Name a stage at Download
SYLVIA LANCASTER – LATE MUM OF MURDERED SOPHIE – IS AMONG THE MOST POPULAR SUGGESTIONS
DOWNLOAD Festival has called on its fans to decide what its popular second stage should be called as the rock community prepares for the first full-scale event in three years.
Fans still have time to submit their name suggestions through the festival website, and a shortlist will be created before the winning name is announced tomorrow.
Festival attendees will be able to vote for their favourite names through the event’s social media.
One of the most suggested names was for Sylvia Lancaster, the mother of murdered 20-year-old Sophie Lancaster, who was the victim of a hate crime in 2007.
Sophie and her boyfriend, Robert Maltby, were targeted by their killers due to their “goth”-style clothing.
Her mother went on to form the Sophie Lancaster Foundation which championed people from alternative subcultures and created educational programmes to tackle prejudice and intolerance.
Sylvia died just weeks after it was announced that one of the murderers was due to be released from prison after his sentence was reduced.
Festival fans wrote about the importance of recognising her hard work in promoting acceptance for the community.
One fan wrote: “Sylvia Lancaster stage – has to be for all the outstanding work this woman did.”
Another agreed: “I also want to add my voice for Lancaster Stage, not only for Sophie but for her mum who passed this year, and to honour the whole family as well.
“The battles that family went through after Sophie’s passing to help bring acceptance and understanding for the alternative world and all people who are seen as different needs to be honoured.”
Other names suggested by fans include Never Mind The Headliners, Here’s The Second Stage, Monsters of Rock and the Taylor Hawkins stage, after the Foo Fighters drummer who died earlier this year.
This year will mark the first fullscale Download Festival in three years after it was cancelled due to Covid restrictions.
The festival takes place at Donington Park from Friday to Sunday, June 10-12.
This year’s big acts taking to the second stage will be Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Megadeth, Steel Panther and The Darkness.
Headlining on the main stage are Kiss, Iron Maiden and Biffy Clyro.
Last year’s event was held as a “pilot” event as part of the Government’s Event Research Programme into the risk of Covid transmission as restrictions were eased.