Download 2009
Organisers of this years download festival have announced five more rock acts for this year’s line up, which is shaping up to be the best yet!
Set to play Download 2009 over the weekend of 12 -14 June will be Billy Talent, Dream Theater, The Blackout, Buckcherry and rock stars of the silver screen ANVIL – who played the Monsters of Rock festival back in 1982.
These great acts, encompassing punk hardcore, classic rock and prog-metal join a line up that is already boasting a great selection of international rock artists. This includes the previously announced headliners Slipknot and Def Leppard, with many more names to be confirmed between now and June!
The Third Headliner for the Download Festival will be announced on Monday night – this announcement is highly anticipated, much talked about, with expectations high. Fans won’t be disappointed and can hear who the final headliner will be at 7.45pm on Monday 2 March via or on Zane Lowe on Radio 1.
Canadian post hardcore artists Billy Talent return to Download for the second time and will hopefully be showcasing tracks from their hotly anticipated third studio album. Having been on the road with the likes of My Chemical Romance, Rise Against and Anti-Flag, Billy Talent live are an impressive act to catch.
Roadrunner-signed prog-metal outfit Dream Theater also return to Download for the second time, having first wowed the audiences in 2007. They have sold over 8 million records worldwide, with 2 million sold in the US alone, and are highly acclaimed for their proficient instrumentation, with guitarist John Petrucci often compared to the likes of Yngwie Malmsteem.
“Our Download debut 2 years ago was totally intense (or should I say "in tents" - literally!) We are looking forward to coming back this year for our second time and finally bringing progressive metal to the main stage at Download where it belongs!! Our UK fans have been so great in developing Dream Theater over the last 15 years, taking us from the Marquee to Wembley, we cant wait to get back to play for them again and have the chance to make some new friends at Download this year!!” – Mike Portnoy, Dream Theater
South Wales’ The Blackout make their Download debut this year having built up a firm following from fans and rock press alike. Now signed to legendary punk label Epitaph, they previously held the honour of being the third unsigned band ever to sell out the London Astoria.
“We are super psyched to be asked to play Download this year, some of the bands playing our day are the reason we started this band! It's going to be a weekend of Mayhem.” – Sean Smith, The Blackout
Grammy nominated LA rockers Buckcherry return to Download having blown the crowds away in 2007. Last year they were added to the Crüe Fest Tour with Mötley Crüe as well as releasing their fourth album Black Butterfly, which went to number 8 on the top 200 charts.
The much talked about, greatly publicised Anvil come back to Donington after an incredible 27 year gap, having performed at 1982’s Monsters of Rock Festival. Their film ‘Anvil! The Story of Anvil’ directed by Sacha Gervasi, opened to great reviews last week, the story of real-life members of the band, Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner, touching the hearts of every single rock-wannabe. Their Download performance is sure to be very, very special.
‘It is an honour and a true privilege to play in the true homeland of real metal. We have great memories of our first time at Donington but this time we hope to rock the place to the ground…See ya there....’ – Lips, Robb and G5, Anvil
Friday 12 / saturday 13 / sunday 14 june 2009
Slipknot / def leppard / korn / marilyn manson / whitesnake / limp bizkit / pendulum / zz top / mötley crüe / the prodigy / dream theater/ trivium / killswitch engage / billy talent dragonforce / buckcherry / anvil / the blackout / Devil driver