The Rock Behemoth that is Download Festival confirmed another waves of artists heading to Donnigton Park this June, and it is pulling out all the stops for it’s 15th birthday. Over 40 new artists including Alcest, Coldrain, Halestorm and Blackpeaks have been added to a bill already consisting of headliners Slipknot, Tool and Def Leppard, and a huge range of rock icons including Trivium, Whitesnake, and Slayer’s last ever UK show.
Joining the incredible line up are Aaron Buchanan & The Cult Classics, Alcest, Animals As Leaders, At The Gates, Bad Wolves, Batushka, Beartooth, Behemoth, Black Peaks, Brothers Osborne, and Cane Hill. Along side them are Clutch, Coldrain, Conjurer, Crystal Lake, Deadland Ritual, Fever 333, Godsmack, Groundculture, Halestorm, Heart Of A Coward, and Icon For Hire. With Intervals, Last In Line, Like A Storm, Lost In Stereo, Love Bites, Municipal Waste, Ne Obliviscaris, Palaye Royale, Parting Gift, Redhook, Skid Row, Skynd, Stone Temple Pilots, Sumo Cyco, Those Damn Crows, Three Days Grace, Toska, Trash Boat, Twelve Foot Ninja, Vega, and Wolf Jaw completing the announcement.
We’ve just added 43 NEW NAMES to your #DL2019 line up! Including @Halestorm, @clutchofficial, @STPBand, @BehemothBand, @fever333 and @BEARTOOTHband! Head HERE to learn more about your new additions https://t.co/ZgAxdbkJwR pic.twitter.com/QXZbTDhHVf
— Download Festival (@DownloadFest) January 28, 2019
The festival is one of the highlights of the UK calendar, and a seminal event for metal-heads worldwide. This years festival will be the only place in the UK fans can see Def Leppard, who will be playing their massive 1987 album ‘Hysteria’ in full. In a press release Leppard front man Joe Elliot said ““We are delighted to be going back to headline Download in 2019! The festival has a very special place in our hearts and it’s such a great place to play. We will be playing Hysteria in full – yes, in full! – plus a load more of the hits, and we are going to put on a very special show for our UK fans. Can’t wait to see you all there!”
Slipknot will be making their 6th appearance, but first in 4 years, at Download when they headline the Main Stage on the Saturday Night. Speaking to ResurrectionFest TV frontman Corey Taylor teased a new album would be ready by the summer of 2019 saying they would “Hopefully be able to come and start touring in the summer when the new album comes out”. The full interview is posted below:
Californian rock legends Tool will close the festival on the Sunday Night, making their return to download after a 13 year absence.In a press release festival organiser Andy Copping said “We’re incredibly excited to announce three legends as Download 2019 headliners. It’s not quite been 10,000 Days since we have been able to indulge in one of our favourite alt-rock bands, but after thirteen years I am thrilled to announce Tool are finally making their long-awaited return to Download”.
Other artists making appearances at Donnington Park include South African Rock-Rap heroes, Die Antwoord, the incredible Skindred and Guns and Roses guitarist Slash, performing with vocalist Myles Kennedy. The festival will also be the final spot in the UK fans can hear both Slayer and The Smashing Pumpkins play live, in what is bound to be emotional performances for both sets of fans. Since forming in 1981 Slayer have released 12 studio albums and become one of the most iconic groups in rock music. Hailing from Chicago Smashing Pumpkins previously called it a day in 2000, before reforming 6 years later. In total they have released 10 studio albums, the most recent of these being last year’s ‘Shiny and Oh So Bright,’.
The latest @DownloadFest announcement is !!! Already got my ticket and bands like @BEARTOOTHband, @fever333 @badwolves @Halestorm and heart of a coward are going straight in my basket #downloadfestival
— michael lacy (@MiichaelLacy13) January 28, 2019
