The Download Festival time had arrived, Selina and I were spending the weekend there. I have been to Download several times now, always buying the RIP camping tickets, these allow me to take the campervan, and give you access to the Guest area. This year I left it too late to purchase those tickets. They sell out very quickly. Instead, I bought some Rock Retreat tickets. This was offsite camping a couple of miles away at Melbourne House. The campsite was nice, toilets and showers on site. The people there were friendly, and it was peaceful. The downside is you need to take a bus in and out. They ran regularly, so not too much of an issue. There was a long walk from the bus station to the arena, and a long-crowded walk back at the end of the evening. That walk was not so nice.
This year was the 20th anniversary of Download, so it was a four-day event. This caused chaos on the roads, and the future of Download has been put into doubt. It is rumouredthat 200 passengers using East Midlands airport missed their flights because of delays. On the Thursday we were held up in traffic for more than an hour, wish we had gone to Melbourne house across country from the West,
Metallica were the star of the show, playing two sets, one on Thursday and one on Saturday. The lighting and additional screens made it a spectacular show to watch. Even when you were near the back these additional screens on towers brought you into the show. Looking at other Metallica shows this year, it seems these towers, and twin shows were a Metallica hallmark. Other bands were allowed to use the towers. I would love to see them at future Download festivals and other open-air venues. They made such a huge difference.
The weather was hot and dry. In fact, too hot, Steve was reduced to drinking water on one day. The bars could do with some updating. The big bars serve one cider and one lager. There was the taphouse bar that sold a few American IPAs brewed in this country by Carlsberg. They were better, but the queues were horrendous. Download, please widen the range of beers in all the bars. The food was generally fine, so long as you steered away from the burgers, well actually most things that contained meat.
The final day, Sunday, we spent quite a lot of time trying to meet up with Selina’s cat’s Twitter friend. This twitter account is operated by Slipknot’s sound engineer. Alas this did not happen in the end, scheduling issues. The Slipknot show was going to happen during a thunderstorm. Thankfully, the storm happened all around us, and not over us. So, we were dry, and the ground did not turn to mud.
The YouTube below contains sessions from most of the bands we saw. The sound on my new Pixel 7 is very much better than my previous phone, so long as I remember not to put my finger over the microphone. I kept doing this. Now I know, I have become very careful. The microphone is just where you want to hold the camera in landscape mode. The image stabilization is very good, and the optical zoom helps get in close.
After three years a full Download Festival was held. I was to go with Ravi, and we were doing the RIP Hotel package.
Back in 2020, I had booked this package, which included the Radisson Blu hotel for three nights, after the 2020 festival had been cancelled. During 2021 the festival was again cancelled, but I elected to carry my tickets over to 2022. Now it was finally happening, and I patiently waited for my tickets. This was fraught, with several people panicking on the Download forum. Electronic tickets were replacing paper tickets. The process and information appeared to be different for different people, depending on which company the tickets had been booked through. But the tickets did arrive, and I stored them in my Google Pay wallet. They worked without a hitch.
Ravi arrived at our house a couple of days before the festival. A metal festival was on his bucket list, and I had organised two. During 2019, he and I had ticked off Glastonbury from his bucket list. Friday, we set off in the Polestar and arrived at the hotel. Parked, checked in with the RIP Reception where we were given our wristbands, programmes, t-shirts and especially useful waterproof backpacks. (We could not check into the hotel room; this was not yet ready.) The buses to the festival site ran once an hour, so we were soon on our way. The buses were exceptionally reliable, though at peak times they could be full, so you just had to wait for another. They normally put an extra one on to collect those left behind.
Friday
Arriving at the site, we walked to the Guest area, had a beer from the bar and some lunch at the Delhi Club, (Saag Aloo and rice). Friday was the warmest day; the other days were cloudier. Thankfully, there was no rain during the festival.
Theory 1.55
Cellar Door Moon Crow 2.50 (Dogtooth Stage)
Myles Kennedy & Company 3.50 (Opus)
Skindred 5.10
A Day to Remember 6.40
Kiss 8.50
Saturday
The breakfast at the Raddison was excellent. A good full English with freshly fried eggs, or omelettes made to order. There was also the option of cheeses, meats, and pickles.
