Download 2025

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

Overall it’s a disjointed mess. Some really weird placements and bookings. It’s regressed from ‘Download 2.0’ to ‘Download booked by 2 different blokes’. 
 

If they’d binned off Shinedown, Bullet, the Darkness and Steel Panther and replaced them with some decent/interesting bookings it could have looked a lot stronger. 
 

Even the Mcfly booking is tired/repeated. The reason Busted worked last year was because it was a one off novelty that came out of nowhere. Trying to replicate that the year after with Mcfly in the same slot is tiresome. It’s the same sort of logic Andy fell into after the success of the 09 MOR throwback day, which seemed to then influence his booking policy for the next ten years. 

Edited February 21, 2025 by Frankly Mr Shankly

[northernangel]

46 minutes ago, ipr44 said:

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

 

Day tickets will be yes but you won't have any trouble at all buying a Saturday or Sunday ticket, I would hold off to see what goes up cheaper. I think weekend tickets for this are going to sell very cheap.

 

37 minutes ago, h12101 said:

 

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?

I'm honestly not the best for Download maybe to  judge but then those that maybe will also with no disrespect like other bands that have been repeated over the years

 

For me, I would genuinely struggle to find £200 in there.

Edited February 21, 2025 by northernangel

[LazyDavid]

Based on Clashfinder:

Friday: The Scratch - Battlesnake - Boston Manor - Rise Against - Jimmy Eat World - Weezer - Green Day

Saturday: Loathe - Poppy - Don Broco - Shinedown/The Darkness/Mallory Knox - Sleep Token

Sunday: House of Protection - Alien Ant Farm - Spiritbox - BFMV - Korn

 

Few gaps for me to fill and some that will be solved when the official times come out but I'm content. Lot of bands to listen to between now and June

Edited February 21, 2025 by LazyDavid

[NorthernSoul52]

Genuinely staggered to see Shinedown get second billing. I like Shinedown but... ooof.

 

Even with the idea that Green Day is something of a white whale booking, even delighting in Sleep Token getting the leg up to seal their big-leagues position, this is... a bit soft around the edges.

[ipr44]

28 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

Day tickets will be yes but you won't have any trouble at all buying a Saturday or Sunday ticket, I would hold off to see what goes up cheaper. I think weekend tickets for this are going to sell very cheap.

 

I'm honestly not the best for Download maybe to  judge but then those that maybe will also with no disrespect like other bands that have been repeated over the years

 

For me, I would genuinely struggle to find £200 in there.

Friday will go quick I would think, I would like to see Sleep Token but there is naff all else there for £120+ except a bit of a laugh watching The Darkness!

[northernangel]

34 minutes ago, LazyDavid said:

Based on Clashfinder:

Friday: The Scratch - Battlesnake - Boston Manor - Rise Against - Jimmy Eat World - Weezer - Green Day

Saturday: Loathe - Poppy - Don Broco - Shinedown/The Darkness/Mallory Knox - Sleep Token

Sunday: House of Protection - Alien Ant Farm - Spiritbox - BFMV - Korn

 

Few gaps for me to fill and some that will be solved when the official times come out but I'm content. Lot of bands to listen to between now and June

 

That's mine

 

 

 

[NorthernSoul52]

Yeah, Friday should sell out on the strength of day tripper interest. It does look very frontloaded in terms of a sales weekend though. How many people will punt for that Sunday, I wonder?

[northernangel]

27 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Yeah, Friday should sell out on the strength of day tripper interest. It does look very frontloaded in terms of a sales weekend though. How many people will punt for that Sunday, I wonder?

I don't see many for £120. I'm so glad I opted to go see Bullet. House of Protection can wait.

 

If Twin Atlantic end up not clashing at Slam Dunk, I'd be happy to pick up a ticket for The Darkness and Ash in Leicester and not worry about Saturday. Genuinely considering seeing how low people will sell a weekend ticket to get shot to just go for Friday and turn up late Saturday.

[gabrielomachado]

I'm bored so I had a go with a "how to improve this lineup with less than 10 changes" game. In my personal opinion, of course. Didn't look that much into realism.

[Andre91]

Clashfinder is the Clashfinder but going off of that, my weekend looks like this: 

 

 

Graphic Nature > Jimmy Eat World > Weezer > Green Day

 

Static Dress > Loathe > Hatebreed > Poppy > Don Broco > Anaal Nathrakh > Sleep Token

 

Power Trip > Meshuggah > Jerry Cantrell > tail end of Spiritbox > Cattle Decapitation or Bullet For My Valentine > Lorna Shore > KoRn 

 

 

I’ve put the must sees in bold text. 

 

 

Edited February 21, 2025 by Andre91

[northernangel]

55 minutes ago, gabrielomachado said:

I'm bored so I had a go with a "how to improve this lineup with less than 10 changes" game. In my personal opinion, of course. Didn't look that much into realism.

Doesn't really do too much. Pistols 3rd instead of JEW isn't a bog change. Both Architects and Slayer would also just be repeat bookings amd surely if Bullet can sub then so can Slayer.

