Haha yeh! I'm getting pretty excited about the whole thing. There's not long now!
I just hope I'm not going to be worn out for Hellfest a few days after this, haha!

I'm actually looking forward to the last day most and the block of:

Def Leppard
Whitesnake
ZZ Top
Dream Theater
Journey

(with Sabbat in there somewhere too).

Extra camping tickets are now on sale!

Press release

Due to massive public demand, Download festival organisers have examined the final Donington 2009 site and are delighted to announce that a further 2,500 camping tickets have been made available and are now on sale!

Customers who have already purchased weekend arena tickets and haven't been able to buy camping are advised to call Ticketmaster on 08444 999 999. Customers who wish to buy weekend arena tickets and camping are advised to purchase online at www.downloadfestival.co.uk. A limited amount of day tickets are also available.

With tickets for this year's event selling fast, these additional camping tickets will come as good news to festival goers still planning on spending the weekend in the company of legendary artists such as Faith No More, Slipknot and Def Leppard.

These extra camping tickets WILL sell out. Book now to avoid disappointment.

I'm only going on Friday and I really only bought a ticket to see FNM. But now I'm seeing them at their gig at Brixton Acadmey too. FNM twice in 2 days, bring it on.
ZZ Top should be good for a laugh

Here's some last-minute information I have been sent:

Its less than a week to go until the campsite gates open at Donington Park for the DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 2009, and things are hotting up at a rapid pace! Another 2,500 camping tickets were released this week after organisers re-examined the site and were quickly snapped up within 24 hours of going on sale.

Download organisers have issued last minute tips and handy hints to ensure that festival goers get as much out of the weekend as possible! The main thing for anyone coming to Download this year is to bring along a portable radio and tune it to 87.7FM to get all the latest updates and news from DOWNLOAD RADIO powered by Rock Radio!

One change that all festival-goers travelling to Donington for this year's Download should be aware of, is a BAN ON GAS CANISTERS. In the main campsites, ticket holders will not be able to bring in gas canisters or petrol fuelled cookers. Anyone found in possession of a gas cylinder or petrol may be asked to leave.

The recommended cooking stoves are any solid fuel type such as Disposable BBQ's or Hexi Stoves with solid fuel block. Gas cylinders will be permitted in the Campervan Site, providing they are professionally installed and certificated in a caravan/campervan. Gas cylinders will be permitted in the RIP campsite and Disabled Access campsites as these areas are much easier to ensure responsible usage.

Under 21s are advised to bring proof of age to Download as part of the CHALLENGE 21 SCHEME. Wristbands with the Challenge 21 logo will be issued at the Main Campsite Bar to those who have ID to prove they are over 18. If a festival goer looks younger than 21, they will not be served alcohol unless they can show their ID to prove that they are at least 18 years old. Every bar on site will have someone in a high-visibility vest for customers to show their wristband so they can get served.

TRAVEL INFORMATION for those attending this year's Download can be found on the Info Page of the award winning Download website - www.downloadfestival.co.uk . This year NATIONAL EXPRESS is offering travellers a more eco-friendly way of getting to and from the festival by operating routes into Download from up and down the UK direct into the festival site, as well as the hugely successful LIFTSHARE scheme - which offers the chance to win a VIP upgrade! Official SHUTTLE BUSES will be operating from Derby and East Midlands Parkway stations to Donington, and for those who STILL haven't picked up their tickets, there is still the option to add 50p to the ticket order in order to offset environmental impacts of travelling, the money will be invested into the development of an orchard and conservation area at the Castle Donington Community College.

COMEDIANS, SILENT DISCO, ROCK KARAOKE and LUCHA BRITANNIA WRESTLING are just a few of the on site entertainment options for this year's Download, situated in THE VILLAGE for those wishing to continue the party after the headliners have finished their sets.

The EA Hub will be cranking it up to 11 at Download this year as festival goers will be drafted into an Army of Rock with one righteous aim - smashing the Guinness World Record for the Largest Air Guitar Ensemble! Download will have an exclusive first-play on the new Jack Black heavy metal videogame - Brütal Legend, and there will be band appearances onboard - not to mention loads of competitions, the latest in EA HD gaming and giveaways galore.

