Download 2025

[northernangel]

After looking at everything and checking bits out this is what I came up with. I reckon there is enough there to do Saturday as well on the cheap as I'd like to see Palaye Royale.

 

Sunday is a bit more checkout day in some respects but its not have to. I was into House of Protection more before another listen.

 

Im wondering if its worth pitching a tent on Friday for one day, taking the tent back to where I park my my car and using the shuttle to return for the day on Saturday heading back the same way at the end.

Edited February 22, 2025 by northernangel

[Andre91]

56 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

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. 

 

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.

Repeats are more justifiable if the band is getting bigger and bigger (which MIW are with every album cycle) and progressing up the lineups. It’s less justifiable when it’s acts like Rise Against, Bullet and Steel Panther who are constantly taking up the same slots again and again. 

[foolee]

1 minute ago, Andre91 said:

Repeats are more justifiable if the band is getting bigger and bigger (which MIW are with every album cycle) and progressing up the lineups. It’s less justifiable when it’s acts like Rise Against, Bullet and Steel Panther who are constantly taking up the same slots again and again. 

Agreed. It should be your MIWs, Turnstiles, Knocked Loose type bands. To be fair they’ve got a mix of this, some good examples with Sleep Token, Spiritbox & Lorna Shore but not so good with BFMV & SP as you’ve mentioned. The fact they’ve failed to book Turnstile so many times despite being around is honestly baffling. 

[northernangel]

24 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Repeats are more justifiable if the band is getting bigger and bigger (which MIW are with every album cycle) and progressing up the lineups. It’s less justifiable when it’s acts like Rise Against, Bullet and Steel Panther who are constantly taking up the same slots again and again. 

 

I agree but two years still isn't a lot. In many ways because of their smaller pool of options, the 4 day while selling out, killed them by using more options which they could spread out over more years.

20 minutes ago, foolee said:

Agreed. It should be your MIWs, Turnstiles, Knocked Loose type bands. To be fair they’ve got a mix of this, some good examples with Sleep Token, Spiritbox & Lorna Shore but not so good with BFMV & SP as you’ve mentioned. The fact they’ve failed to book Turnstile so many times despite being around is honestly baffling. 

 

Andy books who he likes that's the wns of it really but yes Knocked Loose though not for me should have returned since 2018. Bulley should be 3rd down main or second headline but with repeats the same brings Korn into mention and promoting them to headline doesn't make it any less a tiresome booking, it makes it a running out of options booking. Other places they are headlining firstly this year too, delayed announcing them and don't have stellar lineups either. I think Graspop grabbing NIN potentially stopped then using them. I think LP has got Hell Fest a lot of money which Download doesn't have the excuse of but it's still not better off for it compared to most previous years. I don't think LP is massive grab though in their current form

[Andre91]

57 minutes ago, foolee said:

Agreed. It should be your MIWs, Turnstiles, Knocked Loose type bands. To be fair they’ve got a mix of this, some good examples with Sleep Token, Spiritbox & Lorna Shore but not so good with BFMV & SP as you’ve mentioned. The fact they’ve failed to book Turnstile so many times despite being around is honestly baffling. 

Turnstile are becoming a bit of a white whale for the festival. One of the buzziest, fastest growing acts of the last few years. You would think they’ve been making offers to them but they always seem to favour the independent festivals like Outbreak and Trees more. 
 

FWIW, I think Turnstile at DL will happen on their next album cycle. Them doing Outbreak again this year takes them out of the frame to play there again in 2026 or even 2027 (you would think). 
 

Knocked Loose are similar in being out of the frame for Outbreak next year. They will definitely be around next summer again but it’s a question of whether DL is able to get them or they bag a headline slot at Bloodstock (which I think is possible). 
 

Knocked Loose headlining the Opus Stage would be a genius booking, as would Turnstile playing third down the Apex Stage. 

[northernangel]

Download are at too much of a stage of not knowing what they want to be and some bands also get to points of knowing where they want to play and where they don't. 

[CanWeRest]

14 hours ago, northernangel said:

Download are at too much of a stage of not knowing what they want to be and some bands also get to points of knowing where they want to play and where they don't. 

 

They're definitely confused and figuring themselves out. It's all about experimenting 😹😹

[BingusBongus]

Is it just me, or does something about this 2nd announcement and day / stage splits not add up?

 

There's two bands who's placements are really throwing me off, those being Dayseeker and Lorna Shore.

 

On the 1st announcement, Dayseeker weren't a logo act and Lorna Shore were considerably lower down on the poster than the other 2nd stage logo acts (in particular The Darkness, who they share a spot with). 2nd announcement comes and Dayseeker are bumped up but Lorna Shore remained in the same place amongst the 3rd stage headliners. 

 

Here's my theory.

