Around 90,000 revellers packed out Donnington Park for the 2013 Download Festival
The biggest outdoor event in the rock calendar took place this weekend as 90,000 people rocked out in Donington Park to headliners Slipknot, Iron Maiden and Rammstein plus a host of other bands performing at the Download Festival.
Crowds of rock fans packed out Donington Park as the opening day of Download saw Asking Alexandria, Papa Roach, Architects, Korn, Bullet for My Valentine all perform mind blowing sets throughout the day, while bands like Fearless Vampire Killers, Fidlar and The Algorithm ripped up the Red Bull Bedroom Jam Stage.
Slipknot had Donington in the palm of their hand as they opened their set with Distasterpiece before launching into Liberate, Wait and Bleed, Before I Forget and Psychosocial. A moment that will go down in Download history followed when 90,000 people knelt down on Donignton’s sacred ground before “jumping the f*ck up” during a raging rendition of Spit It Out.
Slipknot on stage at the Download Festival 2013
Saturday’s epic lineup saw Queens of the Stone Age make their Download debut as the sun beamed down on the home of rock, while Motorhead, Alice In Chains, Mastodon, Enter Shikari, Jimmy Eat World, The Hives, Kvelertak and many more all played blinding sets.
Enter Shikari play to the crowds at the Download Festival 2013
A Spitfire circled Donington Park before Iron Maiden burst onto stage with their headline set
A Spitfire circled Donington Park before Iron Maiden burst onto stage with their headline set bringing the Maiden England tour to the festival marking 25 years since the band first headlined Donington Park. The set included Run To The Hills, Fear of the Dark, The Number of the Beast and an encore of Aces High, The Evil That Men Do and Running Free.
Thirty Seconds To Mars performed on the closing day of the 2013 Download Festival
The closing day of Download has already seen crowds roaring with sets from Coal Chamber, Five Finger Death Punch, Parkway Drive, with Limp Bizkit, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Gaslight Anthem, A Day To Remember and many more still to come. And of course everyone is gearing up for a stunning set from tonight’s headliners Rammstein, who will close the festival with a set that’s sure to contend for rock show of the year.
Revellers and rock fans enjoy the 2013 Download Festival
Revellers and rock fans enjoy the 2013 Download Festival
Download Festival promoter Andy Copping commented: “It’s been an amazing weekend. We’ve had over 150 bands across five stages and a trio of ground breaking, world class headliners. Having Iron Maiden back 25 years after they first headlined Donington was an incredible moment. Slipknot as usual delivered an unforgettable set, and Rammstein tonight will be the first time the band have played Donington.”
Revellers and rock fans enjoy the 2013 Download Festival
An estimated 90rock fans packed out Donnington Park for the 2013 Download Festival
The pyrotechnics were out as Rammstein took to the stage at Download 2013
Other activity on site included The Red Bull Studios live at Download, which culminated in an exciting series of sets from some of the UK’s hottest emerging bands. Croydon trio Press To Meco were met with a raucous overspilling tent whilst Aberdeen four piece Semperfi had the electric crowds shouting back their lyrics.
The highlight for fellow Aberdeen cohorts Akord was undoubtedly accepting an impromptu invite to play on the main stage during Down’s set to a 70k strong crowd. Having previously nurtured the cream of new rock talent such as Radio 1 favourites Don Broco, Red Bull Studios will no doubt be seeing this year’s alumni on bigger stages very soon.
Revellers enjoy the Download Festival at Donnington Park
P.O.D. on stage at the 2013 Download Festival
The Cancer Bats crowdsurf at Donnington Park during the Download Festival
Download Festival 2014 will take place 13-15 June, and as a thank you to fans for a limited time Download is offering £10 off the current 2013 prices for 5-day camping tickets, 3-day camping and weekend arena tickets. All tickets go on sale at 9am on 21 June with the offer closing on 1 July. There are only 5,000 available, visit www.downloadfestival.co.uk to get yours.
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Photographs: Download Festival
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