For those who don't manage to make it to this year's Download but want to re-create the Donington festival in the comfort of their home, the Download webcam is up and running, a fly on the wall look at the site, plus Main Stage performances will be streamed live via the Download webcast. For everything else, head to the Download Twitter for all the gossip from backstage and in the main arena.

The winner of the Steel Stage Battle of the Bands competition, which ran last month in association with Tuborg and the Sheffield Leadmill has been announced! Leeds based punk rockers ACID DROP will now be performing an exclusive 25 minute set on Saturday 13 June on the Tuborg Stage.

Mobile competitions will be running throughout the weekend - fans can text messages and photos to be displayed on the Main Stage screens. Text Competitions to meet bands such as Fightstar and Papa Roach; and another competition to get on the main stage to watch artists such as Whitesnake and Limp Bizkit live will also be taking place across the weekend. For more information go to www.downloadfestival.co.uk/mobile

Can someone please tell me which twat scheduled Meshuggah to play at the same time as Faith No More?

..and Mötley Crüe. I'm with you there, it is an awful clash on all three stages in my opinion.

I am pleased with the times on the last day though. As soon as Journey finish I am going to see Sabbat. I really don't mind missing the first ten minutes of Dream Theater for them.

I'm not a fan of Trivium, but if I were I would be very annoyed that they clashed with Def Leppard.
But then again if I were a Trivium fan, maybe I wouldn't care for Def Leppard.
I wouldn't have minded giving Trivium a go live though, could have been interesting.

Written by Baz Anderson on 08.06.2009 at 22:18

I wouldn't have minded giving Trivium a go live though, could have been interesting.

I found them quite annoying when they opened for Slayer. Whenever they got your hopes up high with a streak of thrashy songs, they interrupted that streak and went for metalcore again. During their gig my mood was like a sine wave oscillating between joy and tediousness and eventually fading into indifference. Don't bother and just go for Def Leppard, at least you'll know what you're in for.

Yeh, well there was no contest anyway. At least now I know I'm not going to miss anything worth seeing! Haha!

Written by Promonex on 08.06.2009 at 23:00

Written by Baz Anderson on 08.06.2009 at 22:18

I wouldn't have minded giving Trivium a go live though, could have been interesting.

I found them quite annoying when they opened for Slayer. Whenever they got your hopes up high with a streak of thrashy songs, they interrupted that streak and went for metalcore again. During their gig my mood was like a sine wave oscillating between joy and tediousness and eventually fading into indifference. Don't bother and just go for Def Leppard, at least you'll know what you're in for.

I saw Trivium when they played with Machine Head in Sydney. They had the audacity to cover Master of Puppets. It was like watching a car accident in slow motion. And they thought they were so fucking cool. Twats

Hahaha, oh dear.

Camping opens tomorrow and most people I know who are going, are actually going tomorrow!
I think I am going to arrive sometime between Thursday and Friday.. sometime during the middle of the night probably.. haha.

Weather says it will rain on Thursday, but be fine and sunny on Friday & Saturday.. so it would be nice to miss the rain.

Secret bands confirmed:

Enter Skikari on Friday, and
Thunder on Saturday

(I thought Thunder had split forever..)

Written by Baz Anderson on 11.06.2009 at 01:22



(I thought Thunder had split forever..)

That's what I thought as well. But then again they have split up for good a couple of times before as well

Apparently they are doing a "farewell tour" this July. Maybe it'll be the end after that.

Download is going to be broadcast over the internet. Here's the link to watch bands over the weekend:

http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk/webcast/index.aspx

Not all bands will be shown, but you can see the ones confirmed to be shown already.
I'm sure a few of you might be interested to watch Faith No More if they are broadcast.

Baz I'm getting a train up there tonight so give me a call tomorrow and we'll do beers. I sent you a PM with my mobile number.

BTW - Faith No More last night was f**king amazing!

Fantastic festival! Back now!
Review coming before Wednesday, hopefully!

Friday was awesome! Faith No More, once again, blew me away. And having table service at the bar was pure genius

Review now online!