Download 2025

[liamglastocrowhurst1]

3 minutes ago, liamglastocrowhurst1 said:

Away from unpeople and crossfaith it really has not added much for me but i had enough in the first announcement to make me happy enough 

Maybe at a stretch rise against as i havent seen them live but this feels like it was always meant to be an announcement that fills out the undercard with less excitement to the first announcement similar to the second slam dunk announcement 

[49Lawson]

Having looked at it, I wouldn't be annoyed necessarily if I had a ticket but I wouldn't be convinced to spend my money now. I feel like you can get away with booking a "weaker/fresh" headliner (depending on what you want to call it) if it's reflected in the undercard, but I think there's some massive sneaks in the logo slots this year if I'm honest.

[northernangel]

28 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

Very predictable announcement. Download obviously content to book the same bands time and time again. Shinedown and Rise Against as uninspiring as it gets tbh. I'm not going anyway but that cements it. 

 

Rise Against was already kinda known but if they are main stage again, though I don't think they will be, they would be an easier miss.

 

The festivals capacity is going to dwindle down. On the whole I wouldn't be surprised if this surpassed 55k this year.

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

Lineup feels very disjointed. It’s like Download is stuck between what it wants to be in the future and what it used to be. To truly move on I think they need to let Andy Copping go and stop relying on tired old repeats like Bullet, Shinedown, Rise Against, Korn, etc. 
 

 

Edited February 18, 2025 by Frankly Mr Shankly

[Andre91]

Just now, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

Lineup feels very disjointed. It’s like Download is stuck between what it wants to be in the future and what it used to be. To truly move on I think they need to let Andy Copping go and truly stop relying on tired old repeats like Bullet, Shinedown, Rise Against, Korn, etc. 
 

 

He’s going after this year, isn’t he? Or is it next year? I’m sure I remember reading that somewhere.

[foolee]

With the Shinedown thing it must be remembered that they probably had Falling In Reverse ready to go in that slot so they’re more of a replacement booking. I think if FIR headed up this announcement it looks so much better! 

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

2 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

He’s going after this year, isn’t he? Or is it next year? I’m sure I remember reading that somewhere.

I vaguely remember something about him going soon but I can’t remember the exact date. Can’t come soon enough in my eyes, he was a decent booker once upon a time, but it’s time for new ideas. 
 

1 minute ago, foolee said:

With the Shinedown thing it must be remembered that they probably had Falling In Reverse ready to go in that slot so they’re more of a replacement booking. I think if FIR headed up this announcement it looks so much better! 

Yeah I get they’re a replacement for FiR, but if that’s the best Download can do then that says a lot about their booking team doesn’t it. FiR wasn’t a last minute pull out, we’ve all known for months they wouldn’t be able to play the UK. 

[Andre91]

They seriously couldn’t find better than Shinedown? 

[notitk]

Overall a disappointing announcement, but very intrigued by the addition of “president”. Rock sound have added two posts to their instagram stories and the account appears to be brand new with 6 posts in the last hour and around 30 followers. No music on spotify by the looks of it, so could be a secret set from a bigger band?

[Andre91]

20 minutes ago, notitk said:

Overall a disappointing announcement, but very intrigued by the addition of “president”. Rock sound have added two posts to their instagram stories and the account appears to be brand new with 6 posts in the last hour and around 30 followers. No music on spotify by the looks of it, so could be a secret set from a bigger band?

It’ll be some nepo baby shite. 

[northernangel]

52 minutes ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

Lineup feels very disjointed. It’s like Download is stuck between what it wants to be in the future and what it used to be. To truly move on I think they need to let Andy Copping go and stop relying on tired old repeats like Bullet, Shinedown, Rise Against, Korn, etc. 
 

 

 

100% this. I like Rise Against but I agree that it was just a predictable booking could be avoided. The only sub booking that doesn't look so weak is Weezer. Download have tried to be a bit of early 10s Reading while still being Download. I think I've got Rise Against and Twin Atlantic from that lineup and given TA will probably clash at Slam Dunk, sticking them below Rise Against work. 

 

I think this will be very easy to pick up two day tickets though if needed. If it continues I can see the festival scaling down, they should have just gone deeper half and half but Slam Dunk has the other bands they would have booked shore up the 'Reading side'.

