I was meant to go to Download last year but had to pull out last minute. I was worried I might have to do the same this year mainly because you don't want to let folk down again. But that didn't happen and this time I was prepared and raring to go with my buddies Campbell, Colin and Fraser.
Wednesday
This is the day we travelled down to Donnington. We arrived about half 2 and only had to queue for the car park for about half an hour. Which was lucky as many had to queue for hours and hours. We were lucky as are allocated car park for quiet camping was the West car park which was nearing capacity when we were there but we got a space ok. After that was full you would have had to go to North or East where all campers were trying to squeeze into hence the long queues from all directions.
It was a bit of a hike just getting to the entrance where we got our wrist bands. We brought all our gear in one go and I think we were all struggling with it and had many stops as the tents were heavy and we had a cool box full of drink. We didn't have to queue for our wrist band but still had to negotiate the zig zag queuing system. After that we headed for quiet camping which again was a bit of a hike. Going through the blue campsite and quiet camping was already quite busy. Although we reached a point where it was quieter and pitched our tents there.
It was about 5pm by the time we had pitched the tents so we sat out for a while in our camping chairs and the guys drank some beer. About 6ish we headed to the village where there is food and entertainment. We also went to the Refresh retreat which is basically posh toilets and lockers which we all paid for. So we registered for that. Then headed for the village and got pizza for dinner. We then headed back to campsite and chilled for a while via some shops where Colin and Fraser got some patches for their battle jackets. It was very cold so we had multiple layers on. Then headed to bed about half 10.
I got zero sleep the first night. Due to the traffic issues people were pitching tents around us all through the night, the nightlife in the village was also pretty loud till well into the early hours and the early hours and there were planes constantly going over head and were loud as we were very close to East Midlands airport. On top of that I had too much caffine before going to bed and forgot to take my meds. But apart from that...........lol
Thursday
As I had no sleep I got up at 7am with the others and headed for Refresh retreat and there were no queues for showers or toilets. We got back to camp site and chilled till about midday and headed back to refresh retreat before heading to the arena. The walk from campsite to the village/Refresh retreat was about a mile then another mile to the arena. So by the time we got to the arena we had already done 10000 steps.
Once in the arena the guys got the beers in and I filled up my bottle at the water station and we headed to the Opus stage which is the second stage to watch Cherry bombs who are a dance troupe who do all these fancy dance tricks to metal music. Corey Talyor's wife is part of this act. They were good and something different to what you get at a music festival. We also met Campbell and Colin's friends Justin and Sara here, who we would hang out with quite a bit over the weekend.
Cancer bats were on the Opus stage next and I wanted some food so went off to get pizza. Didn't even have to wait in a queue but when I went back to the Opus stage I couldnt find anyone. So had to message Campbell to meet at the ice cream van we arranged to meet at if we got split up. Which worked well and we all met up again.
We then set up camp at the Apex stage or main stage for the rest of the day. First up was Mammoth VH who was class, great upbeat rock and roll music. I have to admit though was feeling a bit wobbly at this stage which I think was due to lack of sleep and not taking my meds. I said this to Colin and Campbell too and thought if I don't get a good night sleep tonight I may have to go home as my head could get seriously messed up. But I did also say I knew how to get out of this and was determined to turn things around.
I was still I bit dodgy during Jinjer and Halestorm. Both acts I have seen in the last 6 months and they put on some more great performances. Alter Bridge were next on, one of my favourite bands and they played Blackbird which is one of my favourite songs of all time. Campbell had his first major decision to make at that point as Skindred were playing at the same time and he is really into both bands but he opted for Alter Bridge in the end.
The headliner tonight was Metallica and by that time I was feeling more stable. It was very cold though but the guys recomended to bring a jumper with us to the arena and tie it round our waists. It was still cold but at least not as cold. This was my first time seeing Metallica and I did enjoy their set. They played quite a few songs from the new album as well as diving into their extensive back catalogue which included a very pleasing "Nothing else Matters".
We headed back to camp and got back about 11.45 and that was day 1 in the bag.
Friday.
I slept like a log and woke up around 9pm. The guys had already been up to Refresh retreat and had a shower. I headed there and there was a huge queue and whispers of a two hour wait. I remember telling the guys, sorry but I'm just going to smell for the rest of the time. Even they had to wait for an hour to get a shower and they got up at 6.30. You didn't have to queue for toilets though or sinks so that was a plus.
