“Aarrrrrrggghhh!” That’s the sound of us practising our screams for DOWNLOAD 2021.
After having to cancel this year’s event due to the pandemic, Download Festival announces its huge 2021 line-up
AS METAL HAMMER went to press this month, we were greeted by the massive first line-up announcement for Download 2021. With this year’s festival being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rock and metal fans were keen for something tangible to look forward to at Donington Park next year, and with more than 70 names now added to 2021’s bill, the majority of next year’s event is now in place and looking pretty damn good.
Many of the bands planned for
2020’s incarnation of the festival have returned to the line-up for next year, not least rock’n’roll legends Kiss, who’ll finally get to play their final European shows on their extensive farewell tour, including one more stop at Donington to headline the Friday night. Also returning to the bill are metal heavyweights System Of A Down, who will see out the festival as headliners on Sunday, and are looking forward to being able to make up for lost time.
“We’re disappointed we weren’t able to make it over this year, but we’re looking forward to next”, says System bassist Shavo Odadjian. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Mostly, we all just want to make sure everyone is provided with a safe and secure environment, so we were prepared to wait as long as we needed to.”
Joining Kiss and System Of A Down as headliners for next year’s Download are Scottish rock heroes Biffy Clyro, who will headline a humongous Saturday main stage bill that also stars Deftones and Gojira.
“We can’t wait to return to headline Download in 2021!” say the band in a statement. “It’s a highlight of the festival calendar and a big part of our history as a band. Headlining in 2017 was special and now it’s time to celebrate again! Fuck on!”
Also playing the main stage across the weekend next year are A Day To Remember, Korn, Volbeat, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, The Pretty Reckless, Black Veil Brides, Powerwolf, Rise Against, Alestorm, Theory, Wage War, Those Damn Crows and Wayward Sons.
TWO HEADLINERS FOR next year’s second stage have also been announced, and it’s two more huge names. Metalcore legends Killswitch Engage will headline the second stage on the Saturday with none other than Mastodon playing just under them – giving metal fans a potential dilemma depending on how Gojira and Deftones are slotted in on the main stage that day – while everyone’s favourite glam metal wallies, Steel Panther, will headline the second stage on the Sunday night. They’ll be supported by The Darkness, so if you like lycra and silliness, you know exactly where you need to be that night.
There are plenty more killer names dotted around the second stage across the weekend, with those bands being joined by The Distillers, Airbourne, Poppy, Myles Kennedy & Company, Daughtry, Skillet, Baroness, Lacuna Coil, Bush, The Wildhearts, Hatari, Stone Broken, Of Mice & Men, P.O.D., The Last Internationale and Control The Storm, with more to be added.
“DOWNLOAD 2021 WILL GO DOWN IN THE HISTORY BOOKS – IT’LL BE SPECIAL”
ANDY COPPING
Early-00s emos unite: Welsh posthardcore favourites Funeral For A Friend are extending their reunion to headline the Avalanche stage on the Saturday. The rest of the Avalanche stage line-up across the weekend is a smorgasbord of punk, rock, metal and hardcore, with Creeper, The Faim, Sleep Token, Hot Milk, Tiny Moving Parts, Employed To Serve, Gender Roles, Holding Absence, Marianas Trench, Puppy, Loathe, Press Club, Wargasm, Jamie Lenman, The Hara, Blackout Problems, Cemetery
Sun and Dead Posey all added, with more to come.
Finally, the Dogtooth Stage is set to feature some serious heavy, with UK doom metal veterans Electric Wizard and Brazilian metal icons Sepultura headlining on the Friday and Saturday respectively. They’ll be joined by Sunday Dogtooth Stage headliner Myles Kennedy in a bonus, exclusive acoustic performance. Plus, Obituary, Blues
Pills, Dying Fetus, Haken, Bleed From Within, Twin Temple, Bokassa, Will Haven, Spiritboz, Higher Power, Kill The Lights, Tempt, Joyous Wolf,
Modern Error, A.A. Williams, Lotus Eater, Phoxjaw, Cellar Door Moon Crow,
Dead Label, Anchor Lane, JJ Wilde and Temples On Mars will all join the Dogtooth Stage fun.
So, just a couple of names so far for this year, then.
“2020 has been a tough year for us all, and we were beyond gutted not to be able to experience Download Festival with you all,” says Download’s Andy Copping. “We gave you Download TV to reflect on memories of the past, and what the festival means to all of us. Download 2021 is going to be something special and go down in the history books as when the Download family reunited. We’re going to be working hard behind the scenes to make Download 2021 an unforgettable experience and a celebration of the festival we all love.”
Stay tuned to www.metalhammer. com for further announcements on the line-up, but in the meantime: how good does it feel to have a Download to look forward to again?
DOWNLOAD 2021 TAKES PLACE JUNE 4-6. HEAD TO WWW. DOWNLOADFESTIVAL.CO.UK FOR TICKETS