 

50 minutes ago, foolee said:

With the Shinedown thing it must be remembered that they probably had Falling In Reverse ready to go in that slot so they’re more of a replacement booking. I think if FIR headed up this announcement it looks so much better! 

 

I don't think it would look massively better firstly and secondly, I also agree they've had loads of time. 

 

 

[Andre91]

Prediction: 

 

APEX: Green Day / Weezer / Jimmy Eat World / Palaye Royale / Boston Manor / SiM / Smash Into Pieces

 

OPUS: Within Temptation / Opeth / Jerry Cantrell

 

AVALANCHE: McFly 

 

DOGTOOTH: SikTh

 

 

 

APEX: Sleep Token / Shinedown / Don Broco / Dayseeker / Poppy / Loathe / Crossfaith / Static Dress

 

OPUS: Sex Pistols / Rise Against / Eagles of Death Metal 

 

AVALANCHE: Kids In Glass Houses 

 

DOGTOOTH: Cradle of Filth 

 

 

 

 

APEX: KoRn / Bullet For My Valentine / Spiritbox / Meshuggah / Hatebreed / Jinjer / Bleed From Within / Orbit Culture

 

OPUS: The Darkness / Steel Panther 

 

AVALANCHE: Lorna Shore 

 

DOGTOOTH: Apocalyptica

[northernangel]

34 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Prediction: 

 

APEX: Green Day / Weezer / Jimmy Eat World / Palaye Royale / Boston Manor / SiM / Smash Into Pieces

 

OPUS: Within Temptation / Opeth / Jerry Cantrell

 

AVALANCHE: McFly 

 

DOGTOOTH: SikTh

 

 

 

APEX: Sleep Token / Shinedown / Don Broco / Dayseeker / Poppy / Loathe / Crossfaith / Static Dress

 

OPUS: Sex Pistols / Rise Against / Eagles of Death Metal 

 

AVALANCHE: Kids In Glass Houses 

 

DOGTOOTH: Cradle of Filth 

 

 

 

 

APEX: KoRn / Bullet For My Valentine / Spiritbox / Meshuggah / Hatebreed / Jinjer / Bleed From Within / Orbit Culture

 

OPUS: The Darkness / Steel Panther 

 

AVALANCHE: Lorna Shore 

 

DOGTOOTH: Apocalyptica

Jinjer dropping two places from two years ago.

 

I think it'll be mental if SP/TD are a top two again after being top two same stage and day in 2022, and after the festival had the same top 3 main in 14 and 17 with SP being 3rd down. 

 

It stinks a bit of a dry dead festival with nowhere to go.

 

Twickets has loads of tickets already on for the weekend. I'm tempted to have a cheeky stab offer as you might at this rate get a weekend cheaper than two day tickets worth.

[Andre91]

5 minutes ago, northernangel said:

Jinjer dropping two places from two years ago.

 

I think it'll be mental if SP/TD are a top two again after being top two same stage and day in 2022, and after the festival had the same top 3 main in 14 and 17 with SP being 3rd down. 

 

It stinks a bit of a dry dead festival with nowhere to go.

 

Twickets has loads of tickets already on for the weekend. I'm tempted to have a cheeky stab offer as you might at this rate get a weekend cheaper than two day tickets worth.

Jinjer played on a reduced day last time, that’s the only reason they were that high. 
 

I wouldn’t be shocked at all if they have The Darkness and Steel Panther together again. 
 

It’s really frustrating because the festival seemed to be making a bit of progress in the last couple of years but this year it just seems really confused. 

[northernangel]

19 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Jinjer played on a reduced day last time, that’s the only reason they were that high. 
 

I wouldn’t be shocked at all if they have The Darkness and Steel Panther together again. 
 

It’s really frustrating because the festival seemed to be making a bit of progress in the last couple of years but this year it just seems really confused. 

 

I wouldn't have thought it mattered being a shorter day did it? Like Halestorm still would have been 3rd down anyway.

 

They could try and mix it up with Pistols and The Darkness below each other.