 

Sleep Token was always a fumble of a booking to headline from the moment they were booked there. There is too much there that is too weak or too repetitive for this to have been better without bigger bands as well I'm some places. When some people say about some bands playing high on other festivals, some of those are 4 days and not 3. 

 

But it's not just Download, Nova Rock looks quite weak, it's a poor year for Hell Fest, Graspop have two headliners that Download have had in the last 3 years and RAR actually looks pretty weak except for Friday and they are on a anniversary year. That's my take anyway. Take announced a final headliner they clearly weren't happy with but didn't have another option.

[northernangel]

7 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Clashfinder is the Clashfinder but going off of that, my weekend looks like this: 

 

 

Graphic Nature > Jimmy Eat World > Weezer > Green Day

 

Static Dress > Loathe > Hatebreed > Poppy > Don Broco > Anaal Nathrakh > Sleep Token

 

Power Trip > Meshuggah > Jerry Cantrell > tail end of Spiritbox > Cattle Decapitation or Bullet For My Valentine > Lorna Shore > KoRn 

 

 

I’ve put the must sees in bold text. 

 

 

Obviously it's upto you but I genuinely don't see the value in your weekend ticket and camper in that. 

[Andre91]

12 minutes ago, northernangel said:

Obviously it's upto you but I genuinely don't see the value in your weekend ticket and camper in that. 

Ehhhhhh… it’s not the best. 
 

Saturday and Sunday are standard Download fare in terms of how much I’ll see. That Friday, though, is horrendous. 

 

It’s the weakest lineup since I started going in 2017, I think. 
 

 

I don’t go in a camper van though. 

[northernangel]

2 hours ago, Andre91 said:

Ehhhhhh… it’s not the best. 
 

Saturday and Sunday are standard Download fare in terms of how much I’ll see. That Friday, though, is horrendous. 

 

It’s the weakest lineup since I started going in 2017, I think. 
 

 

I don’t go in a camper van though. 

I thought you had to pay like £250/300 for a campervan too?

 

I've been through a few bands I didn't know and mad how much I thought that was Reading 15 years ago.

 

I would want better than that from a standard day but again that's me. I'm probably got the most full day I've had at Download on Friday: Karen Dio, Dead Pony, Riding The Low, Rise Against, JEW, Weezer, Green Day.

 

My second strongest is probs Saturday if I'm going for what I've heard of vs what sounds alright. Truth be told though there is a lot more rock that's actually rock and not just heavier stuff and metal on this lineup and whether it's good or bad, it's actually what they promote themselves as, as a festival. 

Problem is a big fan base part of the festivals don't really want it, they just want new metal bands or what they consider as good metal bands.

[andyrhodes24]

Sunday is an absolute shocker for me but I’m kinda committed at this point. Yet to have a listen through the lineup mind:

 

FRIDAY:

Boston Manor > Rise Against > Jimmy Eat World > Weezer > McFly > Green Day

 

SATURDAY:

Poppy > Palaye Royale > Don’t Broco > EODM > Twin Atlantic > Shinedown > Sex Pistols

 

SUNDAY:

Jinjer > Jerry Cantrell > Airbourne > BFMV > Korn

[foolee]

Actually pretty good/stacked for me. Bit miffed about the Rise Against/Bad Nerves clash as they’re both very punk influenced. Would also like to catch Don Broco if time permits however I’ve seen them way more than EODM who I’ve never caught. I’m probably take a decision on the day with Jimmy Eat World and Trophy Eyes as I know Jimmy Eat World more however they’ve been terribly boring the last few times I’ve seen them. Sunday defo the weakest day as I only really care for Korn, Airbourne and House of Protection. 
 

Friday:

Karen Dio > Dead Pony > Unpeople > Boston Manor > Rise Against > Jimmy Eat World > Weezer > McFly > Green Day

 

Saturday:

Static Dress > Split Chain > Poppy > Palaye Royale > Teen Mortgage > Eagles of Death Metal > The Darkness > Sex Pistols > Sleep Token

 

Sunday:

Bleed From Wihin > Power Trip > The Ghost Inside > House of Protection > Alien Ant Farm > Spiritbox > Airbourne > Bullet For My Valentine > Korn

[andyrhodes24]

Unrelated to the lineup but saw Motionless In While last night and the only song that got the crowd singing before they came on (besides the dance tracks they came out to) was Lost by BMTH. Crowd sang every word which h I didn’t expect.

Edited February 22, 2025 by andyrhodes24

[northernangel]

16 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Unrelated to the lineup but saw Motionless In While last night and the only song that got the crowd singing before they came on (besides the dance tracks they came out to) was Lost by BMTH. Crowd sang every word which h I didn’t expect.

