Headliners: System of A Down

Headliners: System of A Down

This year's Download Festival is stacking up well on paper, with punters spoilt for choice. Female First will be in Donington over the weekend to catch up with some of the bands, and to see some of the biggest and best the festival has to offer.

As with all events like this, sacrifices have to be made and bands have to be missed. So, here we are again to break down the five main headliners and supports on the second day of the historic rock weekend. Check out our preview of day one and day two

Funeral For A Friend (Pepsi Max Stage)

The Welsh post-hardcore mainstays will be headlining the Pepsi Max Stage this year, just a few weeks after a fantastic headline slot at Liverpool's Hub Festival.

Funeral For A Friend are currently promoting the recent release of their fifth full-length record Welcome Home Armageddon, which sees the quintet not just return to form but surpass almost everything they've done to date.

If their set at Hub Festival was anything to go by (and, at the same length, it should be), fans can expect a set that balances the old and the new, still heavily promoting the new album.

It's the first time since Hours that FFAF have enjoyed almost universally positive reaction to their new material, so you can't blame them from giving it a run-out.

Their set will, in all honesty, be fairly predictable, but FFAF always excel as one of the most exciting live acts around today.

Twisted Sister (Second Stage)

They haven't graced the sacred turf of Donington since 1983, but Twisted Sister look set to make a triumphant return on Saturday.

Bringing some nostalgia to proceedings, Twisted Sister have a great live reputation and should be a special moment for anyone who watches their set.

The best part of this band playing the festival is an example of perfect booking from the Download organisers.

Twisted Sister will be perfoming before the incredible Alice Cooper, both classic rock acts who have gained their reputation through impressive live sets.

Alice Cooper (Second Stage)

In what may be one of the toughest clashes of the weekend, Alice Cooper will be headlining the Second Stage whilst System of A Down reunite to close the Main Stage.

Alice Cooper is a legend in the truest sense of the world, being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. He also graces the stage at Donington to round off the Second Stage in style.

Download punters will be, no doubt, treated to a hit-filled set, from 'School's Out' to 'Poison' and everything in between.

For anyone feeling indifferent to the return of System of A Down, Alice Cooper's only UK set of the year is not one to be missed

Avenged Sevenfold (Main Stage)

A7X will make their third Download Festival appearance this weekend, playing just under System of A Down on the Main Stage.

The band have turned tragedy into a triumph after the death of drummer The Rev.

A7X went on to record their best, and most personal, album to date. Nightmare went into the UK Top 5, a fantastic feat for such a heavy act.

With such a big sound on record, fans can expect this to translate into an exciting live show to warm up the crowd for SOAD.

System of A Down (Main Stage)

System of A Down went on hiatus in 2006, with the members breaking away to work on other projects.

They are set to return to Download Festival this year as part of a string of festival dates that are working as a sort of reunion tour.

This is the only UK date for Serj Tankian and co., so really shouldn't be missed by their fans.

With no new material planned or released since their break, the set should be hits from start to finish, enjoying by fans and band alike.

Female First - Alistair McGeorge

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