Female First will be at Download Festival this weekend to see some of the biggest bands in the world.
Headliners: Def Leppard
As with any festival, choices will have to be made and bands will have to be sacrificed.
Here are the choices for the first day at Donington. We’ll look at two acts from the Main and Second stage, and the headliner for the Pepsi Max Stage.
Check our previews for Saturday and Sunday.
Danzig (Pepsi Max Stage)
Fronted by former Misfits and Samhain member Glenn Danzig, this band are further evidence that New Jersey can never fail to put out a great rock band, regardless of the genre.
Boasting a heavy hard rock sound, Danzig are a perfect fit for Download festival, headlining a stage featuring the likes of Asking Alexandria and exciting newcomers Lower Than Atlantis.
Seeing any energetic act in a slightly intimate setting is always special, and Danzig’s set promises to be an exciting part of the weekend for anyone who attends.
Korn (Second Stage)
Korn are a vital part of hardcore music, even winning two Grammy awards over their incredible career.
On the Download Festival website, Jonathan Davis said: “Download has become our second home! KORN love playing Donington!! The last time we played the 2nd stage was one of our favorite shows ever!
"The fans almost brought the tent down - it was epic! Bottom line is we would still rather be closer to the fans, and closer to the action.|”
From the sounds of things, fans can expect an incredible atmosphere from one of the most important hardcore bands of the 20th century.
Pendulum (Second Stage)
A band that has managed to embed itself into the rock festival scene in a way not too dissimilar to The Prodigy.
Neither are rock bands, but both put on stunning live shows with incredible lighting and energy.
Pendulum are becoming a regular fixture in the festival scene with good reason, and fans at Download are sure to enjoy their live set this weekend.
It also goes some way to prove that Download Festival is, as it has always been, an alternative music festival. People will characterise it as a heavy metal event, and complain about certain bands’ credibility.
However, as this first look at Donington’s Friday Headliners shows, Download is much more diverse, as are Pendulum’s influences.
The Darkness (Main Stage)
We’ll admit it…this is the big one. As we said earlier this week, The Darkness were the biggest band in the UK at their peak.
After getting incredible fan-reviews from their string of comeback shows in preparation for Friday, Justin, Dan, Ed and Frankie look set to return in a big way.
Their return, and the attention it’s receiving, has even prompted an NME U-turn.
The magazine, long-standing critics of the band after a series of arguments early in their career, actually names The Darkness as a band to see at Download Festival. They even note that the quartet are ‘better than you remember’ from the first time round.
Front-man Justin Hawkins admitted on the Download Festival website that the band are terrified. He added: “We played in an early slot on the main stage in 2003 and we were frightened then. It's reassuring to know that nothing has changed.”
Fans have been promised a hit-filled, hour-long set from the band, and it should be something special.
Def Leppard (Main Stage)
Credit where credit’s due, Download Festival have booked the first day’s Main Stage quite well. Sure, not all the bands are classic rock in style or legacy, but having Thin Lizzy, The Darkness and Def Leppard sharing a stage will be incredible.
With all the fuss surrounding the special guests playing just before them, a huge name was needed for the headliners.
Another contemporary band wouldn’t have done, and the organisers managed to find an act who will complement the band before them. Def Leppard are legends of rock n’ roll, and should provide a fitting end to the opening day at Donington.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge
Tagged in The Darkness Download Festival