Honestly if I didn't know that was BMTH I would never have guessed. They've really gone full 360 mainstream to make it haven't they. Even I was listen to that. For me their best song is Throne by a while which probably tells you where I sit lol 

[andyrhodes24]

9 minutes ago, northernangel said:

Honestly if I didn't know that was BMTH I would never have guessed. They've really gone full 360 mainstream to make it haven't they. Even I was listen to that. For me their best song is Throne by a while which probably tells you where I sit lol 

It honestly felt like when I used to go to Propaganda back in the day, crowd belting out indie classics. Really surreal as Lost doesn’t fit with MIW at all, which is ironic with them supporting BMTH in Brazil recently. Still, very pleased they are where they are.

[northernangel]

2 hours ago, foolee said:

Actually pretty good/stacked for me. Bit miffed about the Rise Against/Bad Nerves clash as they’re both very punk influenced. Would also like to catch Don Broco if time permits however I’ve seen them way more than EODM who I’ve never caught. I’m probably take a decision on the day with Jimmy Eat World and Trophy Eyes as I know Jimmy Eat World more however they’ve been terribly boring the last few times I’ve seen them. Sunday defo the weakest day as I only really care for Korn, Airbourne and House of Protection. 
 

Friday:

Karen Dio > Dead Pony > Unpeople > Boston Manor > Rise Against > Jimmy Eat World > Weezer > McFly > Green Day

 

Saturday:

Static Dress > Split Chain > Poppy > Palaye Royale > Teen Mortgage > Eagles of Death Metal > The Darkness > Sex Pistols > Sleep Token

 

Sunday:

Bleed From Wihin > Power Trip > The Ghost Inside > House of Protection > Alien Ant Farm > Spiritbox > Airbourne > Bullet For My Valentine > Korn

 

Just my own thoughts but EODM aren't worth your time. I had a listen to Palaye Royale, not sure if fhey are quite me. I reckon people wanting to see Weezer and see McFly after before Green Day are over egging it, I think you'll need to be in there earlier.

 

Sunday earlier is way too heavy out of my usual thing but while I can see why the usual Downlaod goer doesn't like the lineup, it's probably closer to a lineup that Download actually promote itself on. The headliners as a trio is awful, just like last years was but I like Green Day more than FOB so this year gets the nod.

 

It's a case of you either want fresh change or you don't and other acts people want either aren't there or are more interested in playing other festivals over Download because of how Download has played its game maybe for so long.

While I might not be the best judge on that, I've still been to and camped at the festival in it's current form and I see it as a bad festival, poorly organised and poor setup with good sound for music in a field if you fancy it. The Avalanche however does not have the best sound. 

[northernangel]

12 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

It honestly felt like when I used to go to Propaganda back in the day, crowd belting out indie classics. Really surreal as Lost doesn’t fit with MIW at all, which is ironic with them supporting BMTH in Brazil recently. Still, very pleased they are where they are.

Fans of one band with like different sounds though away from a festival especially which is catered. Early BMTH probably does fit with MIW.

 

They are another band though MIW who played in 13, 15, 17 and only two years ago so if they played its another repeat from only two years ago.

 

As much as I'm not a big BMTH fan at all, there is a lot who are on here and that song wouldn't be out of place with a lot of bands this year.

[Andre91]

1 hour ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Unrelated to the lineup but saw Motionless In While last night and the only song that got the crowd singing before they came on (besides the dance tracks they came out to) was Lost by BMTH. Crowd sang every word which h I didn’t expect.

I wish they were playing this year. I’m guessing they will have a new album by next year and will grab a third down Main spot. They’re always on the up and are one of those bands you can see the progression of up the DL lineups. Such a good band. 

Edited February 22, 2025 by Andre91

[NorthernSoul52]

Green Day and Weezer just one Fall Out Boy away from the Hella Mega Tour 2: Electric Boogaloo.

 

But Weezer, while never necessarily being any better than "very good" live in my experience, are also so reliably fun for singalong value that it works as the perfect lead-in. (And I do love a bit of Weezer, Gromit.)

[andyrhodes24]

29 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

I wish they were playing this year. I’m guessing they will have a new album by next year and will grab a third down Main spot. They’re always on the up and are one of those bands you can see the progression of up the DL lineups. Such a good band. 

They said last night new album in 2026 so I’d expect them back over for Download then. Would be very welcome.

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Green Day and Weezer just one Fall Out Boy away from the Hella Mega Tour 2: Electric Boogaloo.

 

But Weezer, while never necessarily being any better than "very good" live in my experience, are also so reliably fun for singalong value that it works as the perfect lead-in. (And I do love a bit of Weezer, Gromit.)

 

That's probably the tour I wish I went to but FOB in particular touring upto then hasn't been putting out great sets, this one wasn't too bad. Amyl and the Sniffers too instead of The Interrupters who I knew more at the time. 

1 hour ago, andyrhodes24 said:

They said last night new album in 2026 so I’d expect them back over for Download then. Would be very welcome.

 

3 years gap isn't so bad but if they'd have played this year as said that's an only two year gap again. Then it starts getting to where we don't mind quick repeats and returns as long as it's who we like lol, which will always be a case. 

This is where the likes of Riss Against come in, as a band and their output they aren't getting any better, but they have always had a 3 or 4 year gap between playing.