Today I arrived from the hotel before Ravi, and spent time walking around the site, looking for real ale or craft beer. For some reason, the location moves around every year, and there is never any indication on the programme map to indicate its position. Found it, so Ravi and I were happy. We spent many an hour there, seated at the tables, talking with whomever we met. One couple had flown in from America for this festival.
The Raven Age 11.00
Monster Truck 1.35
Black Label Society 3.00
Deftones 6.10
Iron Maiden 8.55
Sunday
The highlights of Sunday were, for Ravi, the bands Wargasm and Alestorm, and for me. Biffy Clyro
Wargasm 11.00
Alestorm 1.45
Marianas Trench 3.50 (Avalanche Stage)
Volbeat 4.50
Korn 6.30
Biffy Clyro 9.10
Thoughts
This was the first time I had stayed in an hotel for a festival. It was nice, the food was good, the other guests were pleasant. There was no noise or throwing furniture out of the upstairs windows. For Download, I did miss the bar and bands which played late at night at the RIP camping. Instead, we were always on a deadline to catch the 23.30 bus back to the hotel. My preference is still to take the campervan to the RIP camping.
Ravi enjoyed the festival, or so he said. He expressed the opinion that it was more enjoyable than Glastonbury. Glastonbury is so huge, and it takes ages to walk anywhere, either for a drink or to walk to another stage. At Download, you can walk from the bar and be near the front of the stage withing minutes.
I managed to catch Covid, but I didn’t realise immediately I got back home, so I managed to pass it on to the wife. It did not make me popular.
Left home for Download on Thursday 14.00 in Morrison. Uneventful trip, but I took notice of the driving instructions on the motorway which took me off at an earlier junction than I’d anticipated. This route went through loads of winding lanes. Think it would have been easier to go by the main route. Arrived at the RIP camping ground, which looked a bit on the full side. Seems most people had arrived on Wednesday. A little concerned about the state of the ground, and whether I would be able to get out on Monday. There had been reports of torrential rain, and some festival-goers were already giving up and going home. This had incited a Twitter spat where some of those who go to Glastonbury tweeted, I thought Metal fans were hard. The RIP field though was pretty green, except for the areas around the loos, showers and food stalls.
After checking in and parking, I went into the Park Farmhouse complex where there was a good real ale bar, food and bands playing. Listened to a two-person tribute band, who when I arrived were playing some Metallica. Had several pints, and ate supper there. Then discovered the bar had closed. I think they had run out of real ales. Sad, I went back to the campervan and read a book.
Friday Def Leppard or Rob Zombie
Friday is a late start for the music, so no rush in the morning. Started the day off with a shower, and then a breakfast of bacon and hash browns in a roll. Went through to the VIP area and ordered a cappuccino and a sticky nut oatcake.
Last In Line
First band the main stage, played for 30 minutes, my thoughts were a boring rock band.
Tesla
Sacremento based rockers, quite an enjoyable band. Rained during their show, not heavily.
Blackberry Smoke
Atlanta based quintet formed in 2000.
Clutch
Southern rock, lots of grinding riffs, an enjoyable set. Short drizzle during their set.
Whitesnake
A British band, playing some good songs, a great drum solo from Tommy Aldridge. This band has been going since 1978 and has had around fifty band members.
Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators
Slash was his usual self, playing away on the side of the stage.
Rob Zombie
It was a question of watching Def Leppard, who I have seen live before or watching something different, so I went to the Zippo stage to watch Rob Zombie. The Zippo stage was crowded and I was way at the back. Not a good choice.
So during the day it did rain a little, normally short, light showers. The arena was green on entry, but turned into mud during the day. Not like Glastonbury mud. By the end of the day I felt the ground was drier than the start. The bars were virtually inaccessible, with huge queues. I hate queues and ended up drinking coffee.
