Festival season is underway, and one that brings the rock and alternative community together once again is Download Festival. Annually held at Donington Park in the UK, this year, fans attending the festival had to put up with the typical British weather in order to witness some legendary bands including Fall Out Boy, Queens of the Stone Age and Avenged Sevenfold who were this year’s headline acts. Not letting rain and mud ruin the festival experience, everyone embraced it in order to be part of an unforgettable experience in the world of music.
Frozemode – Dogtooth Stage
Making their debut appearance at Download Festival, I.V. GATLIN, Lisong and Cho-Hollow, from London based alternative rap group, Frozemode brought the energy as soon as they took to the stage. From the very second they welcomed the people of Download, with smiles beaming on their faces, the crowd were in for a treat.
Being one of the few groups on the lineup to incorporate rap and rock, which is rare at a festival like Download, their set stood out in a good way. They kept things fresh by interacting with the crowd and feeding off their energy. With tracks including “Ruff’, “Stick Dat” and “Asbo Boys”, they were able to showcase their versatility and musicianship. They definitely made the most of their first time at Download Festival, and hopefully it won’t be their last.
Escape The Fate – Avalanche Stage
It was no surprise that there was a packed out tent for Escape The Fate. Despite the trek in the mud to make it to this stage, hundreds of people were there to witness the band put on an energetic and passionate performance. They started their set as they meant to go on, captivating the audience with every song. As a band that’s cemented within this scene for many years, the crowd sang back every song.
Escape The Fate’s setlist consisted of older and newer material which also went down well with the fans. Adding an extra level of dynamic to the set with flame pyro. As a band, every member adds something special to create music worthy of playing a festival such as Download. Vocalist Craig Mabbitt’s vocals were strong and filled the entire room, as well as the people outside of the tent who couldn’t get in. They deserved their slot on this years lineup as they continue to demonstrate their ability as an influential band in the rock scene.
Busted – Avalanche Stage
When Busted were announced as part of this year’s lineup, there were mixed opinions from many people. But witnessing how packed The Avalanche Stage was for their set, it was evident that their fans came in full force to see Matt Willis, James Bourne and Charlie Simpson play Download Festival for the first time. The setlist consisted of some of their greatest hits including “Air Hostess”, “Who’s David” and “Crashed The Wedding”.
Their set was filled with nostalgia for a lot of people at the festival. Evidently Busted are not as heavy as some of the other bands who played this year, but that’s what makes it special. Switching things up a little and bringing the soundtrack to potentially many people’s lives who were watching them to life, it was a special moment for everyone. A cover of Hanson’s “MMMBop” mixed thing up a bit before continuing the rest of the set.
It was definitely underestimated how much of a turn out there was going to be for Busted, but hopefully when they get invited back, they’ll be playing some of their greatest hits on a bigger stage.
Enter Shikari – Apex Stage
As always Enter Shikari captivate the audience with their politically charged lyrics, stage presence and stage visuals. Bringing a blend of genres to their music, the crowd were engaged from the very start. The crowd at a Shikari gig are always willing to participate, especially as crowd interaction is a big part of their set.
Whether it’s making his way into the crowd, throwing himself into the mud or climbing on riggs, frontman Rou Reynolds is not afraid to get stuck in and bridge the gap between fan and artist. “Sssnakdoit”, “Stand Your Ground; This Is Ancient Land” and “Sorry, You’re Not a Winner” were just some tracks that made it to the setlist. They also performance “The Void Stares Back”, with WARGASM. They have and always will be a band that are not afraid to use their platform for good and it shows, as they left a lasting impression on the people of Download.
Holding Absence – Avalanche Stage
As well as the strong musicianship of Holding Absence, energy is always one word that comes to mind when it comes to their live shows. They give everything they’ve got in every song and it doesn’t go unnoticed. Excited to be at Download, singer Lucas Woodland takes the time to thank everyone who came to see them.
With emotionally charged lyrics, the band were able to command the crowd and use every bit of the stage to put on a performance to be proud of. Their setlist featured songs including “A Crooked Melody” and “Afterlife” allowed the band to showcase their talent and versatility as musicians.
The energy did not go unnoticed too, as everyone in the crowd was enjoying every moment of their set. A highlight of their Download performance was when Alpha Wolf came out to sing “Aching Longing”. The set was drawing to an end, but it wasn’t before “Afterlife” and “The Angel in the Marble”. As always, HA left a lasting impression on the crowd and there’s always a place for them at Download Festival.
The Offspring – Apex Stage
Punk rockers, The Offspring, gave the crowd a memorable and passionate performance. With a discography of punk anthems including “The Kids Aren’t Alright”, “Self Esteem” and “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy), it felt like a nostalgic journey through music, ensuring new and old fans are catered to. Kicking off their set with “Come Out and Play”, the band immediately had the crowd’s attention.
Lead singer Dexter Holland’s vocals was powerful, delivering lyrics with intensity. From the guitar riffs and drum beats that set the foundation of the set, The Offspring were able to showcase the music that made them the band that they are today.
The classic tracks received roars of approval, so did their newer material that blended seamlessly within the setlist. There was also a cover of “In the Hall of the Mountain King” by Ramones. The band’s interaction with the crowd was genuine, as they showed a sense of appreciation for their fans. Aside from the muddy field, in traditional Download Festival style, everyone embraced it and didn’t let it disrupt them witnessing a strong performance for the punk rock legends that are The Offspring.