 

I think it's more a case of two years ago landed on the 20th anniversary year and and they saved on 22 to help with it. 2024 really wasn't a great lineup in my opinion and the good options they had are now used. Download hasn't changed quick enough and stuck in the same way too long that they'll have one year randomly to have something different to offer and then they are back because there isn’t enough out there to keep it going heavier like it.

One thing they could have probably done is actually use the big stages to put bands on that they dipped into Slam Dunk with because some of them are Reading bookings from years ago that Friday looks more like. NFG for example even played on the Green Day day at Reading in 2013 and Less Than Jake 2012....my last full weekend there and gladly so lol.

 

I had interest of some sort in seeing 10 bands on the whole lineup last year an two at least were clashes. 2 of them were maybe headliners I'd have 'watched' but one would have overlapped with another optional they were the only headliners across any headline option the whole weekend. The final option was a, I'd have 'watched' but not that bothered. 2 Friday, 4 Saturday and 4 Sunday but the clashes pull that down to 7/maybe 8 as one I of my Slam Dunk options from 23 didn't need to really be visited that soon again. Either way, I'm sure people that went had much more interest.

 

I can see Friday being the best numbers by miles but overall it selling poorly.

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

11 hours ago, Andre91 said:

 

It’s really frustrating because the festival seemed to be making a bit of progress in the last couple of years but this year it just seems really confused. 

This. 
 

I don’t know if it’s as simple as Kam is pushing for new blood and Copping is stuck in the past, but it certainly feels that way, especially this year. 
 

Shinedown, Bullet, The Darkness, Steel Panther, Rise Against and Korn are all ‘classic’ and tired Download repeats, and that’s not a compliment. 
 

They’ve made a smart booking with Sleep Token, booking while they’re red hot rather than waiting a few more years. They’re likely to bring in a lot of ‘new’ fans to Download, how do they follow that up and ensure those fans enjoy Download rather than just Sleep Token and therefore return next year? They book Shinedown to sub them 😅

[liamglastocrowhurst1]

50 minutes ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

They’ve made a smart booking with Sleep Token, booking while they’re red hot rather than waiting a few more years. They’re likely to bring in a lot of ‘new’ fans to Download, how do they follow that up and ensure those fans enjoy Download rather than just Sleep Token and therefore return next year? They book Shinedown to sub them 😅

To be perfectly honest i didnt think shinedown were that big to even be considered a main stage sub

[Muppetmark]

19 hours ago, Andre91 said:

He’s going after this year, isn’t he? Or is it next year? I’m sure I remember reading that somewhere.

this is his last one

[northernangel]

6 hours ago, liamglastocrowhurst1 said:

To be perfectly honest i didnt think shinedown were that big to even be considered a main stage sub

I think that's the general point of it. All it gives as a vibe is a downwards trajectory.

 

I think their will be a lot of people struggling to see the value in £325 and £345 for 3 and 5 nights respectively and then splitting £45 for a car pass it's about £347 minimum based on two car sharing.

[kale 2]

Well there we have it

[Andre91]

That makes the lineup seem even weaker. This is not a good lineup. 

[Heartofzinc]

Is there another announcement to come or is that it now?

[northernangel]

59 minutes ago, kale 2 said:

Well there we have it

How they've got Rise Against to agree to Friday I don't know but then under JEW made a lot of sense. For my own tastes, I think it's the best Friday top 4 since Sunday 2011.

 

Saturday is a terrible day and the second stage is just bad. 

 

Bullet who I already saw, Sex Pistols, The Darkness, Twin Atlantic and AAF are the only others. Certainly nothing to cost an extra £200+

[ipr44]

Am I being daft or will there be day tickets released? Only full weekend tickets at present.

[h12101]

43 minutes ago, northernangel said:

How they've got Rise Against to agree to Friday I don't know but then under JEW made a lot of sense. For my own tastes, I think it's the best Friday top 4 since Sunday 2011.

 

Saturday is a terrible day and the second stage is just bad. 

 

Bullet who I already saw, Sex Pistols, The Darkness, Twin Atlantic and AAF are the only others. Certainly nothing to cost an extra £200+

 

I know things are getting increasingly more expensive (and Green Day won't be cheap), but you wonder where the budget has been spent this year. What's here to justify a £350+ weekend ticket?