Saturday and Slipknot
The day started sunny, and it was definitely drier underfoot. Changed my allegiance for breakfast to another food vendor, this one did a lovely fried egg and bacon roll, with filter coffee. Then more coffee and oatcake in the VIP place. While I was waiting for this second coffee I overheard some kiwis talking about Brits in NZ who don’t use sunscreen. So I said hi, I had been to NZ and it just rained all the time. During a conversation about the merits of the North and South Islands, they mentioned that the first band on the main stage was a New Zealand band.
Alien Weaponry
A young trio performing some very heavy metal. Many of the lyrics and chants were in Māori also known as te reo. They are on a North American and European tour and have an album called Tū. Well worth listening to.
Royal Republic
The unlikely looking band, well dressed, chatty humourous lead singer. All wearing red jackets accessorised with a pearl necklace. At the end, they played some Metallica.
Powertrip
Dallas Texas band, complete with shouting and lots of fist punching. Their slogan was ‘ Powerful people, we must fight them’
Behemoth
European band, anti-Christ. Kept going off and coming back in with new costumes. Fire and smoke. Loved the 3 nuns in the audience dancing at the front. After watching them, I went and bought Vegan Sushi and ate it in the rain.
Skindred
British band. The only song I knew was at the end of their set when we all jumped and whirled our coats around. Their set was packed. Rained throughout their set, pity the ground was drying out.
Trivium
Stopped raining and sun about to come out. US band from Atlanta, but they call Donnington home. All these bands do.
Die Antwoord
Hate this type of music, so instead I went around for a walk of the site. Found the real ale bar and had a Charles Welles pint. Then I went up on to the Pepsi Max platform to look over the sit. Then back to the campsite area for a sit down and another beer. Walked back for Slipknot
Slipknot
Started a little late. First band to start late. Traditional apparently. Anyway they were headlining, so not constrained for time. I quite like Slipknot.
Sunday and Tool
Started off a little sunny, but a tad cold. Thought I might wear a little more, but luckily didn’t. Not so cold when I got to the arena. Bought some sun tan cream on the way, was a bit burnt on my face yesterday, especially my nose. Guarantee it will be totally cloudy today.
Cane Hill
The band seemed to have problems setting up at the start. It was also the first time I have seen band members actually doing some of the work themselves. They ordered circles in the audience to be created. Not quite seen a circle quite like this one before. Some old people (“old people” being anyone older than me) should be banned from participating in these. Everyone lolloped around the circle. Oh, when the circle was created I realised I was in an empty space. I panicked and ran for it.
Not a bad gig, so I celebrated with a Falafel for lunch. Must practice the pronunciation of this word. I have sorted out Huawei!
I Prevail
From Michigan, younger singer, with a broken foot, also seemed to fall off the stage at one point. Started to rain at the end. Headed for RIP bar to escape the rain. Now the sun is out while waiting for Underoath
Underoath
From Tampa. Rain again.
Godsmack
Sully Erna the lead singer founded the Scars foundation to help raise awareness of the mental health issues that so many are faced with today. Sully had faced an overwhelming number of fellow artists and friends who had committed suicide over the past few years.
The band is unforgettable, something different. Loved the two drum kits which came on for a short period, enjoyed this band. No rain!!
Amon Amarth
Lots of vikings, horns, fighting and fire. Swedish band who are named after the volcano in the Lord of the Rings. (And yes, I do know; real Vikings did not have horns on their helmets.)
No rain
Lamb of God
Richmond, Virginia. Great circles and crowd surfing. Left area for a break, so lost my position on the side rail. Still managed to get quite near it.
The Smashing Pumpkins
Had a strange set with three inflatable dolls.
Tool
Tool were a revelation, never played their music in the past. It is now something I will listen to constantly. The images on the set were bizarre, but fun. There were no projections of the band, so if you were far back you would never have seen them.
Picked up some chips on the way home to Morrison.
Monday morning I was away at around 7.30, no issues driving out. On arriving home, R screamed at the state of my nose (not to mention my clothes).
The start of the festival season, and I was off to Download on the Thursday evening. Never been to Download before, possibly because it was always close to Glastonbury. No Glastonbury this year, so no excuses. The weather looked passable for the weekend with sun and maybe a small smattering of rain on the Friday morning. This is exactly how it panned out.
