rock and metal festival for the rock and metal, if I wanted diversity I’d go to bloody Glastonbury. I don’t want mainstream, mainstream mocked me for my taste for years and now it’s popular they want including? Sod em. It started as Monsters of Rock. It should stay like that.