I was pleased though to be in control again and raring to go. We headed to Refresh retreat on the way to the arena for Day 2. We got some food and headed for the Apex stage again. Where we stayed for most of the afternoon. We saw Stand Atlantic, Nova Twins, Hot Milk and Neck Deep. My favourite as Nova Twins. I had seen them before supporting Bring me the Horizon and they are such a great live band who feel quite orignal. Vocally brilliant too. After that we went to the small tent called the Dogtooth stage to watch Brutus who are a Belgium 3 piece rock act. Colin had a recommendation from one of his mates to see them and they disappoint. Probably the best discovery of the weekend. This is where we split up and Campbell and I went to see Within Temptation while Colin and Fraser went to see Gwar ( only to find out they got moved to Saturday). From their myself and Campbell went to see Architects, a band who we both have really got into over the last few years and they did not disappoint. While Fraser and Colin went to see Evanesance.
We all then met for the headliner tonight which was Bring me the Horizon. The very first time they headlined download and what a set. Collabs with Nova Twins and Amy Lee from Evanesance. Mad videos during breaks in the set. A set which mainly focused on their last few albums. It was absolutley brilliant and my favourite act of the weekend.
Saturday
To be honest when I first saw the lineup for Saturday it was the only day where I didn't have anyone I really wanted to see and thought I'd just let the guys decide what we see. But I did do a bit of research before we went and found I quite liked quite a few of the acts on today.
We headed for the main stage first thing and forgot acts started earlier on a Saturday and got there a bit later. We got in, in time for Fever 333 and lead singer being a nutter climbing up one of the towers that has a TV on the top. Yeah really rock and roll. We stayed there for most of Ice nine kills which was surprisingly good. Before heading over to the big tent which was the Avalanche stage to watch Black gold. We then went back to the Main stage to watch Clutch. Like most of the weekend it was really hot during the day. But at this point it was really hot and I found myself lying down fully during Clutch. There was quite a bit of space during the day at the Apex stage you could do that.
There was a gap where we went and got food before splitting up again. Campbell went to see Disturbed. While Colin, Fraser and myself went to see Simple plan on the Opus stage. I listened to them before and they seemed like a fun pop punk band from Canada, and they certainly delivered. They also did something not many other bands did and did a three song covers medely with Smash mouth's "Allstar", Avril Lavigne's "Skater Boy" and Killers "Mr Brightside". As well as their own Scoobi doo song.
After that we met Campbell again and headed to the Avalanche stage to see Coheed and Cambria who were very good and were also headlining that stage. Then it was time for Metallica part 2. We got back to the Apex stage and it was starting. Same into music as the first night. I have to admit bar more tracks from the new album and "Enter Sandman" I didn't recognise nearly as much as the first night. I was thinking that maybe one night would have been better and more focused. Fair enough doing 2 nights at your own gigs especially with Metallica's back catalogue but a festival not everyone is there to see you. Still I can't say it was bad though.
Sunday
Last day of music and earliest we got to the arena which was before 12 to see one of the bands Campbell had been to see Bloodywood who are a metal band from India. Although half way through the set we finally met up with some of Campbell's mates who Campbell had been trying to meet up with the whole weekend so weren't really paying attention to Bloodywood for the duration and may have to see them again.
We stayed at the main stage for Lorna Shore who were probably my least favourite act of the weekend. Very growly vocals which I wasn't a fan of. Then we moved further down the front for the Hu. Who are a Mongolian metal band complete with electric double bases. Very good sound going on here and they went down a storm. After that there wasn't much on we wanted to see for a few hours so headed for the tap house which had a range of beers. But that was very full with long queues as people try and hidde away from the sun.
Then it was back to the Apex stage for Campbell and myself while the others headed for the Dogtooth stage. We saw I Prevail, which is band I had been looking forward to for quite some time and they did not disappoint. We then met up again and headed for Opus stage for Bad Religon. They were ok but their songs were a bit samy. Felt a bit old school punk. Then for the headliners on the Opus stage Ghost. I have seen the twice but my my are they good. After that it was off for the final act of the weekend. The headliners of the Apex stage Slipknot. They were really good too and played all the songs I appreciate the most.
Overall
Overall, this is a great festival, made better with great company. As well as Campbell, Fraser and Colin. I include Justin, Sara, Graham and Mathew in that too. Thanks to Colin and Campbell for driving too.
Would I do it again? Not next year but I wouldn't rule it out in future years. To do it properly you do need to be fit and I think in that department I was lacking quite a bit. We were averaging 20000 steps a day and thats not including the acts we were standing for. After a few days I did find it difficult to find a comfy seating postition without justs lying down vertical. And you can't really stand up all day in the heat either. You can of course bring a chair and put it down in the middle or back of the apex stage and sit in a campchair all day. But as you see we stage hopped a fair bit so you would end up carrying it about a fair bit
But it is a festival I won't forget in a hurry. I could have written a lot more about the bands especially but would need to make it a book lol.