I arrived at Download in good time, and went to the Rest In Peace entrance, where I was directed to the Sleepy Hollow campsite. The Sleepy Hollow campsite was a new operation for the year, Google Maps showed it as a freshly grassed field, and that is how it was; I could see the rows of grass with soil between. The field is also on a slope, so pot luck whether you end up on a level area. The wonderful thing about this campsite is you park the car next to your tent, no lugging stuff around. You also have a reasonable sized pitch. If I had been thinking straight I would have taken the camper. I regretted not taking Morrison by the end of the weekend, (Just have to get it past the co-owner.) Cold nights and the inflatable bed sprang a leak, so I was sleeping on the hard, cold ground.
The Rest In Peace (RIP) option has several different price levels, including cabins, Tepees and pre-erected tents. There are also proper loos and showers on site. They also have a bar and entertainment on the Wednesday and Thursday night. I watched a band and some comedy acts before heading to bed. Unfortunately, the quantity of beer drunk soon before going to bed needed more than one trip to the loo during the night.
During the night it rained, and in the morning there was still moisture in the air. Breakfast bap from the nearby van, which I did every day, and then over to the Arena, a pleasant walk through the RIP village and through the Guest Area and then into the Arena. The Guest Area gives a pleasant spot to get away from the masses and sit down at tables and benches to eat and drink. I used the Guest Area for my meals, becoming a Vegan during the day, eating some delicious wraps with salad, humus and falafel. They were distinctly more flavoursome than the pale coloured meat burgers you could get elsewhere.
So in the arena I went for a wander around, checked out the four stages, and the events arena. Looked at the food offerings, bars and shops. There was a real ale bar selling a few beers including Wherry Ale from Woodforde’s in Norfolk. I was all set for the bands,
Friday
On the main stage I watched all the bands to some extent, though left Bullet for My Valentine early to go and see Bad Religion
Boston Manor
Avatar
Dragonforce
Marmozets
VolBeat
Bullet for my Valentine
Bad Religion
Avenged Sevenfold.
Avatar, Marmozets, Bad Religion and Avenged Sevenfold all provided great performances. Avenged played a cover of Pink Floyd “Wish You Were Here”, which was repeated by GnFnR in their set. Coincidence or planning?
Saturday
Cloudy day to start but cleared up and became gorgeous. I stayed on the main stage, but sometimes spent time back in the Guest Area eating and having a Bulleit cocktail. (BLT)
The Pink Slips
Whiskey Myers
Monster Truck
The Temperance Movement
Thunder
Black Stone Cherry
Guns n Roses (GnFnR)
GnFnR played for three hours. There were some long drawn out solos from Slash. Overall it was excellent, Should be, rumour has it they were paid £5,000,000. Despite there being 100,000 there, it was easy to get close to see them. The area between the front crush barrier and back crush barrier had a large amount of free space. I was amazed. I have been at Reading festival where I have been crushed at the back by the force of people pushing me against the rear crush barrier from the front.
Sunday
I was beginning to feel my age, muscles were cramping up. Festivals are challenging work, lots of walking, lots of jumping up and down. Anyway another great line-up I hoped, and I was not disappointed.
Inglorious
Cradle of Filth
Hatebreed
In this Moment
Black Veil Brides
Shinedown
Marilyn Manson
Ozzy Osboure
I think the most disappointing was Marilyn Manson. Ozzy was his predictable self, singing all the old Black Sabbath songs. Again I was surprised by the amount of space at the front.
On the Monday morning I was up and out very early and back home before 8, much to Rosemary’s surprise. I was feeling worn out and stiff from the exertions of the festival. Added to that I contracted a cold.
The campsite was not bad, the showers and loos worked well and were not dirty. The late night and early morning flights into East Midlands were rather annoying. They were noisy enough for me in the RIP area. Those camping in the general campsites would have been directly under the flight path. I was also surprised at the time the main acts ended. I was expecting 11.45, it was more like 10.30.
