Loughborough Echo

Donington gets ready to rock with headliner Ozzy

- DAVID GODSALL david.godsall@reachplc.com

LET’S get ready to rock!

This weekend sees the epic Download Festival return to Donington Park, Castle Donington - and with an amazing line-up of acts, it is sure to be a feast of rock for fans.

No stranger to the hallowed grounds of Donington, the Prince Of Darkness Ozzy Osbourne will headline the Sunday night.

Having graced the main stage in previous years fronting Black Sabbath, this will be his first ever Download headline solo appearance.

Avenged Sevenfold will return once more, to give a momentous Friday night headline performanc­e that will be talked about for years to come.

On the road since April 2016 and over 100 shows later, the resurgent Guns N’ Roses are back and coming to Download on Saturday night.

Marilyn Manson, fresh off the release of critically acclaimed new album Heaven Upside Down, is more energised than ever and set to bring his renowned live show to Donington.

Other big names performing include Aussie rock titans Parkway Drive, British modern metal institutio­n Bullet for My Valentine, Asking Alexandria, pivotal punk rock heroes Rise Against,

BABYMETAL will make their second official Download performanc­e, The Hives are confirmed, Wrexham five-piece Neck Deep, and rising stars Dream State with their no-nonsense, melodic emo rock.

Dozens more acts are performing throughout the weekend at the festival site, and WWE NXT LIVE! returns. Fans will be electrifie­d with incredible displays of skill and athleticis­m, as the hugest names in sports entertainm­ent deliver the fully-fledged NXT show to a full-scale ring in the festival arena.

Many improvemen­ts have been carried out to the site this year, such as viewing platforms across all stages and British Sign Language interprete­rs lead the way for accessibil­ity improvemen­ts to better meet the needs of Download fans, and after receiving a four-star Creative Green Certificat­ion from Julie’s Bicycle, Download continues to raise the bar with its commitment to environmen­tal protection with the introducti­on of its first ever Eco Campsite.

Continued improvemen­ts are being implemente­d at the Access Campsite. Those camping in the accessible campsite will now be able to drive right up to their pitch to drop off their equipment, where a team of ready and willing helpers are on hand to unload customers’ cars. Greenpeace are hosting a brand-new campsite called Eco Camp in a beautiful part of the Donington Estate, which is home to ancient oak trees and native wildlife, and can host up to 3,000 fans who value spending time in the great outdoors just as much as listening to their favourite bands.

Taking a leap into the world of wellness and fitness, festival revellers will have the incredible opportunit­y to perfect their downward facing Download Dog and take part in the renowned DO.OMYOGA classes along with up to 250 other Metal Yoga enthusiast­s, experts and curious beginners.

The compliment­ary classes, being held at the festival for the first time, will provide chances for festival-goers to perfect their asanas, practice their warrior and fully indulge in this intense immersive Doom Metal experience.

The Side Splitter Stage features some of the most hilarious standups you need to see at this year’s Download.

And there is the side-splitting comedy line-up, including Jason Rouse, Andrew O’Neill, Craig Campbell, Craig Marx, Maisie Adams and Lou Conran.

For all the details about this year’s Download Festival, plus ticket informatio­n, visit https:// downloadfe­stival.co.uk/

 ??  ?? Pictured is Ozzy Osbourne.
Pictured is Ozzy Osbourne.

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