Fall Out Boy – Apex Stage
Fall Out Boy took their fans on a trip down memory lane for their headline performance. As a band with a discography to be proud of, Patrick, Joe, Andy and Pete curated a setlist that took fanson a journey, with a setlist consisting of tracks from all of their albums. From “Take This To Your Grave” through to “So Much (for) Stardust), they incorporated nostalgia within their performance, as well as showcasing their evolution as a band over the years.
From Patrick’s powerful vocals, to Pete’s intricate bass lines, Andy’s precision on the drums and Joe’s ability to tie everything together, Fall Out Boy are as strong as ever. The stage visuals changed through each album cycle, which added to the overall experience. This added to the overall excitement of the performance.
Highlights of the performance include the crowd singing in unison to anthems including “Thnks fr th Mmrs” and “Dance, Dance,”. It was impossible for the crowd not to sing along with them. Newer tracks such as “Love From the Other Side” from the latest album proved that FOB are a band that have managed to evolve over the years, as well as stay relevant in this ever changing industry.
During the finale of their set, the band called upon the Magic 8-Ball to decide on one of the final tracks. Download were treated to a performance of “XO” , followed by “Centeries” and closing things off with “Saturday”. From the crowd’s reaction overall, Fall Out Boy put on a memorable, exciting and nostalgic performance and one that will be talked about for some time to come.
Of Mice & Men – Avalanche Stage
Of Mice & Men put on a powerful and raw performance at Download, as they played at The Avalanche Stage to a packed out tent. Opening with “Obsolete”, the band commanded the stage within the first few seconds, their high- energy performance igniting the crowd.
Vocalist Aaron Pauley showcased his impressive range as he was able to switch from clean melodic vocals to deep growls. Additionally, guitarist Phil Manansala and bassist Alan Ashby provided intricate riffs and solos. Drummer Valentino Arteaga’s rhythm on the drums carried the aggressive sound. The band took time to interact with the audience, in order to build a connection even with the amount of people there to witness their performance.
The setlist consisted of tracks including “Would You Still Be There”. “O.G. Look and “ Second & Sebring”. From their heavy breakdowns to their anthemic choruses, Of Mice & Men incorporated a variety of elements to create their signature sound. After each song, the band received cheers and applause from everyone in the tent. Smiles beamed across the faces of the band as they looked out to the crowd in disbelief of the turnout.
The band’s chemistry, through the tight sound and stage presence was evident. Closing the set with “Second & Sebring”, the band thanked the crowd, and left the stage with roaring applause and cheers. Their set at Download was well received and that was no surprise with a band like Of Mice & Men.
Sum 41 – Apex Stage
Sum 41 delivered a high energy performance at Download Festival. With the band’s career coming to an end and this being their final UK festival performance, the setlist included both classic hits and newer material which allowed the band to cater to older fans and new fans.
Evidently, the band’s tight musicianship was apparent, as each member continued to contribute to the exciting atmosphere that kept the crowd singing along to every song. The set began with “Motivation”, setting the tone for what was to come.
Sum 41’s ability to blend punk rock with heavier metal influences was on full display, especially during songs like “Still Waiting” and “Fat Lip.” The crowd’s energy mirrored the band’s. The band were feeding off the crowd’s energy, just like the crowd were doing the same with the band giving it their all during their performance.
Guitarist Dave Baksh’s solos were particularly noteworthy, adding a layer of technicality to the music. The inclusion of fan favorites and newer releases meant that both longtime fans and newer listeners were entertained. There was even a cover of Queen’s “We Will Rock You”, which everyone sang back word for word.
As the performance drew to a close, Sum 41 left the stage to thunderous applause and cheers, a testament to their enduring popularity. The band’s performance was a highlight of the festival and the band’s career, as they left a lasting impression and ad they bid farewell to Download for the final time.
Avenged Sevenfold
Headlining the final night of Download Festival, Avenged Sevenfold made a theatrical entrance. Graced with cheers from thousands of fans all crowded at the main stage, a set from Avenged is nothing short of electrifying. Leaving the fans in awe as they kicked the set off with “Game Over”, this immediately set the tone for what was to come.
Vocalist M Shadows’ vocals were strong and powerful as always, projecting across the entire crowd. Transitioning to “Mattel”, and fan favourite, “Afterlife”, through every song, the intricate guitar work of Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance shone though. Individually and as a band, each member on stage had a impeccable be proud of, showcasing their versatility and musicianship.
Dedicating “Hail to the King” to the dads in the crowd for Father’s Day, fists raised up in the air as they chant “Hail” with M Shadows. The band performed tracks from a variety of their albums. It wasn’t the typical setlist that people would expect, but there were some of their most popular songs including “Bat Country”, “Nightmare”, which faced brief technical difficulty towards the end of the track.
The visuals on the screens throughout their set captivated the audience, going hand in hand with some dark themes of the songs, enhancing the overall experience. Each song was sang and performed with a level of precision and intricacy. Bassist Johnny Christ was also a backbone for the band’s solid performance, maintaining a relentless rhythm throughout.
As the night drew to a close, Avenged Sevenfold concluded their set with three last songs, including “A Little Piece of Heaven,” which had the crowd singing back every single word. Followed by that was “Save Me” and then finally “Cosmic” to bring it all to a close.
Avenged Sevenfold’s appearance at Download Festival proved that they were worthy of the headline slot this year, and showing people who may have forgotten that they deserve to be where they are as one of the most inspirational and leading bands in the scene. Their enduring appeal and ability to deliver a live show that resonates deeply with their audience, as well as showcase their musical ability as a band is something to be proud of.
Words by Sarah Akomanyi