 

Neither of those bands were supposed to be in those places. I think that Dayseeker were supposed to be on the main stage on the Saturday just below Palaye Royale (or potentially 3rd down on 2nd stage) and I think Lorna Shore were supposed to be 4th down on main, where Meshuggah are currently. Meshuggah weren't initially a logo band if you remember.

 

It just makes sense to me. Lorna Shore sandwiched between Airbourne and Steel Panther just doesn't work, and they match the vibes of the main stage on Sunday too well. Likewise, Dayseeker fit in with the modern, pop tinged metal vibes of the main stage on Saturday. Dayseeker also doesn't fit in with the other 3rd stage headliners.

 

I think Download initially had or wanted two different acts in those places but it just didn't materialise.

Edited February 23, 2025 by BingusBongus

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, CanWeRest said:

 

They're definitely confused and figuring themselves out. It's all about experimenting 😹😹

 

If Download managed to book a whole festival based on this Download 2.0 thing which I think is a farce personally, they will alienate a lot of their crowd and people who have gone year in year out regularly won't. What they had fir the 2023 lineup, even that into 3 days, Metallica twice was why it was 4 days so they were seen to be giving 3 different headliners is what the crowd want and the sell out showed. 24 was way less but then at least it would have felt safer than the way over sold 23 which especially in the arena added to where it was a bad experience. Just seen on reddit how many people agree with that 23 was too many people for the space and was over comfortable attendance by far.

 

[NorthernSoul52]

I'll be certainly interested to see what the demographics are looking like on sales since the first announcement. 

[northernangel]

31 minutes ago, BingusBongus said:

Is it just me, or does something about this 2nd announcement and day / stage splits not add up?

 

There's two bands who's placements are really throwing me off, those being Dayseeker and Lorna Shore.

 

On the 1st announcement, Dayseeker weren't a logo act and Lorna Shore were considerably lower down on the poster than the other 2nd stage logo acts (in particular The Darkness, who they share a spot with). 2nd announcement comes and Dayseeker are bumped up but Lorna Shore remained in the same place amongst the 3rd stage headliners. 

 

Here's my theory.

 

Neither of those bands were supposed to be in those places. I think that Dayseeker were supposed to be on the main stage on the Saturday just below Palaye Royale (or potentially 3rd down on 2nd stage) and I think Lorna Shore were supposed to be 4th down on main, where Meshuggah are currently. Meshuggah weren't initially a logo band if you remember.

 

It just makes sense to me. Lorna Shore sandwiched between Airbourne and Steel Panther just doesn't work, and they match the vibes of the main stage on Sunday too well. Likewise, Dayseeker fit in with the modern, pop tinged metal vibes of the main stage on Saturday. Dayseeker also doesn't fit in with the other 3rd stage headliners.

 

I think Download initially had or wanted two different acts in those places but it just didn't materialise.

 

Lorna Shore would be subbing second equivalent if they were 4th down main stage but a lot of it is everywhere. Personally I think they are hoping Friday sells out and the rest breaks even. To some attending Friday might not even be that good for this festival but I don't think I've ever had a better day there...bearing in mind I would never have expected Download to be the place to do it and its not necessarily a good thing it's  there and that likely goes for the regulars.

 

I've just given Dayseeker a listen and I can just about see why they are doing Avalanche. I can see why say about under Payale Royale but there aren't many other bands on that day I feel they lineup with. I think they are different enough though. I started listening to Palaye and I could keep them on without skipping but Dayseek didn't hate that same thing.

Edited February 23, 2025 by northernangel

[Andre91]

31 minutes ago, BingusBongus said:

Is it just me, or does something about this 2nd announcement and day / stage splits not add up?

 

There's two bands who's placements are really throwing me off, those being Dayseeker and Lorna Shore.

 

On the 1st announcement, Dayseeker weren't a logo act and Lorna Shore were considerably lower down on the poster than the other 2nd stage logo acts (in particular The Darkness, who they share a spot with). 2nd announcement comes and Dayseeker are bumped up but Lorna Shore remained in the same place amongst the 3rd stage headliners. 

 

Here's my theory.

 

Neither of those bands were supposed to be in those places. I think that Dayseeker were supposed to be on the main stage on the Saturday just below Palaye Royale (or potentially 3rd down on 2nd stage) and I think Lorna Shore were supposed to be 4th down on main, where Meshuggah are currently. Meshuggah weren't initially a logo band if you remember.

 

It just makes sense to me. Lorna Shore sandwiched between Airbourne and Steel Panther just doesn't work, and they match the vibes of the main stage on Sunday too well. Likewise, Dayseeker fit in with the modern, pop tinged metal vibes of the main stage on Saturday. Dayseeker also doesn't fit in with the other 3rd stage headliners.

 

I think Download initially had or wanted two different acts in those places but it just didn't materialise.

