The all conquering Download Festival returns to Donington Park in Derby this June and promises to be the biggest and best ever as it celebrates its 20 year anniversary.
Offering up FOUR days of music for the first time ever, metal legend Metallica and Slipknot will team up with the likes of Architects, Bring Me The Horizon and more for a four night special addition of the festival that has sold out for the very first time in its history.
Many of those attending will likely already have their bags packed, essentials ticked off and a list of bands they are desperate to see but, as with every festival, there’s always one band that rockets to stardom after blowing away a festival crowd. There is simply nothing worse than finding a cool new band and then realising you slept on them at a festival you attended only weeks previous.
So while we are pretty sure all the bands mentioned above will be on your must watch list, we’ve put together a list of 10 other bands you may not yet have heard of that we recommend you check out at the festival this summer.
. Download Festival 2023
Download Festival begins on June 7 (Photo credit: BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty Images) Photo: BERTRAND GUAY
. Elvana
A band who plays Nirvana covers fronted by Elvis? No, really, it's a thing. Go and see it. If covers of Smells Like Teen Spirit and In Bloom with a hint of shaky hips is your thing then Elvana will 100% be your bag at Download. Photo: Matt Horne/Creative Commons 2.0
. Bloodywood
Opening up the Apex stage on Sunday is Indian heavy metal band Bloodywood from New Delhi. Throw in some catchy, heavy riffs and a tinge of nu-metal and you may just have your new favourite band. Check out their song 'Gaddar' and make sure you head down to Apex Stage early on Sunday to catch them. Photo: YouTube
9. Fever 333
Hitting up the Apex stage on Saturday, Fever 333 are a borderline super-group having been made up of Letlive vocalist Jason Aalon Butler, former the Chariot guitarist Stephen Harrison and Night Verses drummer Aric Improta. Guaranteed to be one of the most energetic sets of the weekend, these guys will get your blood flowing for a weekend of metal. Photo: Rich Fury
10. Stray From The Path
Stray From The Path have been making noise, literally, for a number of years across the globe and in front-man Andrew Dijorio, they have one of the most charismatic vocalists in modern day punk and hardcore. They play the Opus stage on Saturday. Photo: Creative Commons 2.0