I think Lorna Shore were always meant for that slot. They’re playing big slots like that all across Europe this summer. 
 

Dayseeker I agree with due to them not being a logo on the first lineup. They fit the Avalanche Stage like a glove, though. 

[Andre91]

7 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

Lorna Shore would be subbing second equivalent if they were 4th down main stage but a lot of it is everywhere. Personally I think they are hoping Friday sells out and the rest breaks even. To some attending Friday might not even be that good for this festival but I don't think I've ever had a better day there...bearing in mind I would never have expected Download to be the place to do it and its not necessarily a good thing it's  there and that likely goes for the regulars.

Friday will sell out because of Green Day, Saturday will sell out because of Sleep Token and Sunday will sell well because that KoRn Main Stage day is well-assembled because the whole day appeals to the metal crowd. 

[NorthernSoul52]

I get that on the Friday and Saturday. A white whale with crossover appeal and a sub card like that should be fine, and for a few metalheads, the chance to see a new god anointed likely draws in on Saturday.

 

Feels like Korn should have been on the Friday for me, and Green Day on the Sunday though.

[northernangel]

4 hours ago, Andre91 said:

Friday will sell out because of Green Day, Saturday will sell out because of Sleep Token and Sunday will sell well because that KoRn Main Stage day is well-assembled because the whole day appeals to the metal crowd. 

 

I don't think any of them are guaranteed to sell out. I certainly don't think Saturday will sell out just because of ST, they've had by far the most dislike as one of the headliner bookings this year. Korn day will do alright but I wouldn't put any of the 5 bands upto Meshuggah at least before Bullet in with them and anyone who wanted to see Bullet easily just had the chance to. Then again I wouldn't have put Trivium in with Bullet on tour and the difference in crowds between them also spoke volumes. I would have chosen a Disturbed or ADTR but maybe that's me.

[northernangel]

2 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

I get that on the Friday and Saturday. A white whale with crossover appeal and a sub card like that should be fine, and for a few metalheads, the chance to see a new god anointed likely draws in on Saturday.

 

Feels like Korn should have been on the Friday for me, and Green Day on the Sunday though.

If they had the undercard of Friday though with Korn and Sunday with Green Day it would look terrible. For the whole day switch 100%.

[northernangel]

I don't know where to put this really but reviews of Marilyn Manson last night in Newcastle seem to be very good.

[Andre91]

2 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

I don't think any of them are guaranteed to sell out. I certainly don't think Saturday will sell out just because of ST, they've had by far the most dislike as one of the headliner bookings this year. Korn day will do alright but I wouldn't put any of the 5 bands upto Meshuggah at least before Bullet in with them and anyone who wanted to see Bullet easily just had the chance to. Then again I wouldn't have put Trivium in with Bullet on tour and the difference in crowds between them also spoke volumes. I would have chosen a Disturbed or ADTR but maybe that's me.

Sleep Token fans are nuts. I can see their day being the first sell out, genuinely. 

 

Just now, northernangel said:

If they had the undercard of Friday though with Korn and Sunday with Green Day it would look terrible. For the whole day switch 100%.

I think that’s what he meant. 

[Andre91]

Just now, northernangel said:

I don't know where to put this really but reviews of Marilyn Manson last night in Newcastle seem to be very good.

This tour has excellent reviews, he really seems to have upped his game again. I think for sure he will be there next year, either as a Main Stage sub or, more likely imo, a Second Stage headliner.

[northernangel]

Just now, Andre91 said:

Sleep Token fans are nuts. I can see their day being the first sell out, genuinely. 

 

I think that’s what he meant. 

 

I might be wrong but I genuinely don't remember apart from 2023 and any time that Metallica and maybe when AC/DC played, Download selling out anything.

 

To be honest, I presumed so.

[northernangel]

2 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

This tour has excellent reviews, he really seems to have upped his game again. I think for sure he will be there next year, either as a Main Stage sub or, more likely imo, a Second Stage headliner.

 

I think the Download sub position now being as light as it is, is such a poor position for a band to be given, they need to play later. He would be the booking you want before Ghost.

 

I might have looked at going to the tour on London or Wolverhampton has there been cheaper tickets going about but there was nothing.

[charlierc]

16 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Feels like Korn should have been on the Friday for me, and Green Day on the Sunday though.

Must've worked better for Green Day tbf given they're in Italy on the Sunday.

[foolee]

50 minutes ago, northernangel said:

I don't know where to put this really but reviews of Marilyn Manson last night in Newcastle seem to be very good.

Would’ve loved to see him as the last sub instead of Shinedown

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, foolee said:

Would’ve loved to see him as the last sub instead of Shinedown

 

In a sense yes it would have guaranteed I was there for two days but that's more on a view pre documentary. I doubt he's ever going to prison for anything done but there is so much gaslighting and all sorts in there

 

[Jacksamthompson]